Re: Tips for newbs - just add
 

I realise this is a very niche use, but I've recruited light cavalry to block/slow massed minotaur tramplers. Being size 3 with high defence they do a decent job at holding them.

Re: Tips for newbs - just add
 

-Study the many magic spells in the game. Knowing the spells will have immediate results.

-You can display spells of a specific skill by pressing a single letter while studying the spell list. Press 'f' for fire, 'a' for air, 'w' for water, 'e' for earth, 's' for astral, 'n' for nature, and 'd' for death. Press the letter again to see all the spells. This will help narrow your reading.

-Spells of particular interest are those that boost your skill in battle, such as Summon Earthpower and Phoenix Power. Nearly all of these spells can be found in conjuration 3 or 4. They are important as they increase the spells available to you. However, it's best to research these spells after you have something worth while to cast.

-Try not to use alchemy in a MP game. If the game is large enough, then you can almost always make even trades for gems you want or sell your gems off for much more money. Besides, making trades is the first step to establishing good relations with your neighbors.

Re: Tips for newbs - just add
 

In regards to light cavalry from independents they overall have poor value. Look at the gold per unit ratio compared to buying a heavy infantry from independents.

You can buy either 20 light cavalry or 50 heavy infantry... running some tests will reveal the 50 heavy infantry will do better. If you have TONS of gold and very very few resources then you may need to choose the light cavalry of independents. The light cavalry from independents also do not carry any shields making them more vunerable to archers.

This is in regards to the games default and not the CBM mod which may have a different gold price.

Re: Tips for newbs - just add
 

But heavy infantry isn't cavalry, they suck at fast flanking manoveurs. So just pitting them against eachother isn't fair.

Re: Tips for newbs - just add
 

It is fair tho, Dedas, since you spend the same resource (gold) to get them.

Re: Tips for newbs - just add
 

It isn't really a fair comparison. It's a gold heavy unit versus a resource heavy unit. It's important to remember that resource isn't a limitless supply. It also means that the units naturally have different strengths.

Heavy infantry are ideal against units that use light weapons, such as short swords and spears. They generally have shields and so they fare well against missile fire. Heavy infantry are made to beat light calvary, so the comparison is even less fair.

Light calvary generally come with bows, combined with their fast movement they become ideal for hit and run tactics. As mentioned before, they are great for raiding provinces.

Dominions is often a rock-paper-scissor game. This would become more apparent when you include barbarians into the equation. Barbarians often beat heavy infantry because they can overcome their protection and the infantry don't have missiles. Light calvary often beats barbarians cause they have bows and their higher defense works better then protection.

So please stop comparing.

Re: Tips for newbs - just add
 

No, really, it is a fair comparison. The light cavalry argument has been played out in dominions many times by many people so I'm not going to counter again - just do a forum search.

Re: Tips for newbs - just add
 

If flanking could work even semi reliably or if light cavalry could skirmish, firing and staying out of close combat, then it would be useful.

Once in a while cavalry well actually get past the front line and reach the unprotected rear, but far more often they'll close with the heavies in front and light cavalry gets slaughtered there.

Using light cavalry as archers is pointless, since you're paying a premium for troops that have no real advantage over cheap foot archers. Sure, light cavalry can beat barbarians because they've done some damage with their bows before the barbarians can close and the high defense helps them survive, but 4-5 times as many foot archers would have routed the barbarians before they closed.

I'll admit a fondness for some of the heavy archer units. LA T'ien Chi Cavalry and LA Man's Defenders come to mind.

Re: Tips for newbs - just add
 

Oh, come on. If you know simple setup of units there is no big deal in achieving good flanking and slaughter of archers. Light cavalry is worth the price, but not if just throw them in the meat grinder that is centre front.

Re: Tips for newbs - just add
 

ehm could a moderator move this discussion to a new thread?
(or could you voluntarily continue it elsewhere)

this was not what I inteded.. it will kill the thread and I'm happy about how it was going (I learned a lot)

--> PS I did like to see jeff agreeing that flanking isn't reliable though http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif (and IMHO light cav isn't worth it either)

Re: Tips for newbs - just add
 

Need to bid high for mercenaries in MP - its not like SP where you can get them for just a buck or two over the asking price.

Watch your supplies - starving units have heavy morale penalties. You can click a unit and push S to grab any starving units. Use that to separate them from the rest of your army and/or to send them somewhere with enough supplies to feed them before they start getting diseased. Be especially careful with large units like elephants.

Try and get astral mages to accompany your armies. You need them in the mid to late game to protect yourself from getting Mind Hunted.

Realize at some point your conventional troops will be less important than SCs and powerful mages. You should have some strategy for getting SCs, such as Tartarians and Elemental Royalty.

If you are playing against a nation with assassins, protect your commanders with bodyguards.

Re: Tips for newbs - just add
 

The light calvary from independents has been discussed on the forums as Ironhawk has mentioned and the majority agree their cost is too high within the official game.

4 in any magic path for your pretender gives your blessed units a special bonus.

Play large maps with VP provinces so the game can finish within a more realistic timeframe.

Re: Tips for newbs - just add
 

In your diplomatic dealings with other players, insist on clarity, even if it requires a lot of back and forth yammering. This reduces the possibility of future misunderstandings.

However it also increases the possibility that people will get sick of PMing with you and ignore you entirely. It is a rather fine line. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: Tips for newbs - just add
 

If your about to lose your castle to a much larger force then you can handle and you still have a nearby province, break the siege early and retreat.

If they storm the castle then anyone who survives the battle will die anyhow. If you break the siege then those that retreat will appear in nearby provinces you control.

DO NOT do this if your castle is surrounded by enemy provinces as retreating will again mean curtain death.

Also, stealthy units can sneak in and out of sieged castles you control.

Re: Tips for newbs - just add
 

I don't believe that's true. Units that retreat from a castle storming do retreat to neighboring provinces as usual.

Re: Tips for newbs - just add
 

I’m not saying they’re bad. I’m just saying that, in general, they aren’t worth the cost.

An experienced player can leverage the strengths of a niche unit, but noobs should be aware that light cav is pretty niche, and their money is best spent elsewhere.

Re: Tips for newbs - just add
 

Nevermind, your right. You can retreat and live when being stormed. I stand corrected. Thanks jeff.

Re: Tips for newbs - just add
 

Well, sort of. Depending upon the mage and the spell, the base encumbrance cost can be a significant fraction of the spell fatigue cost, and Magic scale doesn't help with that. For instance, if you're in a Communion, IIRC *every* communion slave takes encumbrance fatigue for every spell he participates in. In that case, you might as well be in Drain dominion because encumbrance is 80+% of your fatigue anyway. Magic helps when you cast big expensive spells on your own, not so much when you're casting cheap little spells like Cloud of Death.

-Max