What's the verdict on archers?

[Zapmeister]

I recall reading that their targeting is worse in Dom2, and losses to friendly fire is hard to avoid. So, is there any point at all in recruiting these guys? I'm not talking about crossbowmen here, just shortbowmen and longbowmen.

[Saber Cherry]

The shortbow archers are horribly inaccurate. That said, I've routed a few armies with them, from morale or lucky commander kills=) So don't count them out yet! They're good at routing indys with no losses.

Archers are especially effective against Ermor - they can take out ghouls and unarmored zombies like mad, and don't hurt your own HI shield. However, if it is possible to do this in a mod, I plan to make zombie and skeletal units projectile-resistant. I want them to take half-damage from arrows, and if the only way I can do that is with an air shield, then by golly, that's what I'll do, even though it looks dumb=) Have you ever seen a zombie die in real life from blood loss, or having a vital organ pierced by an arrow? No? Me neither.

On the other hand, archers put a big drain on supply, so you really can't use them with any sort of -supply scale.

-cherry

[apoger]

Archers are very good versus light troops. Use them.

[Strider]

Friendly fire from archers is very low in Dom2...this is one of the tweaks that Illwinter took care of during the beta.

[Gandalf Parker]

I cant do without them. Its how you can best generate routs in the enemy without your frontliners having to take any hits. Even a shower from slingers can save the day such as chasing away enemy elephants.

[Zapmeister]

Hmmm. I can well believe archers are effective against light troops. On the other hand, there's not a lot (except other light troops) that isn't. I guess the question becomes:

Is there any use for archers other than being one of the many options for despatching light troops? If not, are they the most cost-effective way of doing that?

[SnallTrippin]

I love them, they r so cheap.

[HJ]

Originally posted by Strider:
Friendly fire from archers is very low in Dom2...this is one of the tweaks that Illwinter took care of during the beta.

Well, it would seem that friendly fire accounts for at least fourth of my overall casualties so far. Especially when they fire a mass volley on that Last unit on the map while half of my army is chasing it at the same time. That's why I like air blessing, it keeps away arrows fired by *my* guys, not the enemies.

[ November 20, 2003, 01:22: Message edited by: HJ ]

[Keir Maxwell]

Originally posted by Zapmeister:
I recall reading that their targeting is worse in Dom2, and losses to friendly fire is hard to avoid. So, is there any point at all in recruiting these guys? I'm not talking about crossbowmen here, just shortbowmen and longbowmen.

It depends. In general I'm not a fan of archers - I don't like killing my own troops - however there are times they are great.

Longbows are good for fast expansion with little or no loses - HI on hold and attack just in front of longbow.

Shortbow are fast to build and when you need a boost right then and there they are damn handy. 2 resource Machakan shortbow have filled a few holes for me. They also slaughter Serpent Dancers and I'm sure there other light armoured things you will have to worry about.

But all going well I won't use much bow or Xbow outside a race with a superior Version at the start - Marignon Xbow in Dom I and Man Longbow, might be others now. Placing the archers complicates placing mages as the Archers are valid targets - though you can make use of this. Targeting is crap and longbow or Xbow (the best Versions) will kill/wound your own super troops when pursuing.

I don't think the game depicts archers well. Targeting is both too easy and too inaccurate. Ranges seem odd in relation to the width armies deploy over and the speed troops move. Shorter ranges and greater accuracy could solve alot of problems. Archers are hard to get right both in computer games and tabletop wargames.

So sometimes yes and sometimes no, but I don't like archers and Xbow.

cheers

Keir

[Gandalf Parker]

Whats all this about the damage they do compared to infantry? I should do some battle simulations but my strong impression is that with archers my infantry Lasts longer, and without archers my expensive HI need replaced more.

They rout troops often before the troops reach me. They especially save my troops having to go head to head with some of the largest mobs in the game. And shooting at enemy archers often lets me take out an enemy commander which causes all his units to rout. For as cheap as they are I definetly feel they are worth more than the few more HI I might get instead