The Celestial Empire of T'ien Ch'i is ancient. Since the founding of the Empire, peace has reigned and a Bureaucracy of great efficiency has evolved. Ministers and officials chosen by skill rather than birth govern the Empire. The Emperor and his family are considered divine, but are not involved in the administration. The cavalry of T'ien Ch'i is well known and the infantry is varied and versatile. The eunuchs who run the Bureaucracy are able to conscript troops for the defense of provinces as part of the taxes due to the Emperor. A magic tradition called The Way is practiced by hermits and scholars in the kingdom. Prominent Masters of the Way come to the Heavenly Gate in the capital to be ordained as Celestial Masters. These mage-priests can summon heavenly beings from the Celestial Sphere to serve the Empire.
"T'ien Ch'i is obviously influenced by China…. Chinese history is rich and there is plenty to draw upon. Daoism and its five elements, inner alchemy, and quest for longevity inspired the Masters of the Way as did the T'ien Shih—celestial master—of institutional Daoism convert into the Celestial Master of T'ien Ch'i. Heroes come in plenty in the Chinese tales and the Seven Immortals are all interesting figures. Sun Wukong and his friends are perhaps even more so. There is plenty of stuff to expand on should I or a merry modder find the time. Finally, T'ien Ch'i has been inspired by movies from Hong Kong, China, and Korea" – Illwinter
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Magic Access | Alt. Access | Unit Summary | Core Abilities | Buildings |
---|---|---|---|---|
3 (Rare 4) 2 (Rare 3) 2 (Rare 3) 2 (Rare 3) 2 (Rare 3) 2 (Rare 3) 2 (Rare 3) 2 | Heroes 11232 222 Summons 13150% 50% 25% (req. 2) | Cavalry Heavy Infantry Archers Crossbows Conscription | Fortune Teller Spring Power Alchemy Immortal Heroes | Standard Fortresses |
Capitol Gems: 1112
Order Limit + 1
Misfortune Limit + 1
Sprite | Unit Name | Special Attributes | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Scout 35 4 1 | Stealthy (50) Mountain Survival Forest Survival | Commentary here. | |
Imperial Consort 95 1 2 | Stealthy (70) Spy | Commentary here. | |
Eunuch 45 5 1 | Defence Organizer Patrol Bonus (15) Tax Collector | Commentary here. | |
General 110 52 1 | Skilled Rider (2) Mobile Archer | Commentary here. | |
Armored Steppe Horse | Animal | Commentary here. | |
Ceremonial Master 65 3 1 | 1 Sacred Fortune Teller (10) | Commentary here. | |
Minister of Rituals 100 5 2 | 2 Sacred Fortune Teller (10) Bringer of Fortune (2) | Commentary here. | |
Apothecary 90 2 2 | 17 Poison Resistance (5) Disease Healer (1) Supply Bonus (10) | Commentary here. | |
Imperial Geomancer 90 4 2 | 119 Fortune Teller (10) Old Age | Commentary here. | |
Minister of Magic 90 4 2 | 1100% 10%11 | Commentary here. | |
Alchemist of the Five Elements 120 2 2 | 11100% 10%9 Poison Resistance (10) Disease Healer (1) Supply Bonus (10) Alchemy (25) | Commentary here. | |
Master of the Way 190 1 2 Recruit Anywhere | 111100%9 Sacred Need Not Eat | Commentary here. | |
Prince General 335 55 2 Capital Only | Sacred Spring Power (50) Skilled Rider (2) | Commentary here. | |
Cataphracted War Horse | Sacred Animal | Commentary here. | |
Imperial Alchemist#1892 315 4 4 Capital Only | 111121100% 10%19 Poison Resistance (10) Disease Healer (2) Supply Bonus (20) Alchemy (50) | Commentary here. | |
Celestial Master 415 5 4 Capital Only | 1211121100% 10%19 Sacred Need Not Eat | Commentary here. |
Sprite | Unit Name | Special Attributes | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Footman 10 9 9 | Commentary here. | ||
Footman 10 11 9 | Commentary here. | ||
Footman 10 11 9 | Commentary here. | ||
Archer 10 12 9 | Commentary here. | ||
Ministry Guardsman 12 14 14 | Patrol Bonus (1) | Commentary here. | |
Imperial Footman 13 20 16 | Commentary here. | ||
Imperial Archer 13 21 16 | Commentary here. | ||
Imperial Crossbowman 13 21 16 | Commentary here. | ||
Imperial City Guard 14 20 18 | Patrol Bonus (2) | Commentary here. | |
Imperial Guard 15 23 21 | Bodyguard (4) | Commentary here. | |
Horseman 25 17 24 | Skilled Rider (1) Mobile-archer | Commentary here. | |
Heavy Horseman 25 27 24 | Skilled Rider (1) Mobile-archer | Commentary here. | |
Imperial Horseman 30 40 36 | Skilled Rider (1) | Commentary here. | |
Armored Steppe Horse | Animal | Commentary here. | |
Red Guard 50 55 46 Capital Only | Sacred Spring Power (50) Skilled Rider (2) | Commentary here. | |
