Halflings

[Lestat]

So I'll just use the Elf example (obv we are not talking about running rogue). For an Elf to get 70%+ of their thief OPs they would need more raw TPA than a Halfer (to get 70%+ through) correct? As you say Halfer has better def ability, they also have +10% pop. So if we assume that the t is equal surely this means Halfer has the edge over Elf in the a department? (Based on more raw numbers being available). Elves also run into stronger attackers this age.

Also if Halfer/WH is as bad as you say, why would KDs target them first? ;)

[Zauper]

Elf and Faery are about as effective given that
(a) the intended targets are attackers

Assumption 1: Attackers are not running WTs and do not have access to CS. High losses caused by these two thief defenses will quickly wear out an elf/fae's TPA. Halflings can re-train more cheaply and send fewer per op.

(b) the ops being used are low-yield (robbery, kidnap, nightstrike)

Assumption 2: You are maxgaining the 'low-yield' ops, which means moderate-high thieves sent.

*(c) nightmares or massacre are used to drop thief defenses

Assumption 3: (seriously, you're NMing to rob gc?)
Assumption 4: You're dedicating more than a/t power to bring a province down.

*(d) the elf and faery are relatively acre-static compared to their intended targets

Assumption 5: Your a/t elf or a/t fae is 'acre-static' -- meaning it is not an attacker.

Your assumptions are either:
1) Fundamentally wrong
or
2) Stupid
Depending on the assumption.

If an Elf or any other race can get 70%+ of their thief ops through, they are doing about as much as a Halfer, while they can do other things. The reason why Elf can be a better "a/t" is because they are not a/t by design, but can (with the right preparations) do as much damage against the targets a thief would want to damage.

Saying 'Well, if I NM someone to 0 thieves and also they have no WTs or CS, so my prov with 1.5 TPA can NS them TROLOLOLOLOL' does not make you an a/t (it also wouldn't let you max thief gains.

This does not factor the Halfling's defensive value, which can be strong under the right circumstances. However, for most kingdoms, Halflings are easy enough to chain, as long as those kingdoms have a basic level of discipline. It takes far more discipline for kingdoms to use Halflings in a way that really plays to their advantages; their slighty defensive edge, and their ability to build up TPA during war and thus target stronger thief defenses in long wars. Take this from a veteran of many a ghetto war, who has been screwed by nubly Halflings who do stupid things with their TPA.

For this age, Halflings run into far stronger attackers, and they've had a weaker Rogue personality for two ages now. Unless they are playing with some scheme of having lots of a/t - and that strategy is subpar for a lot of reasons - it's not really going anywhere. Too few Halflings and a smart kingdom is going to chain all of them or make damn sure they have no economy all war long. Too many and they have a weakness of offensive and economic output, and they are relying on thief ops (and thus a lot of luck, since it is hard to be an effective attacker with high tpa and a weak military) to be very effective.

There are halflings in all of the t5 honor kds, and 4 of the t5 warring kds. I didn't check for land/nw, but obviously we are running halflings (and AMA is not).

Halflings do not have an offensive weakness, nor do they have an econ weakness.

I'd like to see what you'd throw at our halflings to shut down their econ. Seriously. Even if you managed a moderate FB successrate, they can kidnap the peasants back...

All that said, it's not like they'll have peasants for war?

[tetley]

They lost it last age.

How embarrassing for me.

Edit: Srsly though, halflings are good, I don't know how anyone can argue otherwise. Quite sweet racials. Even as a non-rogue, none fills the superthief or A/T role better than a halfling.

Rogue is good if you actually prop with good success.

[Lestat]

Indeed draft super deep for the start of the war and if you manage to grow away (or get fbed) then you can kidnap fat attackers for massive gains.

[noobium]

So I'll just use the Elf example (obv we are not talking about running rogue). For an Elf to get 70%+ of their thief OPs they would need more raw TPA than a Halfer (to get 70%+ through) correct? As you say Halfer has better def ability, they also have +10% pop. So if we assume that the t is equal surely this means Halfer has the edge over Elf in the a department? (Based on more raw numbers being available). Elves also run into stronger attackers this age.

Also if Halfer/WH is as bad as you say, why would KDs target them first? ;)

I'd target Halflings early because they're the provinces that suffer the most, both in real damage inflicted and because all of their bonuses are negated if they don't have land or defense to work with. Who the hell does chaining except to do the maximum damage possible?

[Lestat]

I'd chain rogues first yes

[madi]

im gonna have to disagree on rogues not being a good personality.. is one of the better ones if you use it proper.. yes a solo rogue is not good but a team of them can be very very strong..

[topsy's revenge]

RIP Rogue.

[lusitano]

would you target halflings first in a wave?? or wait till war starts? and that being said do you just massacre them at first then grab their land or just trad the whole time?

[NoseBlood]

would you target halflings first in a wave?? or wait till war starts? and that being said do you just massacre them at first then grab their land or just trad the whole time?

if they camp, just use ms+chas, and storms if they dont have NB up or you can afford a few MV's. Tornados are also ftw, they will bleed thives with crap BE and low TD's. You want them to use stealth for nap instead of more dmg ops. Halfers are pretty ****ty this age, so its not really worth chaining unless they will go down fast (or if they send out alot of elites).

[Dowla1337]

would you target halflings first in a wave?? or wait till war starts? and that being said do you just massacre them at first then grab their land or just trad the whole time?

If you are targeting anybody in war, that province should be trad marched! (while it's high in nw)