Not sexy?
Machaka priests are great!
* The Ear is stealthy +10 and carries a shortsword and has the fighting skill of an elite warrior. Preaching in enemy territory can be risky, though you can stick to borders and independent provinces and script Retreat.
* The Eye costs only as much as an independent priest, and can do all a priest can, but is
also an extremely skilled fighter armed with a two-handed flail! For players who find patrolling useful for various things, +15 patrol bonus for a unit with the upkeep cost of 2.5 regular troops is rather good, too. Leadership 25 isn't bad, either. An extremely versatile unit - can be a priest, a patrol squad, a commander, or a tough blessed fighter, whenever those roles are needed. Gotta be one of the best deals around, for players who notice.
* The Voice has holy 3, sacrificing, competent fighting skills, and leadership of 50! Rather useful.
* They all have forest survival.
Really very good all around.
Machaka is a great nation, and not difficult to figure out how to use well.
Ya the PD is flimsy, though it's also cheap cannon fodder since you get two per point. PD 5 is 15 gold for 10 regenerating cannon fodder, which is a good deal up to that point, and stacked with other units is useful. Eventually you can get spells which can make up for their lack of armor, too, at which point the unarmored units suddenly become more serious.
Blessed hunter spiders, and/or Hunter Lords with magic items, can be very potent. The ordinary spiders are also good - just a few can do a lot with their web.
PvK
[ April 30, 2004, 08:26: Message edited by: PvK ]