ULM AAR, "An Happy Planet"

[Norfleet]

The higher the independent setting, obviously, the tougher it gets. The AI is not known for his great aptitude towards developing a strong SC, so he only really does well with pretender combat when he picks a mean basic chassis, such as the Bulls. Just as often, however, by the time you actually MEET the AI's pretender, particularly if he's an SC pretender, you find him a slobbering wreck with 8 or 9 afflictions that render him completely useless. It's not uncommon to see him in the Hall of Fame with a half-dozen crosses after his name for all the times he's gotten KIA, too. This is especially true on Independent 9. All too often, my scouts will encounter his forces ramming head on into an independent province and getting slaughtered. Then doing it again. An interesting luck of the draw effect can be observed if you watch the early-game score graphs, and just try and analyze what the ups and downs mean, and figure out who's getting their butts bLasted...and who's pretender makes it into the hall of fame on the same turn he picks up a death cross.

[IKerensky]

Back to the desk...

Turn 7-8


After his prophet Witterich failed to find any interesting site in Aquitania, Hephaistos decided that his army cant be able to take another punishement. Losing 3 guys isn't that bad, except when that make more than 10% of your forces. So he tried to recruit some foreign troups. He first choose some Hobburg fighters but they proved irreliable they get destroyed before even finishing their previous contract so he order a force of heavy infantry instead: Fernando Footmens.

They arrived in a few weeks , with the knights reinforcement from capitole. The total army is set to attack Languedoc next turn and finish uniting France under Hephaistos Standard. The worriest thing is that now, with the mercenary reinforcement Ulm army have tripled in number !!! Just hope they dont get too greedy...

Spies report a far worst news, Mediteranean sea is full of hostile atlantes ! This is just the second worst possible outcome, at least it isn't R'Lyeh. But the idea of peacefull development is postpone.

Turn 9


"Thoses guys are worth every single gold piece". Mercenary behaves perfectly and took the worst of the onslaught. Languedoc is ours wich is at Last a good new. " Now the trouble will be to have them paid..." Thoses mercenaries were far too strong and not enough of them die in this battle, and a storm just killed one fourth of the population in Aquitania.

The Last gold in treasure have been spent to raise militia in Languedoc in order to somewhat deter an early Atlantean assault. Spies have reported that another pretender is dug in Algerian mountains, that make 2 close foes, 4 if you account for the ones in Groenland and Ural. Spy will go through Italia to recon the opposition.

"How will we pay for thoses mercenaries ? " thought Hephaistos "Well, I wonder how they will behave against knights and longbows"...Time to attack Alemania.


note: Well, just misfortune:1, yeah right guess I forgot there is no scale for my own luck... TINC: 323 R:162. Mage left in the rear to search for magic site, I decidely neef more gems income.

I just notice that the VP in each capitole make it easier to notice opposition start province.

Turn 10


There is major progress in magic ( CONJURATION AND EVOCATION TO 2 ).

Seems the remnant of the barbarian horde that have attacked Normandy have regrouped, and they now try to seize Languedoc ! To add injury to insult they surprise Arnulf the Master Smith while he was looking for ore gisement, his weak magic power doesnt seems enough to stop their charge. But there is a god, or at least a pretender god watching over him and the 10 newly built arbalest of the local militia manage to rout the barbarian in two volley before they reach him. Now the question is where will they strike now ?

In Alemania the local nobles confront us with 10 knights, 15 longbows and numerous militia. Fernando's men bravely took the fight and backed up by Witterich blessing are slain on their position while Ulmish axeholders start to chop down the now exhausted knights. The two black knighyt fought bravely and manage to survive this time, chopping score of ennemy infantry and archer.

Anyway the efficiency of this new weapon is duly noticed, and especially the fact that the black steel seems impervious to it. Hephaistos quickly give order to have a castle build here, regardless for the sacrifices (It will greatly impede my home province ressources, and I wont be able to raise more troups this turn. )

Atlantis strongly build up along our coast.


Note: TInc: 397, Upkeep: 112, R:175
The worst thing is I only manage to get up to 433 gold for my 450 gold castle this turn ... and that is AFTER I alchemized my gems hoard


Turn 11-13


Hephaistos is now pondering his next move. While he can wait for the completion of his castle of Alemania he decidely have hard time planning where to go next. He lack troups, badly. Raising them is slow, too slow. He lack gems too.

What he have plentyfully is smiths, but all they can do is roam the libraries while waiting for something to forge.

Unrest grow through the kingdom but as a lightening event a handfull of nature gems are found. All the province militia are raised to stronger level, and the pikemen and knights regiments are now complete.

The spies report 2 important information:
- Algerian nation is identified as Mictlan, wich is a half-blessing.
- Tunisia is reported to have a great ore gisement AND a shambler mound.

Research is progressing nicely and Earthpower enhancement is now avaliable to the smiths, Wind Blade is just some weeks away.

