Protecting Shooters...

[Lakasha]

I am just curious if there was a particular reason for the change in ability to protect shooters?

It seems to me it makes it somewhat pointless to have defensive walkers if all they can really do is stand there and look intimidating while they watch the arrows fly right past them to kill the shooters in the back row. Shouldn’t they at least have a chance to block enemy fire?

Also in reading the Squires description it would seem they are supposed to be able to do this somehow but I can’t figure out how, I believe it is supposed to be a random occurrence but I have never seen it happen.

[Angelspit]

That's definitely one of the features I miss from Heroes IV, even if it was a bit erratic.

[thecheese]

I'm also not sure how to get the Squires to do their guard thing. And realistically, the way H4 worked probably made the most sense. However, H5 seems to want to take everything back to its oldschool roots, and one of those features was giving shooters the ability to hit anything, anywhere.

[Gus]

The Squire's Shield Allies ability means that every creature placed on a square adjacent to the Squire will receive half the ranged damage.

[ThunderTitan]

The Squired give a 50% damage reduction against ranged attacks to all units that are in a square next to them. That's all.

[Rapier]

Actually I think if you have it so arrows can be blocked by your troops, then have it so that they block your arrows too, so that you can get a screen from archers if you want, but you won't be able to shoot them either, otherwise it's not a good system imo.

[scorch]

The Squired give a 50% damage reduction against ranged attacks to all units that are in a square next to them. That's all.

I never understand that....It's NEXT to him??
or BEHIND him???????

[Lakasha]

Actually based on how arrows work it should be perfectly possible to have an archer screen without it affecting your archers ability to shoot.

The trajectory of an arrow allows for those who are standing behind someone to fire an arrow above the heads of those protecting them with shields or what not (not to mention they can kneel down while archers fire). It was a very common tactic.

[ThunderTitan]

I never understand that....It's NEXT to him??
or BEHIND him???????

On any of the 8 squares around him. Not sure how it works for 2x2 creatures.

[Gus]

I assume it is the exact same mechanism with the Unicorn's Aura of Magic Protection (or whatever it is called).

[vicheron]

Actually based on how arrows work it should be perfectly possible to have an archer screen without it affecting your archers ability to shoot.

The trajectory of an arrow allows for those who are standing behind someone to fire an arrow above the heads of those protecting them with shields or what not (not to mention they can kneel down while archers fire). It was a very common tactic.

Heroes of Might and Magic don't need your stinkin' laws of physics.

[ThunderTitan]

@Gus:
Should be, but i haven't seen any mention of the area that the aura covers.

[Gus]

well, "surrounding" again... really, there's no reason why it wouldn't be the squares around.

[ThunderTitan]

Yeah, but only the first row, or more?

[DaemianLucifer]

I am just curious if there was a particular reason for the change in ability to protect shooters?

There is a very good reason that this is not included.Its the golden rule that everything from HIV is bad and shouldnt be included ever again.

It seems to me it makes it somewhat pointless to have defensive walkers if all they can really do is stand there and look intimidating while they watch the arrows fly right past them to kill the shooters in the back row. Shouldn’t they at least have a chance to block enemy fire?

Ah,but they can block melee units from aproaching your archers.Or at least they can slow them bown just a tinny bit,since the threat area is also gone.

Also in reading the Squires description it would seem they are supposed to be able to do this somehow but I can’t figure out how, I believe it is supposed to be a random occurrence but I have never seen it happen.

Each creatur that touches the squares has 50% range damage reduction.Kind of stupid that they can protect huge archangles that stand diagonaly in front of them.

[thecheese]

There is a very good reason that this is not included.Its the golden rule that everything from HIV is bad and shouldnt be included ever again.

Now, now, not EVERYTHING was bad. All different, yes, but not everything was bad. Paladins killing 20 Black Dragons on their own was pretty cool, if ya ask me. =P

[DaemianLucifer]

Now, now, not EVERYTHING was bad. All different, yes, but not everything was bad. Paladins killing 20 Black Dragons on their own was pretty cool, if ya ask me. =P

Dont get me wrong,I love HIV,but its ubi/nival that came up with this golden rule.And now,we must obey.

[PhoenixReborn]

Each creatur that touches the squares has 50% range damage reduction.Kind of stupid that they can protect huge archangles that stand diagonaly in front of them.

And it's kind of stupid that 1256 skeleteons can take up a single square and one succubus can take up a single square. If we start nitpicking like this there will be no game left.

In H IV I liked that walkers could block shooters if positioned correctly ( it was positioning that was tough ). I was less crazy about everyone being able to retaliate, even shooters on other shooters.

[Cunning Death]

Now, now, not EVERYTHING was bad. All different, yes, but not everything was bad. Paladins killing 20 Black Dragons on their own was pretty cool, if ya ask me. =P

Dont get me wrong,I love HIV,but its ubi/nival that came up with this golden rule.And now,we must obey.

I'm also one of the few loving H4. Therefore I'm dissapointed that Ubi/Nival are ignoring H4...

Anyway, the possibility to block shooters was a great idea


C.D.

ps where are my ol' co'l sharpshooters???

[Ari]

It seems to me it makes it somewhat pointless to have defensive walkers if all they can really do is stand there and look intimidating while they watch the arrows fly right past them to kill the shooters in the back row. Shouldn’t they at least have a chance to block enemy fire?


Ah,but they can block melee units from aproaching your archers.Or at least they can slow them bown just a tinny bit,since the threat area is also gone.

There's always been an element of "rocks-paper-scissors" to HOMM. Shooters beat slow, strong units. Fliers (and fast land units) beat shooters. Slow strong units beat fliers (and fast land units). Granted, this isn't an absolute rule, but in general, that's how HOMM plays out. So those minotaurs, say, aren't directly useful for aiding shooters ( in a shooters vs shooters matchup), but they're great for killing the griffons that can cross the field in a turn and get in the archers' faces. That has always been one of the main roles of golems/hydras/treants, etc. To have these units also be particularly strong (out of proportion to their stats, that is) against shooters would make shooters far weaker in overall significance in the game.