A few general questions

[Korlon]

There are some things about this game that I simply haven't figured out just yet and would like to know about.

To put in some intended pun, what exactly are the starting hitpoint values for your generals?

A big question I have been wondering for a long time is what exactly are the effects of fatigue on a unit, I know that it drops down their stats and morale, but what are the exact effects, percentages and such.

If you were able to empty the same amount of ammo from the same archer unit with fire arrow and without, which one would kill more? Because when I play, it doesn't seem fire arrow's doing much, in fact, I feel as if it actually kills less people. I wish to know the effectiveness both in extremely crowded positions with every arrow hitting and maybe without as well. I have no care for how archers shoot faster without using fire as I only care about ammunition efficiency.

Also, a unit basically has four directions in which an archer can shoot at him from. For a unit which holds a shield, it feels like shooting at the unit from the shield side and the front does the same damage, is that true? And exactly what are the effects of shooting from each side? It feels like shooting from the back negates armor defense bonus, but that can't be since the soldiers have armor on their back side, and isn't defense skill already negated when using archers? Or do I have false information?

That's all I can think of right now... thanks for your help.

[Hooahguy]

1)not sure

2)fatigue makes a unit slower, but im not sure if it effects fighting, and it does effect morale, IIRC.

3)fire arrows are less accurate, but they do best against elephants.

4)to be most effective with archer units, somehow get them behind the enemy- they will slaughter them, no matter how high their defense.

[Watchman]

Fire arrows are useful chiefly because of the psychological damage they do - they have much more impact on the morale of the target than normal arrows (which kill better). Good for harassing elephants and scythed chariots (hopefully into running amok), and pushing wavering units into a rout.

As for facings, the shield protects from the soldier's front and left side (and apparently rates double against missiles). Armour protects all around. What this means in concrete terms is that you shoot the phalangites from behind or the weapon-hand side for the best (or much any) results, and that it's quite irrelevant which way you shoot at those massively armoured cataphracts from - the effect is minimal anyway.