Hello gents,
I have a few thoughts of mine I would like to discuss with you guys regarding some of Isengard's features. I'll give some thoughts of my own which will be in the spoiler tags underneath the corresponding point, but it is mostly to see what you guys think of them.
The points are:
1. Wildmen of Dunland with torches. Should all Wildmen have access to torches, without researching an upgrade, for 200-300 per upgrade?
Personally, I do not completely agree with this. The torches are cheap and they inflict a ton of damage once you amass a horde of wildmen. On top of that, it is immediately available, there is no research to be done.
Correct me if I am wrong, but wildmen are the only units currently in the mod that do not need to research a general upgrade before upgrading their battalions with a damage improving upgrade (excluding thus heroes).
2. How often do you use Wildmen Axe Throwers? Are they needed? Finally, does it make sense for them to steal resources from long range?
I am aware that Wildmen are really important early game, to steal resources and cheap units to spam besides your Uruk-hai scouts, but the torches, especially the axe throwers, turn them into really devastating units early to mid-game and they even steal resources on top of that.
I am fine with the wildmen of Dunland having access to torches since they have to get in close and risk their low HP for stealing resources and heavily damaging enemy buildings as is their role in the mod, but the axe throwers are, to me, not only a copy of Angmar's axe throwers, but also make little sense by stealing resources from range. How they do this? Do they possess some kind of force?
Finally, it makes Wildmen of Dunland obsolete since you can forego them and steal resources from range and do extra damage. Yes, Wildmen are cheaper than axe throwers, but ranged damage is much more efficient in the long-run.
3. The Uruk Captain, is it a fair purchase? You invest quite a bit into it, 800 for the general research, (600 for banner carrier research and upgrade in total) + 400 for the Uruk Captain = 1200 at best and 1800 at worst. However, it promotes the squad instantly from level 2 to level 5.
I'm not really sure where I stand on this one. One game, I think it is a very useful and near crucial upgrade to do well in late game against veteran troops, since Isengard do not get any Hero battalions or Elite battalions like Royal Guard of Rohan or Dol Amroth Swan Knights, Khazad-Dum veterans etc. However, the other game I am thinking about how massive it actually sounds. You get to instantly upgrade them from Level 2 to 5. And those that already have a banner carrier by performing well in combat, can get them even quicker. On top of that, it makes Saruman waste his experience boost slot in the long run even though Wizard Blast stays relevant through the entire match as a comparison. The fact that you have to do extensive research and investment to get access to the Uruk captain does balances it out, to a decent degree anyway, but it seems quite strong. I say 50/50, give or take.
4. Saruman the Cursed and The Blessed. What do you think about their performance and mechanics? Which one is better according to you and are they fair in your eyes?
We all know how strong Ring Heroes are. They are the epitome of the gameplay experience of BFME and Edain mod. That ''Oh crap'' moment when the enemy has the ring or when you spot Gollum.
However, I think it is questionable as to where the ring heroes stand. I mean, if you get the ring, should you win the game? Or not? You have to take the chances into consideration I think. Anyway, I am convinced that ET did a great job with most heroes, but some heroes are a little over the top. Saruman with the ring being one of them.
The Blessed is less difficult to face since his attacks are still strong and have a good speed, however, they don't have massive AOE, except the Thunderstorm, but they require Saruman to be either stationary or to be very close to his enemies like with the Burning Sky, which still involves a decent amount of risks as Saruman does not have the most health of the Ring Heroes.
Saruman The Cursed, however, is another story. He can boosts his troops around him to crazy proportions, boost his economy to beyond crazy proportions, has a Firestorm that keeps firing until all selected units die. Although already impressive, his standard attack and the speed of the Fireballs is what makes him over the top for me. His standard attack becomes his Level 5 Fireball, with massive AOE and damage, which instantly makes him surpass his blessed counterpart firing at a slightly slower rate than Saruman The Blessed. I do think this one is better with all his abilities and his main attack.
The mechanic between the Cursed and the Blessed is interesting to say the least. I love how Edain team strives for unique characteristics for each faction, as most of us do, but adding more stuff always lead to more difficulties in balancing. On an unrelated note, I had a suggestion for possibly making this mechanic a bit more dynamic, but that is again for another thread.
If any new points come up, I will update the OP again.
I look forward to hear what you have to say!