armies, what are they good for?

[Maugan]

Yeah, I think your right about the 'gimick' factor of armies. It is too bad, I think they really missed a great opertunity here. They should have made armys a default thing you can do, and made the great leaders confer a special bonus to any army they personaly form. I would love to see a system where you can make armies from the time you get warrior code, and they allow for 12 spots in them, and are able to retreat like calvery. (you know, saftey in numbers and all...) This would take away SO MUCH pointless clicking every time you want to move your stack or attack with it.

 

[Angmar]

I have been playing an epic game now for coming up to 6 nights now. I have had quite a few armies as I play China with the military bonuses.

While I do feel that Armies have a few week spots, ie: only the ability to destroy one unit when seperate have the chance to remove 3 or 4 depending on your army size. The inability to remove units from an army and of course the ability to upgrade the units in the army.

However I do find them to be a key to the road to victory. I use armies for their defensive ability. The only time I have lost an army was when one my exclusive cavalry armies was caught out in a field and trounced by a few other calvary units. After this mistake I ensure that my army has atleast one defensive unit to allow it to defend while I load it up with offensive units to attack.

Currently this means that while my cavalry and tanks can roar ahead and my army takes it time to advance when the army gets there nothing will stop my offense and I have very little to worry about counter attacks.

I like to have a balanced force, with armies and single units. If I cant soften up a city with bombardment usually the army is the first one in to smash the CPUs best defender. I then follow up with the tank and cavalry rushes and then if required and they are handy the infantry rush.

Armies alone will not win you the game however they are a tool to be used. I think the best example of that is to smash a specifically tough defender in a position.

In summary balance the army on what you wish to use it for. If you want it to be offensive stick your best attacking unit in there, if you wish to have it defend then fill it up with your defensive units. If you wish a mix of both ( I think this is the best idea ) stick one defender and then attackers in it and watch those pesky musketmen scream as your mixed calvary / mustketmen army comes to play.

Cheers,