[fahdiz]

Originally posted by Amerasu:
For your Virtue build:

- How do you balance your scales? Obviously, I have the 1 Magic and 1 Luck to get Last of the Tuatha, but I'm curious how you set the rest of your scales. Do you take some Turmoil to pick up some Productivity? Do you adjust any of the other scales?

- Do pick up any other magic path?

- How high do you take your Dominion strength?

- What kind of fortress do you like?

Thanks!

If I'm recalling correctly (I have problems with that sometimes ) what Yossar has suggested below is almost exactly what I do - Order 1, Dominion 6, and a Castle, or Order 1, Productivity 1, and a 40-pointer. I find myself drawn to the Mausoleum because the Last of the Tuatha theme doesn't run into supply problems as often as other nations (similarly to Pangaea, because Nature mages get supply bonuses) - but if I feel like I'm going to get sieged frequently I'll take the Castle instead, and forego the extra Productivity.

I agree with Yossar - Turmoil makes things difficult economically, so I tend to avoid it like the plague unless I'm playing a nation where income is not an issue (Ashen Empire or Soul Gate Ermor, for instance). And if I have to take Turmoil (such as with both of the T'ien Ch'i additional themes) I always take the same amount of Luck so that I can at least turn those extra events into better ones.

And I end up never being able to take another path of magic, because new paths for the Virtue cost 80 points. Ouch.

I don't know with what indie strength you usually play, but Last of the Tuatha with an Air 9 blessing can easily take out most indie-6 provinces in the very early game, often completely without casualties. Try this: using a Sidhe Champion or Sidhe Lord (both of whom can command 50 units to start), give him three squads - 10 Daoine Sidhe, 20 Longbowmen, and 20 Longbowmen. Take the two squads of Longbowmen and put one on each side of and slightly behind the group of Daoine Sidhe. Set both squads of Longbowmen to "Fire Closest" or "Fire Archers" (Fire Archers is nice because there's always the chance you'll hit the enemy commanders too), and set the squad of Daoine Sidhe to "Hold and Attack Closest".

While the Daoine Sidhe are holding, they'll get blessed by the Champion/Lord, and pick up that Air Shield. Meanwhile, your Longbowmen will rain death on the indies as they come at you. Then if the indies haven't routed yet, they'll run right into those tough Daoine Sidhe, who will protect your archers just long enough to get the indies to rout.

[ March 27, 2004, 23:29: Message edited by: fahdiz ]