[PvK]

Originally posted by tinkthank:
OK, thank you. I almost never use my commanders as warriors, so that is my problem. Perhaps they are sexier than I thought. I just hate having my commanders die or get seriously wounded as a tradeoff for killing 2-3 enemy light infantry, and it seems that is what happens when I have commanders fight. That is why I almost invariably purchase mage-type commanders, never the "standard" type of centurion-leader. This, I suppose, is my problem in general.
I'll try your ideas out.
So do you forge them all items, or what?
Thank you.

I think many players don't use many fighter-commanders unless they are going all-out for a supercombatant. I tend to like making thugs, but I think either approach is valid.

When I mention that some of the Machaka priests have good fighting skills, that doesn't mean I send them into hand-to-hand combat often, nor do many of mine have magic items. I was just listing what makes them interesting and versatile. However if for example you had to banish a lot of undead, some of your Eye priests could get a lot of experience. Added on top of level-12 base fighting skills, they could be given some armor and perhaps other toys and suddenly be quite tough, especially if you have some bless effects.

Or, their skills can just be good for self-defense. Ordinary priests die when caught be some pesky unit that snuck into the rear, but an Eye priest may be able to take them out.

The Hoplite Commanders have good equipment already. So do the Hunter Lords, but when you add a few items to your Hunter Lords, possibly combined with bless effects and/or spells, they can start to be very potent melee units. One of mine just did in several Ulm cavalry and Guardians in a massive knock-down drag-out MP battle. The cheap cannon fodder and plant summons did their job of dying and absorbing enemy attacks, occupying and tiring the enemy. The Hoplites held the field, probably thanks to many castings of Fanatacism by my Voice Prophet (who died).

PvK