Re: H2 priests: Why, when, how?
 

Yes, it does depend. That's why I said 'often'.

By the way, in the short term the 2 H1 priests are less likely to affect enemy dominion than the single H2 priest (36% chance of no change, as opposed to 30%). And if you're worried about cost effectiveness, a temple plus two H1 priests costs rather more than a single H2 priest.

Re: H2 priests: Why, when, how?
 

The real cost of an H2 priest is usually not building a national mage for a turn.

Re: H2 priests: Why, when, how?
 

Too true. I can only think of one site that gives them as recruitables.

Re: H2 priests: Why, when, how?
 

That is hardly a fair comparison, is it? :) Compare a H2 vs two H1 priests with no temple present, and you are at least in the correct ballpark ;) The H2 priest btw becomes more effective under those conditions if there are 3 or more hostile candles.

But as has been pointed out already, if you could recruit a H2 priest, you would usually be able to recruit a H3 priest (or mage) instead (unless there H3 priest is capital only). And H3 priests are way nicer (Smite in addition to SoC) than H2 priests, which further limits their usefullness.


I wonder how useful H2 priests would in general be as thug chassis with some nice bless. I wonder how far for example C'tis High Priests would get with their ~10 HP :D Slap on some armour and a weapon, cast bless and holy avenger, while being buffed by Shamans (Body Etheral, Luck) and wade in :p

Re: H2 priests: Why, when, how?
 

A thug/sc chassis with H2 gets holy avenger which is a good buff sometimes. Like on the Marble oracles for example.

Re: H2 priests: Why, when, how?
 

That could work sometimes, but many nations also have sacred mages. C'tis Shamans, as an example.

Re: H2 priests: Why, when, how?
 

Yeah, but the Shamans aren't H2 priests. In fact, they are not priests at all :)

Re: H2 priests: Why, when, how?
 

I have to admit the only time I'd normally buy H2 mages is if I'm going to be fighting Ermor or a similarly undead-wielding nation. Otherwise, indy H1 priests do most of what I'd want (unless I found a High Temple or whatever the site is called - I'd exploit one of those for everything it's worth).

Re: H2 priests: Why, when, how?
 

To bless your sacreds? ;)

Re: H2 priests: Why, when, how?
 

Actually, that is quite a nice use for them (if you can't get H3s, ofc). Thing is, a lot of the nations I've played have had priest/mages with H2, so it hasn't been an either/or choice for me so far.