AAR-Neophyte with Caelum

[Wyatt Hebert]

Inigo, you are correct in all ways I think except one.

iirc, temple checks (due to anything) are not based on the prophet's priest level. They are based on your max dominion. In that case, the extra turn I get from the prophet is a direct advantage, and the only benefit of the Seraphine is her stealth. I think I'm going to need all the research I can get, so I'm working on that end. Besides, it's done, but I appreciate all the dialogue. As I said, later in the game, my plan is to replace the SG prophet with a Seraphine... who I'll use to Dominion push against Abysia/Machaka types (who like Heat).

That's my understanding of it.

Wyatt

[Inigo Montoya]

Aha! That makes perfect sense! Thanks for clearing that up for me.

[Wyatt Hebert]

Turn 3 Orders:

Recruitment (at capital):
Storm General, Mammoth, 3 Wingless, and 4 Caelian Archers.

I was originally going to get another Seraph, but realized that I'm going to need another commander for the Mammoth force, and I can use this guy to also bring more Air Gems to the Seraph, and have her continue the Wind Guiding.

Move Urgek+Prophet army to the prov NE of the cap (which also has good income). Reported resistance: 20 (Archers/Militia)

Burelk moves to attack the Farmlands to the south.

New Seraph starts to help the research pile, while the Pretender also continues to research. I expect Evo2 in two turns.
I reduce taxes in both new provs to 60% to immediately quell the unrest there. It should work, as both unrests are ~11-12.

Ulm's starting army (plus a potential one turn recruitment) are north of the prophet's army (~20 Infantry of Ulm). Hoping they don't attack the prov I'm leaving. Their new prov has a magic site, which I hope to get from them, but not yet). I have 15G after recruitment, which I use to raise the PD of the prophet's prov to 5.

Luckily, I realized that I couldn't hop the Wingless to my proposed attack stop, so I defaulted back to my original plan, and have the foul spawn mercs and the prophet's army hit the province to the south. Urgek is my shock absorber (if he even saves two of my melee units, he'll have been a break even proposition).

Lastly, I'm moving the scout to Ulm's prov, to locate his capital. It appears from a rogue dominion plot that he has a minimum of Drain 1 and Misfortune 1 (and more likely higher in both). This might cause issues, but I am unconcerned as of right now.

I'm not using the Pretender to attack yet due to lack of a proper spell to cast. I may move her out to start attacking once I get Evo2 (due to getting both Lightning bolt and shock bLast). I also need to make her a Ring of Frost, to make her immune to my cold dominion.

Can't think of any other explanations needed. Questions welcome as always.

[Edit: Obscuro the Hidden Master was up for sale, but I don't think I need research badly enough to pay for him, and I certainly don't need an Air 2 mage, imo. ]
Wyatt

[ March 27, 2004, 15:50: Message edited by: Wyatt Hebert ]

Wyatt,

Are you going to name your AAR anything particularly menacing and frightening? For when it's added to the AAR thread?

[Wyatt Hebert]

Um, no.

This isn't supposed to be role-playing at all, really. Just me (the neophyte) playing Caelum basically with the entire forum second-guessing and laughing over my shoulder .

Still, I named it how I wanted it to show up.

If I'm right, I've already taught one thing to Inigo, which means the endeavor is paying off already. (If I'm not, oh, well... plenty more chances for the future). [Edit: My apologies for being rude, Inigo. You're quite welcome! ]

Your thoughts on my progress, Zen? (If you have the time)

Wyatt

[ March 27, 2004, 15:45: Message edited by: Wyatt Hebert ]

[Scott Hebert]

Yo bro! (For those in the know, Wyatt is my twin brother who I suc^H^H^H got interested in this game.)

Nice AAR so far. I agree with most if not all of your decisions, except one. No fair taking Caelum! Guess I'll have to do one on Machaka...

One other thing: Obscuro IME always comes with Air gems, and you _can_ take them off of him. You could either have hired him into your main army to replenish your supply for Wind Guide or hired him in the capital to put them in the lab and start him researching. With Ulm on your doorstep, I really would have gotten him. An extra 7 research a turn is not too shabby.

Bayushi Tasogare

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by Wyatt Hebert:
In that case, the extra turn I get from the prophet is a direct advantage, and the only benefit of the Seraphine is her stealth.

Just a point for people to add to their hint-n-tips (dont we all have a notepad file we are adding to?). That flying stealthy +3 priest seraphine can be a useful tactic as a prophet. Its a great way to quickly find and hold the dominion of certain nations. Since you specifically mentioned leaving Ermor out of this game I didnt bring the point up earlier.