^ Title.
(Disclaimer: This is somewhat comedic/ a rant, but also for information)
There’s a thread on the shortcomings of knights, but I don’t get what the heck is the deal with myrmidons or why people like them.
I ask because I am working on a hack, and I don’t want my myrmidon character to be trash just because I don’t understand them.
My Complaints:
“Let’s make a frontline unit with the defense of an archer, mediocre Str, the weakest weapon type, and constitution so low it’s sick! Oh yeah, they also get the (second) best Spd stat in the game.” - The guy who invented the myrmidon.
So yeah, In a game series where movement and general utility are what make the best units, foot soldiers have a slight disadvantage. This is balanced by things like wyvern slaying, flying weakness, and longswords. It is assumed that slower units would have a slight statistical advantage to compensate, but that doesn’t always happen. (cough Knights cough)
So what’re the strengths and weaknesses of myrmidons, and why would I choose to use one over a mercenary, especially when most Lord units already use swords?
Fighters have sky high Str, and Hp, with low Def and weaker Spd or Skl. They hit hard, if unreliably, and can take a few good punches to the face, even if not tanky.
Knights may be obese, but when implemented into a game well they become your moving fortress and (along with any defensive calvelry) become your front line.
Mercenaries hit reliably, double frequently enough for good damage and can take ~2-3 hits without dying.
Now what was the myrmidon’s place again? oh yeah, take killing blows while not being put in enemy range so he can eventually become a swordmaster (which is actually a pretty sick class)
See, my myrmidon and archer usually end up having a similar role (tertiary damage dealer which I feed exp to)
–
Enough complaining, on to specific examples!!
(Disclaimer: The majority of my FE experience are the Tellius games and Fe 7, so that’s where my examples will come from)
-Mia
Path of Radiance, the player is getting familiar with the Greil mercenaries but things are getting more difficult, and when Mia so graciously offers to join your team the extra unit is appreciated. Not only do you get another sword user, but more inventory space and whatever sword she’s holding for ike (slim sword or something). But it becomes apparent that her defense stat makes her a liability, and her damage output is non-existent. Regardless, with enough babying she can become a powerhouse unit who kills everything just like every other unit in FE 9(!)
-Zihark
This guy is actually legit dope, why? Cause they hand him to you already leveled (14 or something), he’s got an awesome design, and he’s not over leveled. Take that killing edge away though, and he’s not so hot, still pretty good though. but in a game with Ike, Gatrie, Jill, Titania, and pretty much any character able to become an army slayer (expect astrid), pretty good doesn’t stand out too much.
-Edward
Biggest scam in FE. Hours upon hours spent in the JP Lunatic mode to train him, and his sword master stats still wound up comparable (in some ways weaker) than zihark. Let’s be real, any unit that can take a hit is a boon in that opening game, but Nolan and Aran just take the cake for me. (In case you haven’t noticed, I dislike any unit I regard a liability. Especially when the ‘payoff’ is non-existent.) (Yes, I’m still bitter.)
-Guy
He’s a character? anyhoo, same story. get guy, he’s got killing edge, take it away give it to lord, now you have unit with high speed and trash defense. YAY!
-Raven (Cause why not?)
Yeah he’s a merc, but still too myrmidony to be good for me. See, the final knife in the coffin is that you’ve already got 3 lord units to deal with and you don’t want another Lyn type character foot soldier unless they’re really going to help you. He doesn’t.
-Lon’qu (Because regrettably, Awakening was a thing.)
Similar to guy, but because he’s a slightly higher level he stands out more. His growths aren’t that great though so I never used him.
TL;DR: Myrmidons suck, how do I make one good?
Also,
why are myrmidons a thing, and what do you guys like about them?