The test is a success!

Yeah, I am trying in my currently under-development map to have a bigger distinction between different areas. Instead of having ruins and cities next to each other all mixed in, for example.

I used to really dislike superheroes because I thought they were overpowered and unkillable. But because of autocombat, and because archers tend to get spammed in these games, even the strongest heroes can be killed.

A 10 DEF hero that can kill one archer per turn really struggles in autocombat against a large stack of archers, or worse - ballistas. AoW1 has a 'critical hit' mechanic, where rolling a 10 on the to-hit means you do full damage instead of rolling damage. The particular way it works is that if you have a 70% chance an enemy - like a swordsman attacking another swordsman - then 1/7 of your hits that land do full damage automatically. But if you only have a 10% chance to hit an enemy, like an archer firing at a 10 DEF hero, then all of your attacks that land do full damage automatically.

If a maxed-out hero attacks a stack of 8 archers, then on the first round 16 arrows are shot at them, then 14, then 12, then 10 - it adds up to 72 arrows. That's 2 damage per arrow, and about 7 will hit - that's 14 damage. If it was 9 archers then it's 90 arrows, or 18 damage. Generally enough to kill even a hero that's got enough levels to increase their HP.

And if a hero doesn't have the relevant immunity or ranged attack, they can be killed by a single flyer with a ranged attack.

So yes, I do like super-heroes now.

Oh I didn't mean to question that, it's just that I seem to remember you saying something about limiting hero defence by giving them spell-casting 3? Maybe I'm mistaken. I've read a lot of threads in a very short time :)

Xelm Plateau has all leaders start at level 30, so they can't level up, with only around 4 defense base. The idea is to make them strong spell casters but NOT be super heroes (no rampaging from Day 1, and you'll have to be extra careful with your leader later in the game).

That must be what I was thinking of!

Yeah, that was me, it's just my attitude has softened a lot towards heroes since then.

I still really like Spellcasting V heroes, though. Xelm won't be changed in that regard.

Goblins, Day 3

We found a shiny well. A sparkly well underground. We looked inside and oh boy. The well showed us wonderous lands. Full of riches. We have to find them. Find them.

Azrac, Azracest among the Azracs

I pass by more empty ruins in my voyages, while I convince a few farmers and miners to join the cause with delicate diplomacy by my cavalries. Or so the scout reports say. So far the halflings have only been looking down at us - perhaps, on us - from their walls. We must find the proper diplomatic ouvertures for them as without a base larger than what I've found at the beginning the voyage wouldn't be easy at all... They tell me they're foodies, let's see what specialities we can cook up!

No mention from my neighbours so far, after we've lost track of each other. I shall soon rekindle the exchanges as I wouldn't want that silence be interpreted as hostility.

TS

Goblins, Day 4

TS

In the distance, my scouts report a city of other Azracs. Finally! Night falls and we're not able to reach it yet, but tomorrow we will eagerly discuss with them. Hopefully the memory will come back speaking with fellow kin?

TS

Goblins, Day 5

Wonderous treasures. An altar that can spit flames. Ptui. Mwuahaha. Can spit fire now. Can spit death. Goblins more powerful than ever.

That got me. XD

Suddenly my cavalries spot a mine belonging to our peaceful neighbours! I order to retreat and avoid confrontation.

1 gold short of buying a new town.

TS