Cataphracted War Horse | Sacred Animal | Commentary here. |
Sprite | Unit Name | Special Attributes | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Ho Hsien-Ku - Immortal | 1211 Sacred Immortal Supply Bonus (20) Healer (1) Ethereal Flying Female | Commentary here. | |
Lu Tung-Pin - Immortal | 1123219 Sacred Immortal Ambidextrous (3) Flying | Commentary here. | |
Li T'ieh-Kuai - Master With The Iron Crutch | 22217 Sacred Immortal Fear (7) Old-Age (865\500) Spirit Sight Plague Carrier (5) Start Affliction (100) | Commentary here. |
: Sacred, Magic Being, Need-Not-Eat, Spirit-Sight
Summon Spell | Unit | Special Attributes | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Celestial Servant (Conjuration 1) 11 and 1 | Celestial Servant | Gluttony (3) | Commentary here. |
Ambush of Tigers (Conjuration 3) 2 and 9 | Tiger x 15+ | Darkvision (50%) Undisciplined Animal Forest Survival | Commentary here. |
Herd of Buffaloes (Conjuration 3) 2 and 8 | Buffalo x 5+[1/2 lvl] | Berserker (2) Animal Trample | Commentary here. |
Celestial Hounds (Conjuration 4) 11 and 2 | Celestial Hound x 2 | Resist Shock (15) Patrol Bonus (10) Animal Flying | Commentary here. |
Contact Huli Jing (Conjuration 6) 2 and 30 | Huli Jing ⇔ Huli Jing | 13150% 50% 25% 15 Stealth (80) Magic Power (1) Supply Bonus (10) Animal Forest Survival Mountain Survival [Fox Form] Spy [Humanoid Form] Female Shapechanger (Huli Jing ⇔ Huli Jing) | Commentary here. |
Call Celestial Soldiers (Conjuration 7) 21 and 15 | Celestial Soldier x 6 | Commentary here. | |
Living Mercury (Enchantment 5) 11 and 6 | Living Mercury | Resist Poison (25) Poison Cloud (5) Blind Fighter (1) Affliction Resistance (99) Slash Resistance Blunt Resistance Pierce Resistance Magic Being Inanimate Amphibious Need Not Eat Mindless Spirit Sight Spiritform Shapechange Below HP (105) (Living Mercury) | Commentary here. |
See Magic Access. These guides supplement the summaries at the top.
2 Imperial Alchemist (1 in 4) needs a level of empowerment to potentially make the unique The Ruby Eye and another level to make a Flame Helmet.
Both Celestial Master and Imperial Alchemist can have 2, but an 2 Celestial Master (1 in 5), with a Astral booster may make the unique Tome of High Power. Even with it, empowerment is needed climb higher.
3 Celestial Master (1 in 5) has an easy climb. With one easy to make Water booster can attempt the unique Orb of Atlantis. With Fire boosters, can make a Staff of Elemental Mastery.
Both Celestial Master and Imperial Alchemist can have 2. The 2 Imperial Alchemist (1 in 4) can attempt the unique The Tome of Gaia. With lots of boosters to get to 44, (and maybe an Air random instead of an Earth random because Air boosters are tough to get to), either can make a Staff of Elemental Mastery. Celestial Master has the right crosspaths for the unique Atlas of Creation.
2 Celestial Master (1 in 5) is the highest available. Celestial Masters have the right crosspaths for a Coin of Meteoritic Iron, the unique Tome of High Power, (both reasonably easy to get), the unique The Trapped Dreams of Hruvur, and the unique Atlas of Creation, (much harder).
The hero, Lu Tung-Pin - Immortal, has 3. It has the crosspaths to make the unique Tome of High Power, but, considering that the easiest Air booster to get is the Tome of High Power, it isn't very helpful.
No recruitable access. The hero, Li T'ieh-Kuai - Master With The Iron Crutch, has 2.
14 (a 1 Celestial Master (1 in 5) with three Glamour boosters), can Summon Fay Prince in Cold for 1 or cast Faerie Court in Cold for a 1 in 2 chance of 2.
3 can cast Forest Troll Tribe for at least 1.
2 Imperial Alchemist (1 in 4) is the highest available and with an Earth booster, (or just use an 2 Imperial Alchemist (1 in 4)), can make the unique The Tome of Gaia. A (path>N1}} Celestial Master (1 in 5) with two Nature boosters can make a Moonvine Bracelet.
2 Celestial Master (1 in 5), with Earth Boots and a Gossamer Veil, can make a Mirage Crystal. A 1 Celestial Master, with three Glamour boosters and a Fire booster, may make the unique The Sword of Many Colors. (The third Glamour booster is the difficult one to get.) The Celestial Masters also have the right crosspaths for the unique The Trapped Dreams of Hruvur, but getting all the needed boosters is rough.
2 can Contact Hull Jing for 3.
No national access. 5 can Awaken Treelord for a 1 in 3 chance of a stationary 1.
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