(although maybe bowmen would be worse the first show, but still able to counter-attack due to faster reload hm....)
here is the point I would like to catch on,
EDIT: Just to make this clear, in this example xbows get a HIT on the archers before the archers could launch an attack, giving the xbows the ability to "preload" their xbow. And having them such high bolt speed that the impact of the bolts is fast enough.
What happens if Xbows get a hit on bowman before they shoot?
Lets we have such a confrontation: 20 xbows of Player Red against 40 Bowman of Player Blue
Blue wants to attack, but the passage is blocked by the 20 Xbows of Red standing in a single row. So just assume Blue tries to attack with his bowman which are standing in 2 rows. Blue does know what micro means, so hes just sending them in one tile. So the red xbows will get the first hit, before blues bowman will get the first shoot of.
Here comes a test:
20 xbow (Player Red) in 1 row against 20 Archers (Player Blue) in a row looking away from the xbows, giving the xbows the first shot
counting how many of the 20 Archers the xbows were albe to kill with the first shot.
Test results:
1: 7/20 Archers
2: 8/20 Archers
3: 8/20 Archers
4: 8/20 Archers
5: 8/20 Archers
I had the problem that the archers started moving, and i donno how that might change the precion of the xbows.
Just for the example, the xbows having a 40% kill chance on the first row of archers.
So we got 12 Archers left shooting back at the xbows
Next test 20 Archers shooting at 20 xbows counting the killed xbows.
Test results:
1: 4/20 xbows
2: 4/20 xbows
3: 4/20 xbows
4: 3/20 xbows
5: 4/20 xbows
(I had the same problem that the xbows started moving)
So we have Blues 12 archers shooting back having a 20% kill chance on the red xbows, means 2,4 xbows killed. If the fight just will stand Blue will loose by far. But now Blues archers get the 2nd chance to attack, which can be used even more effective, if Blue moves in his second row of bowman in (as bowman have the ability to move one tile while reloading)
So after moving the blue archers one tile forward 12+20 (from the second row)=32 blue archers are now shooting at the red xbows. Assuming the 20% kill chance killing another 6,4 red xbows leaving 11-12 red xbows to shoot back at the blue archers.
These 11-12 red Xbows could kill 4-5 blue archers. Leaving Blue with 27-28 Archers, which are able too shoot before reds xbows. So now Blue will clearly win the battle.
But what happens if Red has also good micro going on? He might be able to move his xbows 2 tiles back, so they can shoot back? Then only blues few bowman in front are able too shoot back and will be shot down by the xbows. This way red is pushed back (which is never good) and Blues army is weaked.
But what if Blue has exellent micro going on, being able to take the first shot of the xbows with a dancing knight? Than red has to retreat 2 tiles to get the advantage of first shot back. The Dancing knight will be likely to die after a while, making even scouts for the distraction of xbows possible, as scouts are much cheaper. And if Red is using his retreat to set up a trap? Or just buying time? Or what if Red is pushed into a bad slot? What if Red has bowman somewhere waiting aswell? What if red has 2 rows of xbows?
I like about the idea with the first hit for xbows, that it would give something special that would be an addition to the combat options, and enhance the possibilities of tactics and manovers.