Geneforge 4 Creation & Growth Comparisons

Updated 12/7/06 (revision 1)
by Slarty

Table 1: All Permanent, Ranged Creations -- Growth

This table makes a rough, but basically on target estimate at what level each creation would be at when the PC is at level 30, if you make the creation as soon as it's available (estimated under PC LV) with a shaping skill of 10 and as many levels of creation skill you can find at that point, and keep it around. All of the calculations beyond those estimations are exact. A few relevant strength boosts are also presented.

Average damage against several enemies is presented to give a practical representation of how resistance plays out. The Scout has generic, low resistances common to many enemies. The others are particularly annoying enemies with certain high resistances.

Table 2, below this, cuts out the suboptimal creations to make comparisons of the good ones easier. Note that melee creations have been left off of every table because they almost always suck. (Except maybe Glaahks, and if you use them it's not for their damage.)

Creation Basics Breath Attack
Creation Cost +2 Base LV PC LV LV 30 HP Energy Use Base Dmg. vs. Scout vs. Wingbolt vs. Golem vs. Pylon vs. Specter Ancillary Effects
Fyora 8 11 2+3 7 30 257 -- 40 30 40 12 12 40 --
Plated Artila 40 51 12+3 15 31 280 x8 41 30 8 24 28 41 Acid
Roamer 28 35 10+3 11 33 297 x13 49 36 9 29 34 49 Acid
Artila 12 17 4+2 7 31 250 x8 51 30 8 24 28 51 Acid
Cryoa 25 32 7+3 7 33 297 x22 64 48 64 6 6 0 --
Vlish 32 41 12+2 11 34 322 x9 64 48 12 38 44 64 Curse
Artila +5 32 37 4+2 7 31 250 x8 64 48 12 38 44 64 Acid
Roamer +6 61 68 10+3 11 33 297 x13 64 48 12 38 44 64 Acid
Cryoa +6 58 65 7+3 7 33 297 x22 85 63 85 8 8 0 --
Cryodrayk 90 111 28+3 26 43 522 x15 109 81 109 10 10 0 --
Drayk 60 75 24+1 22 39 440 -- 118 70 70 59 47 82 --
Kyshakk 125 152 25+2 22 41 862 x9 136 102 27 81 95 136 Electrify
Wingbolt 125 152 28+2 22 43 537 x10 179 134 35 107 125 179 --
War Trall 175 212 32+1 -- 43 762 -- 111 66 66 55 44 77 --
Drakon 183 222 32+1 -- 43 762 -- 183 109 109 91 73 128 --
Gazer 180 219 32+1 -- 43 642 x9 190 142 38 114 133 190 --
Ur-Drakon 220 267 35+3 -- 48 888 -- 262 157 157 131 104 183 Slow
Eyebeast 240 291 38+3 -- 51 950 x5 153 114 153 45 45 153 Hits All

Table 2: Best Creations -- Growth

I have highlighted attacks that are not very effective.

If you take the Magic Shaping path, every Magic Shaping creation does magic damage, which Wingbolts, Gazers, and so on resist heavily.

If you take the Fire Shaping path, you get Cryoas, which are less useful overall than Artila, and Roamers, an expensive Artila substitute. Drayks are awesome, though, as they do consistent damage to everything, are fairly cheap, have reasonable HP and never run out of energy. Kyshakks are excellent, with support from Drayks (for dealing with Wingbolts and their ilk). Recommended.

Creation Basics Breath Attack
Creation Cost +2 Base LV PC LV LV 30 HP Energy Use Base Dmg. vs. Scout vs. Wingbolt vs. Golem vs. Pylon vs. Specter Ancillary Effects
Artila 12 17 4+2 7 31 250 x8 51 30 8 24 28 51 Acid
Cryoa 25 32 7+3 7 33 297 x22 64 48 64 6 6 0 --
Vlish 32 41 12+2 11 34 322 x9 64 48 12 38 44 64 Curse
Artila +5 32 37 4+2 7 31 250 x8 64 48 12 38 44 64 Acid
Cryoa +6 58 65 7+3 7 33 297 x22 85 63 85 8 8 0 --
Drayk 60 75 24+1 22 39 440 -- 118 70 70 59 47 82 --
Kyshakk 125 152 25+2 22 41 862 x9 136 102 27 81 95 136 Electrify
Wingbolt 125 152 28+2 22 43 537 x10 179 134 35 107 125 179 --
Drakon 183 222 32+1 -- 43 762 -- 183 109 109 91 73 128 --
Ur-Drakon 220 267 35+3 -- 48 888 -- 262 157 157 131 104 183 Slow
Eyebeast 240 291 38+3 -- 51 950 x5 153 114 153 45 45 153 Hits All

Table 3: Disposable Creations

The calculations in this table instead assume that you are shaping a fresh creation. They assume a total bonus of +8, which should give a reasonable approximation of what you get with a small investment in the skill, wearing the right items, and buying all the available creation skill levels.

The lower-tier creations are not suited for disposable use, but the upper ones are. Drayks, for example, will only do about 5-10 damage less on average, across the board. Unstable Wingbolts and Burning Kyshakks are both very useful (and expensive). Cryodrayks also look more appealing, here.

Creation Basics Breath Attack
Creation Cost +2 Base LV +8 HP Energy Use Base Dmg. vs. Warrior vs. Wingbolt vs. Golem vs. Pylon vs. Specter Ancillary Effects
Fyora 8 11 10 52 -- 20 15 20 6 6 20 --
Cryoa 25 32 15 81 x15 32 24 32 3 3 0 --
Roamer 28 35 18 110 x8 42 31 8 25 29 42 Acid
Drayk 60 75 32 324 -- 103 61 61 51 41 72 --
Cryodrayk 90 111 36 393 x11 99 74 99 9 9 0 --
Kyshakk 125 152 33 672 x7 109 81 21 65 776 109 Electrify
Burning Kyshakk 160 195 36 433 x8 164 123 32 98 114 164 Electrify
Drakon 183 222 40 710 -- 178 106 106 89 71 124 --
Ur-Drakon 220 267 43 762 -- 245 147 147 122 98 171 Slow
War Trall 175 212 40 710 -- 107 64 64 53 42 74 --
Shock Trall 230 279 41 470 -- 214 128 128 107 85 149 --
Artila 12 17 12 49 x3 29 21 5 17 20 29 Acid
Plated Artila 40 51 20 145 x5 29 21 5 17 20 29 Acid
Vlish 32 41 20 130 x5 43 32 8 25 30 43 Curse
Charged Vlish 75 92 20 105 x5 43 32 8 25 30 43 Slow
Wingbolt 125 152 36 408 x9 163 122 32 97 114 163 --
Unstable Wingbolt 140 171 36 408 -- 156 117 156 46 46 156 --
Gazer 180 219 40 590 x9 185 138 37 111 129 185 --
Eyebeast 240 291 46 840 x5 142 106 142 42 42 142 Hits All