Guide: MA Mictlan - An Introduction

[chrispedersen]

Originally Posted by chrispedersen

Thanks!

Yeah, I actually *really* liked your comment about the nahuli flying turkey. And some of those tactics you mentioned are ones I really should incorporate in my game play.

The problem I have with a nahuli is that I never really know what to do with a S/N mage in middle age. To me, they always scream: Horror mark/ curse.. which is a tactic better suited early and late. Now they are still fodder for communions - but so are what quarter/half? (B/S randoms?) of mictlan priests. And jags don't *need* mage support to slaughter elephants.

14 jags and two priests 470 gp - will easily handle 4 elephants and random commander.

Mictlan priests - early middle AND late are my top 3 favorite units in the game.

Great Blood hunter - or great magic diversity.
Great Researcher
GREAT Bless Platform
Great Lab builder (ME)/Great Temple Builder
Great Communion Fodder

And on top of that - they can blood hunt, and blood sacrifice as well (EA, LA).

And they have one other feature I really, really like: Low opportunity cost. With a pretender or high cost mage unit - you're always debating alternatives. The cost of a mictlan priest is so small, you can afford him to enter that tiny strange hut - you can afford him to site search - sure theres not much chance - but there's also not much risk - and if it can save you from having a higher cost mage do it - its probably worth it.

Continueing strategy:

If you are playing CBM, depending on version owl quills might be Con-2. Either way, consider Evocation-2 as your next research goal. Fully 1/4 of your mictlan priests will be able to cast arcane probing.

Research Goals: Con-6 for skullcaps, and water boosters.which will let your couatls gate troops around. And if you don't want to wait for your pretender to wake con-6 will get you water boosters to summon tlaloques.

Thau 2, for site searching. Thau -5 for gateway.

Other than that: Conjuration.


Side note: in cbm you can take the lawgiver, and get a triple bless (air, astral water). This is an interesting route to go MP. It works fairly well and will not be expected.

Basic idea: Post up well back. Use your sacreds (with twist, high defense, and easy to mass) as a screen.

First, for archery (windguide .. enchanted arrows...arrowfend).
Later, as they are 75% shock resistant for shockwave/lightning spam.


Now one other interesting hting you can do... Ya get a reasonable number of these eagle warriors.. ya guard a skypriest or 4.

SkyPriest 1 hold hold hold Divine Blessing whatever
Skypriest 2-x hold hold hold attack Rear shockwave.

Interesting fact or 3: the commanders seem to do a better job than regular troops attacking rear. The eagles can't fly till the divine bless goes off, so you're not burning fatige flying and guarding.

And of course if you'd rather cast lightning bolts or buffs rather than holding - well I guess we'll let ya.

And you can do a 9S9A4W bless and only sleep. Which means a rapid return to blood, via tlaloques.

Sorta like a warm weather caelum.

Now, I don't like it as much as regular jag warriors. Eagles die in droves. And you have to completely change how you think ... instead of avoiding archers (like regular F/w jags - plow right in). On the other hand - you can't go toe to toe (with anything) its your sky priests that are provinding the firepower.

Liberal use of mictlans very cheap 7/2 slinger recommended. So they can't hit the broad side of a barn... they can't hit you either.