Ukian faction rating/strategy guide

[lezthar]

Ukians are one of the best factions that are not overpowered, they possess two unique units that make ukians stand out (dog and vassal), they level up very quickly and they have some nice level 2 promotions as well.

First- breakdown of each unit, outlining strengths/weaknesses and unit it is most similiar to (if any) from the default factions. Rating will be based on 6 things as well as an overall rating:

Expense: Cheaper is better (higher rating for cheaper units, number given is rating not cost).
Power: attack potential of the unit in most favorable situation (strikes, damage per strike).
Defense: defensive potential of the unit (hit points, resistances).
Attack versatility: attack potential of the unit in a variety of situations (damage types available [fire, pierce], attack types available [melee, ranged], some specialties and abilities).
Defense versatility: defensive potential of the unit in a variety of situations (terrain defences, movement speed, some specialties and abilities).
Promotion: Usefulness of leveling up the unit.
Overall: afterthoughts and overview.

Ratings are 1-10, 1 being crap, 5 is average, 10 is amazing
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Dog

Expense: 10 (amazing)
Cheap and may possess loyal trait

Power: 5 (average)
3 strikes at 4 damage.

Defense: 2 (very poor)
No resistances and very low hp, you get what you pay for.

Attack versatility: 7 (good)
Only 1 attack available, but has skirmisher allowing it to do what it does best... finishing off most wounded/retreating units behind enemy lines (especially magic users).

Defense versatility: 10 (amazing)
Able too hold villages relatively well and retreat easily with very high movement speed and skirmisher, Park them almost anywhere for 60-70% terrain defence, traverses most terrain types easily, the ai loves attacking these guys, watch out for marksmen and magical.

Promotion: 7 (good)
2 promotions available at level 1, one of the best berserk units available on level up.

Overall: 7 (good)

A nice level 0 unit, one of the best, what more can be said?
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Vassal

Expense: 3 (poor)
Most expensive recruitable ukian unit.

Power: 6 (above average)
1 strike at 15 damage

Defense: 9 (great)
very good hp and resistances, but look out for pierce attacks (especially melee like spearmen) as they can eliminate vassals pretty quickly.

Attack versatility: 10 (amazing)
possessing 1 melee and 2 ranged attacks consisting of blunt and pierce as well as one ranged attack having scattershot, the vassal is nearly unmatched in attack versatility.

Defense versatility: 7 (good)
Average terrain defences at best (as expected from a mounted unit) but good movement speed... As long as it's mostly flat, easy to retreat to safety.

Promotion: 5 (average)
No promotion choices, generic increases in all stats aside from melee attack which gets a good increase.

Overall: 9 (great)
A nice unit unique to ukians, the only real downside is the recruitment cost.
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Ukian runner

Expense: 6 (above average)
Relatively inexpensive.

Power: 3 (poor)
2 strikes at 5 damage

Defence: 3 (poor)
Relatively low hit points and negative resistances... Nothing good here.

Attack versatility: 8 (very good)
1 melee and 1 ranged attack, 1 pierce and 1 blunt, not great but not terrible, they also have first strike. The most amazing thing is they have dog trainer! (unimpressed)

Defense versatility: 8 (very good)
great terrain defences and pretty good movement, but I usually would prefer a dog.

Promotion: 5 (average)
Noticeably better after promotion. Terrain defences, resistances and movement oddly increase.

Overall: 5 (average)
Very similiar to a footpad... Just don't mass recruit these guys.
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Ukian regular

Expense: 5 (average)
No comment.

Power: 10 (amazing)
3 strikes at 8 damage.

Defence: 7 (good)
Good hp, nuff said.

Attack versatility: 8 (very good)
1 ranged and 1 melee attack, pierce and slash, also has first strike. Good in a variety of situations.

Defence versatility:5 (average)
Average movement and terrain defences, nothing spectacular.

Promotion: 10 (amazing)
3 promotions available on level up, all useful.

Overall: 8 (very good)
similiar to a spearman. This unit should form the majority of your force.
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Ukian archer

Expense:4.5
...

Power: 8 (very good)
4 strikes at 5 damage

Defence: 4 (below average)
Relatively low hit points, these guys can't take a lot of punishment.

Attack versatility: 7 (good)
1 ranged and 1 melee attack, 1 pierce and 1 slash.

Defence versatilty: 5 (average)
Average movement and terrain defence.

Promotion: 8 (very good)
2 nice promotions after level 1, including the only healer class for ukians.

Overall: 7 (good)
Similiar to a poacher, but slightly more useful and expensive, would have scored higher as a ranged unit, but is nearly outshined by vassals scattershot, it's saving grace is it's promotion classes and ease of leveling up, it is the easiest level 1 ukian unit to level up.
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Northern Fighter

Expense: 5 (average)
...

Power: 7 (good)
3 strikes at 6 damage

Defence: 8 (very good)
Good Hit points and some resistances

Attack versatility: 6 (above average)
1 ranged and 1 melee attack, both blade

Defence versatility: 6 (above average)
average movement and terrain defences, except while in castle they receive a nice terrain bonus.

Promotion: 7 (good)
2 promotions available on level up

Overall: 6 (above average)
I am not fond of these guys, In most instances I would prefer a ukian regular... Still not a bad unit.

Feel free to post feedback

[Pentarctagon]

Moved to Strategies and Tips, since this is a strategy guide.

[doofus-01]

Hi lezthar,

Thanks for the rating/guide. In case it sheds any light on anything, I'll note that the Ukian faction was made for the campaign Bad Moon Rising Parts 2 & 3, which takes place in the far north, so they are supposed to be better-than-average on snow terrain. The regular, runner, archer, and dog were the player-controlled units; the vassal and northern fighter were units added to a mostly Loyalist enemy roster.

I'd changed the vassal line to be less of a ranged unit in the newer version of BfW (1.11/1.12 versus 1.10), but seeing your comments makes me think I should consider undoing that. I won't hijack this thread any further, development comments can go here.