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Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2003 10:43 pm
Posts: 7925
Location: New Zealand
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| Quote (CyberShadow @ 20 2004 July,12:59) | | Thnaks for the link. I looked at HoT, but the reviews made it sound that the actual army used makes less difference than the troop type. |
Hmm, maybe I didn't send you to a good review site...the army chosen determines _which_ troop types you can use, so your impression is kinda incorrect. ?I'll provide a bit more info... (though I should really get on with this uni seminar!!  )
All possible fantasy troop types are divided into the following categories (points cost second):
Aerial Heroes 6
Airboats 4
Artillery 3
Beasts 2
Behemoths 4
Blades 2
Clerics 3
Dragons 4
Fliers 2
Gods 4
Heroes 4
Hordes 1
Knights 2
Lurkers 1
Magicians 4
Paladins 4
Riders 2
Shooters 2
Sneakers 3
Spears 2
Warband 2
Stronghold
Most types are good against some other troop types, bad against others, and many have special abilities. HOTT has the paper/scissors/rock thing down very well (like Epic). ?In warhammer/warmaster and many other fantasy games, things tend to be either good or bad, rather than good at some things and bad at others. ?Warhammer ancients moves away from this somewhat but still not enough really. ?
The back of the book provides generic and also specific army lists... generic goblins have to have a lot of 'horde troop type' elements, generic dwarfs a lot of 'blade troop type' elements, etc. ?All armies have 24AP (points) in a standard game, with no more than half spent on on 3-6AP cost elements. You win when you capture the enemies stronghold ?or destroy half their AP (more common).
One thing that can confuse people is that if two armies have a troop type that is very similar in its battlefield role then it is likely to have the same classification. ?For example the 'Knight troop type' would include human knights, but also Elite orcs on boars, and high elf heavy cavalry. In other games (eg warhammer/warmaster) these two units have similar effect and resilency on the battlefield and functional differences are minimal, HOTT covers such a broad range of troop types that minor differneces are glossed over - if its a heavily armed humanoid riding some sort of heavy horse sized animal its a Knight troop type. ?If it's more lightly armoured and faster its a Rider Troop type. ?If its a really big animal with lots of crew, it is a Behemoth Troop type. If it's a proper dragon, it's a Dragon Troop type  ?
Sample armies might look like the following, chosen from elements availble in the generic lists:
GOBLIN - heaps of Hordes (unskilled masses), some Riders (wolfriders), Beasts (giant spiders/wolves), Magician, Warband (big goblins).
DWARF - Hero general (including elite bodyguard), lots of Blades (axe units), Shooter (crossbow unit), lots of Artillery (cannons etc).
ELF - Aerial Hero (on eagle etc), Magician, Knight (unit of heavy cavalry), lots of Shooters (longbow units), Spear (guard spearmen), Flyers (eagles).
In short, although the rules and army lists are shorter than most fantasy games, the range of troops and differences in interactions possible makes it feel like you a playing a much bigger more detailed ruleset. Elegant, simple, cheap and clever. ?
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