Re: RUNNING: First Newbie game, let's discuss how we proceed here
 

I found with MA Caelum, mammoths were about their most effective expansion unit (backed up by archers); also, try recruiting non-flyers to hold the line, as the flyers tend to charge into combat and then all die. Not sure what units EA has.

If you're fighting lots of archers, on the other hand, flyers are extremely useful.

Take all this with a grain of salt; I'm not a very experienced player.

Re: RUNNING: First Newbie game, let's discuss how we proceed here
 

Caelum can jump around heavily defended provinces if he has information where the weak indies are, and that requires scouts, which are not very plenty in the start :) Mammoths are the best bet for Caelum imo for expansion, few of them combined with those prec12 archers is an useful expansion party like pfloom said, while a bit expensive. Still, for some nations some sacred force for expansion will cost more per expansion party.

Re: RUNNING: First Newbie game, let's discuss how we proceed here
 

okay so i figure i need to start looking for a sub for the next few weeks... any ideas on how to go about doing that anyone?

Re: RUNNING: First Newbie game, let's discuss how we proceed here
 

Caelum's should do well with mammoths against any kind of armored indies. Against barbarians it can do pretty well with mammoths, or massed archers (enough to kill the barbarians before they get too close). The best advice to fully understand the capabilities of your national units is to run the first 10 turns of an expansion in single player (to determine how fast you can expand with a given set of strategies).

Also keep in mind that you can use a few sacrificial units to protect your important units from the initial attack of a group of enemies. You can put a high protection unit with a shield out in front to catch archer arrows, or put a group of units in front with orders "guard commander", and your commander in the back of your formation with orders "hold x5, stay behind troops" and the enemy force might chase it into the jaws of a trap while your flanking units crush them from both sides.

When testing out expansion strategies for Caelum, remember that you will want to start buying eagle kings every turn as soon as possible. Once you research some evocation magic (culminating in having Storm, Thunder Strike, Summon Storm Power available) you will see why!

Re: RUNNING: First Newbie game, let's discuss how we proceed here
 

You can post a new thread here or post in the looking for players -sticky thread in the top of the multiplayer area, or if you know someone who might be willing to sub or someone you trust, you can ask them. Do keep in mind that they can't be any of the players of this game due cdkey errors and the balance issues it'd bring.

Re: RUNNING: First Newbie game, let's discuss how we proceed here
 

did the time per turn get turned back to 24 hours?

Re: RUNNING: First Newbie game, let's discuss how we proceed here
 

Yes it will come back to 24hrs this evening.
Thanks for all the tips about Caelum. Mammoths do seem to do a nice job, but they also bind the whole army to using bridges. There does not seem to be a flying transport unit in our ranks *giggle*.

I think I have the smallest empire of everyone atm, but I find it hard to judge wether my army will be strong enough to take on a given army of indepedents.
Is there soms rule of thumb you guys use?

Re: RUNNING: First Newbie game, let's discuss how we proceed here
 

Start a test game (with two human players) and try to expand with your planned expansion army, then watch the battles ...

Re: RUNNING: First Newbie game, let's discuss how we proceed here
 

hmm so maybe i picked a bad time to start looking for a sub. But i'm not gonna be able to send in any more turns from tomorrow, can you guys appoint a sub for me without me? don't know what to do. sorry about this...

Re: RUNNING: First Newbie game, let's discuss how we proceed here
 

okay received a pm from one "thejeff" who is willing to fill in. for me just so you all know