I have a question about Satyrs

[Saber Cherry]

Originally posted by Zen:
We all know Satyrs are useless. The morale alone makes them totally useless for fodder, even in big bunches they rout before they are worth their cost.

"Worth the cost" is important. Hmmm... maybe if they cost... 7 gold... they'd be good! Yes... yes... bwahahaHAHAHA!!!!

...Sounds good to me. Semicivilized bumkins always get confused signing contracts - shiny things distract them.

[Jasper]

After playing around a little more, it looks like I have to eat my words. Unarmored Satyrs _do_ have a use!

Those with Javelins are quite effective against independents during early expansion. While independent LI might be better, you can't build them right off. Those Javelins really pack a punch, and if you're carefull the tacAI won't target your Satyrs -- so their low protection and morale don't matter. Of course, one slip and your Satyrs are massacered, but this doesn't happen often against the predictable independents.

This tactic may also make for effective raiding in the mid-late game, where Satyr's stealth would make them far outclass LI.

[Arryn]

Originally posted by Jasper:
Those with Javelins are quite effective against independents during early expansion.

I wonder how effective they'd be if you tried it against indies when you set the indie value to 7+?

[Jasper]

Every bit as effective, you just use more. In fact, it probably works even better as with larger bunchs of troops a higher percentage of javelins hit.

IMHO there's not much point in playing with such high independent strength in single player however, as the AI opponents don't handle it well.

[Arryn]

Originally posted by Jasper:
IMHO there's not much point in playing with such high independent strength in single player however, as the AI opponents don't handle it well.

It slows me down, which is the point. The normal indies have many more troops and many of the provinces have exotic things like vampires and whatnot. The point is having a greater challenge. It also changes the complexion of the game when it becomes easier to knock off AI-controlled provinces than indie ones. The indies become effective buffer states, even for the AIs themselves.

Of course, everyone plays to their own style, and to have fun.

[Shuji Doyama]

I have recently played Pangaea with a dual9 medusa pretender. White centaurs with a lvl9 earth and nature blessing (berserk +6) become powerhorses, literally.
Sometimes I had satyrs with javelins on the rear, they protected my priests for the first two turns, then ran ahead to throw their javelins.

[ January 20, 2004, 10:28: Message edited by: Shuji Doyama ]

[Jasper]

Originally posted by Arryn:
It slows me down, which is the point. The normal indies have many more troops and many of the provinces have exotic things like vampires and whatnot. The point is having a greater challenge.

Independents 7+ is much less of a challenge than independents set to 5 or 6. When playing on 9 I typically found independents who had only conquered a few provinces, while my expansion was not greatly slowed.

[Jasper]

Originally posted by Shuji Doyama:
I have recently played Pangaea with a dual9 medusa pretender. White centaurs with a lvl9 earth and nature blessing (berserk +6) become powerhorses, literally.

I wasn't able to get that to work so well, due to the expense. Perhaps it's a bit easier now that Medusa starts with Dominion 2.

Sometimes I had satyrs with javelins on the rear, they protected my priests for the first two turns, then ran ahead to throw their javelins.

How do you get them to guard for two turns, and then throw javelines? I can only get them to stay still with "hold and attack", but then they don't fire.

[Shuji Doyama]

Well, it really costs alot, so I had to sacrifice... well, everything else. Since white centaurs do not require many resources, I have taken sloth3. To make up for the reduced income, I went for order/misfortune instead of hoarding maenads. Basic idea was a quick initial push, so I am thinking about a drain scale to buy growth, centaurs are expensive. A 9/9 pretender should be enough to research some basic spells (lvl4) even with Drain3.
Later in the game I hope to organize a massive bloodhunt for crafting soul contracts (exactly lvl4 research in construction, it can be achieved with my pretender God only).
For the satyrs, I have not managed to make them throw javelins after holding, so I had to put them far in the rear together with the priest so that it takes them at least two turns to get into the firing distance. The chances are that any troops sent to attack the rearmost enemy will spot them instead of the priest.

[ January 20, 2004, 16:29: Message edited by: Shuji Doyama ]

[NTJedi]

Originally posted by Jasper:
Really, if you're playing Pangaea stay away from the unarmored Satyrs.

I say stay away from Pangaea PERIOD ! Their archers are expensive and their mages are expensive. Perhaps someone might want to play the race if they want a challenging game.