Armband of Ice

[wallydubbs]

Mithril... Nice throw-back to Lord of the Rings... Maybe Orc's Bane does glow blue.

[Kurgan]

I've decided that the Armband of Ice is the reward for completing BQP solo quest 3... and the reward for completing EQP solo quest 3 will be the Elven Bracers (and you can still get the Elven Chainmail for completing solo quest 1).

[Daedalus]

I guess Zargon (or Morcar) can add this as an artifact to some tomb or Treasure Chest along the way... possibly the Tomb Room in Solo Quest 3 The Rescue, or the unmarked chest in Quest 9 guarded by the gargoyle and a couple greenskins.

Although it is highly reasonable that the heroes find this in the unmarked chest, quest 9 comes so late in the game and would most likely be found on the final stretch where it would have very little use and no subsequent quest thereafter uses the cold spells or climate. . . .

Not including the stat-boosting Amulet of the North/Elven Bracers, there is a precedent for including the best artifact late in the EQP, Quest 9. The Elven Bow of Vindication is found in Room J, roughly halfway through the double Quest. The unmarked chest you refer to happens to be located about halfway between Quests 9 and 10 of the BQP, just before discovering the Crystal Key that must be found to get to the Frozen Horror. Coincidence? I think not!

I figure these two high-powered buffs were apparently intended to help with the final stretches of the extra-tough double-Quests, but no more.

[Kurgan]

That is very logical. I personally think the Elf needs it way before this so I'd be giving it out sooner, BUT the designers may have originally intended that and just had lost it in the shuffle as their deadline loomed..

[wallydubbs]

Though it's true that the Elven Bow of Vindication appears late in the Elven Quest Pack, it's justified as the weapon is limited to 4 arrows, each being a 1-shot kill. This is kinda overpowered but necessary due to the body points of Ogres and Giant Wolves. The card makers/quest designers had enough forethought to see that this could get mixed into another quest pack, leaving the very specific note that that weapon could ONLY be used in Mage of the Mirror.
I agree with Phoenix on the The Elven Bracers, these were more then likely meant to be the prize at the end of Quest 1 and would last the Elf indefinitely. But I understand if some players want to keep the Elven Chainmail and designate this to Quest 7.
However when it comes to the Armband of Ice, Quest 9 is very late in the game and the artifact probably doesn't get any use outside of the Barbarian Quest Pack, so I'd give this to the Barbarian for his solo quest achievements. The quest pack is already hard enough as is.

[lestodante]

I've decided that the Armband of Ice is the reward for completing BQP solo quest 3... and the reward for completing EQP solo quest 3 will be the Elven Bracers (and you can still get the Elven Chainmail for completing solo quest 1).

So if players wish to play directly the group quests they will miss these artifacts!

[j_dean80]

I've decided that the Armband of Ice is the reward for completing BQP solo quest 3... and the reward for completing EQP solo quest 3 will be the Elven Bracers (and you can still get the Elven Chainmail for completing solo quest 1).

So if players wish to play directly the group quests they will miss these artifacts!

I think quest 5 needs a special note.

[Kurgan]

A good point, a fully equipped group MIGHT elect to skip over those (supposedly) "beginner" quests. In that case, the most boring route would be to have Zargon put them as special treasures early in Quest 4 (similar to if the artifacts had been lost and stolen by monsters) in each respective pack.

I've played where I lure the single hero away from the main quest to do his side adventure, but it gets a little odd if he gets killed off in the process.

I think we've probably done at least one "the quest for the lost treasures" quest wherein a big cache of stuff is found on a side quest by the group, then back to the main campaign.

[Bareheaded Warrior]

Aside from the placement of the Armband of Ice, which I guess has now been rendered moot by the prequel, I have a question around the name of the artefact.

If the Armband of Ice counter-acts the effects of the Mind Freeze & Chill spells, ice vaults, icy rivers (the damage aspect alone I assume) and Ice Storm spells (partially), all of which represent damage caused by the new element of ‘ice’ (presumably replacing the ‘water’ element in our warmer realms) then why isn’t the Armband of Ice named the Armband of Warmth, like the potion or the ring, or Armband of Heat or Fire or even Armband of Ice Protection?

[wallydubbs]

Aside from the placement of the Armband of Ice, which I guess has now been rendered moot by the prequel, I have a question around the name of the artefact.

If the Armband of Ice counter-acts the effects of the Mind Freeze & Chill spells, ice vaults, icy rivers (the damage aspect alone I assume) and Ice Storm spells (partially), all of which represent damage caused by the new element of ‘ice’ (presumably replacing the ‘water’ element in our warmer realms) then why isn’t the Armband of Ice named the Armband of Warmth, like the potion or the ring, or Armband of Heat or Fire or even Armband of Ice Protection?

Probably because there's already a Ring of Warmth and the Armband appears to be more powerful. Neither Artifact specifies in what way the magic works. So we can deduce it from the words.
Ring of Warmth magically warms the wearer's core temperature, so natural external forces such as ice vaults and frozen rivers don't impede them.

The Armband of Ice goes more along with the Ring of Fire. As the Ring of Fire makes the wearer immune to Fire, the Armband of Ice doesn't necessarily warm the wearer, but just makes them immune to cold, icy climates and spells.
I don't believe the Ring and Potion of Warmth give the heroes immunity from Chill spells and such just the natural coldness of Ice Mountain.
But the Ring of Fire is specific about Fire spells and may also work in hot places like the Dwarven Forge.
It seems the Armband of Ice encapsulates cold climates and cold spells.