What is the easiest nation to play?

[Akela]

Hi,

For a new player just starting, is there any consensus on which nation might be easiest to play? I'm thinking primarily EA or MA.

Thanks,

Akela

[chrispedersen]

Ashdod (hinnom).

You're big. You squish things.

[Incabulos]

Hmm doesn't hinnom/ashdod/gath one of those ages have the big folks causing unrest? I don't think that is too easy for a new player to manage.

LA ermor is easy to get going but is banned from many MP games and also when it is in an MP game it gets ganged up on EARLY.

But the AI has a terrible time against a human playing LA Ermor so it makes single player pretty easy.

[JimMorrison]

Also Niefelheim with a traditional high bless strategy, is pretty simple to play (at least against lower difficulty AI). Really any giants will do you well, but those 3 are the simplest. Just make sure you put Nature4 on your pretender at the very least, but you'll want to experiment with your bless by placing a lot of magic on your pretender.

Also, bear in mind that getting too used to giants will make normal troops seem awkward when you try other nations, and you'll be shocked by their attrition rate compared to giants.

[Gregstrom]

I'd say EA Ermor or MA Pythium. No Blood, no need to worry about the niceties of using giants, nice easy-to-use national troops and strong PD. Oh, and decent magic to boot.

[Ironhawk]

Originally Posted by Gregstrom

I'd say EA Ermor or MA Pythium. No Blood, no need to worry about the niceties of using giants, nice easy-to-use national troops and strong PD. Oh, and decent magic to boot.

This is the right general advice but the wrong nation. Pythium is a communion-dependent nation - by its very nature complex. You're better off playing like Man or Pan who are straightforward in both magic and military.

Edit: swapped out Aby for Pan cause aby has blood. Basically just trying to point out nations with fairly restricted magic paths and fairly obvious troops.

[Raiel]

Sorry, OP, but the answer to your question is "No, there is not a consensus."

Find a nation that has a concept you find interesting and play SP against an AI (Easy to start). Read strategy guides and your manual. Play around with different unit, commander and mage combinations.

This game has a learning curve, but I and many others have found it to be a very rewarding investment. Good Luck!

[Gregstrom]

Originally Posted by Ironhawk

This is the right general advice but the wrong nation. Pythium is a communion-dependent nation - by its very nature complex. You're better off playing like Man or Pan who are straightforward in both magic and military.

Edit: swapped out Aby for Pan cause aby has blood. Basically just trying to point out nations with fairly restricted magic paths and fairly obvious troops.

Just for the sake of being awkward:

Pan also have Blood in EA and MA. Pan's Blood is a bit like Pyth's communions though - they aren't obligatory but they're something you can use to wring the last drops of power from the nation. And of course in the long term you'll want to learn a little about both.

[Edi]

Depends on your playstyle. Some nations suit some players better than others, for example, Ulm and Abysia are both nations that I like to play and fit me well.

In EA Vanheim and Helheim are good nations that have excellent line troops even without the sacreds, so you can try those. Ermor as well.

In MA, Ulm, Arco, Pythium, Ermor (but the communions and undead reanimation give it a bit of a spin, so a bit advanced to get the synergies going). Man is also a good choice, as is Marignon.

Try things, play around with them. DON'T start with EA or LA Mictlan or with the other tricksy nations unless they are really your style.

[Tolkien]

What about MA Acro?

Just spam mind burn, paralyze, and soul slay and throw massive amounts of elephants with hypas to boost morale to trample them to bits?