Thuc Phan

Thuc Phan is a character and AI opponent in Stronghold Warlords.
==Overview==
Hailing from the 3rd century BC, Thuc Phan is a Vietnamese ruler, who prefers rudimentary tactics and methods to keep his opponents in bay. His preference to agriculture grants him a strong foundation for food, and he is keen to fight with swift strike forces to quickly gain the upper hand.
==Information==
===Strategies===
Thuc Phan constructs a basic octagonal enclosure with lookout towers on the tips and small gatehouses on four sides. He regularly mans the walls with ranged units and turrets. Usually Thuc's industry cannot fit his enclosure, given how he builds numerous farms of all types for popularity. Thuc's industry is significantly rudimentary, however he builds workshops to supply his troops with weapons.
As an introductory enemy, Thuc Phan uses very cheap, light units in droves, in the hope of overwhelming the enemy with sheer numbers. Faithful to his origin, Thuc employs Vietnamese tribesmen of both types that are quick to close the distance and momentarily distract hostile troops. To a lesser extent, he also recruits auxiliary archers and auxiliary axemen to bolster his ranks and add some meat to his fragile mainline army. Auxiliary cavalry also appear in smaller numbers and the occasional horseman raid to complement the army. In sieges, Thuc Phan buys a balanced composition of catapults, mantlets and some fire arrow carts.
thuc_phan_castle.jpg|Thuc Phan's castle
===Counters===
Apparent from his playstyle, Thuc Phan can be simply countered with an army of a tier above what he uses. Units in metal armor have no problem dispatching the seemingly endless waves of Thuc's unarmored units, while also being resistant to projectiles. An army purely comprised of imperial crossbowmen can dominate Thuc's armies with ease, however care must be put into not letting them close. Fire lancer's positioned somewhat behind the crossbowmen can safely discharge fire at charging cavalry, roasting whatever would get near.
Much like his armies, Thuc Phan's castle is helpless against an armored contingent. Sending infantry to an exposed wall section and dismantling it with their help is a slow process, but one of the easiest ones to carry out. As there are no traps, the only resistance will come from Thuc's inferior units. The imperial guardsman and to a lesser extent, the warrior monk can prove useful with their area cleave, easily mopping up the defenders and the sturdier axemen. Watch out for ballista platforms however later on, which are capable of slowly chipping away your units; bring a small group of imperial crossbowmen or other ranged units to snipe these constructs from a distance.
==Quotes==
*Stronghold Warlords
ru:Тхук Фан
Category:Characters