Hero class, waste of gold?

[chemical_art]

I think in no small part the confusion is that for some classes, the upgrade to hero is much "larger" then the upgrade for other classes.

For example, for archers, upgrading to the warden gives an extra point of power draw and 55 weapon skill. In relative numbers, that is a 17% increase in skill and 22% increase in weapon skill.

In contrast, for the master peltast, upgrading to the best class for throwing gives and extra point of power throw and 25 weapon skill. In relative numbers, that is a 17% in skill and 8% increase in weapon skill.

To summarize comparing the most ranged archer with the most ranged pikeman, the result is both give the same increase in skill but the archer one almost gives 3x the relative increase in weapon skill. Ergo, the archer upgrade gives a lot more bang to the buck in comparing which to upgrade, and ultimately which is superior in their role.

[This analysis does not account for equipment, which can be viewed either together with this or independently]