[Wauthan]

Don't fall for the idea that enough items makes a supermelee monster. The battlefields of Dominions 2 are littered with the bones of wellequipped commanders set to "attack closest". The only way to create a meleemonster is to start with a meleemonster and make it even more terrible. Nature got an edge here with both "Transformation" and "Gift of Reason". Both these spells can net you a very powerful melee commander if you are lucky or stubborn enough.

The best commander is a spellcaster because it is spells that shapes the battlefield, slays the enemy and protects your troops. In order to do this they need time. And endurance, so don't be cheap on the reinvigoration items. Meleefighters are just that, additional time for the spellcasters to cast and recover.

With that in mind focus on giving all your basic leaders, scouts included, some kind of spellcasting ability. If all your choices are either uncomfortable, like a dragonhelmet wearer bLasting your own troops, or useless, like a skulltalisman wearer animating undead that never reach the frontline, then give the commander a missileweapon instead. Scouts are a cheap way to add more artillery power to an army if you got artifacts to spare.

Since meleefighter are just supposed to buy time focus on defence and staying power over offence. That said a Dagon or Vampire Queen can level an entire army all by themselves with the right equipment. But you never know when one of those pesky militia will get a lucky blow.

[ January 08, 2004, 11:31: Message edited by: Wauthan ]