Can we make drakes stronger?

[rykus]

I was wondering if we could maybe beef up the drakes a bit. I was just playing a drake-based campaign and fully realizing how weak they are, opposed to my expectations.

Since they're pretty expensive, I'd expect them to take a bit more beating than they do. Also, their terrain defense isn't that great, and they seem to take far more damage than they inflict.

Or maybe it's just me... I really enjoy the Drakes, but I keep getting spanked when I use them. Anyone else faring better than I am? Or have any suggestions to make them a bit more durable?

[pauxlo]

The usual anwer is: The factions are balanced for multiplayer, and are considered quite balanced now. If you think some inbalance exists, post a replay - better with you on the winning side against drakes.

If in some campaign they are too weak, post in the campaign feedback thread about this (with details, too). Campaigns have quite some possibilities to balance apart from changing unit stats.

There are some discussions about drake strategy in the "strategies and tips" forum, too - most is for multiplayer, but some of it may be applicable on campaigns too. Other than this, you can create a new thread there asking for feedback on your replay.

Generally about drakes: try to use your mobility, this is quite more important than your standing power.

[rykus]

Thanks, I'll look into those! I saw someone mentioned using the Leadership ability, so I'll see if I can't play that into my strategy a bit more and see if I get better results.

My problem usually arises when I get stuck trying to kill off one or two enemies, which takes about 8 or so drakes, and they all end up losing about half their health. Then the rest of the army catches up and smashes what I have left.

I was just thinking it would be cool for some units to have a "hit and run" style ability, so they can move afterwards. There are some weak units with great mobility but I rarely get a chance to use them because even if they pick off a weak enemy, it puts them in range of 3 others. I'll have to look through and see if this has been suggested anywhere.

I guess also I was expecting more standing power from the drakes because, well, they're dragons (little ones, though). So when their typical terrain defense is only 30%, I tend to get cut down extremely quickly.

I think Drakes have less healing than the other factions, too, don't they? Undead have drain, Elves and Humans have healers, Dwarves have the "healthy" ability (or something like that), and Trolls regen.

[Velensk]

Drakes are pretty tough they just can't dodge to save their lives.

If they are supported by saurian auxilleries (like in multiplayer) drakes have plenty of healing.

[ScipioAfricanus]

Oddly enough, this topic come up just days after one saying that drakes are overpowered...

[rykus]

haha, yeah, I suppose you'll always have people seeing it both ways. I forgot about the Saurians! So I guess there is healing - my bad.

[Caphriel]

My problem usually arises when I get stuck trying to kill off one or two enemies, which takes about 8 or so drakes, and they all end up losing about half their health.

I strongly suspect you're doing something wrong. Are you attacking a chaotic faction at night with lawful units? You shouldn't need four drakes to kill most enemy units, and they certainly shouldn't take half their health in retaliation. The exception to this is attacking Loyalists during the day, in which case you should be fighting at night.

Drakes do hit-and-run. They hit during the time of day they want, where they want, then run when the ToD changes, etc.

Also, I laughed when I saw this thread because two threads below it was this thread, in which someone complains the Drakes are terribly overpowered and asks the devs to nerf them

[Zarel]

You should also have both ranged and melee drakes - attacking enemies with whichever attack-type they're bad at should significantly decrease how much retaliation damage you take.

[joshudson]

Does anybody else find it humorous we have "Can we make drakes stronger" and "Overpowered faction" which is also referencing drake on the same page?

[Zarel]

Does anybody else find it humorous we have "Can we make drakes stronger" and "Overpowered faction" which is also referencing drake on the same page?

Yes, which is why they pointed that out four posts ago.

[Sorrow]

Download cackfiend's replays if you want to see how to play drakes well:

http://ladder.subversiva.org/profile.php?name=Cackfiend