How am I supposed to use empire captains?

[Taisen]

I've played the empire campaign quite a few times and I still haven't figured out how I m supposed to use these guys correctly. Am I supposed to put them on the Pegasus even though they get less armor? or are they any good on foot? I just can't figure out their niche and I m looking for some second opinions.

[Allivan]

There's a mod that gives them a Steam Tank mount and it helps alot

[RCMidas]

They are really more there for their local buffs rather than their combat expertise - you want to use them to buff public order, increase XP per turn, provide more Leadership away from the Lord, etc - and to be mounted such that you can cycle-charge with them to break enemy troops more quickly.

They are great against chaff, tying up a whole unit or two of the enemy whilst the rest of your forces deal with the tougher units free from distraction - especially with the right magical items to support this - and if you don't mind the chance of losing them, they are great as a distraction in their own right if sent to support your Lord in a fight with an enemy duellist.

[zefyris]

horse or pegasus. For Gelt for example I like to have the captain on pegasus since he can escort Gelt.

If his role is to support the main line you want him on horse.
If his role in the army is more flanker /disturbing the back line, pegasus is better.
If his role is to support the lord then whatever mount is close of what the lord himself use.

[wrought82]

defo pegasus; having a team of fliers take out artillery and other high value targets is godsent

[Teh_Diplomat]

Pegasus is ideal; and as mentioned above, his priority is locking down arty, blobbing up chaff, and hitting appropriate targets (enemy mages, casters) you know, the ones he can actually kill.

[Hieronymus]

Send them in alone and focus them down with magic and arty.

[BigRockWall]

If you can get a couple lords/heros on flying mounts it can be useful to move them together as a flying goon squad to gank other lords/heros you can single out. Captains are great choices. Not the strongest melee character by themselves. But in tandem with a flying lord and 1 other flying hero (even a mage) you can single out enemy characters pretty efficiently

[Bad_Lieutenant]

Whey get captains when you can get wiiiiiizzaaaaaarrdds?!

[gachi is manly]

Originally posted by Bad_Lieutenant:

Whey get captains when you can get wiiiiiizzaaaaaarrdds?!

Probably because every hero has their own separate limit. So the choice isn't really one or the other. Plus having more than one wizard in an army is pretty redundant since they all share the same pool of magic.

Captains on pegs are great for arty hunting and helping combat lords smack down enemy generals and other characters. They don't function all that well 1v1 against other better combat characters, but pegasus speed and flying let you pick your fights anyways.

[kamikharzeeh]

i mainly used the for scouting and hero actions, and once they are at a decent level (so got some xp, at least 10-20 levels) you can fine use them in battles. at lv30+ they are pretty strong. i never go pegasi, but would technically work too. i prefer them on foot, some on horse for flanking actions.

[zefyris]

Originally posted by Bad_Lieutenant:

Whey get captains when you can get wiiiiiizzaaaaaarrdds?!

you need wizards everywhere. on the map in your provinces, on the map in the enemy provinces, and in each army. That's the most useful hero for Empire factions so the more you have the better, but due to this, you can never have enough to be satisfied with, pretty much.
Whereas all the captains you have can be in your armies, their campaign buff and actions aren't that useful compared to other heroes. Witch hunters are mostly campaign map heroes, and warrior priests are good in your provinces and in your armies so you want as many as possible as well (especially if playing proving ground beta).