Cavemen

[Saulot]

Cavemen - 17 str = 2.9 siege strength or 13.8 gold per siegepoint.

Basic human infantry - 10 str = 1 siege strength or 10 gold per siegepoint.

Like Tuidjy says, unless you have supply problems, never worth it, and even then, not really.

[K]

They have partial cold and fire immunity. Combine them in the late game with the spells that grant your troops partial immunity and armoring spells, and you've got a crack squad of late-game troopers that can survive massive Evoking.

[Digress]

Don't they have 8 MR ? And no armour to buff ?

Might reduce their survivability in the late game a touch.

[K]

Digress said:
Don't they have 8 MR ? And no armour to buff ?

Might reduce their survivability in the late game a touch.

Spells like Wooden Warriors or Army of Lead give units a set armor number, so I don't think I understand your question.

And the MR 8 is a weakness, but nothing is perfect. The fact that you can use Mass Regeneration and use them with a heavy evoking strategy more than makes up for it. I mean, if you send a few thugs to attack rear you can draw MR-targetting spells off the weaker units. Its basic strategy.

[Digress]

I just think describing them as a "crack squad" might be a bit generous.

I am not suggesting that their hitpoints and resistances aren't useful - but in the mid to late game I really like higher MR.

[Sombre]

Given the cost I still don't think they're worth it. In the late game the gold would be better spent on mages.

[cleveland]

K said:
They have partial cold and fire immunity. Combine them in the late game with the spells that grant your troops partial immunity and armoring spells, and you've got a crack squad of late-game troopers that can survive massive Evoking.

50% fire resistance also makes them a viable counter to an early fire-9 bless rush.

[Sombre]

Except the bless troops would still muderise the hell out of them (just slightly slower) since they suck at fighting and they cost a lot. So not much of a counter.

[Renojustin]

yeah, basically a totally useless troop.

[Kristoffer O]

IIRC they are made cheaper in the upcoming patch.