Two tactical questions from a new player

[superbus]

Basically, if you see that you're screwed (slow axe user vs. fast sword user), exit out, and do another turn first, even if it's just telling someone to stay put. Then, try again.

[DukeSerkol]

Or I could send in someone who I know is strong enough to defeat that opponent, right?

[superbus]

Depends on the opponent - the Arena opponent changes, depending on who you send to the arena. In other words, if you cheat, and have a godlike, say, Marcus go in with a sword, there's every possibility that you're going to face a General lance user that can tear him apart. On that note, if you send in a lv. 2 Pegasis Knight, she'll end up fighting an opponent of her calibur. You have just as much chance of winning with a weak character as you do with a strong one.

[TheEnd]

superbus said:

...and have a godlike, say, Marcus...

Or godlike, or Marcus. Not both. Make your choice.

[superbus]

Notice I mentioned cheating.

[TheEnd]

Ops. Explained.

[BigBeuBeu]

superbus said:

Depends on the opponent - the Arena opponent changes, depending on who you send to the arena.

Not really agree with what you said. Even if the opposent changes if you use a magic user, bow-user or else, but I noticed something with the emulator (great cheater repered), I saved every turn and sometimes my Guy faces a Wyvernrider and he has 80% chance to be killed, so I restart my save and send anyone who use a close-combat weapon, it's always the wyvernrider. (a good thing for my Hector, erf )

[DukeSerkol]

Uhm, I saw nothing in the rules and faq against reviving old topics... so I hope no one will mind if I bring this back.

After learning of my mistakes, I decided to backtrack a little, so I could improve some of my characters (Lyn, Matthew and Erk. My level3 Florina is a desperate cause, I'd have to restart altogether --').
Now I'm back on chapter 12 and I wanted to hear some opinions on how to deal with the boss (Zagan I think he's named)
In the previous chapter, I could allow Eliwood to slay the level5 bandit boss only because he stood still and I could weaken him with arrows and javelins. This level9 bandit however will obviously attack whenever he wishes and whomever he likes; and I doubt my level3 Eliwood has a chance (even less level1 Hector).
Should I leave him to Oswin like I did the last time? It seems such a shame considering Oswin doesn't really need that exp (being on level9 himself)

[Shoen]

superbus said:

...the Arena opponent changes, depending on who you send to the arena.

Have you noticed Oswin always fights a pirate in Chapter 16x/17x?

[superbus]

Bumping your own threads for a good reason is acceptable, and I deem this a good reason.

Remember that Eliwood does have a sword, against an axe. You can probably use that to his advantage, and even though you're risking getting whacked, you can get the final kill with Eliwood. Don't worry too much about Hector; he'll get the chance to get enough kills to go up a significant amount of levels.

If you still don't feel safe about allowing Eliwood to be the only person going against him, then have Lowen do some damage with an Iron Sword (I would give him Marcus's sword if I were you; either him, or Eliwood, and whoever doesn't get it, give that person a sword from the Armory in that stage. You should be using Marcus for storage only at this stage of the game).

[CO Raptor]

Right, put Eliwood on top that forest SW of that mountain range, and keep everyone else at some distance and watch as Eliwood dodges every hit, and slowly kills the bandit ;D
He may be higher leveled, but he still has extremely low stats, like all enemies do. A lv.5 Lundgren has lower stats than a lv.1 Wallace promoted at lv.12, so basically, enemies' stats suck, until you get to the last chapters anyway.

[TheGayThiefLegault]

In the arena, you can guess what enemy you will fight based on how much money you are asked to wager. Low bets, from 500-about 640 are good, 650-720 are usually NOT good, 730-750 do well for a challenge, and I say NEVER accept a wager above that unless you are using the Ninian trick. Also, if you accept a wager by accident or something, do a soft reset on your GBA while you are still on the screen that tells you what you will fight. DON'T PRESS A or you'll have to fight it anyways. The key to survivial is yielding. If you are about to fight a Berserker or Swordmaster, do the soft reset thing. Or, if you're already in the fight, press B VERY rapidly to get out as soon as you can. (NEVER UNDERESTIMATE A 2% CRIT RATE!)

[Vyctori]

I personally find that below 630 gold for an unpromoted unit can be a little dangerous. Occasionally, the game'll throw a powerful unit at you for being cheap (well, it's happened to me).

I personally prefer to wager 640-680 gold, and tend never to go above that, simply because I hate starting over after spending fifty turns in the arena...!

[DukeSerkol]

Thanks again guys, I've learned my lesson: never underestimate your characters or the importance of terrain (I mean, I knew forest helped dodge and defense, but some guys really do make the best of it!)

[DukeSerkol]

I'm starting to have lots of characters from which to pick units at the start of a chapter...
When going against a bulk of heavy armored knights and archers, I would guess having archers of your own won't help much against such armors, will it? I'd be lead to think that axes would come in handy (considering knights all wield spears), but Dorga and Bartre don't seem strong enough to penetrate high defense (being them still at level 5 and 4)
Should I go all Lords and Cavaliers? (Plus Erk and Oswin, of course)