Are you putting you leader in front line ?

Depending on the Leader and if he has any troops.

If I have a leader who leads troops I keep him at the back of the fighting, as if he is injured or comes up against a morale check he can't make he retreats and his whole army does as well.

If I have leaders who don't lead troops more often than not they are used as ferriers and not combat troops, but if they are I put them on a flank if they're equipped, otherwise it's like throwing money away for no noticable benefit.

Giants and other 'good' units are usually above this; as I will use them for combatants, but if I'm going to go through the point of using one to attack i usually equip them, if they are suited to the job.

[Gandalf Parker]

Learn this early, there is no best. There is only pros and cons.

Having commanders at the back is good because you arent in such danger of routing.

But then some of them dont do much so I give them things like dragon helms or summoning items.

If you have sacred troops then a priest should start near them (for bless spell)

Having cheap commander-types such as priests or scouts near the front help to draw attacks that are aimed at commander-types

Using scripted commanders and troops set to guard-commander can give good control of the battle field. Just dont put so many guards that they keep the commander form moving. Examples are things like 1 attack then cast in order to close range. Or attack for a couple of rounds then stay-behind-troops, to draw enemy up to your stand-and-attack-closest gauntlet.

And of course, there are equipment items which need to be near your frontlines such as moral builders or things that summon slow troops.

[PrinzMegaherz]

It also depends on the race you are playing.

If you get a few people much power army like Ulm or Jotunheim, then let your commanders attack. If you got lots of cheap troops, send them in first, your commander would make no a difference anyway.

Especially Ulm is capable of forging lots of cheap equipment for your commanders that will give them some chance of survival.

[Nagot Gick Fel]

Originally posted by Zen:
Giants and other 'good' units are usually above this; as I will use them for combatants, but if I'm going to go through the point of using one to attack i usually equip them, if they are suited to the job.

I always attack with my Herses which I recruit en masse, until they die - those are granted Valhalla access - or gain heroic abilities - those are granted new equipment, depending on what they got:

- melee abilities: wraith sword, pendant of luck, ring of regen optional (depending on nature gem income, or nature-9 blessing).

- endurance: I use them as tramplers, if possible with a vine shield.

- valor: herald lance or banner of the NS if astral mages present, stay behind troops.

- precision: bows (usually Botulf's, but thunder bow is great if a giant's hands) or bolas (very effective).

- quickness: depends, if I can I use them as tramplers with vine shield and amulet of resilience, and rainbow armor if available. Otherwise as meleers if the ad hoc equipment is available, otherwise they do a good job as bola throwers.

- iron will: I give them an amulet of AM and everything I can to make sure they kill more things than their comrades (boots of quickness, lightning helm, sword of swiftness and damage shield, whatever). No wraith sword, I want them to be targeted if I'm subject to a Vengeance of the Dead attack, and if they fail the MR check, a wraith sword won't help them vs undead.