Best (for the price) recruitable commander?

[PhilD]

Originally posted by Coffeedragon:
I like the Bards a lot.

At first I thought they look quite useless. But then I learned they can:

-Cast Spell Songs
-Summon Horned Serpents
-(With a Green Gem) cast Panic
-Improve Morale by just being there
-Search for Nature Sites
-Gain Experience fast
-Switch to Research at peacetime

And, at 75 Gold, unlike the high end leaders, they are expendable.

They are my primary researchers when I play the Tuatha theme (most of my Man games to date), but I'm now playing a basic Man game, and the Daughter of Avalon beats the Bard (she's home province only, though). She has one more Nature, and is Sacred, which is good in a mass-produced commander.

For battlefield presence... the Bard is good, but I'll miss the Nature 2. I admit I'm not using the Stealth too much, as I like Longbowmen too much; Man is clearly missing a stealthy Version of the Longbowman

[Pocus]

Originally posted by moodgiesanta:
Mictlan Priests, the lowest level ones. They can harvest blood, and they cost only 40 gold and a few resources. Good stuff.

cost 80 gold, but still a very good price.

[Pocus]

One of my preferred leader is the Marignon initiate (65 gold) in a magic scale Marignon.

I like also to use them in battle, for 2 spells:

bond of fire, to pin down big creatures
will o wisp (one gem) which are very interesting units because of etheralness and high defence. Sure if they are hit, they die, but until then they can waste quite a number of attacks from enemy infantries.

But perhaps the Pythium Theurg is even more impressive : holy, cheap etheralizer, can cast starfires and communion.

[Leif_-]

Originally posted by Coffeedragon:
[QB] I like the Bards a lot.

At first I thought they look quite useless. But then I learned they can:

-Cast Spell Songs
-Summon Horned Serpents
-(With a Green Gem) cast Panic

[SNIP] Don't forget:
- Cast Protection
- Cast Swarm
- Instigate unrest (well, I've never been able to actually use that ability in any useful way, but I'm sure that's my fault and not the bards'.)

[Goad]

Instigate unrest (well, I've never been able to actually use that ability in any useful way, but I'm sure that's my fault and not the bards'.)

with ten or a dozen spies/bards in enemy capital, you can deprive him of his capitol-only unique units, and/or his biggest income province. The AI never seems to catch on to this trick. Put stone idols or that disease thing on them, too. Wipe out the population of his capitol with disease/unrest/patrolling & he gets no more or very limited special units for the rest of the game.

[SurvivalistMerc]

Goad,

That is one of my favorite Ulm tricks. I like to do that with stealth 20 spies.

[tinkthank]

All good stuff here.

I would also like to suggest the Star Child, slightly less expensive but pretty versatile. Not sacred, however. Think Marignon might have him beat there.

One of my Favorites is a high-end model. Coming in at 10 gold cheaper than a Demonbred, which is of course itself a fine investment, the S&A C-Master is a flying sacred jack-of-all-trades, and gets *7* magic paths (FAWWS??). Note that the DB only gets 4 (while being, of course, a MUCH better leader and quite a bit tougher too). Considering that a Arch-Theurg also gets 7 paths but costs 380 and has to teleport his flabby tuchus around, the C-Master is a bargain.

[Peter Ebbesen]

Originally posted by tinkthank:
One of my Favorites is a high-end model. Coming in at 10 gold cheaper than a Demonbred, which is of course itself a fine investment, the S&A C-Master is a flying sacred jack-of-all-trades, and gets *7* magic paths (FAWWS??). Note that the DB only gets 4 (while being, of course, a MUCH better leader and quite a bit tougher too). Considering that a Arch-Theurg also gets 7 paths but costs 380 and has to teleport his flabby tuchus around, the C-Master is a bargain.

Of course, he has to be, given the quality of the basic S&A units.

But yes, S&A lives and dies with its Celestial Masters - possibly the most magically diverse theme in existence. Seven fairly useless troops and four different powerful sacred priest-mages.

[fahdiz]

I don't know about "best", but my favorite recruitable commanders (this week ) are:

Tuatha, Vanadrotts, and Priest Kings (especially when the PK is your Prophet as well).

On the first two, Glamour comes in awfully handy, and their air magic complements this very well. The Tuatha can cast all sorts of valuable wide-area-of-effect Nature spells, summon up Firbolgs in the off-season, and has a javelin for stray infantry. As for the Vanadrotts, they are powerful (though expensive) sacred priest/mages, they get Blood (which is fun as Van) and they can also serve as summoning stations for all kinds of air-based goodies.

I never have my Tuatha nor Vanadrotts die due to projectiles in SP. Not to mention the fact that their Stealth values are incredibly handy.

Priest Kings can lead a townload of troops right from the get-go, and when prophetized can cast Fanaticism and Divine Blessing until the cows come home. Plus, mid-late game, they can be Improved Cross Breeders while they're waiting for something else to do.

[ March 18, 2004, 18:30: Message edited by: fahdiz ]

[Patrik]

I don't know if independent commanders are 'allowed' here, but if they are, sages are easily first on my list. Depends on nation and magic scale of course, but IMO the spread is from 'very good buy' to 'vital'.
If I conquer a province with a library, building a lab (and eventually a fortress) is almost always my number one priority.

/Patrik