SUBTERFUGE Forums

Foreman gets "promoted" to Engineer, but Foreman seems much stronger to me, especially when it's at the same factory as Tycoon. Am I missing something? Do you ever avoid promoting Foreman?

Engineer means your losses regenerate if you win a battle. If you have 601 Drillers smash an enemy's 600 drillers for some reason, you win the combat. Normally, you'd win with 1 left. The Engineer repairs 25% of all subs lost after combat though - with an Engineer you'd win with 151 Drillers ready to smash the next outpost.

Much like everything else in Subterfuge, it is situational. And learning to use what is best for each situation is key to becoming the best. If you already have a tycoon, I might argue that you should just keep your foreman. However, stacking engineers can be insanely good. There is nothing quite as scary as someone who gets a double engineer + helmsman combo early on in the game.

Other factors that could change your decision to keep it or promote it is about how well each spec counters your opponent, how large your territory is, whether it is the beginning of the game or the end game, and if you're currently playing offense or defense, (just to name a few)

Good Discussion Question though.

So how does territory or stage of the game factor into it?

A foreman is basically a factory wherever you want it so its roughly 18 drillers a day. A engineer is 2 hires so you would need to gain a 36 driller advantage per day to have it. What is better just depends on the situation which ever helps you not lose a base or specialist while gaining a base or specialist.

Triple engineer sub is better than triple foreman sub. Just saying.

The triple foreman is 18 more drills or 54 in a day and you still get 3 other hires. Engineer for me is a win more specialist but if you aren't winning engineers won't do anything if the enemy just avoids losing battles and trades bases. Now they have 3 extra hires plus extra drillers.

On a generator/balanced map, foreman is good.
On a factory heavy, foremens are less necessary.

Thoughts on Engineers:
- when someone is attacking you with numerous subs, nothing beats a last minute engineer promotion so they then suddenly lose. Lol
- as discussed above, an engineer on death sub can help you sustain momentum to steamroll an opponent.

Combined with a thief, engineers can lead to fun times like this...
https://youtu.be/oq8YkXvVIsA
You GAIN drillers from an attack.