H. Blades vs Huscarls

[jedwolf]

Without taking the price to acquire or maintain into account, which is better, Hired blades or Nord Huscarls? I wish I could do a 10 on 10 match to see who comes out ahead.

 

[Ludial]

Nord huscarls. clearly.

Although when you do take levelling costs into account, Nord warriors are an even better idea. Easier to level than both, naturally cheaper, while having the same stats as hired blades and throwing weapons to boot. Only issues is that they're not as well armored, but they're still well covered and fight like beasts.

 

[MrNomNom]

Nord huscarls. clearly.

Last time I checked they had better armor as well.

 

[FrisianDude]

Hired blades are more for if you feel your army needs a bit more heavy infantry. I doubt you'd feel that if you've got an army of Nords with a heavy Huscarl-core.

Still maybe useful to hire them, if you want, for example, to force a breach in a siege without letting all your huscarls take the wounds.

 

[Berpol]

The huscarl is generally the better, he has a higher level (better attributes), higher weapon skills, higher combat skills and higher weapon skills.
His head armor is a bit weaker, the rest at least as good. Both have top weapons with a slight advantage to the nord.
As mercenaries cost 50% more than regular troops of the same level the huscarl is still cheaper, the only real advantage of the hired blade is that you can get him faster.

Skill	Hired Blade / Huscarl
Ironflesh	3 / 6​
Power Strike	4 / 7​
Shield	4 / 5​
Athletics	5 / 6​

 

[mildly_evil_genius]

While numerically the Huscarls are better, I've notice that Hired Blades just plain don't die for some reason.  I've actually finished a campaign with Hired Blades I got around day 9.  I even always put my mercenaries at the top of the fighting que so they have more chance to die.

 

[Ludial]

While numerically the Huscarls are better, I've notice that Hired Blades just plain don't die for some reason.  I've actually finished a campaign with Hired Blades I got around day 9.  I even always put my mercenaries at the top of the fighting que so they have more chance to die.

that's something I've noticed too  though I don't like using pure inf too much, but these guys do have some kind of allure to them.

 

[Arch3r]

Because their helmets are better and the AI tends to strike at the head I think. Most attack bounce off the Great Helmets they use, while maybe this isn't the case with the Huscarls helmets.

 

[jedwolf]

this info helps alot, thanx. Now I just take a roundabout route thru calradia, hiring whatever hired blades available, and use them to make my initial attack on cities, and save my hard trained huscarls for rhodok ass-whoopin' on the fields and mountains.