SFR, Inc.

[Derwood Bowen]

I have found someone here to play with. We have played 2 sessions. The first time we played my Frostwings arrowed his dwarves to death and were never bothered. The last time we played, he was using Firewalkers and I was using Ferals. I felt pretty good about this, since I have heard that Firewalkers are not that great. Well, things didn't go like I imagined. He was actually using monsters and a dragon lord along with his Firewalker mages. The first battle he rolled his home as a 6. I could not outmaneuver him and, once his home was 8, magic flew. I was overwhelmed. The second game, I rolled my home as a 2 and maneuvered it DOWN to a 1. I then made lots of rock to mud and outmaneuvered him to 8. The third game, once again, his home was 6 and he got it to 8 and I died like the dog I am.
As you might imagine, I looked hard at my Feral army, particularly the horde army. I had built it with a mishmash of Ferals, including a lot of cats. However, I didn't have enough melee to hurt him (monsters rolling fire minions and saves) and I didn't have enough maneuver to take control of the terrain. I have changed the horde to be heavy on maneuver, with a lot of calvary and light infantry and no cats at all. I also modified the home. I had a couple of eagles at home (in case of arrow) but the paltry number would not do enough damage to get past his horde's saves. I have revamped my home army to have more maneuver as well. I may test a horde army with all heavy melee to see how that works (you rolled a 6 again? Here come all my kitties. see how you save now).
I posted this for 2 reasons. If any other neophytes read this, they can learn from my mistake. Mishmash does not work. Focus your armies. Firewalkers, once they have magic, pour out UNGODLY amounts of magic. Don't let this happen! Monsters are only lightning bait if you can maneuver a face to magic. I also welcome comments from any one of a helpful nature.

[piMaster]

As others will no doubt say, Firewalker mages can create great havoc, but they are also weak at anything else - they are killed easily with Hailstorms, Firebolts, Foul Waters, etc.

Generally, I like to keep the number of large-health units small. The reason being is that if they get killed, they are harder to bring back from the dead. Monsters are not only lightning bait, but also fall pretty easy to SAIs like Bullseye, Flaming Arrow, Poison, etc because they usually don't produce very consistant results.

Having your army specialize in two or three things is usually a winning combination. Maneuvers and saves are good to have, magic and melee is also good. Missiles are good until you get to melee range; unfortunately most archers are easily killed in melee attacks. Of course, you have to go thru melee range to get an eighth face. That's why I usually don't use archers.
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"Everything Brad said is correct." - Chuck Pint

[Loadedtroll]

Well, I think Firewalkers are really best paired with Coral elves or dwarves if you're Ok with sacrificing a highland to flatland or coastland. Then buff the Firewalkers with burning hands and earthen armors so you can fly them straight to any terrain without sacrificing home field magical defenses that often ends up destroying armies that come out of reserve.

To your topic's initial question, you're right. Feral are stronger than Firewalkers usually. Their heavy melee are my favorite Firewalker units though. My Friend plays a feral coral elf army that is nigh indestructible with insane saves and lightning strikes everywhere. In short, I die.
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Wow, that's one loaded Troll!

[DEEPBLUEB2]

[Drachenwurfel]

Ferals are stronger then Firewalkers????
Not in this world!!!!
I am playing Firewalkers from the beginning, and rightly played, they were ever strong.
Now, with their Flaming shields, they are really strong in Melee.
I would never play a Firewalker Missile Army, but in Melee and Magic they are really great.
And at last, they have the Fireshadow, one of the greatest dice in this game.

[DEEPBLUEB2]

I never said any was stronger than the other.....
only trying to be helpful

[Drachenwurfel]

No, loadet Troll told this in his post.
And i was just kidding, trying to tell a bit about Firewalkers.

[cliffwiggs]

[Drachenwurfel]

thats correct.
I would really like to say something about Firewalkers.
I think really much people think they are weak, but i love hem from the fist day on.

[Loadedtroll]

OK, let me apologize. When I said the feral were stronger usually, it just seemed that way to me. They just seem to lack any saving power because their racial forces the dice to have fewer Shields than most races. Furthermore, the double tasking shield only makes room for another missile, which is handy in a pinch, but useless unless your designing a missile army.
I am sure they can be great, and I love the fireshadow as much as anyone, but they seem to be lacking the power of the other races. The only unit I really like is the uncommon heavy melee because it has really nice punch. Also, their terrain ability is sweet because the enemy is always afraid to divide his forces in multiplayer games and be vulnerable to an entire army flying over.

Sorry if I offended the Firewalker fans.
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Wow, that's one loaded Troll!

[Deeghter]

[DEEPBLUEB2]

[cliffwiggs]