[Nagot Gick Fel]

Originally posted by OG_Gleep:
1) As the game progresses, you gain access to indy mages with different paths. What is the best way to go through and search for magic sites? It is really painful to have to start the search all over again each time you get a new type of mage, especially when your dominion is huge.

To ease MM and save mage time, you can reveal all sites in a province (bar holy/unholy sites) with the low-level scrying spells you get in the Thaumaturgy, Conjuration, Evocation and Blood schools. Most require a level-2 (sometimes 1) mage to cast, and 2-3 gems. Voice of Tiamat reveals all elemental sites underwater, and Acashic Record reveals everything (including holy/unholy) but is costly and requires an astral-3 mage.

2) As I mentioned before I am having a little bit of a problem kick starting an offensive on the border. What is the best strategy for advancing? This is a bit of a vague question...

Well in MP you can try the guess/outguess game, but the AI is so unpredictable... I fear I have no good tip for you. Although you can count on the AI moving his armies every turn - so if you want to force a battle, it's often better to attack where he isn't yet.

3. SuperCombatants... items you just particularly like.

Look for magic resistance, regeneration, elemental resistances, luck, protection, defense, aura items, life drain (also gives you reinvigoration), and reinvigoration if you trample and aren't undead.

4) Battlefiled Orders: I thought the system was fairly simple at first, especially since I am playing Ulm. Place HI w/Shields at the very front, then place spear/flail to each side. Place archers in the back somewhere. Then after seeing my defense force (value 30) win because my crossbows were deeper that got me thinking that there may be more to it then I thought.
Generally, what orders would you give to an army of this composition, and where would their starting positon be relative to back middle or front:

a) Block of Ulm Infantry Shield
b) Block of Ulm Infantry 2hnd Axe
c) Block of Ulm Infantry Spear
d) Block of Xbow
e) Block of Xbow
f) Block of Heavy Calv
g) 2 Ulm Smiths

I avoid Xbows with heavy infantry/cavalry (unless I've an air mage to cast Wind Guide).

Basically if the enemy has more firepower or magepower than you, deploy far ahead and attack, with the shielded HI in the middle (attack closest) and the knights on the flanks (attack rear/archers) with the other HI in between. Sometimes it's best to leave the shields on hold/attack (diverting enemy fire) while the unshielded attack with their better 2-handed weapons.

Otherwise deploy in the rear with hold & attack. As simple as that. Use the smiths to cast Legions of Steel and Strength of Giants on your shock troops. And Weapons of Sharpness if you can.