[Graeme Dice]

Originally posted by Saber Cherry:
Ulm: I research enough construction to forge Earth Boots (level 4). Then I build Earth Boots, giving me level-3 Earth, and forge a Dwarven Hammer (forge bonus). Then I mass produce boots for the smiths.

If I'm playing Ulm with a rainbow great sage, then I usually research to Conjuration 3 first to get summon earth power. Blade winds are fatiguing, and I want my smith's to be able to cast as many spells as possible, so the reinvigoration 4 is invaluable. I build a master smith almost every single turn in order to keep my research ramping up quickly. I then go for evocation 4 to get blade wind. This can happen by around turn 9, which is just about in time to take on some of the tougher independents around your capital.

After this, depending on my situation, I'll either go for construction 5 and clockwork horrors and crushers, or thaumaturgy 2 to find every single earth site. From there on I adapt to what spells I need in the near future and hope for lots of independent mages, especially the enchantress with 3 elemental magics, and the metal order mages to get access to astral spells.

A single Blade Wind Smith is easily worth 100 archers... and that's BEFORE he gets Heroic Quickness / Endurance / Precision. And he will become heroic.

It's around 52 slightly inaccurate longbows I believe.