Blessed Sacred Troops: what is YOUR view/favorite?

[Endoperez]

archaeolept said:

that's a rather strong claim. Serious bless strats for mictlan date back almost four years.

His first post was on June 16th 2004, suggesting double bless for Mictlan. It was in a thread Tinkthank made about Mictlan being very weak, and in which Graeme Dice, PvK and Norfleet (of posters with 2000+ posts) didn't mention double-bless spesifically. Teraswaerto used a F9 single bless.

It seems he's actually right!

[Ninave]

My favourite blessed troops are LA Tien'Chis Ancestor Vessels. They are good as-is, but with something like quickness, little defence/protection and offencive (fire/death) they are just lovable.

[Cerlin]

My favorite bless is EA Agartha, even though this faction seems underused they are my favorite by far. Give the giants, which can be built anywhere, a E9 bless with F4 and at least N4 and you have powerful weapons. Added to this your already great mages just got that much better when it comes to casting. Magma Eruption ad infinitum is pretty amazing to see, even with low precision. That doesnt even count if you add Earth Reinvig items to said mages, it just keeps getting better.

[Agema]

I'm playing EA Agartha in a newbie MP currently with a heavy bless strategy. I don't know you need a huge Nature bless, and I seriously recommend a Fire bless so they can actually hit anything.

One thing I did pass on was the Earth bless, which I'm regretting in cold provinces, seeing how quickly their cold-blooded bodies fatigue when it's not temperate.

[Maraxus]

I like the Nifel Giants.

The only question for me is: How much nature?

Getting a good Earth/Nature bless with Niefelheim and okay scales is tough. Earth 9 seams like a good idea because reinvigoration and protection are needed.
So is the 4th point of Nature. That regeneration is quite good allready and -iirc- reduces the number of afflictions you suffer. So you have Earth 9, Nature 4 and quite good scales to do some really fast recruiting in the beginning, like:
Round 1: 2 Giants, troops set to patrol, scout is made prophet.
Round 2: 1 Niefel Jarl
Round 3: Jarl and Giants on "Guard commander" and Prophet move out, 2 more Giants
Round 4: 1 Niefel Jarl, 1 Giant
Round 5: Jarl with 3 Giants on Guard commander move out.
...
Every second round another Jarl with 2 or 3 Giant gets ready, what should be enough to fight independants without looses (make sure it's really cold, when you attack Barbariens, though). Against opponents have 2 of your teams join, use mercs or cheap independants to siege the castle.

Your research will start late, focuss on:
Enchantment 1: Breath of Winter
Alteration 4: Wolven Winter, quickness
Construction: Nice stuff
Alteration 6: Sould Vortex

At this point, you should be in the mid-game. Jotun Hirdman make a major part of the troops. Niefel Giants, in bigger packs, run around with much priest and some mage support, Niefel Jarls make thugs in troops of 1 to 4

[llamabeast]

You want to go E9N9 with Niefel giants I reckon. That way they regenerate insanely fast and never run away.

[sector24]

There was a long post about Niefelheim's ideal bless, I don't think any consensus was reached. Some players love N9+ for the huge regeneration and berserk. Others say if you take E8+ you don't need such high regeneration. Others advocated a Water/Nature bless.