Should improving Arcoscephale Golden Era be a priority?

[PvK]

With better research, GE Arco will summon the Air Queen (or whatever) sooner. It's not just what you do, but when you do it.

GE is not "troopless" - it's just not the only good ability. I made good use of 5-6 Myrmidons with 6 extra cardaces and the starting force (and [cough] Shedu - but use Nataj or whatever you prefer), in conquering level 5 independents, for example. Only one died, and by the time the others had some afflictions, I had two priestesses and several times as many replacement myrmidons and fliers ready. I had much better luck with these than I did with regular Arco's Hoplites and Hypaspists, but then, I come from an Ulm/Mictlan/Machaka background, I guess, so my battlefield setup may be different from others'.

I would also tend to make some demi-SC's out of the wind lords by adding some items to them. Add a few Icarians for flying semi-fodder to give them the critical mass to overwhelm targets, and time to arrive at the same time as the infantry. Peltasts get Fire Closest orders, so they stay behind the Cardaces and Myrmidons, throwing javelins and usually not getting into enemy axe range.

Meanwhile Mystics accumulate elemental skills, and forge some Astral boost items (skullcap, banner ...) and research astral/magic boost spells, and/or use Astral pretender so that an Astral thug accompanies mage armies once enemies might use cheap astral duellers - then duels hit the strongest target, and either lose, or are taking a big gamble. Astral and various elemental magics do their things.

Use Pretender or site mages to provide other magic paths if desired.

Etc.

PvK