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TheAge of Wonders 4DLC “Eldritch Realms” adds a lot of new material to the game. You get three new tomes,two new story realms, and a brand-new ruler type called the Eldritch Sovereign.
The Eldritch Sovereign isn’t the first new ruler type added by anAge of Wonders 4expansion, but the way it works is very different compared to your other options. Managing these options, both on the world map and in combat, will determine just how effective this otherworldly ruler can be.
Thralls
One thing you get from an Eldritch Sovereign ruler (or hero) isa special global resource called Thralls. You can collect Thralls from a few different sources:
Something worth noting is that you can collect both Thralls and Souls from the same combat, and gaining both at once won’t reduce the total number of either you collect. Since you don’t lose Souls or Thralls by using the conversion spells, this means a Shadow Affinity faction with an Eldritch Sovereign can be especially effective.
The way you use Thralls is in special ritual spells that call for Thralls instead of Mana. Ritual spells don’t have a specific theme to them, but they give you bonuses you’re able to’t get from other sources. To access ritual spells, you need to level up your Eldritch Sovereign character and take the special hero skills that only this ruler type has access to (more on that below).Note that ritual spells are strategic only: no combat spell calls for Thralls.
Skills and Signatures
Eldritch Sovereigns get a special Hero Skill group named after themselves. This replaces the Warfare group thatthe normal two ruler typescan use. Eldritch Sovereigns also get a starting skill for free called “Enthralling Presence.” This skill unlocks Thralls for your faction and provides you with the Clairvoyance Ritual.
One other thing every Eldritch Sovereign gets for free is the ability Eldritch Mind Control. This is a three-action ability that lets you control an enemy unit for one turn. If it fails, the unit still loses two actions during their next turn.
0
+5 HP, +1 Resistance
Access to Delirium combat debuff
Can teleport up to 4 hexes away
Access to Dark Knowledge Ritual and Mesmerizing Draft Ritual
+10 HP
2
Access to Desperate Anguish combat debuff
None
+4 Imperium per turn, +15 World Map Casting Points, +15 Combat Casting Points
+10 percent Magic damage
+20 percent Evasion against Physical Ranged and Magic attacks
4
Can teleport up to 6 hexes away
Eldritch Influence I
+6 Imperium per turn, +15 World Map Casting Points, +15 Combat Casting Points
6
Forgotten Tome skills cycle in 3 turns instead of 4
This hero returns with 50 percent HP if it dies in combat but its side wins
Outside this new category, Eldritch Sovereigns can learn Battle Magic and Support skills as usual. Having two Sovereigns at the same time won’t give you special access to new ritual spells, or discounts on the spells you can already access, but the secondary bonuses these skills provide mean you may want to take them anyway.
Eldritch Sovereigns also get unique access to a set of Signature Skills. These Signature Skills replacethe normal set a hired hero can access, and what you can choose from depends on how many Signature Skills you already have.
1
3
+1 Shadow
For the second and fourth Signature Skill slots, you get to choose between five Forgotten Tomes of Magic. Each Forgotten Tome gives you access to a different set of three abilities, but they otherwise work the same:
Eldritch Sovereign Items and Slots
The unique skills that Eldritch Sovereigns get are both useful and versatile, but this ruler type does have some downsides. This mostly has to do with the limitations they have for their item slots.
You can build Relics in the Item Forgeand give them any of the normal damage types, but they also have access to the unique Cosmic Damage. Cosmic Damage deals equal amounts of Lightning, Fire, and Frost damage, and a tier one Physical Relic deals 16 damage compared to the 18 total damage of a Cosmic Relic.
However, Relics have a pretty big disadvantage compared to normal magic weapons: its normal ranged attack requires three Actions, not one. This means you can’t move a single hex if you plan on attacking with your Relic (although you can use Eldritch Phase to teleport since it’s free). On the bright side, the Eldritch Sovereign gets so many special abilities that you probably won’t ever use the Relic to attack.
The Eldritch Sovereign ruler uses some completely new game mechanics, and they affect both combat and world map turns. Figuring out how to use them can be difficult, but mastering them can be incredibly rewarding.
