Brainstorming : LA Man, Vs LA Utgard

JulienLeo · #1 February 8th, 2007, 07:35 AM

Hello guys,

I've been playing a multiplayer game for a little while (started it with another friend), and now well ... err ... hmmm, let's say I am a bit in trouble *grins*. In fact, to be blunt, I could really use your tips and advices ... Yeap, yeah ... you guys, the tactical genius. Err ... Please *chuckles*.

Well, as I was playing LA Man for the first time, I didn't exactly chose the right kind pretender, I think. I got an Imprisoned ArchDruid (who hasn't broken free yet) (trn 32) and his stats are probably not what they should be : something in the line of 5 nature, 4 Fire, and some earth and astral (if memory serves me).

I got no mage with any skills in death or nature magic yet and at the moment i can't take advantage of my national summons. *shrugs*

It wouldn't be too bad, I mean my economy is great, (growth 1, Order and Productivity 3, Drain 3) and my province pretty well defended, however last turn, Utgard finally found one of my province. I was feeling pretty self confident (tsk tsk, who just said OVERCONFIDENT), and thought that my longbowmen would really crushed his pathetic giants.

Needless to say, it didn't exactly happened like that *chuckles* ... as I found myself facing blessed giants, who were really, really on steroids.
You know, the regenerating, berserk, attack twice a round kind of steroids.

Well, I got trampled (and that's an understatement) *grins*, so now I thought that I would take a bit of time to think about my strategy, and see if I could get some good ideas from you guys.

Sandman · #2 February 8th, 2007, 08:03 AM

You're in for a tough fight. Utgard is probably better than L Man is almost every way.

L Man has spies; try to get two or three into Utgard's capital and order them to instill unrest.

Arralen · #3 February 8th, 2007, 08:29 AM

Air + Astral magic is quite useful against big, high-HP targets in (relatively) low numbers ...

JulienLeo · #4 February 8th, 2007, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Sandman said:
You're in for a tough fight. Utgard is probably better than L Man is almost every way.

L Man has spies; try to get two or three into Utgard's capital and order them to instill unrest.

Hmmm, I'm afraid that his provinces are pretty well defended, I'm not sure that I will be able to sneak a few spy without them being caught on the way by the militias. The magister isn't exactly the sneakiest unit I've ever seen, it only got a lame (Stealth +0).

Regarding the air+astral magic advice, any spells specifically in mind ? I'd need something that would really pack a punch.

Soulslay, Mindburn, Paralyse ? For astral maybe ?

What about air ? Mass spam with fantasmal warrior or ghostwolves maybe ... or rather Thunderstrike and Lighting bolt ?

Most of my mages are doing research but I can move them to the battlefield I guess.

Esben Mose Hansen · #5 February 8th, 2007, 09:20 AM

The light of northern star (comes as a banner, convieniently) and lots of soul slays and/or paralysis usually works very well against big targets. I think. I'm not playing this game that much, too many annoyances.

thejeff · #6 February 8th, 2007, 09:25 AM

Some of your judges will get Fire and Death, they can make Flaming Skulls, and then with Phoenix Power, cast Flaming Arrows. That, along with Wind Guide, should help the longbows hurt even blessed giants.

Thunderstrike, lightning bolt and orb lightning are all good.

Defenders are a good solid unit, with crossbows, so they'll benefit from the Wind guide/Flaming Arrows and be tough enough to at least slow the giants briefly.

What does Chelms have for national summons? I don't remember anything spectacular.

It does seem strange to have half your starting gem income in Nature and no Nature mages to use it. Really limits pretender design.

thejeff · #7 February 8th, 2007, 09:40 AM

Careful with Light of the Northern Star, though. It boosts all astral mages and Utgard has astral as well.

JulienLeo · #8 February 8th, 2007, 10:22 AM

Quote:

thejeff said:
What does Chelms have for national summons? I don't remember anything spectacular.

It does seem strange to have half your starting gem income in Nature and no Nature mages to use it. Really limits pretender design.

Taken from another post, credit to Kalin :

Summon Black Dogs should summon 20 black dogs for 10 death gems.
(Black Dogs: 14HP, size 2, 4 Prot, 13 Mor/MR, 2 Enc, 12 str, 12 atk, 10 def, 5 prec, 3/24 Mv, +20 Stealthy, Animal, 100 Darkvision, Bite attack)

Summon Cu Sith should summon 7 Cu Sith for 10 nature gems.
(Cu Sith: 26HP, size 3, 7 Prot, 14 Mor/MR, 2 Enc, 15 str, 13 atk, 12 def, 5 prec, 3/28 Mv, Sacred, +0 Stealthy, Forest Survival, Animal, Bite attack)

Summon Baghests should summon 9 Baghest for 13 death gems.
(Baghests: 28HP, size 3, 6 Prot, 14 Mor, 15 MR, 2 Enc, 16 str, 13 atk, 10 def, 5 pref, 3/26 Mv, Sacred, +20 Stealthy, Animal, 100 Darkvision, Venomous Bite attack)

The summons aren't too bad ... however I can't take advantage of them due to my pretender built ...

I should have bought at least D2 for my pretender ... who is still imprisoned atm *grins*

Flaming arrow is a good option, I agree that it can be absolutely devasting on giants, however I can see that it will take a long bit of time to get into shape and to have something worthy.

Regarding light of the northstar and soulslay spam, that seems like a good idea (not sure if I have researched it yet however, gotta check and have a look at the book to see what level it is). From the battle I have seen, I wouldn't be too much worried about the astral mage from Urtgar, as the basic tactics seems to be a Priest lvl 2, spam blessing Woodman ... a bit cheap and crude for a tactics, you will have to agree however it is definitely effective *laughs*.
So if I can stop his army, I think that will give me some time to work on a tactic and harass him a bit with an important sneaking army.

Oh ... what would you think of a phantasm spam with the air mage ? Any chance that it could work against the big giants, maybe buying some time for the archer to take them down, and of course, I wouldn't have to worry too much about friendly fire.

thejeff · #9 February 8th, 2007, 10:43 AM

Right, those are new in 3.06. I only really looked at Chelms in 3.04.

I haven't tried the phantasm spam idea. My guess is you'd need a ton of mages to make it effective. You don't have a reliable source of cheap A1 mages and there has to be something more effective for the Magisters Arcane to do. But like I said, I haven't tried it and I've often been surprised by what does work.

I'd be more tempted to recruit cheap, but real, troops to slow them and hope mass longbows and crossbows can drop them.

Commanders with bows on fire rear to target his commanders?

Saxon · #10 February 8th, 2007, 11:04 AM

Give the spies a chance! A little unrest can cost a fair bit of money and if he does not start patrolling his capital, you might be able to shut down his recruitment of his very good troops. On the way to the capital, install unrest in a few rich provinces. Chances are he will not even notice if he has auto taxation on, but you will cut his income. It is a long term strategy, but it can tip the balance. Since he just found you on turn 34, you both have decent size empires and the battle is likely to last some time. Make long term plans and hit him everywhere you can.

Do not just think tactically battle to battle, also think strategically.