MA Man startegy
 

I took on Man in a MA game after my favourite options being already taken, figuring there'd be a quick strat thread so I could catch up, but the only Man thread is LA.

I've never played these guys, and have no real idea where to go. Any experienced player care to write up a small strat guide such as those that exist for other races? I know I would appreciate it, I am sure others would too.

Re: MA Man startegy
 

Longbows for early expansion. Knights later on.
Air+Nature magic so try to get Air Queens as SC?
There may be some strat guide for Man in dominions 2, I assume it would apply to dom3 MA Man too for the most part.

Re: MA Man startegy
 

Bards are good for dual use spies/researchers.

Lord Wardens can make good thugs.

Decide what you want to do against lightning-immune thugs who are immune to Sleep/Charm, and prepare accordingly, with your pretender if necessary.

Longbows are excellent, and your air magic can support them.

Hmm, what else... Take Growth 3 to keep Crones from dying from old age, or Blood for Boots of Youth, or both.

You have stealthy priests, morale-increasers (bards have standard) and sacred units/thugs (Wardens). If you find Woodsmen or Villains or Atavi Archers (stealthy archers), you might want to make few small raiding groups.

Re: MA Man startegy
 

Don't overlook the Spell songs either. I haven't figured out how to use healing or bravery, but Soothing song can be great for big battles. 3-4 Crones casting BEs and tossing Thunderbolts, + Mothers casting whatever and ~10 bards spamming Soothing Song. None of them build up fatigue.
Even after the script runs out, the Bards will do Soothing Song often enough to keep the real mages casting.

I've got some other thoughts, based on my experience in Priori, but that's going to be a long enough rant that I don't have time for it now.
Short version: You've got no diversity, so you need a pretender to handle that. You can't even forge your Air boosters natively.
You also don't have any easy SC/thug access, unless you go the bless route. Which with capital only stratmove 1 mediocre sacreds, I can't recommend. So you need your pretender to be an SC.

And then you'll be doomed, like I was, by a total lack of Air or Astral gems.

It's a fun nation, but not a strong one.