I'm seeing a bright future for the Itxi Grubs, being able to add 3 to the casting roll after the spell has been cast is very usefull now, since if you fail a casting attempt that mage can't do anything anymore that magic phase, it's really anoyying if you roll and fail the first spell you want to cast and your expensive caster can't do anything, an example: I got 7 PD, my enemy 4 DD, I first try to cast the power up version of Melkoths Mystifying Miasma(10+), I'm confident because I have +4, but don't want to risk too much so i'll use 2 dice, I roll a 3 and a 1, resulting in 4 + 4 for caster level is 8, damn magic phase gone, your opponent is laughing because your expensive mage failed a phase, but you got Itxi Grubs(holy music here), adding 3 you got 11, now you got 5 dice left and can continue your phase, now cast Pit of Shades on the unit whose initiative has just been lowered by D3 See Itxi Grubs can change a failed phase into a productive one.
My only problem with the ixti grubs is they are an arcane item, and 99.9999% of the time i would rather have cupped hands on my expensive slann.
While Cupped Hands is awesome for your Slann you can still get Disciplines to help you out too so the grubs might not be a bad choice. Or perhaps you can put them with your second slann...
On the whole, I must agree with Shivan_Angel. The idea of using Itxi grubs tif you are strapped for points and powerdice is very Interresting, though. aK
I have considered the Grubs but decided not to take it on my particular Slann (Lore of Life). I took the Forbidden Rod instead. I don't want to lose a game because in the turn I really needed those D6+1 wounds or T8 Saurus I rolled low on the winds of magic roll. Its hard to fail to cast the spell when you have a power level of 3D6+4 anyway.
My trust in the cupped hands is gone. My last game, I re-rolled miscasts 4 times (curse the ring of hotek, darkeleves) and rolled a 1 EVERY single time on my cupped hands roll. But my itxi grubs have never failed me and i love them to death.
Hmmm this confused me in the new brb, Nowhere can I find a rule that says you can only have one arcane item,,,,, It's not in the army book either, has anyone see it or am I just being blind?
No, definately not. It was only after browsing through the BRB for a third time that I noticed it. If memory serves, the introduction to magical items contains a statement of this nature. Magical items interfere with each other, so any single character is entitled to one each of weapons, armour etc. Provided they are allowed such items in the first place, off course. The only exception are paired weapons, like the duelists blades.
Im really liking that forbidden rod, lets you have an extremely devastating magic phase, especially if you roll really low on the power/dispell dice roll.... Imagine your opponent getting 2 dispell dice to your like 7 (you roll two 2's and then a 3 for the rod)... If you take life the D3 wounds will get regenerated during that phase. Couple that with rumination they will get one dispell attempt, and more then likely wont make it if you throw three dice at the spell, making for a very painful magic phase. With life i can see dropping the cupped hands since throne of vines gives miscast protection. But i would definately want the discipline that lets me reroll the miscast table.