Pitot
08-09-2006, 12:59 AM
It says for greys because I don't see the Barrier Ward as a usefull tool for golds. But for greys the first thing you want to think about is placement for the BW (Barrier Ward).
The Barrier Ward should be placed in the second or third row from the back. This gives it some protection from enemy sharpshooters and also gives your barrier ward the full protection of your armed forces. The Barrier ward should ALWAYS be placed no further than 2 tiles in any direction of your cleric. Also usually in the same row as the LW if your using it for added frontal protection.
The Irony of the BW is that it is only used for protection, but it also needs to be protected. Also you should Only have 1 BW on the field. More than 1 is a waste of good movable units.
When should you use a BW you may ask. Well the basic rule of thumb is use it on either, a severly damaged unit, a unit in focus, or a unit that has the prospect of getting hit and not blocking. Examples are needed. If your witch is down to 10 hp and still has several wait turns, which happens quite often. and a enemy knight is close by, BW your witch, even if you can heal. If she is at 11 and a enemy knight is near by, then just heal, no need to worry about BWing her yet. For the second example, a unit in focus. Most comonly used on the scantly-clad Enchanty (Enchantress). If she is having fun freezing your oppenents guys, and she can get struck by a pesky arrow or mage bomb, Giving her a much need barrier would be advised, she will pay you back later Guarenteed ;). Barriering her gives you added time to demolish the units frozen by her outstanding beauty. The final example Units that may get hit and may not block. For example you send your good old scout into the open to start sniping the extremely hot enchanty, but then her boyfriend, the mean old knights comes on his way to seek his revenge. This is a good time to barrier your scout, wait for the wait time to expire, finish off the hot witch or enchanty, and go on your merry way. There is always that freak occurrence where your LW is lined up with your enemies LW. You can barrier your LW and strike with your witch at your oppenents LW.
Another Strategy for The BW is to barrier one of your units to then use your witch to stike at your enemy leaving your unit unscathed. For example, 2 scouts in a row one yours, one your enemies. Your Witch is 2 tiles behind your scout and 3 behind your enemies. A good strategy may be to barrier your scout protecting it not just from your enemies but also your witch which can then attack without moving severly damaging your oppenents well loved scout. I use that strategy myself quite often.
As important as it is to know when to use a BW it is equally as important to know when not to use it. If it is low on hp and a scout has it in his sights, refrain from using it. In fact if a scout has it in his sights at all you probably shouldnt use it unless absolutly necessary. You shouldnt be using it on random units that dont need it, usually knights that are barely hurt or not at all. just because it's there doesn't mean it needs to be active. Active BWs can be picked off more easily. Ranged units should hopefully be destroyed or paralyzed before the BW is used, and when the ranged units are down is when its full power can be shown.
BW as a blockade. Since the BW does have 100 percent blocking, it is often put directly in front of the cleric. This is usually not a good idea. this prevents the cleric from escaping if he needs to make a hasty reteat to the side. A side attack can devestate a BW used as a blockade. BWs should be protected just as much as they should be used for protection.
The Barrier Ward should be placed in the second or third row from the back. This gives it some protection from enemy sharpshooters and also gives your barrier ward the full protection of your armed forces. The Barrier ward should ALWAYS be placed no further than 2 tiles in any direction of your cleric. Also usually in the same row as the LW if your using it for added frontal protection.
The Irony of the BW is that it is only used for protection, but it also needs to be protected. Also you should Only have 1 BW on the field. More than 1 is a waste of good movable units.
When should you use a BW you may ask. Well the basic rule of thumb is use it on either, a severly damaged unit, a unit in focus, or a unit that has the prospect of getting hit and not blocking. Examples are needed. If your witch is down to 10 hp and still has several wait turns, which happens quite often. and a enemy knight is close by, BW your witch, even if you can heal. If she is at 11 and a enemy knight is near by, then just heal, no need to worry about BWing her yet. For the second example, a unit in focus. Most comonly used on the scantly-clad Enchanty (Enchantress). If she is having fun freezing your oppenents guys, and she can get struck by a pesky arrow or mage bomb, Giving her a much need barrier would be advised, she will pay you back later Guarenteed ;). Barriering her gives you added time to demolish the units frozen by her outstanding beauty. The final example Units that may get hit and may not block. For example you send your good old scout into the open to start sniping the extremely hot enchanty, but then her boyfriend, the mean old knights comes on his way to seek his revenge. This is a good time to barrier your scout, wait for the wait time to expire, finish off the hot witch or enchanty, and go on your merry way. There is always that freak occurrence where your LW is lined up with your enemies LW. You can barrier your LW and strike with your witch at your oppenents LW.
Another Strategy for The BW is to barrier one of your units to then use your witch to stike at your enemy leaving your unit unscathed. For example, 2 scouts in a row one yours, one your enemies. Your Witch is 2 tiles behind your scout and 3 behind your enemies. A good strategy may be to barrier your scout protecting it not just from your enemies but also your witch which can then attack without moving severly damaging your oppenents well loved scout. I use that strategy myself quite often.
As important as it is to know when to use a BW it is equally as important to know when not to use it. If it is low on hp and a scout has it in his sights, refrain from using it. In fact if a scout has it in his sights at all you probably shouldnt use it unless absolutly necessary. You shouldnt be using it on random units that dont need it, usually knights that are barely hurt or not at all. just because it's there doesn't mean it needs to be active. Active BWs can be picked off more easily. Ranged units should hopefully be destroyed or paralyzed before the BW is used, and when the ranged units are down is when its full power can be shown.
BW as a blockade. Since the BW does have 100 percent blocking, it is often put directly in front of the cleric. This is usually not a good idea. this prevents the cleric from escaping if he needs to make a hasty reteat to the side. A side attack can devestate a BW used as a blockade. BWs should be protected just as much as they should be used for protection.