I am sure that every battle has its own tactics, and so has every player and that what makes the exitement in battles. And I think it differs from an army to the other, so it depends on how you know your army and use it to the optimum.
Lord Hurin wrote:
I don't think shielding is an effective way to win games. If EVERYONE shields then no one will be killing their foes and there won't be anyone to come to their aid.
I totally agree with you, but let me pleed my case. It's just a tactic in the battle not the whole army even for Bowmen, and most certainly not for the whole battle long. I am just using them to set my priorities in battle.
For instance I prefer in spear/pike block case to take out the supporters first. As for the front line, I won't hesitate to go for the kill right away if I can spare the right warriors to do the job from my army. But if I don't; and killing is not my first priority, then I won't send my worriors to be just killed (I care fot them you know
). So keeping them busy is an obvious need in the same time and becomes a high priority. Only then shielding comes into play.
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Besides that, shielding will only protect you for so long before you roll snake-eyes and have that Uruk striking against you.
It is probable of course. But even worse is the probability to get a one-eyed snake, especially for a poor unshielded bownam against an 4S Uruk-Hai.
And even if you win with 1 die against 2, you'll need for a rohan bowman with 3S to roll a 6 to kill the 6D Uruk. Bad chance either ways.
I mean if he's 50% likely to be killed if he loses anyway, why not giving him a better chance to win and use him in different way (I care for the life of my warriors you see
). Of course you're not gonna kill your opponent (a very small chance even if you win in this specific case) but you'll have a chance to buy some time and keep him busy at least for a while.
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Also, a good player will have his bowmen shooting at pikemen and spearmen for much of the game unless they are desparately needed. Often in my experience that desparate need comes in the form of having to kill more enemy troops to break through or force Courage tests. This cannot be accomplished with a shielding tactic.
Again agreed. But for the good side shooting will be next to useless after engagement. And when they're desparately needed in case of the rest of the army is outnumbered or out powered (as in our case here) you have to be careful where to assign them, otherwise you may end up broken yourself.
Just my opinion!