Army composition and Eagles

[legion11]

I have finished 4 missions in the Human campaign. I'm happy with most of my army (all gold victories so far, normal difficulty).

I've been using the Eagle for 2 missions and I haven't found it to be as effective as my other units. The Eagle can't kill enemy air units as effectively as I'd hoped. Archers have to do the bulk of the damage, the Eagle just chases down the routed/wounded air units. I've been thinking about replaceing my Eagle with a second Ranger.

The Eagle has a few features I like. I crosses rivers easily, it "stacks" on my other units in bottlenecks that stop me bringing my full force to bear, it is useful for chaseing down wounded air units. Because its a single monster it heals back to full strength with one camp action, like a hero (as opposed to other units where members can be killed). But despite all this I still think I'd find a second Ranger more useful (harrasment, segmented movement, invisibility).

Here is the current "core" of my army

3 Heros
1 Halbadier
2 Swordsmen
2 Feudal Knights
Yeomen Archer (forest specialist)
Yeomen Archer (hills specialist)
Crossbowman (slayer)
Ranger
Tamed Eagle (anti air)
---------------
13 units

My next mission, I think its called "Frieburgs Destiny" allows me 15 units. So I can add 2 more units to this roster (3 if I dump the Eagle). I have a large variety of reserve units and gold left over from previous missions so I can pick any replacements I want.

I was thinking of adding 1 Halbadier and 1 Crossbowmen to this roster, and possibly swaping the Eagle for a 2nd Ranger.

This would also give me 2 of each unit, allowing me to spilt my force into 2 balanced armies if I need to rush for the gold victory. The Mage hero would be the old man out but thats ok because he can cast spells across the map.

What do you think? Also do you think I am missing out on something important by not fielding any Light Cavalry, Light Infantry and Siege Weapons. Will I be able to chase down and finish off wounded air units effecively without an Eagle?

Tony

[claudio6921]

Freiburg is difficult.
I would buy another eagle, because they will be important later, and another siege machine.
EDIT: you got no siege machine? i think they are vital for taking down big enemy.

[legion11]

Ok you've convinced me. I'll put the catapult I was just awarded in my army (instead of a second crossbowman). And I'll keep my Eagle.

I could also put a second Eagle in instead of a second Halbadier, but as I said in my first post I'm still having trouble seeing their value in the game so far. Why do you see them as 'important later'? Do they get a really good skill later on? What are they needed for? Anti-Air? Anti-War Machine?

Tony

[vieuxchat]

They are great to scout !! And they can help other units to defend (like archers)
Also they are great anti-air units if you give them the right feats.

[jiji]

Had the game for a week
and played the human campaign twice through.
Great game.

I'd say eagles are one of the most important units
in the human army.
Build 'em up quickly as soon as you can have 'em.

Movement in FW is a key ability,
due to lots of difficult terrain like rivers and forests
and several scenarios where you have to cross the map
with your army as quickly as possible.
Eagles simply ignore all this stuff and rule the skies.
Your heavily armoured foot knight tanks
simply never get to see a fight
as they trudge over snow-covered hills
and take days to wade across streams
and still haven't reached level five by the final scenario.

Eagles scout far better than any other unit,
cos they can fly over water, move further
and can ignore most ground forces, unlike rangers.

Finishing off wounded units before they get a chance to recover
is a vital tactic if you don't have the time to kill everything twice
and eagles can swoop in from six hexes away.
They can also hurt anybody who's foolish enough to finish their turn in a river.

The Air support defence is powerful, maybe a bit too much,
a free hit at the enemy which always kills one or two,
and even affects enemy skirmishers(?)
who would otherwise attack non-skirmishers with impunity.

The fact they can get knocked down to 1hp,
and then bounce back one turn later at full strength,
ready to go accumulate xp again,
is far superior to the knackered normal units who only recover wounded and not the dead if resting in a scenario.

Buff them up with segmented movement at 2nd level
so they can scout a bit and pop back for a bit of air support if needed
or if they run into a goblin archer trap.
Also choose the air combat options,
so that any pteranodon or zeppelin gets creamed 1-to-1.
Once you get to level five, you are very tough, +5 to all scores, remember.

Building up eagles' experience early on is easier than any other unit
as you get experience for any combat,
no matter how dumb,
and with such mobility, eagles can usually attack someone.
You get injured, you fly away, not a waste of time
as you got 5-10xp for it.

I have two eagles as soon as possible
and have even found a use for three.

One ballista, with the long range perk, is also very useful
in nearly every scenario, if not essential.
Spearmen aren't essential, but with all the mobility perks,
they do well on the bigger maps and are fun.
Light Cavalry seem to offer nothing worth their inclusion
at the expense of another unit.

That's my experience so far.
Now to try the human campaign with just light cavalry,
catapults and feudal knights...

[Seuloup]

When I use Eagles I almost always use 2 of them. when there are 2 they can harass and break air units much better. Given the right Anti-air perks, you should be able to take down any air unit with just the two of them.

Coincidentally, to show how useful i find them, In wings of Verson, I clear the map with just the three eagles. True, it takes a long time, but it guarantees a gold since the "win" timer doesn't start till you deliver you're message to Derrick... Anyone else done that? j/w. Only downside is it keeps all the XP to themselves, but it sure makes capturing towns and finishing the mission easy...

[MadMac321]

I have not had the game long and have not used Eagles much but based on what I have read and experience with other games I think you want at least two eagles.

FW like most turn based strategy games is about movement and position. Especially in a campaign where scenarios where time is a factor. If units are required to rush forward in order to take objectives quickly then slow moving untis are going to get left behind. It does not matter how hard they hit if they cannot keep up.

Eagles move fast, ignore terrain, and support other troops.

They may not be the hardest hitting unit in the game but they are still valuable.