It seems everyone knows that there isn't a good way to choose a starting hero for Castle, so when the first opportunity arises, they pick the hero who appears in the tavern: Barbarian (Attack), Beastmaster (Defense), or Demon (Logistics – the highest chance of getting him). Similarly, when playing as Tower, it's very beneficial if Ivorn shows up.
Compare Nella and Thorosar; the former performs better in enclosed spaces (which, in my opinion, is more important), while Thorosar excels in open areas thanks to his Tactics skill (for example, he can defeat 19 Silver Pegasi on level 113). The first shot in a confrontation isn't that significant, it's more important to have archers in your reserve and to ensure that reserve is well-defended. And how will Waleska help her troops in the Hive?