Posts from Arbalester vs. Archer (Red Arbalester) Auto-translated

Now, the Paladin will say it briefly. If you want to let the enemy get closer and then attack, then an archer is better. And if you want to defeat him immediately, so that he doesn't even crawl closer, then a marksman is better.

I'll correct that:
If you're moving forward and you HAVE a cart and some luck, a 100% ranged unit is better.
If you're cornered and fighting back, then IMO an archer is better.

it all depends on who the opponent is... if you're playing against the AI, then of course, an archer is a good choice, but if the opponent is smart and cunning, then archers will be just the thing.

Hmm. IMHO, it's the other way around. A marksman is a potential target. Out of 1000 crossbowmen, fewer will be targeted than 1000 archers. However, if the battle shouldn't drag on (it's VERY important to quickly defeat the enemy, for example, before his hero's turn), then 100% archers. Again, in small reconnaissance groups, archers are preferable. But in a large group engaged in holding cities in dangerous areas, crossbowmen are necessary.

They will pay just as much attention to 1k archers as they would to 1k crossbowmen:)
You can believe me on that.
And a close-range shot is just terrible...
If the Arabs had an area-of-effect attack, like regular archers, I would consider choosing them. But as it is... only the red ones.

Red ones are better because a full arrow (especially with luck) is really awesome!

I voted for the archers because they are good at long range.

I just did this for fun. Two heroes, both with the same skills. One has 1000 archers, the other has 1000 crossbowmen. And they took turns entering the map. Both times, the hero with the archers won! Archers are better – which is what I wanted to prove!

How did the battle unfold, stack against stack, or were there other units involved?

After that, it's obvious that the archers would win, but if they had fired after the ballista, it wouldn't be a sure thing... So, the first shot is extremely important, and they both have the same initiative.

Also, if you position the ballistas at a distance of at least 4 squares (but not right next to each other), then the archers lose their advantage, because both shoot without penalty, while the ballistas, on the contrary, receive a penalty because they ignore defense. So, comparing who is better is not entirely reasonable. I wrote about why before, in the thread about level 1...

P.S. In general, you can get more benefit from archers, because their ability works in any case, while ballistas need certain circumstances. But if the ballista fires with defense ignored, then it's all over for whoever that arrow hits. (and if the ballista is also buffed with Divine Power from the Blessed Book, then it's definitely all over).

P.P.S. By the way, I think Teng is right. A ballista attracts less attention than an archer. When I see a large stack of archers in the enemy army, I try to neutralize them by any means, fortunately, most archers (or all of them) and the hero move before them. But the ballista is not as dangerous, however, it is still one of the main targets in the Heaven army.

The Archer is better without any further comments; the 2x damage increase isn't worth the Archers' ability, but if you increase the range of Precise Shot to 4 cells, they would be on par.

No, limiting it to 4 squares is too restrictive. My preference is to use archers against "slow" factions and crossbowmen against "fast" ones – if units quickly reach your side of the battlefield, crossbowmen are more effective.

by the way, here's a question about tiles... what counts as a tile in the archer's ability – 1 tile (which a peasant fits into) or 4 tiles (which an angel fits into)?

if it's the first case, then to activate the archers' ability, do you need to stand 1-2 tiles away from them?

Added 2 minutes later
by the way, here's a question about tiles... what counts as a tile in the archer's ability – 1 tile (which a peasant fits into) or 4 tiles (which an angel fits into)?

if it's the first case, then to activate the archers' ability, do you need to stand 1-2 tiles away from them?

by the way, here's a question about cells... what counts as a cell in the archer's ability: 1 cell (which a peasant fits into) or 4 cells (which an angel fits into)?

if it's the first case, to activate the archers' ability, do you need to stand 1-2 cells away from them?

Added 2 minutes later
by the way, here's a question about cells... what counts as a cell in the archer's ability: 1 cell (which a peasant fits into) or 4 cells (which an angel fits into)?

if it's the first case, to activate the archers' ability, do you need to stand 1-2 cells away from them?

Well, count 3 cells - if even one cell of a large creature occupies it, it counts; if it's a small creature, it must stand exactly in that cell.

P.S. Diagonal cells also count.

No matter what you say, crossbowmen are stronger and better.

Hmm? But the poll suggests the opposite....