Favorite/"Best" Archer?

[QuintusSertorius]

Which archers and slingers have the longest range?

That's really my only criteria for them, since the only times I use missile troops is when I'm on defense, or when I want to draw the enemy into attacking my well prepared line of troops.

Range is largely an irrelevant comparison between slingers and archers. Slingers might have shorter range, but they'll actually kill things at that range. I've watch the AI do stupid things with their archers, such as shooting at the front of my line troops, and exhausting their ammo getting a handful of kills.

Meanwhile my slingers have decimated their skirmishers and light cavalry before the lines even meet.

[Victor1234]

Range is largely an irrelevant comparison between slingers and archers. Slingers might have shorter range, but they'll actually kill things at that range. I've watch the AI do stupid things with their archers, such as shooting at the front of my line troops, and exhausting their ammo getting a handful of kills.

Meanwhile my slingers have decimated their skirmishers and light cavalry before the lines even meet.

Sure, I mostly use slingers too, but the archers with fire arrows are useful as well. The AI has a nasty tendancy to charge straight into your nearest unit, even if they only lose one or two men per volley. So, I always have both archers and slingers. Slingers to do the real damage, archers to mess up their morale (those fire arrows seem to do that alot) and draw them into attacking me.

[mp0925]

what slinger should i use? roman original greek ones celtic one of numidian?

[Woreczko]

Range is largely an irrelevant comparison between slingers and archers. Slingers might have shorter range, but they'll actually kill things at that range. I've watch the AI do stupid things with their archers, such as shooting at the front of my line troops, and exhausting their ammo getting a handful of kills.

Meanwhile my slingers have decimated their skirmishers and light cavalry before the lines even meet.

Personally I like archers more. Slingers due to having AP projectiles are better vs aroured units and seem to be more "solid" killers. However low attack ratings prevent them from doing anything spectacular and "battle-turning" (of course I`m not talking about highly experienced units). Archers are more specialized. They fail miserably against well armoured and shielded targets. However against light troops they are definately more effective. Concentrated fire of 2-3 regiments can decimate light troops before they are able to do anything useful on the battlefield. Aforementioned fire arrows if used in quantity and combined with cavalry charge may break a lot units and start a general rout of enemy battleline.

Of course a lot depends on composition of opposing armies. If you are fighting with greek units vs romans, then slingers would most probably be more useful, as toxotai are crap and won`t be able to do anything vs principes or triarii. On the other hand, when you are in the east, facing many lightly armoured units and having acces to the excellent archers, then bows are the way to go.