Generals and outrunning their own bodyguards

[NTJedi]

Pnakotus said:
Is there a way to restrict a fast general to stay with a unit? I enjoy heroes slicing up the enemy at the front line, but if they're mounted, or even worse FLYING they'll almost always outrun their guards unless you've got equal speed units. In the early game it'd be nice to have an uber hero actually stay with the heavy infantry or whatever: I haven't been able to concoct a system of orders that achieve this.

And yes, I ask because in my last game my best hero got the 'action points' hall of fame thing, and now outruns the cavalry that used to guard him.

If the hero is good enough he doesn't command any men because when the men die the commander retreats... even province defense which retreats can cause him to run away. For strong commanders that I place with guards usually I give him a good selection for example:
2 flyers, 1 mounted type, 2 with AP around 12, and 3 very slow guards. Also if I really want the commander to stick around in battle I'll place a few living statues way in the back with a hold and attack command.

[Pnakotus]

My comments all refer to early game. As others have mentioned, in mid or late game its easy to buff the *** out of leaders: at the start it isn't. Without magic, most pretenders are just prot10 hp100 losers who go down under 40-50 hvy inf. I remember the first time I used one, assuming it was like in all other fanatasy games... and my naivetiy was somewhat shattered

[alexti]

In early game I can't afford regular commanders (gold-wise and time-wise). You can get about 3 units for the price of one commander (with very similar stats). So I'd rather buy a mage and 3 units. Which commanders do you find useful to buy and use as a melee combatants?

[Pnakotus]

I find most of the cavalry commanders to be useful as early-item based stiffening to the flankers. I guess since I seem to use SCs less than others and have a bizarre need to level up characters I encounter this issue more often than others.

But I guess the answer to my original question is 'no'.

[PvK]

alexti said:
In early game I can't afford regular commanders (gold-wise and time-wise). You can get about 3 units for the price of one commander (with very similar stats). So I'd rather buy a mage and 3 units. Which commanders do you find useful to buy and use as a melee combatants?

Blessed TC Prince Generals, Ulmish commanders with cheaply-forged items, Machakan Hunter Spiders ...

PvK

[Ironhawk]

Don't forget the vans!