Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Turn 43
Another quiet month. The only news is that my researchers, working round the clock, made another breakthrough in summoning spells. Now I can call for the assistance of a Siddha, who apparently is a powerful priest as well as mage. I am hoping that Siddhas are powerful enough to mass bless troops. I will be summoning one to find out.

I did a census of all troops and found that I have 82 armoured Bandar, 223 Yavanas, 26 Gandharvas, and 8 Apsaras. I am planning my invasion armies to have 20 Bandar or Gandharvas in the center, with a total of 80 Yavanas on the wings, in 4 groups of 20 each. Each should be led by a Yaksha, a Yakshini, and hopefully a Siddha (if they are as effective as priests as I hope). All commanders should be equipped with basic survival equipment (missile protection, etc.)

I have directed my researchers towards more magical item research, and to discover some basic spells for finding magical sites, so that I do not need to send out searchers.

I also am thinking about taking some of these sea provinces - good for more income, and for intelligence on my opponents.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Turn 44
Behold the Siddha!

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...6-Siddha44.jpg

This guy is impressive: A powerful priest and mage indeed, and up to five attacks. Most impressive, he can move anywhere on the map instantly!

I'm sending this guy site-searching, in hopes of increasing my astral pearl income, so that I can recruit more like him. I am also going myself to the coast, with some trusted Gandharvas, to start conquering the sea.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Hm this Siddha is a very powerful unit indeed.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

I *like* that unit. :-D

Now who is complaining that life drain can only give you 5 life? If one could acquire 4 life draining weapons....

=$=

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Even two wraithsword would be pretty impressive, especially combined with regen and high protection... (Pretty much everything is better when combined with high protection and regen though, so thats not saying much.) OT question: Are the Ape-races unusual, or does dom3 include a LOT more units with awe?

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Just to add my voice to the cacophony that I've really been enjoying your AAR, St. Patrick.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Wow you indeed have quite some talent in AAR writing then imho http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Yeah, I absolutely agree. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

The Siddha looks very good. how much did it cost? How much research it requires?

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

National, Conj. 7, S4, 35 pearls.
There's Summon Devata at Conj. 8, S5, 45 pearls. While Summon Siddha says that they are powerful priests and mages, Devatas should be powerful priests, mages AND warriors.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Are the Devata best national summons Bandar Log gets?

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

remember that you still get fatigue from that many attacks. You probably need at least a couple of reinvigoration items.
(and improve this guy's attack and defense probably too)

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Indeed, but that is a valid {SC} equipping tactic in Doms 2. as well.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Highest-level Conjuration, at least. Some others, like the W3E3S1N1 Nagarishi with one of those paths as a random pick, AND Holy 1, are lower-level summons (Conj. 6) with higher requirements (W3E3 and 40 gems, when Bandar Log's best mage has only S3N2 and a WESN random. Even the cheapest naga mage requires W2E, and while Nagini are useful (stealthy mage-priest seducers), you basically need to design your pretender around getting them if you don't want to rely on empowering. All the nagas have pretty hefty upkeep even if they are sacred, because they are all recruitable units in Patala. Nagarishi costs 450 gp, for instance.
Of course, this doesn't directly relate to this AAR as Kailasa can't summon them yet, but since you asked spesifically about Bandar Log... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Pity you can't take the Olm with them. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

thanks again! It's cool to have so much interest shown! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Now don't steal my thunder Endo! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

I will be summoning a Devata in a few turns, so you can all take a look at him. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Yay!

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Turn 45
Well it looks like Vanheim is taking an aggressive line with T'ien Ch'i. Scouts report four of T'ien Ch'i's castles under siege by Vanheim. Balakrit witnessed one battle first hand, and noticed the dwarven commander:

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...angehero45.jpg

This is a little amusing - mainly because he's carrying a midget masher!

But this makes me realise that I must act soon - I have probably delayed too long already. I need to grab a piece of the pie before it's gone. I will take a contingent from the north and attack T'ien Ch'i's northern provinces. Then in a turn or two I will send troops south also. I need more astral pearls.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Well, obviously he is smashing other midgets! Perhaps he is some kind of a taskmaster? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Let's hope things go well versus Tien and Vanheim.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

"Masters of Forging", yet I see no forge bonus. Maybe they're not as good as the Ulmish smiths. Wow, look at that research. Vanheim must have a decent magic scale.

=$=

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

IIRC, dwarven smiths have never had a forge bonus. I guess the description doesn't say that they make those ancient and powerful artifacts cheaply. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Turn 46
Disturbing events: I led a contingent of troops into the inland sea - and suddenly found myself fighting for my life. The province had Triton Knights mounted on Hippocampi, which killed almost all my troops and even dared to attack me!

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...6seabattle.jpg

Yet I proved victorious. Now I have a foothold in the sea I can train an aquatic army to conquer the seas.

This turn also Candragomin and Brahmakunda died from their wounds following the battle of Caelum. The whole nation mourns their loss.

Devasura, Ahana, and Asamati are attacking T'ien Ch'i in the north this turn. I am building a lab in the sea, to call powerful aquatic creatures. Many magic items are being forged, and spells of site-searching are being cast.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Well, look on the bright side: those triton knights ought to be able to work wonders for your underwater conquest. Shame about the dead commanders, but it was only to be expected. Good luck against T'ien Ch'i.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Those tritons sure look nasty! Good that you managed to conquer them nevertheless.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Wow, looks like a close call!

