Thistles
Valnurrian is not fit for command. He is not a king. He chose priesthood. A priest cannot be king. He will not choose the best for the nation; he will choose to follow the gods and omens as a superstitious fool. Our people are being waged war against by the fickle humans and we sit by and praise deities we have never seen. I swayed many of the chieftains, they believe the same as me. I bought mercenaries. I am ready to wage war and aid the Mesol people in breaking the shackles of the Empire. We should be free. We should be on top. We should not be second to anyone. Oh dear, sweet brother. I hate what you have forced me to do, but I love my country too much to see it ruined by you and your fanatical zealots.
-
-Large armies.
-Good development.
-Strong early game.
-Jack of all trades.
-
-Weaker units late game.
-Lack of Anti-Cavalry options.
-Master of none.
Manipulation & Markets
The Grandish player has the unique power of the market. Whether they are playing Thorns or Thistles simply decides their generals and units and does not interact with either of their Civil War or Market mechanics other than with what buildings they start with. The Grandish player is the only player in the game that may sell powers, units or upgrades that do not start with factions, meaning they are the unique place for players getting stronger outside of building mechanics. This means you have to come to them for power and must sway them whenever you need something.
Thistles is entirely about manipulation. They want to manipulate battles and the market in order to help their team and get ahead. This is a very strong boon for a faction and it does mean that the Empire team may wish to deal with Thistles a lot earlier than the Allies would want to deal with Thorns. Thistles can really turn the tide of the game by handing out free cards or negating other people’s cards.
Thistilian Generals
Being geared for combat is a harder thing for Thistles and while Garganor Lox and Illeana do give you options, it’s not in combat that you should always look for your strength. Your generals are about a subtle hand and inflicting damage that is often hard to notice and see.
Donating a market card each turn, or even giving the ability to an ally to cancel one an enemy paid too much for are powers that your enemies shall fear. If you do wish to go to war, you have the option, but perhaps I can tempt you with a little gold and a dagger under the cloak, after all, it’s where you’ll be strongest.
There are also two generals to unlock through gameplay and 8 units. Below is a small selection of Thistles’ starting units.
Thistles also benefits from the terrain bonus and powerful elite effects. Due to only having one army board until winning the civil war, Private Investor allows the Thistles player to gift their unused recruits to allied players in order for them to have more powerful armies.
Thistles also benefits from the terrain bonus and powerful elite effects. Due to only having one army board until winning the civil war, Private Investor allows the Thistles player to gift their unused recruits to allied players in order for them to have more powerful armies.
Thistles also benefits from the terrain bonus and powerful elite effects. Due to only having one army board until winning the civil war, Private Investor allows the Thistles player to gift their unused recruits to allied players in order for them to have more powerful armies.
Thistles also benefits from the terrain bonus and powerful elite effects. Due to only having one army board until winning the civil war, Private Investor allows the Thistles player to gift their unused recruits to allied players in order for them to have more powerful armies.
Thistles also benefits from the terrain bonus and powerful elite effects. Due to only having one army board until winning the civil war, Private Investor allows the Thistles player to gift their unused recruits to allied players in order for them to have more powerful armies.
Thistles also benefits from the terrain bonus and powerful elite effects. Due to only having one army board until winning the civil war, Private Investor allows the Thistles player to gift their unused recruits to allied players in order for them to have more powerful armies.
Thistles also benefits from the terrain bonus and powerful elite effects. Due to only having one army board until winning the civil war, Private Investor allows the Thistles player to gift their unused recruits to allied players in order for them to have more powerful armies.
Combat Cards
Thistles has quite possibly the worst combat deck in the game. Archer Volley and Cavalry Charge are the only two cards that really shine and while their average is okay, it’s brought up by their weaker cards rather than having high top-end.
Due to Thistles’ powerful out of combat effects having an impact on the game, they are not a massive aid in combat. Their best way to aid allies is by attaching to their armies for numbers and allowing them to use their numbers for bonuses while controlling the rest of the players like a marionette.
