First strikes and Drill promotions

[ViterboKnight]

I've read some threads and articles, like "Combat Explained"; besides, some people have done some statistics about the advantage of giving first strikes to units.
The result is that the benefit your unit receives is quite small, and the greatest advantage is when your unit is already stronger than your enemy; in that case, your unit just remains less damaged, but still winning the battle.

IMO, first strikes are underpowered.
They should not only advantage a unit which is stronger than his enemy, but give a relevant bonus also to the weakest units. It should become a different way of fightintg: someone fights using only strength, someone else uses first strikes instead. Two ways of fighting, to contrast in different ways.

Here are some suggestions to give more relevance to first strikes:
- first strikes always hit (maybe, too overpowering)
- higher chance to hit with first strikes
- same chance to hit, but higher damage
- same chance and damage, but the strength of the opponent is computed AFTER the first strikes (thus reducing his power during the battle)

 

[Desert-Fox]

They are very good if you have drill 4 and a lot of them... cats are less useful then.

 

[Diamondeye]

Drill is fine, they are just really weak if you're only at I or II...
at IV they provide 3-6 Firststrikes, 40% (?) Decrease in collateral taken, and I think also +10% against a unit type... mounted, maybe.

 

[thomson_2001]

ive always found first strikes to be useful when im forced to use weaker troops. the odds look poor still but there is a chance (or definite strike) you can hit the enemy before they even touch you. might not kill but will weaken them more for later fights.

 

[ShannonCT]

IMO, first strikes are underpowered.
They should not only advantage a unit which is stronger than his enemy, but give a relevant bonus also to the weakest units. It should become a different way of fightintg: someone fights using only strength, someone else uses first strikes instead. Two ways of fighting, to contrast in different ways.

Here are some suggestions to give more relevance to first strikes:
- first strikes always hit (maybe, too overpowering)
- higher chance to hit with first strikes
- same chance to hit, but higher damage
- same chance and damage, but the strength of the opponent is computed AFTER the first strikes (thus reducing his power during the battle)

First strikes can be very powerful in the right situation.

- Units that will already be getting several combat bonuses often do better with Drill promotions than with Combat or other Unit/Activity-specific promotions. For example, an archer fortified in a walled, hilltop city will be getting a 150% defensive bonus (50% for hill, 50% for city, 25% for walls, 25% for fortify) even after seige units knock down the culture defenses. So the archer would have a modified strength of 7.5 before the attackers bonuses are considered. Using the City Garrisson promotions would only add 20%, 25%, and 30% to the archer's base strength of 3. But taking Drill promos and getting those extra first strikes would allow the archer to start the battle with some free hits with its high modified strength, and give it a good chance to win the battle unscathed.

- Units that can be guaranteed or reasonably assured to get up to Drill IV are superpowered against any unit other than horse archers and knights. Drill I-IV gives 3 guaranteed first strikes and a chance for 3 more. Add to that the free 1-2 first strikes that a lot of Drill eligible units receive, and you're up to 4 guranteed and a chance for 3-4 more. Plus, you're getting 60% reduced collateral damage when you get hit by seige units, 10% bonus against mounted units, and Drill I and II open the same promotion tree as Combat I and II. So once you get a chance for another promotion, you can respond to the situation on the field properly (for instance, your opponent may start mounted-unit-spamming). Just remember to mix in a few spears/pikes if you are spamming Drill units prior to Riflemen, and concentrate on knocking out your enemy's horses.

Protective civs that get Drill I for free are obvious candidates for promotion up the Drill line. And going up to Drill IV with Ethiopia's Oromos (free Drill I and II) is a no-brainer, as they will be Drill IV out of the box with either Theocracy or Vassalage. Non-protective, non-Ethiopian units are going to have a hard time getting to Drill IV without the help of some settled Great Generals though, and are probably better off skipping the line entirely.

 

[Supr49er]

Drill is fine, they are just really weak if you're only at I or II...
at IV they provide 3-6 Firststrikes, 40% (?) Decrease in collateral taken, and I think also +10% against a unit type... mounted, maybe.

Drill IV : +2 First Strikes; -20% collateral damage; +10% vs. Mounted Units

 

[zenspiderz]

Drill IV : +2 First Strikes; -20% collateral damage; +10% vs. Mounted Units

that is in addition to the bonuses from previous drill promos. you can't get drill 4 without drill 3 etc... just to be clear.

 

[Supr49er]

that is in addition to the bonuses from previous drill promos. you can't get drill 4 without drill 3 etc... just to be clear.

True. But I once got an event that gave me steel decks on my carriers and gave them Drill III. When I checked them, they did not have Drill I and II.