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

yeah, it was a close call. The thing that resulted in me winning in the end were the sharks that I summoned killing off the commander, after which the tritons routed.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

st.patrik, you are playing against the AIs with the hardest AI settings? Sorry if this was mentioned in the thread already, but I haven't seen it. Also, on the current settings, do you find the AI more challenging then in Doms 2.?

PS. Sorry for going OT.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

No, I'm not playing on the hardest AI settings. The AI has 5 settings in Dom 3: Easy, Normal, Difficult, Mighty, and Impossible. I chose Difficult, so that it would be a little tougher than normal, but nowhere near as tough as Mighty or Impossible.
I also chose one each of the three AI types: Normal, Aggressive, Defensive. I'm not sure which nations are which (b/c they were random), but I'm guessing T'ien Ch'i is defensive, Caelum was normal, and Vanheim is aggressive - though I could be wrong about this.

I do find the AI to be more challenging than in Dom II. In DomPPP the AI would often have extremely large armies, and often kicked my butt, but in Dom II the AI seemed to avoid large armies (my own theory for why this is that it was trying to avoid having more troops than it could feed (in DomPPP the large AI armies were *always* starving)). In Dom 3 the AI seems to once again have somewhat large armies (for example Vanheim's army that was sieging T'ien Ch'i) and of course now it builds castles, unlike Dom II.

Having said that, I think that I probably could have gone up another notch in difficulty (to Mighty AI) and it would have given me more of a challenge. (on the other hand, things might have turned out differently if I had started next to Vanheim).

I haven't tried a game yet against a bunch of impossible AIs. My guess is that early game would be very hard, mid game would be a challenge, but if you made it to late game you could outwit the AI. but that's just a guess.

sorry - kinda long answer to a short question http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

*edit* - deleted double post

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

I just wanted to chime in quickly with my thanks as well. Very enjoyable reading the AAR. Can't wait to see how things go for you!

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Ah I see, I guess my first game will be against 5 difficult AIs on a small map, all set to agressive, the next game will be the same, but the AIs will be defensive. I would like to see the differences between these various AI behaviours.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Turn 47
I forgot the old dictum that an army marches on its stomach. When Devasura crossed the border (with no resistance) he began to realise that these lands did not produce enough supplies to feed the army. Immediately word was sent to those forging magical items, and they started work on a couple of endless bags of wine.

In the meantime Devasura had to withdraw, to ensure that the troops don't starve. Hardly an auspicious start to a military campaign!

I am summoning an Asp Turtle - a fearsome beast of the depths who will fight under the water for my cause. I am also tasking one of my Yakshinis to come lead my underwater armies, while I return to land to oversee the war there.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

oops I just realised that I got ahead of myself - I haven't posted this turn yet...

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Turn 48
One of my Markatas witnessed a battle between Vanheim and T'ien Ch'i. T'ien Ch'i attacked Vanheim to try to break the siege on his capital.

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...-vanheim48.jpg

Eh, yeah, Vanheim is looking fairly strong.

I am heading back to the capital to oversee preparing the army for what they're going to have to deal with. As soon as I get back I will be summoning another Siddha, to bless a second army group. Bags of wine are being ferried to Devasura et al. Everyone is busy.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

thanks http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

There are some fun things going to happen hopefully... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Where did that lightning come from? =o?

I hope you can deal with the supply trouble. I bet those big units eat a lot.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

I think it must have been a thunder bow or spirit helmet.

supply will be ok so long as I can get some endless bags of wine (I hope!)

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Turn 49
No important news this month. Dhritiman (the Siddha) found a magic site providing astral pearls, which is good; an administrator in one of my provinces decided he needed to increase provincial defence by 20. I am back in the capital and calling another Siddha. Devasura and friends are moving back into the province they took from T'ien Ch'i, once more on the offensive.

Last turn I summoned an Asp Turtle, a powerful aquatic beast:
http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...s/443411-s.jpg

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Oooh! That sprite is quality stuff!

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Looks like a top-notch creature all around, in fact. The typos in the description are kind of funny, though. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

yeah the description has already been fixed, but may not make it into the initial version.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

wow! The gfx of the new units is awesome! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

I can't wait to see you tramling your enemies...

=$=

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

yeah - I love tramling http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Tramling is ridiculously powerful and clearly needs a nerf!

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

But you'll have to wait till you encouter your enemies to do so.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

That was my laugh out loud moment of the day. Thanks Sindai.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Turn 50
Devasura is on the attack. He is leading an attack against one of T'ien Ch'i's provinces which is next to one of the strongholds Vanheim is attacking. After attacking this province I will send him against Vanheim and see how he fares.

The new Siddha that I summoned is busy making amulets of missile protection for the Yakshas and Yakshinis. While my Yakshas and Yakshinis are busy making fun weapons for him to wield http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Turn 51
Devasura easily took T'ien Ch'i's province. T'ien Ch'i made a half-hearted attempt at attacking my southern border, but it was a weak attack. He also tried once more to dislodge Vanheim from his capital, without any more success than the last time.

Here's a shot of my armies attacking T'ien Ch'i in swampland, which gives units without swamp survival penalties in attack and defence.

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...3-battle51.jpg