About Helheim...

So, as an expander, Helheim worked out pretty well. But as we move into the early war stage of the game, I'm finding them to be pretty lackluster. The thing that really makes them suffer is that even a glancing arrow hit will shatter their glamor which they rely on so heavily. And once another player realizes this, my Helhirds/Huskarls go from threatening to just average. Since CTis has no archers whatsoever, I still think I will be a match for him - however thinking ahead I am worried about what the future holds. Particularly against Sauro with thier preponderance of bows.

Do you guys have any suggestions for army makeups and/or research priorties to really leverage the power out of this nation?

Have you read Baalz' guide? It's actually a pretty good one, although I don't know how well it will apply to your build.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=41801

No I hadn't I'll read that later tonight.

What do you all think of Mist (Evo 3) as my next research target? Like a poor man's Arrow Fend to try and help out my glamor'd units a little.

Mist seems to work OK. I tested it. Looked like about 50% less missile hits on the glamoured troops.

It'd difficult, since recruited archers can script fire calvary and then you've got a problem. I usually use Serf Warrior squads (10 or so) in front as archer decoys. PD usually won't fire at your calvary until it's too late. Mist and Storm are certainly options. Gift of Flight will help you close BUT I think the problem is once you're closed, which makes Mist not great either.

I would honestly play with just thugs and bodyguards. Vanjarls, Vanhereses and Dis can all cast Air Shield and if you stick them with a bodyguard they'll only get hit by 10% of arrows, then they get a shield as well for parry. Shield of Gleaming Gold has a parry value of 9, one of the highest AFAIK, so that's why it gets recommended so highly. You might also need brands.

He's got F9 bless which overrides brand effect, so Brands aren't that cool for Hel.

Oh, I'm all for using Vanjarls with shields of gold. That seems like a really solid strategy. However, even if I produced one every round and it was similarly equipped - how could I be expected to fight any kind of large scale engagement? I mean, they are awesome for raiding I'll grant that. But the first time I come up against a moderate army backed by even a handful of Evo mages I will get crushed.