Best (for the price) recruitable commander?

[Coffeedragon]

I like the Bards a lot.

At first I thought they look quite useless. But then I learned they can:

-Cast Spell Songs
-Summon Horned Serpents
-(With a Green Gem) cast Panic
-Improve Morale by just being there
-Search for Nature Sites
-Gain Experience fast
-Switch to Research at peacetime

And, at 75 Gold, unlike the high end leaders, they are expendable.

[moodgiesanta]

Mictlan Priests, the lowest level ones. They can harvest blood, and they cost only 40 gold and a few resources. Good stuff.

[PhilD]

Originally posted by Coffeedragon:
I like the Bards a lot.

At first I thought they look quite useless. But then I learned they can:

-Cast Spell Songs
-Summon Horned Serpents
-(With a Green Gem) cast Panic
-Improve Morale by just being there
-Search for Nature Sites
-Gain Experience fast
-Switch to Research at peacetime

And, at 75 Gold, unlike the high end leaders, they are expendable.

They are my primary researchers when I play the Tuatha theme (most of my Man games to date), but I'm now playing a basic Man game, and the Daughter of Avalon beats the Bard (she's home province only, though). She has one more Nature, and is Sacred, which is good in a mass-produced commander.

For battlefield presence... the Bard is good, but I'll miss the Nature 2. I admit I'm not using the Stealth too much, as I like Longbowmen too much; Man is clearly missing a stealthy Version of the Longbowman

[Pocus]

Originally posted by moodgiesanta:
Mictlan Priests, the lowest level ones. They can harvest blood, and they cost only 40 gold and a few resources. Good stuff.

cost 80 gold, but still a very good price.

[Pocus]

One of my preferred leader is the Marignon initiate (65 gold) in a magic scale Marignon.

I like also to use them in battle, for 2 spells:

bond of fire, to pin down big creatures
will o wisp (one gem) which are very interesting units because of etheralness and high defence. Sure if they are hit, they die, but until then they can waste quite a number of attacks from enemy infantries.

But perhaps the Pythium Theurg is even more impressive : holy, cheap etheralizer, can cast starfires and communion.

[Leif_-]

Originally posted by Coffeedragon:
[QB] I like the Bards a lot.

At first I thought they look quite useless. But then I learned they can:

-Cast Spell Songs
-Summon Horned Serpents
-(With a Green Gem) cast Panic

[SNIP] Don't forget:
- Cast Protection
- Cast Swarm
- Instigate unrest (well, I've never been able to actually use that ability in any useful way, but I'm sure that's my fault and not the bards'.)

[Goad]

Instigate unrest (well, I've never been able to actually use that ability in any useful way, but I'm sure that's my fault and not the bards'.)

with ten or a dozen spies/bards in enemy capital, you can deprive him of his capitol-only unique units, and/or his biggest income province. The AI never seems to catch on to this trick. Put stone idols or that disease thing on them, too. Wipe out the population of his capitol with disease/unrest/patrolling & he gets no more or very limited special units for the rest of the game.