I've said it elsewhere in the Generals thread, but I've never thought rook to be a pure Demigod fighter; his high defence capability, low speed and high HP make him ideal for taking down defences though. There's also much to be said for his ability to leech health from his own summoned structures, and his hammer strike deals heavy damage if you can connect with it (a big if, I know).

With a little more balance (higher initial damage and some higher HP) he'd be a more viable demigod fighter, but I'm not sure that's what the designers were going for; he always struck me as a mobile siege engine, with the ability to tank while his team mates flit around him focussing on the enemy demigods trying to take him out. Oak and Rook for example work very well in tandem.

I must say though, as the posterchild for Demigod I did expect slightly more of him.

@Mooglepies - I concur with all your points. I as well expected more from it as the poster child. It is also not the siege master either. Sadly when I use it, with maxxed out equipment, to attack towers it always gets killed when going against a tower with another nearby and three towers are sure death before any real damage takes place on any towers. It simply moves and casts to slow. It is like a super large creep in that regard. I often see it hit for 700+ points of damage in one blast. Then I try to run away and get blasted in the back and drop like a rock (pun intended).

@Ke5trel - In a HK team situation like you suggested yes it is good but when playing with all AI opponents that situation is simply not in the cards. I think the ability for the avatars be able to function solo in a purely AI game solo should be the higher priority over the team play element. I also hope the changes you suggest are on the way soon.

For flag defense, IF it had the ability to heal towers then it would rock. As it stands now I cant really chase the AI around the tower and hammer is nearly impossible to hit. They just run circles around me. Additionally the towers drop so damn fast it is not even funny. I no sooner create one then finish the second one and the first one is gone. If I have AI help which is often not the case I can do some damage but otherwise it is an exercise in futility.

I would really look at my equipment, Spartan, because a fully-kitted Rook shouldn't be dropping like that unless you are speccing glass cannon. 

would love to if I weren't working

I'll be on tomorrow morning 10:30 EST for a little more than an hour if you want to try it then.  Meantime, look at upping his stats and picking items that increase movement and attack speed/power, armor, and health, see how that works

?????????

Imho the Rook is one of the most balanced and powerfull DG there is.

When I play the Rook, my kills get doubled. You are just plaaying this game wrong. Or we are not playing the same game... His HS is good, although against humanplayers its less so it does insane dmg, he is great with a teammate, the Rook Roll is insanely good, strurteral drainage is not the best, but can be very usefull, PoT is kinda weak but not its good enough.

Oh btw, the speed argument is flawed, all vanilla DG speed is 7.

Shift + Enter

Hmmm, what level were the AI?  Try a 1v1 game as Regulus (the Angel) against a Nightmare Rook on Prison.  Nightmare AI is pretty good at showing the potential of a given Demigod. 

Personally, I suck at Rook but there are people who play Rook well.  I probably wouldn't play as Rook 1 v 1 against a good Regulus, since Reg was pretty much made to be a giant-killer, but that doesn't change the fact that a good Rook is valuable in team games or against other opponents 1 v 1...

Good question.  Devs?

My instinct is to say there is more to it.  You see a nightmare Erebus using his abilities in ways a normal Erebus just doesn't.  At this point all the AI lack self-preservation instincts, but devs have confirmed they are tweaking that.   

Right, but you'll see a Nightmare AI at full health pursue a player DG at half-health all the way to the player's citadel, where of course the AI dies.  The current risk assessment from multiple vectors has blindspots.   

How about;

50% stun reduction?
Ability to heal structures (Hold shift when casting the damage structure to heal your self to reverse the spell)
Weapon selection - please - Rock looks mentally damaged bending over to smack units around with an open hand when he is holding a huge hammer.
More starting Armour.
Less manna related dependence - please

Sammual

Speed is the same for regulus and the Rook. But... Regulus has an ability called maim which slows down anyone he shoots... so yeah.

Rook Roll + Hammertime will still make an end to that pesky angel.

Well I Haven't played it yet with any persistent equipment. Maybe that makes all the difference. We shall see...

TBH i just played Rook against 5 nightmare level AI and with only 3 other AI, but in the end i have 47 kills and only 4 assists.  Game time only 30 minutes.  I know its not much to say because playing against AI isn't much to show, but it rules out all these arguments that rook is underpowered and sucks.

I'm sure players are going to outsmart him from time to time, but the rook player just need to outsmart the other one in return.  Buying the correct items can ensure that he can be just as fast as any other, (the boots that give +50% move, chance when take damage).  And honestly, once i reached level 25, i didn't have one point in the structural drain, its almost pointless unless u want to stand still taking damage risking death, just to damage a tower for only 1500?  I hit towers for 400-500 which would be faster than draining.  I only see this ability being useful for single player if needed.

But honestly, the rock throw has very long range, and i don't know why anyone is complaining about it.  Along with the 5 second stun, you all say you can't get his hammer bash off.  Pretty sad to be honest. 

Also constructing the light tower is important not as a standalone structure, but to link your bases light towers with this one, to conduct a large range light beam jumping from your base, then to your constructed ones through yourself for a lot of damage.  Hence the low health reason.

But again like i said, with the correct items he is a ruthless warrior and doesn't need changed at all.