But, where to attack now ?

Secure Europe and build a strong army, while delaying frontal confrontation with Atlantis and Mictlan sound like a decent and safe option. But would'nt it be better to strike now they are weaks ?

Expanding though Italy to reach Mictlan, his ore and his weak starting force before they start pactising with Devil could be safer. But how to guard all this coastline against Atlantis ?

Taking Spain and his Ichyatlid army, building a castle there and going against Atlantis sound a bit difficult, especially as we lack any decent water commander...

Now is the time of the biggest decision.


End notes

Final income : 373, upkeep : 140, R: 176

I now my expansion rate is subpar but I just like to play it slowly, that suit me more. I dont like playing TBS like RTS. A quick look at stats show I am far from being the Last except that I lack in army ( big time ) and in research quite surprisingly in fact. I am currently CONS 1, CONJ 3, EVOC 3 with 50 RP a turn. I wont go more cons until I found some gems.

I got a lot of bad luck but nothing really too bad....

Now I have also to plan my armies as I like to have them designed and standardised ( easier to manage ). It will be the first time I would be able to rely on efficient longbow production with Ulm, will look what it change.

As always, comment welcomes, especially about what I should do next.

[ February 13, 2004, 14:57: Message edited by: IKerensky ]

[condors]

i may be completely wrong about this but i was unable the impression stoneskin/ironshield/invulnerabilty took the place of armor leaving making blacksteel not an issue for me.

spell research i normally try to get summon earth power invunerabilty fireshield and bladewind. These spells are critical for your smiths.

For bladewind to be more effective you need to get an aiming iteam which in turn i believe you need forge of the ancients ritual spell cast.

Also think about conjuration 7 for the 2 elemental kings you can get that summon upkeep free allies for you.

There is also a couple ritual spells that are worth reasearching 1 gives a bunch of earth gems every turn and the other increases your production espcially helpfull for cranking out guardians(they seem to not pass out as easily) and a smith at your capital

of course the iron dragon spell is always nice to get

please don't take everything i say as law or anything i am still new to the game and just offerening my 2 cents discard whatever you disagree with

[IKerensky]

Originally posted by condors:
i may be completely wrong about this but i was unable the impression stoneskin/ironshield/invulnerabilty took the place of armor leaving making blacksteel not an issue for me.

please don't take everything i say as law or anything i am still new to the game and just offerening my 2 cents discard whatever you disagree with

Well, when you have a research 4 Cyclops and indies 9 having him spent his first turns crafting some armor that you will latter on pass to another heros seems a decent idea

I will try to get thoses spells but they were out of my reach at start thus I got the "easiest" way. Also I like to play it roleplaying thus having Hephaistos crafting himself an armor sounds good.

Also if the effect is the same then perhaps I will favor having armor and 3 more scriptable spell slot... will need testing. Checking manual tell me that invulnerability make me Protection 30 and outrun the other two spells, so crafting armor and having 1 less spell to cast sound a better plan after all. But that's for my pretender, others mages will probably ressort to spells.

With lower indies I probably wont have cared as much about gear, but you know when you only got one eye you tend to became overcautious about it.

For the eye of aiming I will have to wait until I got a Air1 indi mage, wich I will need to chain research item too... so I guess I will just ressort to closing distance. Anyway I got the feeling that Wind Blade was sort of area spell thus good aiming wasn't as much important. As I plan to use my mages by 3 to 4 I guess I will always manage to hit someone.

The high level spells are thoses I want to go after but I lack the gems, I think after I got WindBlade I will try to go for the ritual first. Remember his name ?

Anyway thanks for the advices.

[ February 13, 2004, 16:16: Message edited by: IKerensky ]

[Graeme Dice]

Originally posted by IKerensky:
6 and even 7 is not enough, Man's White bull set with some of his troup by example will still go to hunt at turn 1.

The white bull is an early game combat monster, that's what he's good for. But you'd be taking quite a risk if you put him up against a 50+ barbarians province, a knights province, a heavy cavalry with lances, a dark vines, a woodsman, lizard warriors or even one with a good number of crossbows.

[IKerensky]

Originally posted by Graeme Dice:

quote:

---

Originally posted by IKerensky:
6 and even 7 is not enough, Man's White bull set with some of his troup by example will still go to hunt at turn 1.

The white bull is an early game combat monster, that's what he's good for. But you'd be taking quite a risk if you put him up against a 50+ barbarians province, a knights province, a heavy cavalry with lances, a dark vines, a woodsman, lizard warriors or even one with a good number of crossbows.

---

Well that sure, I will probably have to wait for turn 4 to 5 to take on thoses ones. But I am a gambler and always use it from turn 1 on trying to guess right about what I must expect.

But you can always add him some troups if he really need some backup while waiting for his personnal regeneration spell. By turn 2 he will be accompagnied by 20 longbows and some bait for indies xbow to lost their sight on.