[ywl]

Originally posted by condors:
playing in norfleet's games settings:

world map
indies 6
resources 75
events rare

i have been using the great alchemist pretender for site searching

norfleet (ermor) is normally an unstoppable force
i don't compete in gem income, army strength, or dominion.

It may be i just need to get better as a player and i can except that but with these game settings is it even feasible that ulm will be able to compete with a good ermor player?

I have a couple tactics that could turn the game in my favor but getting to the point is just not possible as he can dominion me out without even trying (almost happened Last game)(clams for doom horrors my offense, fetishes-lots of money PD and reg troops, and a demon factory my defense)

in single player games it works very well in multiplayer it just isn't happening for me any suggestions? and i know norfleet will be reading this but if he ever thought i was even a mild threat in out Last 2 games i must be missing something as i thought by turn 20 it wasn't even close

You're not playing Ulm like Ulm...

Which Ermor? The dead Ermor doesn't have good army. They're easily banished even by cheap priests of yours. You just need more of them, e.g. around 10 in an army.

Ulm's first strength is Earth magic. It gives you the Boot of Behemonth turning any large size unit into powerful army destroyers. It also give you the various constructs, Clockwork Horrors, Crushers and Lumber Construct (if you get some nature). These constructs are unroutable. They can engage the undeads while your priests happily doing their work. You will also have a large number of Earth gem income, the Fall Bear are useful as a shield versus the undeads.

Your second strength is your master smiths. Even with their low magic, they're very useful in combat. Check on the Evocation path. There are several very powerful combat spells for Earth or Earth+Fire. Remember: you can boost your caster's Earth level by one with "Summon Earth Power". Fire level increase is also possible if you give them a gem, so that they can cast "Pheonix Power" - any mage can cast spell one level higher with a gem.

Search site out by spells. They're mostly in Thaumatury 2. It'll be way faster than using your pretender.

Finally, don't use a rainbow mage in MP unless you know what you're doing. In general, the magic wealth can't compensate the loss of a combat pretender and poor scales. For Ulm, you could at least consider a Naga, who can search and still have 100+ hitpoints. Dominions 4 or 5 is adequate. It's very hard to preach out a human player unless his god and prophet are gone. In that case, you're almost lost anyway.

And of course, nobody like Ashen Empire or Soul Gate. As soon as you meet him on the map, make sure everybody know and gang up on him immediately. It's usually an easy alliance to start.

[ March 12, 2004, 17:22: Message edited by: ywl ]