Why are the Silvan Elves considered one of the easiest factions?

[Calypze]

From what I understand the Silvan Elves are considered one of the easiest factions. But why?

You start next to one of you enemies, the OOTMM. Not a terrible threat, but you will have ti face them immediately, no time to prepare. the far more dangerous enemies of Isengard and Mordor are not far away, and I guess you will have to face them soon. And a little further on, Rhûn.

Meanwhile you start with few provinces thinly spread out.

So why are they considered such an easy faction? The AI Silvan Elves usually get wiped out midgame or so.

[Akbar]

Because they are that much superior to their neighbours (in the hands of the human player). SE militia units are more than adequate for dealing with the OOTMM, and should be enough to conquer the Misty Mountains and Dol Goldur, giving the SE a sound economic base.

[Arachir Galudirithon]

As cheap as the tactic is, you also have an unparalleled ability to rain thousands of arrows of precise death upon your foes and if all else fails they can kite the enemy remarkably effectively.

[Lortano]

Arachir, that reminds me of so many dwarf campaigns. I hate you.

[Jmonstra]

Mostly their early access to good quality archers/infantry. You can bleed an enemy of 25-33% of their troops before they even reach your lines.

[Boogie Knight]

From what I understand the Silvan Elves are considered one of the easiest factions. But why?

Because even I can win a campaign with them, and that's sure as hell saying something. I couldn't win with either Dale or the Orcs of Gundabad on hard difficulty, so draw your own conclusions.

[Arachir Galudirithon]

I thought Dale (in vanilla) were a hard faction to play as? I seem to recall people always struggled with Dale.

Now if you couldn't win with High Elves then that is a different story.

[Boogie Knight]

True, Dale are meant to be difficult, especially if you don't blitz from turn one. They were the first faction I played as, coming from vanilla Med2 where I thought I was pretty good. Ooh baby was I wrong.

I haven't tried the High Elves yet; after winning my long campaign as the Silvans I felt like taking a break from Elvish factions so I went straight to the Orcs of Gundabad. Bad choice, had to start over. Now on an easier difficulty I'm doing well with them.

What I meant to say is that I am very much a sub-standard player of TATW, and that so far the only faction I've really made work was the Silvans. I'd recommend giving them a go if you fancy frolicking in a forest; I had a lot of fun with them.

[Påsan]

Havent really tried them but my guess would be:


<-- click.

[regnak999]

LOL, + rep.

[Joseignacio]

They kicked my ass pretty seriously when I played the high elves, it was early in my Middle Earth experience and I failed to expand in the right direction and fast enough, the cost of the units suffocated my economy. I'll try again soon.

I think I haven't tried with t he silvans yet.

[DrDragun]

Silvans are the easiest faction to consistently produce battle results with 3000-to-30 losses. Even with the best Gondor/Rohan cavalry tactics, you will be lucky for 10-to-1 losses in small battles and 4-to-1 losses in large ones. The Silvans have the best grind ratio in the game since their principal enemy in the game, Mordor, has no cavalry. Mordor frequently produces all-infantry armies, which the Silvans can cut down with virtually 0 losses, stack after stack after stack. The only real casualties come from trolls, catapults, or the occasional Nazgul. In a defensive siege, you can sally, fire arrows to kill 30% of the siege force, return inside the gates, and end the battle in a draw. Repeat next turn when your ammunition is replenished. With this method, 2-3 units of Sentinels can defend against a half stack of enemies.

High Elves have units of similar strength, but their foes have more wargs and their generals are cavalry (which are worse in city streets or tanking trolls... but better for routing enemies and assasinating enemy generals on the open field).

[Joseignacio]

...
In a defensive siege, you can sally, fire arrows to kill 30% of the siege force, return inside the gates, and end the battle in a draw. Repeat next turn when your ammunition is replenished. With this method, 2-3 units of Sentinels can defend against a half stack of enemies.

High Elves have units of similar strength, but their foes have more wargs and their generals are cavalry (which are worse in city streets or tanking trolls... but better for routing enemies and assasinating enemy generals on the open field).

Usually when I sally, the enemy still comes, I need to return inside soon enough, and I end losing the battle. Anyway, using those tactics would be a little gamey, since the IA should be very weak to stay looking while massacred and not using scales, siege towers and rams...

As for the orc leaders, IIRW they are heavy inf with like 70 components.

[Vifarc]

High Elves have units of similar strength, but their foes have more wargs and their generals are cavalry (which are worse in city streets or tanking trolls... but better for routing enemies and assasinating enemy generals on the open field).

Silvan too have their generals being elite heavy archer units, so it helps for the no-loss fights.
However, strategically, their position is maybe the most awfull of the game (if you want to be some roleplay nor don't want to rush), with many evil neighbours, and Dale who can 'steal' your forest. So it balances their handsomness.

[Goth]

I am currently playing as silvan elves but have increased their cost, as with all elven factions, to balance them out. Its so hard its one of the best campaigns I have ever had.

[Calypze]

Thanks for the replies!

As someone who don't find the High Elves very easy (Isengard is a pain, spams strong infantry stacks and eats Eriador alive), I think I'll give the Silvans a go, even though I found their unsympatheticness in the Hobbit movies somewhat off-turning.

Is it best to expand towards and conquer Dol Gulder ASAP, or is it better to conquer several rebel provinces first and consolidate a bit? One doesn't want Mordor loose in the forest, especially not if it is joined with the rest of the Mordor realm.

[LuckyPistol]

I'd be careful about letting the rebel provinces wait, Dale sometimes swoops in and takes 'em under your nose. But honestly you could probably take them out simultaneously. The biggest threat you have early game are the spider rebels

[Joseignacio]

¿spider rebels?

[LuckyPistol]

¿spider rebels?

There are rebel armies in mirkwood that consist entirely of spider. They will wreck your elves.

[alreadyded]

There are rebel armies in mirkwood that consist entirely of spider. They will wreck your elves.

Are the spiders OP in vanilla?