It's impossible to play on Hard

[jake21]

Unfortunately my verona did not pop paladin. I do have 15 from debir but that's all that is available so far. The only decent troups I've found on verona are royal griffons, archmages and assassin. I made some progress last night and am level 18 but still in a rather bad position but at least I have a few coins (90K) (current troups are cyclops (2), royal griffon (up to 11), archmage (around 19), assassin (aruond 21), paladin (15; leadership allows 16 but cant' find anymore for sale). I've not done any of the castles on verona (the one with the fence might be doable if I want to suffer huge (80-90%) losses as well the as the orc on Rusty anchor under the same condition). I did return lady what her name to debir so I might be able to do her castle (not sure; haven't gone back yet). I was hoping to up leadership enough to get 3 cyclops but still a bit short.
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if I buy a 20k shield (3int/2d my int willl reach 20 and I can pick up what his face on verona whcih will up int to 24; tempted to do that but not sure it is safe to risk the coins yet).
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spell selection kind of sucks; I have fireball, fire arrow, phantom, resurrection and a few utilities like slow, trap and stone skin. I've seen lighting for sale on verona and might try that (shock effect is good at slowing enemy).
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I might try dropping the cyclop and assassin for the driods; not sure how well that will work. You think that would help ?
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I can make a save available (other guy who posted) but not sure where I can put it to be accessible.
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I have ok items (sword that gives 10 runes and banner that gives 10 runes) but I'm unable to upgrade any of them (mana ring, cloak, boots) without high losses. In reserve I currently have inquistors (I swap them with assassin and 22 royal snakes (no more snakes for sale either).
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In my normal game (which is a breeze) by this stage of the game (i've been switching back and forth) I have fire rain and tons of good mobs for sale in verona (paladin, royal snakes, royal griffons, archmages, royal thorns, and a few others).
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Well let me know if you think driod1/driod2 will work better than cyclop/assassin - my guess is they might esp if i phantom the repair driods.

Originally Posted by loreangelicus

Hmmm... given that you are a mage, what offensive spells do you have at your disposal?

Try this lineup: archmage (verona), paladin (verona), guard droid (bolo), repair droid (bolo).

This is a survival lineup, with the only real damage-dealers being the paladin and guard droid. Given that you are on Hard, I assume you have either (or both) Ball Lightning or Dragon Dive. Split the repair droids into two stacks (since they can't repair themselves if only one stack). Guard droid and paladin as tanks, archmage casts mage shield on whoever is being attacked more. If necessary, even the two stacks of repair droids could do some minor tanking since you can "resurrect" them with their repair ability (which is a reload ability, thus could continue ad infinitum).