Orc Archers: Worth Recruiting?

[LuckyPistol]

I enjoy playing as Orc factions. I love the hordes, the wargs, the trolls; everything. But I've always found myself pondering the real use for their archery.

Now Isengard and the Orcs of the Misty Mountains have access to the wonderful snaga skirmishers unit. The other Orc factions, however, are left with pretty poor archers who don't seem much worth their recruitment and upkeep.

Should the smart Orc commander bother with archery? Or are they only useful for garrison duty?

[DrDragun]

I voted fodder because I think they are useful in that capacity especially vs elves. The AI will tend to get in "archer shootouts" once the infantry are meshed, so having some junk archers will keep elven arrows away from your trolls and wargs.

[LuckyPistol]

But wouldn't better fodder be a unit with shield points to better absorb the arrows? Then again, since it is an elven unit I doubt that would matter much

Another point worth taking note of is the tier 3 archers OotMM and Mordor have (Heavy Goblin Archer/Uruk Archer). Are they worth building the appropriate barracks?

For a long time, I've used at least one or two archer units in my armies, just in case there's that slow moving pike/halberd unit stuck in shield wall. But that was only with factions without skirmishers. I feel like they aren't entirely useless for the northern orcs as the elven factions are lightly armored (for the most part) and the dwarves are slow moving enough that you can sneak your archers around the front lines and fire in their backs (though wargs are just as effective for this).

[here4thehax]

I score on the fodder,
Orcs prevail once their massive numbers REACH the enemy
if they get shot down before that happens by 4 well guarded elven archers, I might as well throw the Ring in Mt.Doom myself.

[Kolaris8472]

In my experience 250 2 attack arrows are more effective than 120 4 attack arrows. So yes, I find the various orc archers very effective, especially against some of the low-armor Elven units.

[Patronus86]

In my experience 250 2 attack arrows are more effective than 120 4 attack arrows. So yes, I find the various orc archers very effective, especially against some of the low-armor Elven units.

Effective against the AI perhaps, but playing against a human opponent, archery is not the area you want to focus on for Orcs. I would have just enough archers to offer some ranged capability (dealing with horse archers or fast moving skirmishers mostly), otherwise, the majority of the orc army should focus on infantry (cav and trolls if available).

Orcs, in general, aren't on par with the good faction infantry and archers...their main advantage lies with their greater numbers...the only way you can exploit that is by getting up close and surrounding the enemy.

[DrDragun]

Orcs already have the problem of building 4 military buildings instead of the usual 3: barracks, archery, stables, AND troll cages. 5 if you add siege. Heavy Goblin Archers are actually pretty good but you won't be using them till turn 60! Warg and troll buildings are always essential, so you wont be maxing out the archery in the early game unless you sacrifice high tier infantry.

One time I used them really well was in Imladris, which I had conquered early with OotMM. I kept 4 free upkeep Heavy Archers there and used them to defend the bridges outside the city when an Eriador army approached. This let me free up my Eastern front to campaign against the Silvans and Dwarves. Even weak archers are fantastic on bridge fights.

[Davek]

Orc archer have their use. However, I just as likely to throw them in melee then keep them ranged. Usually I let screen my melee units, mostly soaking up arrows and deal very little damage. When the melee lines are engaged I use them as flankers and reserves. Shooting in the back works quite well. And when most the army are snaga and warband the stats of the archer are not much lower. And besides who cares those orcs are cheap and plentiful.

[Joseignacio]

Too late for voting, they are the only archers you got, so you need to have them unless you have urukhai archers or enough wargs.

[Ngugi]

So much derogatory slander and employee abuse around here.
The Orcs really need to organize a Union.

[Flinn]

So much derogatory slander and employee abuse around here.
The Orcs really need to organize a Union.

must spread

[DrDragun]

All your training has brought you to today. Today you make your ancestors proud! OPERATION: SNAGA SHIELD, ADVANCE!

[Vifarc]

Ranged attacks, even bad ones, are what the Elf players fear the most.
But maybe as the AI has plenty gold, ranged attacks are not so strategycaly bad against an AI Elf.