Machakan Spiders?
 

How in the world do you stop these guys without similar size troops? I've tried casting, but with a lack of air magic I don't have anything that is specifically targetable on them, plus it is very early in the game.

Re: Machakan Spiders?
 

Unless they are black hunter spiders with a huge bless then regular troops shouldnt have too much trouble dealing with them.

Re: Machakan Spiders?
 

F9N6 bless and Black Hunters....

I figured that since they don't have a great MR, I'd spam them with spells, but I haven't had any luck taking them down.

For the record, I'm Marignon.

Re: Machakan Spiders?
 

Paralyze should preferentially target the big spiders; try putting a couple Grand Masters behind your troops, casting this spell, and see if it shuts them down. You can increase their chances by giving them penetration-boosting items (spell focus, etc.)

Re: Machakan Spiders?
 

A few High Inquistors casting Smite should have an effect.

Re: Machakan Spiders?
 

Paralyze, smite, soul slay, even a couple of knights of the chalice(provided you get the charge with your knights) or a big group of greatswordsmen should do the trick. IIRC black hunters are 125 gold and quite a few resources each so you should easily outnumber him and alot of your troops do alot of damage so you should have alot less trouble than some other nations might.

Re: Machakan Spiders?
 

That might be the problem then, I was using pikeneers to try and fend off their trample. I have plenty of crossbowmen, but they didn't put a dent in them...

I've tried Men at Arms, Pikeneers, and Crossbowmen (set to target large monsters) and I don't think I took down a single spider.

Re: Machakan Spiders?
 

Since when did Hunter Spiders have trample?

Re: Machakan Spiders?
 

Black Hunter don't trample, so no worry there. On the other hand, they do have 20 prot, so getting through that is definitely going to require high damage weapons. Greatswordmen is probably your best bet. Crossbowmen in numbers should work too, but you will need numbers. Of knights, if you can get a good charge on them (but spiders charge back).

Part of your problem, I believe, is that once a Black Hunter dies, the spider keeps fighting (if you look closely, the rider disappears, and of course the stats change). And while the Black Hunter had only 13 hp, the spider has more, enough so that the Nature bless will really help. So, more greaswordmen, I guess (the protection does go down).

Black Hunters are 125 gold, 36 resources, sacred, and capital only, so you shouldn't see too many at a time.

Re: Machakan Spiders?
 

Yeah, pikeneers will repel a Charge attack nicely but they wont have the punch to get through thier armor unless the spiders get worn out.