Test games played

[Nelphine]

I agree that hammerhands are noticeably overpriced. However, halberdiers used to be speed 1, which was monstrous, so you were stuck with hammerhands. That was basically what caused me to switch to beastmen. The extra HP is huge for getting strategic shenanigans going though.

Also, I can't remember the last time I built a fighters guild before a war college. (Unless playing a race that doesn't get war college of course.) Not in my capital, not in my early cities, not in my conquered cities.

[Seravy]

Also, I can't remember the last time I built a fighters guild before a war college

I do that fairly often (unless the unit I rely on does not require the fighter's guild such as longbowmen or horsebowmen.) but with warlord the war college is a far greater upgrade so not surprised.

[Nelphine]

I do it even without warlord. But I also can't remember the last time I built an armorer's guild unless it was a troll or dwarf city. So knowing I'm not going to build that, and knowing that fighters guild units are all high figure, the war college is always an important investment.

But I also don't build fighters guild, ever, in 70% of my cities. If I'm warlord, I want specific troops to massacre people with, if I'm not warlord, I want mostly summons - so I always play with dedicated military cities.

[Seravy]

If we agree we want to change the unit, these are the options we can do :

Reduce cost (220->?150)
Reduce maintenance (6->?4)
Add 1 movement
Add 1 defense
Or any combination of these.

Out of them, probably the movement affects AI playability of the race most but it can also be taken advantage of by humans by moving the units away to minimize losses.

[Nelphine]

I'd reduce cost to.. 140? 3 speed sounds amazing, but I think it should be kept at 2 for flavor. If you add 1 defense, I'd make the cost 170 or 180. I probably wouldn't add the defense. Golems have defense.

Maintenance is probably good to drop to 4 or 5 regardless of other changes.

If it doesn't already I'd make sure the resistance is at least 1 higher than halberdiers, as I feel like hammerhands are the best of the best. Would also consider 2 higher. If you make it 2 higher, I'd increase the cost to 150 or 160; and if 2 higher and you go with the increase defense probably 180 or 190.

[Arnuz]

I'd add large shield...

[Domon]

i'd add large shields too.

[Seravy]

I don't want to have 3 races whose top unit has Large Shield, that's way too redundant. (Orcs and Beastmen already have it, 1 race per plane is perfect)
Aside from that it would be a good idea.

[Domon]

i think large sjields are better suited to hammerhands tha to minotaurs, both thematically and gameplay-wise. maybe minotaurs could do with 1 more health and defense?

[Nelphine]

I know its overpowered, so please say no, but, one thing dwarven elite warriors are known for is throwing axes. Could drop their melee to 6, and give them thrown 3...

Alternatively negate first strike because they're so highly trained they know how to avoid the incoming attack.

(I'm happy not giving hammerhands large shields; I like the distinction it gives minotaurs.)