Please Help Me Tune My Man

Teleolurian · #1 December 11th, 2003, 07:52 PM

Charm seems like it would be most effective versus the quality-troop nations, i.e. Abysia, Jotunheim, and maybe Ulm. Well, maybe I'm just thinking Ulm because of their low MR. After having read this thread, I can certainly see adjusting my on-the-fly strategy to take advantage of this spell if I find myself neighboring one of these nations.

Hellbind Heart also sounds great, but for Man would require branching into blood. Is it more effective than Charm, or is it just the lower research cost and the fact that it requires easy-to-harvest slaves?

Saber Cherry · #2 December 11th, 2003, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by apoger:
>I've forgotten "Mass Protection".

I find it's only really useful when you have a mass of very low protection troops (like maenads). If your army already has good armor the boost is almost nothing.

Ummm... you've tested this? If you have prot-13 HI, as Man often does, the equation is 10+13+(10*13/40)=19.75 (rounds up to 20). 20 protection HI are incredibly good, and that's a hefty +7 bonus. Much more valuable than raising a 0-prot unit up to 10 protection.

Even Ulm benefits. Protection-18 Ulm HI goes to 24, a +6 bonus, as opposed to the +3 bonus from Legions of Steel. Or in addition, if you prefer

-Cherry

Taqwus · #3 December 11th, 2003, 08:06 PM

If memory serves, Mass Protection = Mass Barkskin, and Barkskin only gives a single +1 PROT once above a certain threshold.

Saber Cherry · #4 December 11th, 2003, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Taqwus:
If memory serves, Mass Protection = Mass Barkskin, and Barkskin only gives a single +1 PROT once above a certain threshold.

Common misperception=)

Barkskin gives 10 natural protection or +1 natural protection, whichever is greater. So units with 0 natural protection and 10 armor protection get 10 natural protection and 10 armor protection, which sum to 18. The forumla:

N=natural, A=armor, T=total

T=(N+A-(N*A/40)), rounded up.

apoger · #5 December 11th, 2003, 08:23 PM

>You forgot that his troops often leave the battle.

I have no idea what this means. A reference to the charmed often perishing due to proximity to the enemy troops?

>Thats why I like rushing for hellbind heart if Im using blood.

Hellbind Heart is also good, and is what you use if you have blood magic. However it requires a blood slave and has a fatigue cost of 100. Not nearly as castable as Charm (no gem cost, 30 fatigue), or even Enslave Mind (no gem cost, 20 fatigue, 100 range!).

LordArioch · #6 December 11th, 2003, 08:37 PM

I would have to agree about mass protection being overlooked...most infantry gain at least +6 prot from it. It raises 15 -> 22 protection if I remember right, and that's by no means a bonus to be overlooked.

Gandalf Parker · #7 December 11th, 2003, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gandalf and replied to by apoger:

quote:
>You forgot that his troops often leave the battle.

I have no idea what this means. A reference to the charmed often perishing due to proximity to the enemy troops?

I like to use mine against commanders. Either with flyers or assassins or by snatching the commanders with whirlwind. Sometimes an enemy commander has 100 troops or an enemy mage has a dozen nasty summons. If you snatch the commander from them then when you attack, those troops rout. Beautiful sight to see.