[Anglachel]

Originally posted by Taqwus:
...and since ritual-caused battles are resolved earlier, one could otherwise even launch a Call of the Winds, Call of the Wild, Arouse Hunger et al on the -same- turn as an intended major battle and thus deplete the other side's gems. That would be a vicious bit of cheese.

Originally posted by Graeme Dice:

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Originally posted by Anglachel:
Yeah I can see the benefit in that but given that I understand that, it would be nice if the computer would not over-ride scripted commands.

I much prefer it when the AI makes the decision as it does now. I've had battles where I've scripted my mages to cast large numbers of gem using spells, when all they ended up facing was a few militia. They would have wasted a couple dozen gems if the AI hadn't made that choice.

In Dominions I, before this behaviour was added, it was possible to have a single scout attack an army with a dozen mages, and have them waste all their gems on scripted spells.

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Hrrrm, interesting tidbits there. Thanks for the information. Didn't know that was a common strategy back in Dominions I. That helps me out a lot but I think it would be cool to know what parameters the computer thinks would allow for expenditure of gems. Do any of you guys know? It would be cool to have an option in the cue that allows for you to set parameters on when you can over-ride the computers judgement like (Cast Hellfire if force>30 units) or something like that and you can change the parameters with an Up/Down arrow key.

The scout thing seems like a viable tactic for probing enemy forces since scouts don't really give you information on a neighboring provice that you don't already know. It's just more accurate is all. Having a scout attack and deplete gems doesn't seem that bad because it also helps you probe not only troop size and composition but also spellsets likely used plus, since normal combat all takes place at the same time it wouldn't deplete your gems in conjunction right before a major assualt like the timing of rituals such as Call of the Winds would. Yeah I know it would suck if someone did the scout thing to you while you were deep in enemy territory and don't have some gem supply line set up but it would seem realistic because of home territorial advantage and the need for supply lines to be kept up(i.e. gem ferrying). The timing of ritual summons in distant provinces though would make probing gem depletion strategies overpowered though and I can see why IW put a reign on gem usage by the computer. I guess it just rankles to have my decisions made for me in a tactical situation.

Oh well, thanks for all the info and especially to Taqwus. I didn't know the timing of those rituals was before actual combat. That opens up whole new strategic fronts for me now that I can safely cast send horror ahead of my army to soften them up. Thanks Graeme and Taqwus!

[ April 06, 2004, 18:11: Message edited by: Anglachel ]