Re: Halt Heretic - Opinions
 

It's nothing but a legend. If you look in the MP hall of fame you'll see 2 ME Ulm victories, and as I doubt that Wraithlord and CKUnknow play in newbie games it was probably in games with (at least some) experienced players.

There was also an uncounted victory of Ulm in one of the first dom3 games -ended by a bug when Ulm was first in gems and research with 4 or 5 globals up- so weak or not in theory, ME Ulm is only beaten by two or three nations for the number of (not duel) real games won (here, but I think it's the place where you find most experienced players).

Unbelievable isn't it ? (as well as Arco still having 0 victory)

Re: Halt Heretic - Opinions
 

i second that Ulm is viable in MP, Now with the new stuff in the patch i think even more

You just have to play them differently like any race in dom3

Re: Halt Heretic - Opinions
 

What's this "Bane of Heresy" thing then?

Re: Halt Heretic - Opinions
 

I think you guys are nuts. Halt Sacred is huge.

Re: Halt Heretic - Opinions
 

I think, especially with these changes, that MA Ulm will be on even footing with most MA races. I plan on playing them as soon as I find the time for another game. I am so excited!!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Tuidjy - we have debated this to death. I won't risk further rational discussion with you. But, surely you must admit that MA Ulm is certainly better than it was before after this patch? And, you wouldn't argue that MA Ulm can't possibly win a competitive multiplayer game, would you? There are plenty of factors that could throw a game towards one faction or another, regardless of the units/mages it may or may not have. I mean, what about good old fashioned luck? MA Ulm isn't so bad, even before these changes, that it had no chance whatsoever.

In that game that I won, I got Olg's Alchemical Device in my capital, which helped me immensely (it was a substantial portion of my income - it was a small map). I also found some excellent magic sites very early on. It was also a victory point game, which meant I didn't have to defeat Jurri (who is an excellent player of course and who was giving me hell during that one).

Point being, if the cards fall your way, MA Ulm can win, there's no doubt. So stop with the rediculous absolutist arguements. And that was before the new changes.

You have been asking for MA Ulm to get some love, and it's finally happened. So why are you still upset? No one is forcing you to play them.

Re: Halt Heretic - Opinions
 

One of Ulm's advantages is everyone thinks it's weak so they don't worry about it. But they don't want to kill it off early, because it makes a good trading partner.
They have a kind of diplomatic advantage. Doesn't always work out, and you have to take advantage of it, but it does help counter balance.

It's the changes to the infantry and armor that interest me. Thematically, Ulm is supposed to have really tough troops and, largely due to encumbrance, they had high end but not exceptional heavy infantry.

Re: Halt Heretic - Opinions
 

The main fault I've seen people do when playing Ulm is that they are not building enough castles; and this nations needs a crazy amount of them.

Re: Halt Heretic - Opinions
 

One thing which is for sure, is that Ulm Reborn the mod nation are seeing an update very soon. It would be interesting to see them up against regular LA Ulm.

Re: Halt Heretic - Opinions
 

thejeff - I agree, I really enjoy the forging bonus from a trading and diplomacy perspective. Even if I'm weak, I enjoy forging items for other people (for a profit) and helping to pick the eventual winner. But of course you can also amass large stacks of gems that help you to win, too.

Tied in with this trading edge, is another advantage for taking a rainbow pretender with Ulm. With a rainbow, you can say to potential trading partners: "I'll accept 6 gems of any type for such and such item", so you can get better deals than you might otherwise because you can find a use for any kind of gem that people might have too many of. Does that make sense? Not sure if I phrased that correctly.

Tuidjy views this as being a "forge *****" and will have none of it.

He's not completely wrong on that. Forging items for other people is not generally considered a path to victory in this game. Thing is, I enjoy doing it. I do think it is a nice advantage as well. Not quite the same caliber advantage as having a 400 gold recruitable mage, or excellent sacreds or elephants with which to crush your enemy, but it does help you win and it is a fun game within the game for me.

MA Ulm is maybe not for everyone, but with this new patch, maybe they will be better respected and rack up some more multiplayer victories.

Re: Halt Heretic - Opinions
 

The Halt Heretic power of the lord guardians are not supposed to stop bless rushes. It is the power of the Iron angel, and just a bonus for the lord guardians.

It is the Black Halberds thet are supposed to stop early sacred rushes (sand perhaps late ones as well) .

Halberds do 15 ap aoe1 stun regardless of hits, meaning massed unarmored units get lots of fatigue. Jaguars and vanir are prime targets.