Who likes a scout as first prophet?

[Griefor]

I usually just have my very first commander become a prophet, while my scout goes off scouting and I build some more troops.

I feel this is most useful for the start, helping my early expansions.

Still, I'm a newbie at this and I have not currently got a good idea of when to kill my prophet to make place for a superior candidate, which does seem important as that first commander does not really make the best possible use of all the bonuses being a prophet gives.

[Sombre]

Depends on the nation. One thing is for sure; you shouldn't wait too long to make a prophet.

[QXel]

Definitely not me.

I prefer either my first commander, or more likely if it is possible, one of my low-level mages, so I can boost him with Crystal Shield in mid-game (with a lot of reinvigoration items );not one of my best high-level mages, because you must choose either smiting or casting usefull spells.

P.S. : I only play SP games, for fun, and nothing else. So, don't see anything über-strategic-advice in all of it

QXel

[fantasma]

If I want to patrol my capital the first turn, I use the scout. If I have H3 priests, I make one of them my prophet. Otherwise the starting commander.

[Twan]

I make my scout prophet only if I want to use the first commander as patroler when I tax 140 my cap the first turn(s).

But I only do that with some nations needing a lot of gold early, ie elephants/giants nations, and if I don't have high growth (overtaxing with death is just getting gold and killing pop faster, overtaxing with growth is reducing a long term exponential bonus).

[Edratman]

Starting commander 95% of the time. Never the scout. I do not use anyone without leadership.

[Karlem]

I usually patrol with commander and scout=profet. And use profet for first battles but have him ready to go for a dom kill or whatever is needed (reanimating or similar). Unless as always there is a H3 priest available.

[MaxWilson]

I find that Sermon of Courage + Smite is valuable enough that I usually prophetize my starting commander instead of patrolling on the first turn. I usually don't prophetize the scout unless it's vital that I get more gold on the first turn (thus, patrolling + prophet is required), which is for gold-hungry nations like Niefelheim. Even so I am usually dissatisfied with the scout prophet--it just doesn't seem thematic in many cases.

-Max

[Salamander8]

Sombre said:
Depends on the nation. One thing is for sure; you shouldn't wait too long to make a prophet.

Agreed. I'm guilty of waiting too long at times myself, but certain nations I really like to make a big expensive commander as my prophet. This is both for survivability and of course the cost issue. Mind Lords are a prime example for me. They are not normally sacred and at 420 a pop that's 28 gold to maintain one of these big fishies! It takes a couple of turns to get one of these guys out though.

[NTJedi]

The prophet always goes to a commander or expensive powerful mage... never the scout. I usually select the starting commander about 70% of the time. One benefit of a prophet is the upkeep is removed.

Also I'm usually able to get my prophet into the hall of fame even for MP games, thus if he survives awhile and then dies I can use ritual of rebirth. The ritual of rebirth is more worthwhile on a someone who returns with magic paths plus H3.

I guess for scout types with high stealth the prophet trait can be useful long term.