Bodyguard Question

[Psitticine]

The simple answer is "the best you can afford" when it comes to choosing a bodyguard force. If they are important enough to guard, you shouldn't skimp. I stress durability above all else when it comes to bodyguards. That means, for me at least, the best may not be the most expensive; just the harder for the enemy to clear out of the way.

If you are going to guard somebody, it is hard to justify having fewer than 5 guards. 5 bodyguards will "accompany" their commander into any kind of assassination attempt, which can make a huge difference. If you equip the commander with the right item, he will have 10 guards at such times, and there is (again) no reason not to make absolutely sure he has at least that many available if he is worth guarding at all.

I tend to aim for 5-20 of my most durable troops as guards, and always place the commander dead center in their midst during setup.

Oh, and I sometimes give lesser commanders a Soulless escort. The Soulless aren't too tough and are prone to Banishment, but their various immunities make them useful in many circumstances. I wouldn't trust really important commanders with them, but they are cheap enough that I will use them to surround fellows I wouldn't normally bother guarding.

Soulless . . . aren't you glad you use Dial? Don't you wish the mindless walking dead did?

[ November 14, 2003, 19:46: Message edited by: Psitticine ]

[LordArioch]

I used a 2 hoplite guard on machaka's mages against the ai. 2 hoplites will beat any standard assassin...and the ai had been killing my mages. Also I think that 2-3 will kill any standard assassin, and if you're facing a particularly customized assassin that can kill 3 units it can probably kill 5 units, unless you feel like using hunter spiders or niefel giants as bodyguards.
I often even just assign one elite infantry to mages so that they have some chance against unequipped assassins.
Also in combat I've decided on the flank and back or just back, not near archers ever as the best mage placement. Back so arrows don't hit and not directly behind troops or near archers so attack rear and attack archers don't work. Of course they can still be flanked so keep something on your flanks.