I Just Don't Get Lucian

[iamdanthemansta]

The more I've been playing FFH the more I've come to realize that hero's are the most important part of any military but Lucian just seem way too weak to do much and just like any other unit. What am I missing?

 

[Demus]

the doviello used to get 3 starting warriors, to emphasis their aggressive nature throughout the age of ice. This was changed to 1 warrior + Lucian a few versions back, with Lucian for lore reasons (him being the strongest Doviello in the AoI). I can't remember exactly why though...

 

[Skyre Noktis]

There's not much to get, really. He's an Axeman that you get right at the very start of the game, for free. Useful for very early rushes.

 

[Deon]

I agree, considering his early strength he's pretty good to rush early neighbours.

 

[Senethro]

Hes the head of Charadon's rush and generates a wolf with extra strength with Wild Hunt.

For Mahala hes a Barbarian cleaner and city defender. Without Combat I and easy access to Shock I hes not nearly as good on the early offense, so I think its better to build him up slowly and use him as insurance that a Worker-first, rapid-expansion can be done safely. It'll leave you in great condition for attacking during the early Bronze Age which is Mahala's specialty.

 

[[to_xp]Gekko]

I do agree that giving him the hero promotion would be fair though, considering he will never be that powerful due to low base strength and that the Doviello are very weak right now.

 

[Bill Bisco]

The more I've been playing FFH the more I've come to realize that hero's are the most important part of any military but Lucian just seem way too weak to do much and just like any other unit. What am I missing?

Play a game with the following settings. Marathon, small map, pangea, 7 or more AI. Use Lucian to kill off other civs scouts and units, slowly leveling him up til he can conquer cities. Then you will see the point to Lucian.

 

[Grey Fox]

He is not their *hero*, he is a bonus unit.
The War Machine is their hero.

 

[Valkrionn]

I do agree that giving him the hero promotion would be fair though, considering he will never be that powerful due to low base strength and that the Doviello are very weak right now.

I gave him 'Heroic'. Max of 50xp, gains .5 a turn.

 

[Humakty]

Lucian weak ? Well, not more than Rantine is, but you'll need beakers and production to get the later...

 

[Senethro]

I do agree that giving him the hero promotion would be fair though, considering he will never be that powerful due to low base strength and that the Doviello are very weak right now.

This would not be a good idea, because by turn 50 he would be Str 6 +100% combat.

Mahala's Doviello are easily somewhere in the middle of civ rankings across most map types and Charadon's are high in small rush maps. They do what they do very well and very early. They fall into a weird category of civs called Momentum civs which you have to go back as far as Alpha Centauri to find other good examples of (Lord's Believers, Spartan Federation). Yes, they're weak and doomed to fail if something goes wrong with their first war, but if they succeed then their early victories can boost them so they can match everyone else.

Which is the reason I'm one of those few people who votes for them in those Favorite Civ polls. Their success is wholly dependent on your ability to war intelligently, while some like Flauros is just a case of playing competently and having a strong position handed to you for little effort.

 

[iamdanthemansta]

OK makes sense he's not supposed to be so special. Does he get the late promotions that only hero types can get?

 

[Senethro]

OK makes sense he's not supposed to be so special. Does he get the late promotions that only hero types can get?

I don't think so, but I've never kept him alive long enough to find out. Hes only an axeman, remember? He can't upgrade to anything, so why play the long term game with him?

 

[Valkrionn]

He does not get the Heroic promotions.

My version, again, he gets Heroic... Lesser version of Hero, allows Heroic Strength/Defense 1, not 2.

 

[Senethro]

Would Lucian be better as a unique Great Commander who can only be attached to units and re-appears when killed? Similar to Decius in the scenarios.

 

[Bill Bisco]

That would be much better. That would enable him to be good for early rushing as well as mid-game ownage.

 

[Onionsoilder]

Would Lucian be better as a unique Great Commander who can only be attached to units and re-appears when killed? Similar to Decius in the scenarios.

That's a great idea... It would both make him more useful in the late game, and fits somewhat decently with the lore.

 

[Ekolite]

Lucian fits very well into the Doviello all or nothing philosophy. Charadon is the earliest rusher in the game, he literallly attacks in the first 10 turns. As soon as you find an enemy you attack and you conquer. After that, you can throw Lucian away. He's only an axeman, and is in fact worth less then an ordinary axeman because unlike them he can't upgrade.

Under Malhalla Lucian isn't so useful, but she makes up for it by having better leader traits. He will however protect you quite well from other early rushers (Sheelba, Alexis and Tasunke).

Either way, Lucian fits his purpose fantastically and does not need to be changed.

 

[MiKa523]

Nothing finer than loosing Lucian early on to a giant spider

 

[Bill Bisco]

Doviello suck in all settings except pangea Marathon, and they most definitely need a boost.