All archers printed have either reach, or a conditional ping ability, typically on creatures in combat or flyers, except for Jolrael's Centaur and Ranger en-Vec (which has first-strike). I agree cementing associations between creature-types and abilities is good, but I lament if that means you can't use a creature type somewhere else it would be good. It's a lot easier to be flexible if there's been a mix: you can't assume an archer has reach, because she may have rangestrike instead, so you have to read the card.
Longbow is such a good fit for first-strike, and you can't really leave off the creature type, I think this is the correct choice by a very narrow margin :)
Well if you go WAAAY back, the first Archers ever printed Elvish Archers had first strike so there is a precedent that has been around since Alpha to support this card.
An Archer without reach, eh?
White archers don't always, such as Brigid, Hero of Kinsbaile. But I'll agree they normally do.
Archers typically have reach or have the "deal damage to target attacking/blocking creature" ability.
Personally I think they make a lot of sense as first strikers too, though.
All archers printed have either reach, or a conditional ping ability, typically on creatures in combat or flyers, except for Jolrael's Centaur and Ranger en-Vec (which has first-strike). I agree cementing associations between creature-types and abilities is good, but I lament if that means you can't use a creature type somewhere else it would be good. It's a lot easier to be flexible if there's been a mix: you can't assume an archer has reach, because she may have rangestrike instead, so you have to read the card.
Longbow is such a good fit for first-strike, and you can't really leave off the creature type, I think this is the correct choice by a very narrow margin :)
Well if you go WAAAY back, the first Archers ever printed Elvish Archers had first strike so there is a precedent that has been around since Alpha to support this card.