Discussion about Sylvan (Wood Elves).

.....If you take Talanar as the main hero and immediately level up his Enthusiasm skill, you'll get a decent start with a small stack of archers. And if Osia also appears in the second week from the tavern, the start should be very good, plus you'll have a ballista, as Mdance already mentioned.
.....I tested the strategy "Strong archer stack + Enthusiasm + Quick Mind + Mass Haste." The effect of this strategy is noticeable around level 14 and before the ultimate skill, and it also makes clearing neutral creatures very easy. It's good at the start, but there's no stable/early way to get Leadership......and it's not very good in the late game either. If the enemy takes Quick Mind or finds good initiative items, everything falls apart.....

And indeed, why didn't they give Surprise Attack to the Elven Archers?....