Hydra Tamer

acesman · #1 October 31st, 2006, 07:08 AM

I just started a game using Sauromatia, and recruited a Hydra Tamer. As far as I can tell the unit has no real purpose, did I miss something? I had hoped he could provide an occasional Hydra, but so far, nothing.

calmon · #2 October 31st, 2006, 07:16 AM

The only thing is that the tamer has a 100% Poison Resistence which helps against the Hydra Poison Clouds which appear arround the hydra on the battlefield.

CogDissident · #3 October 31st, 2006, 11:53 AM

I usually load him up with an item to give aura-courage, a battle standard or something, and maybe armor, and send him in right next to the hydras and hydra spawn. Hydras have suprisingly low morale for something that is really hard to kill.

Corwin · #4 October 31st, 2006, 03:44 PM

Quote:

CogDissident said:
I usually load him up with an item to give aura-courage, a battle standard or something, and maybe armor, and send him in right next to the hydras and hydra spawn. Hydras have suprisingly low morale for something that is really hard to kill.

Maybe it's because in the past their insane regeneration allowed them to live through siuations where they would prefer to die rather than suffer...

acesman · #5 October 31st, 2006, 04:18 PM

I see, this is a unit for LEADING Hydras. They are rather weak, and have no protection at all. Definitely a unit in need of a lot of items to be ready for combat.

Etaoin Shrdlu · #6 October 31st, 2006, 04:57 PM

Or make sure he's behind his charges so he doesn't get hit...
When I tried to use Hydras (this in Dom2 so it might not work as well) I'd put the Tamer all the way at the back line scripted Attack*5 (he'd get to the equivalent of the front of "your" formation box by this time), Retreat. The Hydras would be all the way forward on Attack Archers. Cavalry would run up, get poisoned, kill selves chasing down retreating Hydras. The Legion would then show up and find a nearly empty province.
After Construction 2 I'd stick a Longbow of Accuracy on him. Placed on the center of the formation box, scripted to fire closest.
Fun, but less cost-effective than simply getting the right gear on an Assassin and dropping all the commanders.
That, and the Hydras would get scattered around the surrounding provinces.

NTJedi · #7 October 31st, 2006, 06:46 PM

Quote:

acesman said:
I see, this is a unit for LEADING Hydras. They are rather weak, and have no protection at all.

By default it should be wearing the hydra skin armor... this tamer obviously spends most his life around these beasts it's only natural for them to use the hide of the hydras which died.

Ygorl · #8 November 1st, 2006, 02:16 AM

Well, you can't just wrap yourself up in some old dead skin and hope it does as well as a suit that's magically enchanted... It takes some real nature skill to keep that stuff from just rotting and sloughing off.

I love useful posts...

NTJedi · #9 November 1st, 2006, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Ygorl said:
Well, you can't just wrap yourself up in some old dead skin and hope it does as well as a suit that's magically enchanted... It takes some real nature skill to keep that stuff from just rotting and sloughing off.

These Hydra Tamers spend their lives working, training and living among these beasts. During this lifetime I'm sure it's not as hard as you think to find a nature mage.

Gandalf Parker · #10 November 1st, 2006, 11:59 PM

I thought that they also had a bonus in keeping the hydras from routing?