How To Best Equip Heroes?

[Twan]

Hey everyone

I was wondering about the best way to equip my heroes (those characters with percentages next to their name showing their health, not regular recruits). I just started playing VC after owning M&B for a few months (and love it), but I'm asking in general for M&B. In Warband I just equipped everyone I could with archery equipment.

I was thinking to add all my heroes into a sort of bodyguard/elite unit that would stay by my side while the regular recruits advanced. I was thinking to have them be equipped for defensive fighting, so I mostly arm them with spears (and shields obviously). When I am not using bows, I try to use spears, they are one of my favorite weapons, seeing the enemy get hung up on my wall of troops while I go around back and shish kebab them. They don't always work well though, since the enemy usually closes with shields up and then they are too close for spears, but they still look cool.

So each of my companions has a shield, and some sort of spear, right now they are using the long war spear with a length of 203 or something. I gave them all backup weapons, the Briton sword and an axe, I don't know how the AI thinks to switch weapons in what situation though. I am carrying a war spear (140 something reach), Briton sword, and random axes that I'm trying out. And of course a shield.

Also, I'm playing realistically on sandbox mode, and I have encumberance on, meaning heavy equipment "lowers stats", but how much does it actually affect your stats? Shields arel listed as "heavy equipment", and I'm wearing some armor too, and good helmets. Maybe I should give the heaviest equipment to my troops and keep myself light since in general I won't be getting hit much, I just let my wall stop them and go around the back.

TLDR: Does the AI switch melee weapons effectively or am I just wasting time equipping them with secondary weapons and stuff like that?

Thanks :D

[White Knight]

As far as I know, javelins are the best ranged weapons in the game by far. With grim determination and many skill/proficiency points, bows can become a serious contender for that claim.

I spent all my time in Warband with archery and only ever used thrown weapons in tournaments. In VC, it's all about the javelins.

The spear is an excellent choice. Having trained companions in your shieldwall is a good thing. Using it will improve your stats, making it easier to get through tournaments, peasant training, prison breaks, etc.

Having a nice sword for your backup is also a good idea.

Npcs might not be that great when it comes to choosing their equipment? I've heard about how they will use their last javelin in the alternate mode (for stabbing) rather than switching to their sword in the second slot. I don't actually pay that much attention to them on the battlefield, so I couldn't really say. If they are doing their job, I won't notice them. I don't really care how they kill my enemies.

Basically, my approach is to equip them as I would equip myself. I take the best gear for my character, then my old stuff gets handed-down to my companions. Solveig is like the youngest child, she gets everyone else's hand-me-downs (last to join, first to quit, etc.).

Armour seriously affects your speed and movement, and causes fatigue/stamina loss (if you have enabled that option). I've heard it said that removing armour prior to a tournament fight can help since the armour penalities are applied according to your normal load-out, not the coloured tunic you get in the arena. In the late game, this doesn't seem to have any effect I find, so I rarely bother playing dress-up with my dolls.

[Tuidjy]

The spear is situational. It is a great weapon if you keep your companions in the shield wall, or even part of any formation. But the AI is terrible at switching to a sword, and I use my companions as Special Purpose troops, which need their swords, be it for charging skirmishers, running down routers, or flanking enemy shield walls.

Also, I prefer not to dilute my companions weapon proficiencies between one handed and polearms.

So, I have two kinds of companions in Viking Conquest:
1) Specialist. Sword, shield and a ranged weapon like a crossbow or sling. They fight on foot, stay out of melee, except in small battles where they get experience, and usually hang out with the raw recruits and other specialty troops - hornmen, bannermen, soldier wives, priests, etc.
2) Combat beast. Sword, shield and 24-28 horseman javelins. They usually remain mounted, and are micro-manged most of the time.

Here are two examples. Brunhild, a specialist. Clovis, a combat beast.

Brunhild will hold her own against any tier I-III troops, and sometimes kills higher tier troops in melee.

Clovis will beat anyone hand to hand, and gets a lot of experience (his screenshot is from month ago, he is level 34 now) He cannot charge the front of a shield wall, but then no one can.

Both are legit characters, but if you start a new game, yours will look different. Brytenwalda keeps rebalacing companions, and now Ceao, Ceawlin and Asbjorn are much better than Clovis.

============

As for equipment penalties, I have a post somewhere that lists them. Off the top of my head (or rather, after checking a screenshot) if you wear a heavy armor, helmet, and shield, you get a total of -1 Power Strike, -2 Power Throw, - 3 Power Draw, and -5 Athletics.

[Twan]

Wow lots of good info here, thanks!

