Bane Spider intelligence.

Borg · #1 July 23rd, 2004, 03:36 PM

I have some rough ideas on how to best use the Bane Spider individually or in a stealth squad.

But nothing beats actual experience with the unit though so I'd like to hear from you guys first how you made "best use" of this exceptional Machaka unit.

In what situations have you used him before ?
Were there specific situations where the Bane Spider left an impression on you ?

Or does he always seem to run into Commanders with 5 bodyguards and do you avoid him most of the time ?

Is a Bane Spider capable of bringing more units than only himself to an assassination job ? Maybe the units which are instructed to bodyguard him ?

[ July 23, 2004, 14:44: Message edited by: Borg ]

Pickles · #2 July 23rd, 2004, 03:42 PM

"In what situations have you used him before ?
Were there specific situations where the Bane Spider left an impression on you ?"

Messing around in SP he can take Indep provinces on his own by killing the commanders. He is comfortably the toughest assassin out of the box. Not sure if this is better than building an army though. He is also hard to boost as he starts so good.

"Or does he always seem to run into Commanders with 5 bodyguards and do you avoid him most of the time?"

Not in SP except the odd priest. I think in mp his use wil be limited

"Is a Bane Spider capable of bringing more units than only himself to an assassin job ? Maybe the units which are instructed to bodyguard him ? "

Not in my tests no. I guess he & his aides are more use in MP as stealthy raiders.

Pickles
Talking through his hat

Sindai · #3 July 23rd, 2004, 05:50 PM

I think the fact that the Bane Spider is the closest thing the game has to a ninja is reason enough to use him every chance you get.

Cainehill · #4 July 23rd, 2004, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Borg:
Is a Bane Spider capable of bringing more units than only himself to an assassination job ? Maybe the units which are instructed to bodyguard him ?

Only the "auto" minions generated by some items - wraith crown, skull talisman, etc. And of course, the skull talisman would probably be a problem, unless you spammed skeletons rather than attacking, otherwise the BS would retreat as soon as the skeleton was killed. Wraith Crown, on the other paw, generates approximately 5-10 undead, more than enough to provide a comfortable buffer.

The big problem I found with Bane Spiders was mounted commanders and mages.

Borg · #5 July 23rd, 2004, 06:31 PM

Quote:

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 ?

Cainehill · #6 July 23rd, 2004, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Borg:

quote:
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 ?

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 · #7 July 23rd, 2004, 07:40 PM

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 · #8 July 23rd, 2004, 10:26 PM

Quote:

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 · #9 July 23rd, 2004, 11:26 PM

Quote:

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 · #10 July 24th, 2004, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Arryn:

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

Unless you play Potatoman's Ashikaga mod ...

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.