Also may be by design, but the Merge rune does work with buffs either (attempting to use Merge - Courage for example while on top of a cloud will not add the cloud's power to the buff). Like hoard, it works fine otherwise.
Hoard doesn't appear to work with spells that grant Courage (I'm too early in the game to test any other PC buffs there might be). I don't know if it's intended, but if it is that should be noted in-game.
Jesus, maxing out patriot and art of war and loading up on int with an all black samurai army is easy mode. God mode even. I just go do something else every time I initiate a battle.
I wonder if the other factions are like this
To kill the challenge 20 immortal:
Hit him with raid, tommy gun and blast'em at low enough health to kill him.
notes: I don't know for sure if you have to use all three, but I did, in that order. So blast'em may be enough. I also don't know if he has to be within each card's kill range, but he was when I did it so it's just the sure way.
My massive portal strategy: Place 3 mages on each side of the 4 squares areas. They'll stop anything from getting through while you build up money to put a mage at the first block in front of both spawns (by paving) If you have trouble just place the fourth as well.
Don't upgrade until you're through with fire. Once you're done with fire, make the two entrance campers cold, and split the others (2 of each on each side) between poison and cold. (I've tried all cold and getting past the poison flying bugs is just too ugh).
But try to pave the second block in front of the spawn points and put a warrior in each block, after you have all mages placed but before upgrading any if you can. Make them physica/consecrate, also make them archers. As for the mages, I went destructor and strictly damage. Final upgrades won't matter.
Only lost a few lives, so hopefully this'll help anyone else having trouble with massive portal. I must have tried dozens of times before I got a working strategy.
The description for Splash Damage cuts off for me. "If splash is already chosen, then" and it stops. What does happen if you stack splash? More damage? More range?
 "Tower of the Archmage"){kind=icon}
 "Feudalism"){kind=icon}
 "The Necronomicon"){kind=icon}
 "Protector III"){kind=icon}