I never thought about javelins, some of my companions do have thrown weapons, I'll be sure to give them javelins, since I highly doubt equipping them with a sword AND axe as two backup weapons is pointless, so I can spare a slot.

That's what I'm starting to do now, use them as special troops. Even if just following me around the wall to flank them.

I switched out my heavy armor for some medium armor and that hat thingy, I'll see how that works. I don't have the stamina thing enabled, I probably should have, but it still affects the stats.

And yes, I just recruited Solveig and she's a jerk D:

[Tuidjy]

Twan の投稿を引用：

I switched out my heavy armor for some medium armor and that hat thingy, I'll see how that works. I don't have the stamina thing enabled, I probably should have, but it still affects the stats.

I think Stamina adds a lot to the game. It does make things harder for sure.

As for medium armor, when I started Viking Conquest, I spent a long time using it as my default, but I eventually stopped even carrying one. Now I switch between heavy when my mobility is restricted (sieges, hideouts, special locations, story missions, etc.) and light pretty much everywhere else.

Some elite troops like berserkers and Úlfhéðinn wear bear and possibly wolf pelts which rival medium armor for protection, and carry no penalty. Check this out.

[White Knight]

Twan の投稿を引用：

And yes, I just recruited Solveig and she's a jerk D:

For what it's worth, she and Asbjorn, et al. left me soonafter sandbox started up. I took Solveig back a few levels later and she dumped me again within weeks.

Dozens of levels later and I felt sorry for her, standing around in taverns in her underwear and gave her a third chance (I'm a sucker for pretty blondes it seems). She's been hanging around for a while now and doesn't seem to have a problem with following a Christian anymore?

Perhaps I've just managed to suck up well enough to both religions? I always leave holymen and their places of worship alone, am nice as possible to Pagans and pay off the corrupt priests if relations ever drop below 100.

I also made Asbjorn my minister by recruiting him into the party and appointing him to the role before he could get upset and take off again.

As for companions, you can't really go wrong. Treat them well, reward them with the stuff they deserve and they'll serve you well. You can get all serious about it and consult Excel spreadsheets if you like doing that sort of thing but it isn't a requirement. I have had better success just through roleplaying than some guides, etc. talk about.

As long as you're having fun, that's what "winning" looks like from where I'm sitting.

@Tuidgy, thanks again for providing some actual answers!

[Twan]

Haha, yeah those companions can get interesting. I really wish there was an option to disable companions hating each other, because I really like micromanaging my troops' weapons and armor. If I could manage ALL my troops equipment I guess I wouldn't mind. Like now, I have an army full of spearmen, and one "Elite Vikingr" whatever with a sword. My OCD won't let that slide :D

[Tuidjy]

Twan の投稿を引用：

Haha, yeah those companions can get interesting. I really wish there was an option to disable companions hating each other, because I really like micromanaging my troops' weapons and armor. If I could manage ALL my troops equipment I guess I wouldn't mind. Like now, I have an army full of spearmen, and one "Elite Vikingr" whatever with a sword. My OCD won't let that slide :D

In most mods, if you are super careful about keeping your warband happy, and never take sides in quarrels, and have persuasion 10, you are able to keep all companions in your party by talking them down when try to leave. Unhappy and constantly wanting to leave, but forever hanging on, waiting for things to improve.

I am not sure whether Viking Conquest is like this. What I have made sure is that by dumping a ton of cash on unhappy companions, you can make them come back to the taverns, as opposed to becoming an adventurer. So you can keep them rotating through your party.

Not that I do that. Too much trouble. Eight companions is OK with me, although I know how to keep 10 happy in Native, and at least 9 happy in Viking Conquest.

[Twan]

Oh also, has anyone ever used slings or the Fustibalus? They seem like really fun weapons, but I've read that they aren't very effective at all. I've only used it for about 30 seconds in the tutorial.

Maybe they are only effective against unarmored riff raff like thieves or something, without shields. I get these weapons and rocks in just about every loot screen though. I'm assuming bows would be a much better choice, but I kind of want to try this just for fun.

I was just wondering because I was messing around in Rome Total War with a mass of slingers and it was sort of funny.

[Sarkin]

Twan の投稿を引用：

Oh also, has anyone ever used slings or the Fustibalus? They seem like really fun weapons, but I've read that they aren't very effective at all. I've only used it for about 30 seconds in the tutorial.

Maybe they are only effective against unarmored riff raff like thieves or something, without shields. I get these weapons and rocks in just about every loot screen though. I'm assuming bows would be a much better choice, but I kind of want to try this just for fun.

I was just wondering because I was messing around in Rome Total War with a mass of slingers and it was sort of funny.

there easy to use but their damage is to low to really be useful against shield bearers. or heavy armour such as what ship captains use they might do a little damage but compared to a Javlin ,or a bow. they aren't that great. but having two dozen slingers rapidly pelting the enemy shield wall can be quite effective.

