Bane Spider intelligence.

[Cainehill]

Originally posted by Borg:

quote:

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Originally posted by Cainehill:
The big problem I found with Bane Spiders was mounted commanders and mages.

Mounteds are indeed a problem I reckon (that charge being a bit hefty) but against mages maybe there's a solution.
Aren't their boots available which grant Flying ?
When being able to pop up in base contact with the mage right away, wouldn't that be helpfull ?
Is there not a chance that spellcasting is interrupted when somebody's hacking in on you ?

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Yes, but the AI usually puts bodyguards on mages, although you can get lucky against human players.

Also, the defender goes first, meaning the mage gets off at least one spell, possibly a nasty one.

[PvK]

I've had mixed results with Bane Spiders. I think they are a good unit. Without any items, they have some weaknesses in their speed and fatigue rate and low defense. The high protection and coming with bane blades makes them effective assassins though - they can kill with just one scratch, even if they get killed themselves. They are expensive though and one needs to weigh whether it makes sense to add items, making an even greater investment for more effectiveness, or not. The use against some independents is a good one, I think. Also, against a human, using an occasional bane spider or two may get them paranoid and doing inefficient things to avoid or prevent assassination.

A stealth squad of them is expensive but can be fairly effective, especially if you have something else stealthy to include which is synergistic with them.

In some other cases, stealthy units with high protection are good to have, too.

PvK

[Cainehill]

Originally posted by PvK:
Also, against a human, using an occasional bane spider or two may get them paranoid and doing inefficient things to avoid or prevent assassination.

Yep. 5 units bodyguarding every mage is 5 units that aren't being used more effectively.

[Arryn]

Originally posted by Sindai:
the Bane Spider is the closest thing the game has to a ninja

Unless you play Potatoman's Ashikaga mod ...

[Cainehill]

Originally posted by Arryn:

quote:

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Originally posted by Sindai:
the Bane Spider is the closest thing the game has to a ninja

Unless you play Potatoman's Ashikaga mod ...

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Which has great assassins, and quite decent mages. The only thing it doesn't have, is any units capable of standing up to missile fire.

[Arryn]

Originally posted by Cainehill:
The only thing it doesn't have, is any units capable of standing up to missile fire.

Just remember: anything that nears perfection gets nerfed!

[Taqwus]

*shrug*

It's a fair limitation. Ashikaga isn't a massive powerhouse, especially in the more recent Versions with stats toned down from the original. Their units aren't all that heavily armored, either, IIRC; good but not great. The base morale can be nice (although it might mean greater losses in a bad defeat since they might wait longer to break), and the bows are spiffy.

The Jonin having water magic gives them the unusual ability to be assassins with amphibious capability (so long as they're not feebleminded) in addition to the more obvious quickness; might be the only ones except R'lyeh star children to offer this. Intriguing.

As for Bane Spiders, I have a certain perverse fondness for Bane Spider prophets.