I second Qgqqqqq (did I spell that right? 
) on maybe trying to play like an SG. Do a block of turns (10 - 20 is usually a good size for the earlier game, fewer during complex periods such as wars), post a summary and ask questions, then play another block, etc.
A couple things I meant to mention and forgot last time:
- Promotions
Promotions are more powerful and more important in FFH2 than in regular Civ. In regular Civ a unit with 5 promotions is a god-like super elite unit. In FFH2 5 promotions can be pretty small beer, especially for heroes, arcane units, and priestly types. (Plus a few others, such as Balseraph mimics or the bloodsuckers' vampires.) In addition to the number of promotions, each one can be more powerful: combat promotions (the various "star" I - V) are twice as strong as the regular Civ versions for example. Finally, promotions are more important because unit base strength has a much narrower range in FFH2 than in regular Civ (with a couple exceptions like the dragons and Auric Ascended). Late game units have base strengths maybe 4 times an early game unit (crossbows vs. warrior, say), rather than regular civ's 15-20 times (modern armor or mech infantry vs warrior). So the percentage boosts from promotions really can make a nicely promoted older unit equal to a more advanced unit in FFH2, unlike regular civ where even 5 promotions would never make a warrior equal to a maceman, much less a rifle or infantry.
The passive XP type units (heroes, arcane, priests) are a whole different mechanic than anything in regular civ, and if they don't get killed can end up with amazing numbers of promotions. This is a lot of fun to play around with.
Your Charismatic trait makes these units even more powerful as the XP thresholds for promotions get lowered. In regular civ Charismatic can mean 4 promotions instead of 3 for a bunch of units; in FFH2 the trait can mean 10 promotions instead of 7.
Your Arcane trait boosts this even further for arcane line units, as the Potency promotions they get mean both higher passive XP caps and faster passive XP gains. Trying to develop strong arcane units for a civ without the Arcane trait can be incredibly frustrating, and often requires risking your adepts and mages in direct combat to try to gain XP. As an Arcane civ, your adepts and mages will be ready for more promotions much much sooner and without having to take direct combat risks. And of course as Ilians you are the only civ guaranteed to have ice mana....
- Priests of Winter
As Tasunke mentioned, these guys tend to die if they are not carefully supported/escorted/defended by regular units. And the Priests are an irreplaceable resource who reinforce one another -- three of them spamming elementals is far more effective/powerful than two or one. (This kind of grouping effect applies to all expendable summons, due to the ability of defenders to survive and promote if an assault falls short of having enough force to overwhelm the defenders.) So guard them carefully!
At the same time, you have to use them -- and risk them -- to get any benefit from having them. It is a tough balance to maintain, and I always seem to lose at least one of my Priests of Winter in some stupid way whenever I play Ilians.
) on maybe trying to play like an SG. Do a block of turns (10 - 20 is usually a good size for the earlier game, fewer during complex periods such as wars), post a summary and ask questions, then play another block, etc.A couple things I meant to mention and forgot last time:
- Promotions
Promotions are more powerful and more important in FFH2 than in regular Civ. In regular Civ a unit with 5 promotions is a god-like super elite unit. In FFH2 5 promotions can be pretty small beer, especially for heroes, arcane units, and priestly types. (Plus a few others, such as Balseraph mimics or the bloodsuckers' vampires.) In addition to the number of promotions, each one can be more powerful: combat promotions (the various "star" I - V) are twice as strong as the regular Civ versions for example. Finally, promotions are more important because unit base strength has a much narrower range in FFH2 than in regular Civ (with a couple exceptions like the dragons and Auric Ascended). Late game units have base strengths maybe 4 times an early game unit (crossbows vs. warrior, say), rather than regular civ's 15-20 times (modern armor or mech infantry vs warrior). So the percentage boosts from promotions really can make a nicely promoted older unit equal to a more advanced unit in FFH2, unlike regular civ where even 5 promotions would never make a warrior equal to a maceman, much less a rifle or infantry.
The passive XP type units (heroes, arcane, priests) are a whole different mechanic than anything in regular civ, and if they don't get killed can end up with amazing numbers of promotions. This is a lot of fun to play around with.
Your Charismatic trait makes these units even more powerful as the XP thresholds for promotions get lowered. In regular civ Charismatic can mean 4 promotions instead of 3 for a bunch of units; in FFH2 the trait can mean 10 promotions instead of 7.Your Arcane trait boosts this even further for arcane line units, as the Potency promotions they get mean both higher passive XP caps and faster passive XP gains. Trying to develop strong arcane units for a civ without the Arcane trait can be incredibly frustrating, and often requires risking your adepts and mages in direct combat to try to gain XP. As an Arcane civ, your adepts and mages will be ready for more promotions much much sooner and without having to take direct combat risks. And of course as Ilians you are the only civ guaranteed to have ice mana....
- Priests of Winter
As Tasunke mentioned, these guys tend to die if they are not carefully supported/escorted/defended by regular units. And the Priests are an irreplaceable resource who reinforce one another -- three of them spamming elementals is far more effective/powerful than two or one. (This kind of grouping effect applies to all expendable summons, due to the ability of defenders to survive and promote if an assault falls short of having enough force to overwhelm the defenders.) So guard them carefully!
At the same time, you have to use them -- and risk them -- to get any benefit from having them. It is a tough balance to maintain, and I always seem to lose at least one of my Priests of Winter in some stupid way whenever I play Ilians.
![[Image: CmQTvVS.jpg]](http://i.imgur.com/CmQTvVS.jpg)