Slings are mid range rapid fire somewhat low damage

Bows are somewhat more long range middle rate of fire average damage.

Javlings are short range have higher damage and their rate of fire isn't to bad.

most slingmen don't have armour so in a fire fight they usually don't come out ahead. especially since they tend to be more inaccurate than a bowmen.

[Tuidjy]

Twan の投稿を引用：

Oh also, has anyone ever used slings or the Fustibalus? They seem like really fun weapons, but I've read that they aren't very effective at all. I've only used it for about 30 seconds in the tutorial.

For the player, they are not worth it, as you can only increase the damage through proficiency. Every other ranged weapon has advantages over the sling, and every advantage of the sling is matched by another ranged weapon.

For combat beast companions, they are waste. Javelins are the way to go - usable on horse back, usable at shorter ranges, better rate of fire, higher damage that can be improved.

For specialist companions, they are good choice. Crossbows are actually better against higher tier troops, but slings let you use a shield, which is a huge plus for specialists.

For troops, they are worse than any other ranged weapon, but they are part of the progression of some useful specialist troops. So just put them in the same division as your specialist companions - you will give your specialists meat shields, and you will keep them halfway safe while earning a bit of experience.

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This said, in sieges, sometimes I run out of ammo, and get my hands on a sling. They do blunt damage, so as long as you shoot around shields, which an archer like me is used to, they can be effective enough. Worse than anything else, but better than nothing. This is how my character got to 170+ proficiency with them - using them in sieges to whittle the defenders.

[Dutchgamer1982]

it depends on personal taste.. but first outfit.

While more heavy armor makes you run a bit slower, I am of the opinion there is no reason NOT to go for the most heavy armor possible.
-and Lordly is the best boost of it you can get.

Lordly Winged helmet
Lordly Steel Boots
Lordly Gauntlets
Lordly plate armor

The kind of horse is a matter of taste, but you either want a :
Champion Courser (fastest)
Heavy Charger (best armored, best charge and most HP)
Champion Sarranid Horse (best manouvre)
Champion Steppe Charger (best all round)

Personally I pick the chargers most of the time, but any of these 5 options is good for different reasons.

Next your kind of Weaponry.
-you ALWAYS want a shield, shields are just to good, even when usin 2h weapons they protect your back.

a Reinforced Steel Shield is by far the best shield you can have, if you leveled your shield skill enough to make up for it providing less cover.

If your skill is still lower a Reinforced Knightly Heater shield or Reinforced Knightly Kite shield may be better, as it covers more of the body while also havin better resistance (though with lower health)

For your melee, you not want 2h, some swear by polearms, but even if one can do 1 hit every chargem, that goes slow.. with a good 1h or 2h weapon enemies are mowed down much quicker, and 1h has the benefit of shield.

-for 1h melee the best weapon is a Masterfull Miletary Cleaver.

True a Heavy Iron War Axe would have the same damage while also having double damage to shields, but a good fighter does not waste blows on shields, and it's much shorter reach makes it not suitable for use on horseback.
though keeping one in your inventory for when you do not fight on horseback can be usefull.

-than ranged.
skill matters here, with powerdraw 10, bows can do 140% more damage.

if you pair that with the best possible bow :
*Masterfull War Bow (30 damage bow)
and the best possible arrows :
*large bag of Khergit Arrows (34 arrows of +3 damage)

insane damage is reached and shields are broken en enemies killed in one shot.

To me nothin beats bows.

So :


Lordly Winged helmet
Lordly Steel Boots
Lordly Gauntlets
Lordly plate armor
Heavy Charger
Reinforced Steel Shield
Masterfull Miletary Cleaver
Masterfull War Bow
large bag of Khergit Arrows

is the best outfit to me.

[Twan]

Yeah I guess for the player they aren't worth it, I thought it would be funny if I had so many that the enemy would be under a constant rain of rocks and get freaked out and panic, but bows, even though they are slower, would probably be better.

But I did have one battle recently against a bunch of farmers/peasants with slings. I ordered my whole unit to hold position while I moved up with my shield to score some "easy xp". The whole way it sounded like hail falling on a tin roof. As soon as I lowered my shield to use my axe, I got hit like 10 times in two seconds with rocks and almost died from 100% health :D

[Yael]

@Slings: There is "sling lead" ammunition, which increases damage significantly. Not sure if this makes it worthwhile though (as it still results only in about 45 damage before reductions).

Are crossbows worthwhile? They seem too weak, when almost every unit is carrying shields.

*edit* Ooops, post necromancy.