Rod of Phoenix or Wand of Wildfire?

[Torvak]

Need suggestions for the best one handed weapon for secondary (support) commanders. They all carry crystal shields so i need something for the other hand.

[PhilD]

Originally posted by Torvak:
Need suggestions for the best one handed weapon for secondary (support) commanders. They all carry crystal shields so i need something for the other hand. <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">In my current "I have unlimited Fire gems" game, I've forged tons of Rods of the Phoenix for those secondary commanders.

But why Crystal Shields? Are all your commanders mages/priests?

[Torvak]

But why Crystal Shields? Are all your commanders mages/priests? <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Yes, in my current game i'm at turn 70 with Arco on the world map. I just replaced all non mage commanders with harbingers and angelic hosts. Still have some arco priesteses with me for the affliction healing and some astral mages for general carnage.

[mivayan]

If they all have usefull spells to cast a Main gauche of parrying (6 defence) or faithfull (luck) could be more usefull.

[Nagot Gick Fel]

Originally posted by Torvak:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana"> But why Crystal Shields? Are all your commanders mages/priests? <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Yes, ...</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Rods of the Phoenix and Wands of Widfire are weapons for standard commanders. Give something else to your mages, like Rune Smashers if they use resistable spells, Staves of Mastery on Elementalists (better than Crystal Shields because of encumberance), Thistle Maces on nature mages, or defensive weapons like Main Gauches or Vine Whips. Or +leadership items if you need bigger squads (good for army gaters).

[Uh-Nu-Buh]

Original Question: Wand of Wildfire, or Phoenix Wand.

Straightforward No-Nonsense Answer: It depends.

If you are dealing with large enemy armies, then go for Wildfire. Bolster your defense with 3 small platoons of heavy infantry set to guard. Put them a little forward of your mages, and one up and one down, to take out arrows and fast units. Use entangle to slow the enemy down. Use non-mage commanders with high precision. 5 fireballs can do some real damage!! Think of this as indirect fire artillery.

However, if you are facing smaller armies, then use the Phoenix Rods. They always hit, they do a lot of damage to individual units. They get the job done. They will cream even elite units and powerful monsters. Think of these as direct fire big guns. Again, I would give them some bodyguards, and possibly some nature mages throwing entangle or whatnot.

[Pocus]

good points. Wildfire is your 155 mm howitzer whereas Rod of Phoenix is your 88mm AT gun...