Quoting phazonfreak, reply 4But both players have the same amount of figures with exactly the same distinct abilities. ins2 is right, the analogy does not really fit because we want factions that have differing and unique "figures" that support varied playstyles.
Although I disagee with the chess analogy, I actually can't disagree with the original post. The factions do have differences, but not *that* different. If you make spear armed cavalry with leather armor with one faction and make spear armed cavalry with leather armor as another faction, they will look and act almost identically. A unique unit type that only that people can make would go a long way. Ex: Tarth should have rangers, and rangers should have some unique ability and appearance that only they have. I believe the only examples of this now are Iron Golems and Juggernauts....why doesn't everybody have something like that?
All of these things can be added in the game. For example, the rangers having a unique look and style can be done. I've added things like this in FE, frankly the amount of work required to get these units all looking unique and providing a unique look will take far too long, when there are other things they could focus on that a user community cannot provide for the player.
The mechanics of each race do cause them to play differently. Your spear armed calvary with leather armor as Capitar (mancers) will be far more powerful than any other races calvary, due to war horses. That is there special part in this, better horseman. While these same spear armed calvary under tarth, might not be so powerful, but when they are in a small group they become more powerful than other races. Under Umber you have greater numbers and can overwhelm you with their mighty power when in large groups.
Henchman, Iron Golems, Juggernauts are unique to particular races.
Also, I don't quite understand why everybody says these factions play the same, I never play these factions the same because I know I can get a better advantage if I don't play like Tarth, while playing with Altar. I ignore terrain is a biggie, and I can walk next to that monsters nest because I know it won't attack me, is another biggie in different play style. As Procipinee, I play a lot with summons because it is the best option to play and use a lot more magic.
A lot of the similarity is gotten from the Champions that one group may get vs. another. The only real distinction here is the allegiance, empire vs. kingdom. It would nice to see 9 Legendary heroes from each race, and when I play the game I can click a option box, so when I get a champion it is only of my racial bloodline. That would provide a rather large difference between the factions and you will see the factions starting to seperate. You will fear the Krax spears on the ground (1 handed spears, with fortify) rather beefy combo... but can only be done by Krax. There is a uniqueness with each race that one must discover and exploit fully to feel the power of these differences.
Unfortunately, there is no user guide on how to play each indvidual race to feel the power of that race.
Play starcraft races all the same. Try the zerg rush with the protoss and you will find you are severely lacking in troops to overwhelm the enemy position in such a short time. Try the terran defensive strategy with the zerg and you will find a problem there as well. Would these strategies work with any of these races, yes I've seen them work, but one race is not as effective at the strategy as the other race.
I recommend that instead of saying they are too similar, and start saying what you would like to see in differences at the moment.
Not to sound too critical of the posts here I would say that Phazonfreak, did a great job identifying what he would like to see, and I can agree with it. As for the differences between the races, I for one see large differences between the races.
