Re: Guide to playing Patala competitively
 

Markatas couldn't possibly kill a knight no matter what their number is. They have 5 strength and a damage 3 weapon, that cannot bypass knights armor. They can stop the knights though and take those lance hits, so some more expensive troops don't get hit with them.

Devala has auto Celestial music in the battle, which is battlefield wide quickness for the sacreds (well at least the summoned ones, not sure about the nagas).

Re: Guide to playing Patala competitively
 

Strength 5, a damage 3 weapon and open ended die rolls. Lots of them since they're six to a square. They'll do damage if there are enough of them.

Re: Guide to playing Patala competitively
 

They won't do much before the knights are fatigued, though. Critical hits from fatigue will help a lot, of course.

Re: Guide to playing Patala competitively
 

If they place enough hits some will go through eventually. But they won't place enough hits because they will route too soon. Markatas have a big problem with routing.

Re: Guide to playing Patala competitively
 

I once started an MP game as Kailasa, with the plan to focus almost exclusively on markata using Strength of Giants to make them into killing machines.

Unfortunately (largely due to bad luck, I claim!), I was out of the game by turn 11. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: Guide to playing Patala competitively
 

Regarding Markatas, in my tests they met the knights in one of two ways:
1. In front and to the side I put a decoy squad to take arrows (whatever monkey with shields will do). Then I put a squad of Marakata in middle to hold the charge of enemy knights. Last, heavy duty killers finish knights (elephants mainly, but blessed Nagas work, Bandars as well).

2. Unexpected and most fun. I put squads of Markata archers to the sides and rear. It so happens that sometimes knights choose to go after them instead of charging the middle squad. The archers stop the knights with little losses for a few turns. Until killer squad arrives.

Oh and one last note about this, It works with (or rather vs.) Vans as well. Its a nice, unexpected, way to hold melee units.

Not related - The Devala Celestial music sounds awesome. Thanks for the info.

Re: Guide to playing Patala competitively
 

I havent read thru this entire thread and Im lazy so I will just ask...

Sometimes the player guides work for the stupid ai also but sometimes they are too strategy oriented for it. Has this thread come up with a better-build for a Patala AI? Something we can add to the library for the semirandom program?
Pretender choice, magic for pretender, equipment for the pretender, scales, dominion strength, etc etc.

Re: Guide to playing Patala competitively
 

Can anybody please tell what special heroes Patala can get? I am playing in a MP (with current patch and latest CBM 1.6, so no clamming), and the one hero I got so far made me drool quite a bit. This is the first time I play with Patala, and wasn't quite expecting so that (sorry, not revealing what the hero is, in case somebody from the game reads this; I want to keep my little secret for a few more turns :) ).

Been so far fighting pretty much as per the guidelines Baalz gave in his guide for Bandar Log in early game. With some spell support markatas throwing sticks&stones really are great, and nothing pleases me more than to see the little guys gaining some respect :)

As clamwhoring is not available in CBM 1.6 anymore, I have come up with an alternative end-game strategy. I have to see how it goes, if I make it to the end game of course :) I intend to write down some notes about my experiences with Patala after the game though, as under CBM 1.6 I think they are quite different from before.

Re: Guide to playing Patala competitively
 

See this thread for a post by Burnsaber with a link to a document with all Vanilla + CBM 1.6 heroes.

Re: Guide to playing Patala competitively
 

Heh, seems Patala has just one hero, but he is a multihero. So much about my secrecy then :p

Anyway, when I saw the Golden Naga in my capital I did pee my pants :D