Mid Game - Newb in Need

[Nagot Gick Fel]

Originally posted by OG_Gleep:
1) As the game progresses, you gain access to indy mages with different paths. What is the best way to go through and search for magic sites? It is really painful to have to start the search all over again each time you get a new type of mage, especially when your dominion is huge.

To ease MM and save mage time, you can reveal all sites in a province (bar holy/unholy sites) with the low-level scrying spells you get in the Thaumaturgy, Conjuration, Evocation and Blood schools. Most require a level-2 (sometimes 1) mage to cast, and 2-3 gems. Voice of Tiamat reveals all elemental sites underwater, and Acashic Record reveals everything (including holy/unholy) but is costly and requires an astral-3 mage.

2) As I mentioned before I am having a little bit of a problem kick starting an offensive on the border. What is the best strategy for advancing? This is a bit of a vague question...

Well in MP you can try the guess/outguess game, but the AI is so unpredictable... I fear I have no good tip for you. Although you can count on the AI moving his armies every turn - so if you want to force a battle, it's often better to attack where he isn't yet.

3. SuperCombatants... items you just particularly like.

Look for magic resistance, regeneration, elemental resistances, luck, protection, defense, aura items, life drain (also gives you reinvigoration), and reinvigoration if you trample and aren't undead.

4) Battlefiled Orders: I thought the system was fairly simple at first, especially since I am playing Ulm. Place HI w/Shields at the very front, then place spear/flail to each side. Place archers in the back somewhere. Then after seeing my defense force (value 30) win because my crossbows were deeper that got me thinking that there may be more to it then I thought.
Generally, what orders would you give to an army of this composition, and where would their starting positon be relative to back middle or front:

a) Block of Ulm Infantry Shield
b) Block of Ulm Infantry 2hnd Axe
c) Block of Ulm Infantry Spear
d) Block of Xbow
e) Block of Xbow
f) Block of Heavy Calv
g) 2 Ulm Smiths

I avoid Xbows with heavy infantry/cavalry (unless I've an air mage to cast Wind Guide).

Basically if the enemy has more firepower or magepower than you, deploy far ahead and attack, with the shielded HI in the middle (attack closest) and the knights on the flanks (attack rear/archers) with the other HI in between. Sometimes it's best to leave the shields on hold/attack (diverting enemy fire) while the unshielded attack with their better 2-handed weapons.

Otherwise deploy in the rear with hold & attack. As simple as that. Use the smiths to cast Legions of Steel and Strength of Giants on your shock troops. And Weapons of Sharpness if you can.

[PvK]

Originally posted by OG_Gleep:
...
Generally, what orders would you give to an army of this composition, and where would their starting positon be relative to back middle or front:

a) Block of Ulm Infantry Shield
b) Block of Ulm Infantry 2hnd Axe
c) Block of Ulm Infantry Spear
d) Block of Xbow
e) Block of Xbow
f) Block of Heavy Calv
g) 2 Ulm Smiths
Assume there are vanilla Ulm commanders as well.
...

Infantry in middle, slowest types in front, about the middle of your start area.

Xbow and Smiths behind the infantry - cast spells to improve morale and armor, if any, and Blade Winds if available.

HCav on extreme left or right flank (about as far forward as inf, or a little behind them), with orders to Hold and Attack Rear.

Any tough magic-equipped commanders given some same-speed guards on Guard Commander, with commander on Attack Nearest, placed on flank of infantry perhaps opposite the Hcav.

Main problem with this army: NO CANNON FODDER!!! Add cannon fodder, and your losses to your good troops will go way down. Only engage enemies you think you can probably defeat.

When facing the AI with multiple enemy provinces with enemy armies, and you go take one of theirs, have a force move in to protect the province you vacated, on the turn AFTER you vacated it. It should hold and embarrass the counter-attack, while your first attacking force can go romping through weak enemy back territories. Use spies and scouts to see where the large enemy armies are, in advance of your own armies. Or, if there are large armies ready to take the province you vacated, step back to your vacated province with your main army, and fight the main enemy as it moves in to attack you defenses, but now with both your defenses AND your main army.

PvK

[aldin]

Originally posted by OG_Gleep:
a) Block of Ulm Infantry Shield
b) Block of Ulm Infantry 2hnd Axe
c) Block of Ulm Infantry Spear
d) Block of Xbow
e) Block of Xbow
f) Block of Heavy Calv
g) 2 Ulm Smiths
Assume there are vanilla Ulm commanders as well.

Just one more slightly different take:
-Combine the Xbows into a single block centrally on one flank with orders to fire closest.
-Put the Cav on the other flank slightly forward of the XBow position with Hold and Attack Rear.
-Infantry in the center slightly forward of the cav position and cheated a bit towards the XBows and away from the Cav with Hold and Attack Closest.
-One Smith behind the infantry and one behind the Cav, both casting Legions of Steel.
-I like to arm vanilla Ulmish commanders with Xbows and orders to fire.
-This army would greatly benefit from the prophet coming along to cast Sermon of Courage.

~Aldin

[Snoop]

What works for me...

1. Long spear group. Have a large troop of long spear or Pikemen setup on the botom flank and out in front so the enemy will target them first. {attack closest}

2. Cav troop. Have a Cav troop of 10 to 25 men setup at the VERY TOP but just a bit behind the long spear/pike troop so they dont get engaged by the enemy first. If archers in ememy army {hold and attack archers} If no enemy archers {hold and attack rear}

3. Light inf group. Have barbarians or fast moving infantry typs 20+ setup to flank the enemy inf. Set this group UP TOP right next to your Cav group so they dont get engaged just like your Cav. {attack rear}

For the rest of your army have holy casters cast moral boosting spells and mages casting spells that buff your troops. I stay away from mages and archers that hit my own troops. If I use archers I use a different army setup so my archers dont hit my own men.

good luck