The Glowing Fish Guide to Abilities

[Gus]

The thing is: they become _elusive units_ with damage comparing to regular ones.

[Elvish_Pillager]

The thing is: they become _elusive units_ with damage comparing to regular ones.

'
The thing is, they become _low HP 20-30% weak to damage_ elusive units with damage comparing to regular ones.

[Gus]

err, yeah, and ?

[Zhukov]

err, yeah, and ?

I think what he's saying is: The elusive factor means they don't get hit as often as others. But when they do get hit, it hurts.

(If you've ever seen a backstab on an Orcish Warlord go wrong, you'll know what I mean.)

[Gus]

Well, yeah, they still retain most of the drawbacks of elusive units, and all of their advantages, and on top of that they can reach a level of decent damage.

[peet]

First Strike Means that this unit hits first, even while defending. I find this ability doesn't come in handy often, because striking first would only be of benefit when you have an injured unit being attacked by another injured unit.

I think it's worth mentioning that the value of First Strike depends significantly on whether you are going against a human being or against the computer.

Against a human being, First Strike has a reduced advantage because the human will see that your unit has this ability and will take precautions, such as using missile weapons or units with high pierce resistance.

On the other hand, the computer will often attack your first strike unit with an injured unit, because the computer sometimes doesn't seem to take this into account. So against the computer AI the First Strike special is much more valuable.

One more thing: First Strike cancels out First Strike. Though the special only works on defense, an attacking unit with First Strike will cancel out the defender's First Strike ability. So you can always fight fire with fire, as it were.

Peet

[Gus]

First Strike seems mostly useful in campaigns, were the CPU _has_ to attack you.

It can be a good way to defend a contested position, too.

[Airk]

The thing is: they become _elusive units_ with damage comparing to regular ones.

'
The thing is, they become _low HP 20-30% weak to damage_ elusive units with damage comparing to regular ones.

Yeah, but thieves are really CHEAP. Well, okay, so they're not that much cheaper than other 'cheap' units, but hey, they're quickish too.

Probably pretty balanced, overall, though it's a shame they have to advance to get even a dinky missile attack.

[LoneWolf]

'
The thing is, they become _low HP 20-30% weak to damage_ elusive units with damage comparing to regular ones.

Yeah, but thieves are really CHEAP. Well, okay, so they're not that much cheaper than other 'cheap' units, but hey, they're quickish too.

Probably pretty balanced, overall, though it's a shame they have to advance to get even a dinky missile attack.

Thieves at 1st level are VERY vulnerable. With weaknesses (blade, pierce..), they can easily get bashed (by spearman, or by lucky horseman...) . Valuable unit is assassin (even with that weaknesses) - he's got nice melee attack (+backstab) and ranged, poisoning strike.

[Zhukov]

Thieves at 1st level are VERY vulnerable. With weaknesses (blade, pierce..), they can easily get bashed (by spearman, or by lucky horseman...) . Valuable unit is assassin (even with that weaknesses) - he's got nice melee attack (+backstab) and ranged, poisoning strike.

It's not wise to discount level 1 Thieves. True, they are very vulnerable, but for 13 gold they can deal out tremendous amounts of damage.

Same goes for the Rogue (level 2): skirmish+backstab+high defence= ouch.

[elricz]

Also, I have found that against the AI the thieves are perfect decoys. They are weak units, so the AI tries to finish them first, and if they are in a good terrain, they can dodge a few attacks, making the AI move more troops to where you want.

[unsung]

You people undervalue first strike a bit- it helps a lot against berserk units especially when you have a say, halberdeir, and if you have a near death unit just a few exp from levlling up surronded, first strike can make the difference beetwenn dieing (sitting there, running, or trying to kill some wounded unit to get the exp you need) and killing one of them and healing.

Sure, it isn't the best, but it is usefull.

And yes, thieves are a good unit, for their cost.

I love assasins.

[Rey]

Glowing Fish:
Contributions as these are very interesting, both guides (general and weapon) are to him of utility to many newbies.

Other interesanting thread is:
http://www.wesnoth.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11640