Who are the most powerful pretenders?

[moderation]

Endoperez said:
Athena is the female titan, with Owl and I think Nature/Astral picks or something.

Hmm, the titan with the huge research bonus? Looks like MA Pythium gets her. I can see how she would be useful to start with awake for getting a research lead, but why is she a good fighter? She looks more or less equivalent to the other size 6 titans, which the exception of taking a large opportunity cost penalty for using her in the field since you would not be getting her research. Maybe Athena is something else?

[Endoperez]

Pallas Athena is the Greek goddess after whom the city of Athens was named. She is goddess of wisdom and the art of war, and characterized by owl, the wise bird; she is often described with a helmet and a spear. The female titan is Athena just as clearly as the male one is Zeus and Forge Lord is Hephaestus.

She has att/def 15 (3 better than most titans), and I'd imagine the Owl allows her to repel anything. Astral gives great self-buffs, nature gives regeneration, and early game she's only missing the Air buffs AFAIK. I could be wrong on that, as I'm not good at thugs.

[ArkhanTheBlack]

Actually, every titan shape pretender (Size >= 5 + full equipment slots) can be turned into a top fighter by giving them the trample boots. It's great because you don't have to care about any attack stats and can just focus on making him an invincible fortress. You only need to rush to construction 2 for that at the start.
I'm not a big fan of the low HP pretenders. They die too easily if anything unexpected happens. At least that's my experience...

[thejeff]

Be very careful with the trample boots. You need a lot of reinvigoration, since trample is exhausting.
And if you've neglected regular attacks, you're also vulnerable when you unexpectedly come up against size 6 opponents.

[ArkhanTheBlack]

thejeff said:
Be very careful with the trample boots. You need a lot of reinvigoration, since trample is exhausting.
And if you've neglected regular attacks, you're also vulnerable when you unexpectedly come up against size 6 opponents.

I know that, but this is usually more a point in later stages of the game when you also have access to reinvigoration items. Trample also kills regular units unbelievable fast. No even barbarians are a problem, and I can't say that about a lot of other pretenders I tried. Further, trample boots have the great advantage that you can take them off when you think you have better stuff available. It's simply a great way to comletely dominate all indie provinces at the start.

[JimMorrison]

I always preferred frost/firebrand with boots of quickness at start, if possible. Well, cept D9 Gorgon with the boots of trampling is pure comedy, I must admit.....

Anywho, I reckon everyone loves the Cyclops and whatnot, so I will list my niche favorites-

Void Lord - soooo fun SC for R'lyeh
Jade Emperor - very thematic, cost effective, and cool RB chassis for TC
Frost Father - why did no one else mention him? I love this guy for Niefelheim et al
Virtue - my favorite awake SC (SEMI-combatant), I have one word for you, FLAMBEAU!

[Zeldor]

In 95% cases trampling works much better than other weapons against indies, PD, chaff.

[moderation]

In what sense is a D9 Gorgon powerful? Taking a death bless doesn't seem too powerful and a Gorgon is only size 4, which doesn't make a very good trampler...

[Edi]

JimMorrison said:
Frost Father - why did no one else mention him? I love this guy for Niefelheim et al

Careful with the terminology. Surely you meant Father of Winters, the titan-type SC chassis and not Frost Father, the A1W1 human rainbow pretender?