Midgard Vans

[hEad]

Got a game coming up playing Midgard and though it a good idea to have a look at them.

Regarding the Vans, it says that they have as weapons a light lance, hoof and javelin. Now, from what I can gather, a lance is used only on the first attack in a combat so does this mean that for the rest of the fight the Vans attack consists solely of a hoof? (almost a pun…)

Have I got this all wrong? Or does a “light” lance continue to be used as a per round weapon?

[Gregstrom]

Light lances can be re-used indefinitely, but they get a bonus to damage on their first attack in a battle. Full lances break after their first use.

[Sombre]

Yes light lance after the first charge bonus (which I presume is for the very first attack they make in the battle, regardless of movement) is essentially just a spear.

[hEad]

Thanks for the quick replies, I though there had to be more to it.

[Makinus]

Just to re-use the same thread:

What use do you have for the Vanherse? Magically wise i find them too weak to be combat casters, reserch wise there are better units for Midgard, as a leader it have low leadership (the same as an indy commander), the only use i can find are as stealhty spies but even so they are pricey...

[archaeolept]

vanherse are fairly useless, other than leading raiding parties of van sacreds, or for sailing.

[Endoperez]

For Midgård, Vanherses share a capital slot with Vanjarls, who get +1 Holy, +1 Air, a Blood pick and +2 defense for 80 gp more. Both are good, but Vanjarls are probably chosen over Herses. In earlier ages, it's easier to mass Vanherses, so they might get used more.

Any way, in case you haven't already been crushed by Vanir, they're extremely efficient raiders. Few pointers:

Thugging: decent hp, EXCELLENT innate defense, they are sacred and commanders can self-bless, have innate mirror image and can cast Air Shield. Vanjarls add Mistform!

Leading Vanir: Sacred, mapmove 3, stealthy units are better when lead by a stealthy, mapmove 3 priests, and Vanherses are the cheapest for that.

Raiding: Now consider the fact that they have Sailing, the Stealth is very high (+25) for both troops and commanders, extra commanders double as thugs, and glamour means your enemy won't know where the Vanir are except right after a battle even if they don't sneak. Even worse, Vanjarls can Cloud Trapeze anywhere your enemies thought you couldn't get.

[Agema]

I would pick Vanjarls in all situations for Midgard, even for leading Van raiding parties, not just because of the versatility meaning they can switch roles, but also that they'll bless the troops much more reliably.