Wizard Allies

[KGB]

Pillager,

Actually the Medusa has the 2nd best support power after the Dragons +2. A -1 modifier is much more valuable than a +1 modifier. And that's regardless of whether it can be canceled or not. The reason is if you look at strengths. Imagine 2 stacks of 3 strength units meeting (say Lt Cavalry in a non-open square). Adding +1 to one side makes it 4v3. Subtracting one makes it 3v2. It's clear that 3/2 (1.5) is a better strength ratio for you than 4/3 (1.33) when determining hits. This rule holds true all the way to 10 strength at which point it the curve starts to slope the other direction.

I'd personally vote for the Medusa moving to qualify as Ally due to how useful it is especially if it's bonus can't be canceled.

As far as Elemental vs Medusa goes, yeah the Medusa is much more valuable a unit. So it's production and upkeep cost should reflect that. The Elemental should cost a fair bit less and have a much lower upkeep so you can maintain a fair number of them without it being too expensive.

However, I find the Elemental to be very useful in the right spot with it's attack bonus. It will be even better after being blessed in Beta3. It will be the only unit that can reach 15 strength (blessed to 7, +3 attack, +5 stack). So if I got a hero offer with Elementals AND those were near the front line I'd strongly consider taking them because I have used them as 14 strength units before when they arrived in the right spot.

KGB

[Pillager]

Yes, the medusa's -1 is a big deal...especially vs fodder, and is certainly better than the pegasus' +1. I was considering the dual negation/+1 power of the devil as the other superior (though not strictly support) power.

I think a couple of movement points would bring the elemental into its own...let it do what it is meant to do.

The elemental doesn't only stack up poorly vs the medusa, but also the griffon. The griffon is far faster, flies, gets +2 when attacking and defending cities. When everything goes the elemental's way, it is the stronger unit (by 1), but I don't think that is much of a payoff for the huge disparity in speed.

I currently have a hero dragging an elemental across the bullrun map, by the time he gets where he's going the whole situation will likely have changed.

[KGB]

Pillager,

Yes an extra +2 moves would indeed help the Elemental a lot. It would much more often be attacking instead of being attacked. Alternatively if +2 moves seems too good, it would help if the Elemental got some kind of movement bonus on a terrain. Maybe Desert since we have no Desert unit currently until we get the Sandworm which I will continue to Lobby for to do what the Demon is doing in Beta3 (ignore city walls).

The thing about the Gryffon that you are forgetting is that it is vulnerable to anti air. Players do and will be *filling* cities with Elf Archers/Wizards in Beta3 with all the extra money from ruins. So that +2 will be entirely offset by the +2/+3 bonus against it. And it's not far fast, it's just faster since it only move 16.

I currently have a hero dragging an elemental across the bullrun map, by the time he gets where he's going the whole situation will likely have changed.

By the time he gets where he is going he'll be there just in time to accept your opponents resignation Personally I always drop the Elemental when it arrives FAR from the front lines. Better than the hero moves alone and the Elemental comes along at it's own pace.

At least on Bullrun there are lots of roads and open spaces for him to travel on. Looking at some of the new maps in Beta3, he'll take an eternity to get anywhere unless he has plenty of move bonus units.

KGB

[piranha]

Elemental and medusa will move at cost 2 on desert while the rest pay 3 so there is a small bonus there.

[Pillager]

I like the desert move bonus...but it doesn't help balance the elemental vs the medusa.