Ronin vs Sling

As of late, every time I try making ronins, I end up wishing I had just made slings instead.

In theory they have better stats across the board and that would create a niche for them, but in practice its too hard to use them effectively without at least suffering heavy losses. Their range isn't enough to put them comfortably far from those who would squish them, specially when combined with their need for LoS and their slow projectiles.

I think they might have some use in the early game in low player densities, where they get to harass early assault and riot units being sent forwards on their own over flat ground. However, they become obsolete rapidly as the battle heats up and unity density and variety increases, with slings overtaking them in seemingly every role after that.

I think ronins should be moved out from under the shadow of slings by being differentiated from slings more, specialized in the opposite direction. Maybe give them more damage, speed and health and less range. Make them into an expendable skirmisher/assault hybrid.

Another alternative would be making them into more of an AT unit, with a greater alpha strike but longer reload.

Ronin are in an odd spot because they are so cheap. 90m makes them the least expensive skirm by a decent margin, and therefor have to be pretty bad to be balanced. Right now they just seem *bleh*. They technically have ok range and speed, and can skirm some enemies but i find it easier to counter enemy riot units with zeus, and counter enemy assaults with glaive, rather than try to skirm.

Ronin did receive a recent buff that allows them to maintain full speed after firing (instead of slowing down for a second or two), which was much needed, but they still don't feel great.

I agree there is a lot of overlap between ronin and sling, in that they both have very low cost for their class (skirm and arty). Sling is defined by having a very respectable range (although is pretty bad in every other way, as it should be for it's cost). Ronin seems to lack any major use, and feels like a filler unit that was added to give the cloakbot fac a skirm.

You mention skirm/assault hybrid. I believe ronin (rocco) used to have higher health, and could be used somewhat like an assault. The problem with the current ronin is that it's health is too low to survive much AoE damage, which is critical for an assault unit. An army of zeus will be FAR more tanky than an equal metal army of ronin, due to having higher average health per unit (gauge effect or whatever it's called).

I'd say sling changes are also on the table, although I am not sure if sling is OP. Its definitely a lot more flexible and easy to use than perhaps any other artillery unit.

Sling could have its metal cost increased to 200 or 300 and have its stats scaled accordingly (possibly size as well). Just having a different price bracket would do a lot to help set these two units apart, and sling would still be one of the cheapest artillery units.

That being said, I still think ronin is a little underwhelming even when not being compared to sling.