Epic Heroes Mod MA game(finished)

[Tuidjy]

I see that Pythium is taken. Has someone claimed them, or is it my
old pretender loaded? I entered this game because I wanted to try
Pythium in Dominions III while able to downplay a potential loss :-)

I would not mind trying something else if someone wants Pythium.
I am about to run two more tests with Ulm. If the results turn
as I expect, you'll see me propose alliance to Ulm on turn 1...

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Oh, and to maintain my reputation as a argumentative bastard:

> Because Smiths are generally not good battle mages early on.

When expansion is conducted with the starting troops and the free
thugs, and a starting SC pretender is not needed, Ulm can concentrate
on rapid infrastructure development. With Conj 3 and Const 3,
smiths are able to cast legions of steel, which makes many of
their troops nigh invulnerable to physical damage.

> Also, Ulm is limited to 3 Black Order Soldiers per turn,

Three free thugs which I would value at 10 gems a piece as troops,
and 25 gems a piece as commanders. If that's limited...

> and that means the Black Duke is not out searching for death magic
> sites,

The black duke has no business going out to search for sites.
Once Dark knowledge is researched (because of Summon Earthpower)
Ulm should trade for death gems, and spellsearch for death sites in
the likely provinces. With the expected rapid rate of expension,
they should have provinces where the scales indicate a death site.

> forging items

That comes later.

> or leading in battle.

Risking him in battle is insane. He should stay inside a patrolled
castle, with five thugs as bodyguards. He should be producing thugs
every turn he's not searching, forging or empowering.