View Full Version : syrian archers
are syrian archers any good?
i'm skeptical because every archer unit that i know of and used has been cut to pieces by anything from elites to lowly levies.
are they worth the money?
Watchman
09-23-2007, 15:52
Unlike most infantry archers, they wear a decent set of armour. That means they also don't die nearly as readily when someone throws stuff back at them. Way back in a few Hayasdan campaigns I learned right fast the buggers are not something you want to have a firefight with if all your guys have protecting their hides is shirts.
Even if your guys are on horseback. You're likely to run out of ammo before inflicting meaningful casualties on the Syrians unless you have something like three to one advantage - and that had better feature slingers.
Personally, I found that once the AS started adding these guys into its stack parade mopping them up became a lot harder, and tended to revolve around using the Hai Bodyguard Terminators to hunt down the Syrians from amongst the other troops at the very beginning. Not fun.
Centurio Nixalsverdrus
09-23-2007, 19:05
I couldn't try Hindus Longbowmen yet, but so far the Syrians do an awesome job. They have a lot of advantages over other archers, namely armour, range, numbers, and ammunition, in which they are all superior over every other archer. Cretans are a tad better when it comes to melee, you can use them almost as medium infantry if needed. The Syrians are also good in melee, although not excelling.
TWFanatic
09-23-2007, 19:56
Personally, I rarely care about melee ability for archers. The fact that Syrians have 4 missile attack makes them a waist of money for me when you can get slingers with a similar attack AND ap stones for far less (think in terms of upkeep as well).
LordCurlyton
09-23-2007, 20:15
Syrians are nice in archer vs archer duels but it seems like they have shorter range than Parthian Foot Archers and less ammo. I still am rather fond of them, though, as they can hold up in melee well enough and can win lots of archery duels, since a basic HA cannot charge Syrians and win, they'll just get slaughtered.
Centurio Nixalsverdrus
09-23-2007, 21:10
You mean Thanvare Payahdag? I don't think they outmatch the Syrians in any way...
I don't like Slingers. They are Psiloi, and just can't walk in formation. Plus they get slaughtered very quickly in missile-duels because they lack any kind of armour. Taking Slingers instead of Syrian archers is like taking Akontistai instead of Thraikioi Peltastai... brrrr.
Watchman
09-23-2007, 21:28
Then again, you try whittling down cataphracts with arrows...
I tend to use both. Archers mostly shoot at the light stuff (like most other missile troops), shilngers deal with harder nuts.
NightStar
09-23-2007, 22:42
The Thanvare Payahdag are awesome, they outshoot most everyting and are cheap, tad under 200 bucks upkeep and easily replaceable if you are in the far east.
Of course anything that has armor just deserves a lead bullett in the face.
But then again I try to limit myself to 4 archers/slinger unit per stack, else the A.I doesn't stand a chance.
Unless I'm fighting nomads.....I hate the Saka!!!! I'm gonna steal their women and ravage their horses!!!!!
Are the Syrian Archers avaliable in say Makedonia's regional MICs? If so which cities? They seem pretty cool.
@ Nightstar. I think you may have got that last saying around the wrong way :P
Centurio Nixalsverdrus
09-24-2007, 00:57
Then again, you try whittling down cataphracts with arrows...
They charge right into my phalanx anyway... no need to kill them at distance.:laugh4:
Are the Syrian Archers avaliable in say Makedonia's regional MICs? If so which cities? They seem pretty cool.
Antiocheia, Edessa, Palmyra, Tarsos, Damaskos and probably Sidon.
Tellos Athenaios
09-24-2007, 11:52
I am not sure but they should be as well in: Arbela; Seleukeia. No Sidon or Tarsos however.
Awesome. Thanks. Getting close to that Area and keen to check em out.
Strategos Alexandros
09-25-2007, 16:39
Indian archers are the best in melee. They destroyed my Makedonian Hetairoi in one battle.
Indians have the advantage of being 100. They may lack the extreme range of the Syrians but when arrows start falling down, it hurts... a lot!
Cheers...
russia almighty
09-25-2007, 23:02
Indians got cloud's buster sword for melee. Thats why there so scary .
russia almighty
09-25-2007, 23:04
Indians got cloud's buster sword for melee. Thats why there so scary .
Syrians are like every other archer , there from Mexico and there secondary is a shank , just a slightly longer one .
Megas Methuselah
09-25-2007, 23:06
Unless I'm fighting nomads.....I hate the Saka!!!! I'm gonna steal their women and ravage their horses!!!!!
:beam:
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