Power of Themes

[deccan]

Alneyan said:
Last of the Tuatha also has more expensive mages; their basic research costs 140 gold, while Man only needs 80 gold to get the same research level, and Nature 1/Air 1 does not seem so great.

I second that and Alneyan knows well how badly I am being mauled playing LoT in his game. LoT's best mages are damn expensive, but you NEED to buy the 390gp Tuatha for 2N.

The_Tauren13 said:
I like desert tombs a lot. Maybe the hefty price tag makes it a little weaker, but it's just so much fun!!!

I second this too. It's always fun to prophetize your starting priest and start hoarding Tomb Wyrms from turn 2. I'm playing them with a Fire 9 blessing in Slugfest 2 and they're great. Best of all, their lifeless, so they can swarm lifedraining SCs, but they are not mindless, so you can use them to defend in sieges and you are not vulnerable to their commanders being targeted by mind attacking spells.

Miasma gives up the Sauromancer for the Marshmaster. While I can see how the Marshmaster can be cool, the Sauromancer is incredibly useful too. Can cast terror, spam skeletons, cast banefire, and occasionally you can get a 4D one to make into a "Darkness" caster.

[Steerpike]

I am playing Niefel Giants in Slugfest 2 with a water 9 blessing and I must say I like them much more than vanilla Jotun. Sure your good holy troops are capital only but they are so expensive I think it works out OK.
The research is hard until you find a library.
Having said that I am having a little difficulty with Abyssia at the moment, so what do I know.

I was wondering if some one could rank the themes in order of what they thin is the best theme.

[Steerpike]

I have been thinking about this question for a while.
there is oodles of Forum space dedicated to which is the best nation to play and it seems it depends on so many variables(pretender, Dominion, Scales, national troops, Summons, damage spells) that it is virtually impossible to give a definitive 'BEST' answer. I have crushed Caelum in Multi player and been crushed by said nation. (I have only played 3 multi games, so what do I know).
THAT is the beauty of this game.
How does Fatigue affect (so called) SC's, I found out in my Last game playing Niefel Giants( answer: A LOT).
Bet you never asked yourself that question.
How does fighting in Cold provinces affect Fatigue(answer:A LOT)
This game is complex, really, really complex and the only way to discover just how complex is to play multi.
Hell I have heard that the QT3 boys have completely different tactics to the forum boys. I would love to see a grudge match.
Why am I talking at length on a seemingly dead thread?
I think its because I have been a lurker for so long (long enough to pine for Norfleets return, Or wonder why Arryn hasnt posted in ages, or SOB that Mosehansen got sick of the game and took away his awesome website for hosting games)
In summing up, YOU CAN NOT ASK FOR A BEST OF LIST OF NATIONS!
They are all good, except for Tien Chi which seems to be the ugly duckling played by people who love punishment.
Just play against people and you will learn soooo much it will open your eyes forever.
I know it did for me.

[Alneyan]

Even T'ien Ch'i, seen as the weakest nation (usually), can win games; Zen did, with Spring & Autumn. T'ien Ch'i has some strengths, the basic troops covered, a very cheap non capitol-only researcher, and makes for a nice ally to have around. A matter of styles I guess. Ulm is the one nation I would call too weak myself, even in the early game when their troops are supposed to be superior.

I was wondering the same about Arryn actually. My guess is that she grew tired with the forum, but I am not her spokesperson, so.

[ckfnpku]

I don't get why T'ien Ch'i is considered hopeless either. Seems like rigid thinking to me.