Questions about PD and other

Crafty · #1 June 9th, 2007, 07:16 AM

Thanks.

One more question, when scouting, do they report correctly the PD troops as well? How does PD work with fortresses? Do they work like normal troops? Do PD troops gain experience?

I just started playing with PD in SP using Arcoscephale (with very very good scales + imprisoned so I had tons of cash)
against T'ien Ch'i. It's pretty funny, the AI pretty much wipes out itself trying to invade provinces with PDs 30+. Turn after turn they try and try and they get killed over and over again.

At first I didn't understand what was happening, it's like he had a 100+ army in one province, suddently he had only 10+ the next, and I was like huh??...

Once I figured out I built walls of high PD and the AI promptly wastes his troops trying to break through... Meanwhile I conquer the rest of his provinces.. What an idiot!

I figure the PD troops have killed more of the enemy than my own controlled troops lol.

Towards the end I hemmed in his capital with a PD 100 provinces, and he couldn't break through the poor sap... Fun to watch his God get killed over and over again just by PD.

I've noticed the AI seems to have this weakness of trying to bang his head against a brick wall (heavily defended province with super troops) over and over again, but using PD to exploit this is really evil, cos the troops regenerate and it doesn't tie up your elite attacking troops...

PD is really great man!!!

Jazzepi · #2 June 9th, 2007, 07:28 AM

1. One more question, when scouting, do they report correctly the PD troops as well?

Sort of, I don't have a ton of experience with this, but I can tell that there are difference description of the "organization of the local defense" that change based on the amount of PD. In multiplayer people usually only get 1, 10, or 20 because of the double commander at 20, the ability to detect scouts at 10, and the ability to keep a scout from taking a province by himself at 1. Though there are rare times when you put up 30-40 points of PD into a province when you are trying to lay a trap for someone, or if you have a particular choke point.

How does PD work with fortresses?

It works outside the fortress. PD in a province with a fortress will only defend the province itself. If you have units inside of a fortress set to "defend" they will NOT assist the PD in defending the province. Instead they will hide inside of the castle while the province is conquered. If you want them to be able to defend with the PD, outside of the castle, they must be set to "patrol".

Do they work like normal troops?

PD troops gain no XP, come back 100% healed/restocked if the battle is won. They also cost no upkeep. The manual lists what troops you get for how many points of PD in every nation listing. Some nations have far better PD then others.

Do PD troops gain experience?

AFAIK, nope.

PD is a useful tool, but it is a million times less effective against a player then it is against the computer.

Jazzepi

Sombre · #3 June 9th, 2007, 07:32 AM

Yeah the AI is seriously retarded vs PD - when I play against the computer I limit myself to no more than 25 or so PD. 60 PD may be technically inefficient and a bad move, but VS the AI the fact that it comes back every time it wins (which is every time, since the AI has no concept of building up forces before invading) and that it costs no upkeep+supplies,... well against the AI high levels of PD do make sense. Not 100 though, that's just nuts.

Archonsod · #4 June 9th, 2007, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Sombre said:
60 PD may be technically inefficient and a bad move

It's not always a bad idea though, PD has it's own advantages that a normal army doesn't. For example, it's unaffected by sites which spread disease, thus if you're unlucky enough to find Inkwell End or similar in a key chokepoint then it's cheaper in the longterm to invest in high PD rather than constantly be replacing defenders, especially if you're a resource heavy nation.

thejeff · #5 June 11th, 2007, 09:34 AM

I never seem to get this invincible wall of PD vs the AI effect.

Maybe because I tend to play against Impossible level AIs? At least the initial attacks tend to have 4-500 troops. Even 100 PD isn't going to stop that for most nations.

Sure, once I've slaughtered most of those troops with mages and elite units, high PD would probably stop the AI's attacks, but by that time I'm advancing and most of that PD winds up in the backfield, where it's useless.

sum1lost · #6 June 11th, 2007, 06:03 PM

PD seems to be useful as a wall to protect artillery. Playing as ulm allowed me to hammer with arbalests and earth mages while the PD held them in place.

HoneyBadger · #7 June 11th, 2007, 08:12 PM

The best thing about PD is the morale consideration. More troops = better morale, which can literally be a life-saver.

Archonsod · #8 June 11th, 2007, 08:56 PM

Quote:

thejeff said:
Maybe because I tend to play against Impossible level AIs? At least the initial attacks tend to have 4-500 troops. Even 100 PD isn't going to stop that for most nations.

Depends on the nation and their PD troops, and also whether the AI has decided to be sensible or not. A good PD force (Abyssia for example) can be lethal, especially if backed up with a mage or two. Of course, like I said it depends on the AI, It tends to put forward useless armies as often as it does credible ones.
To be honest, I'd be surprised if the AI managed to beat the high PD when it's fielding that many troops. Generally it's had them starving for a couple of turns first, and what takes the field looks more like your local hospital's casualty ward than it does an army.

Gandalf Parker · #9 June 11th, 2007, 09:49 PM

I like to use alot of PD in chokepoints. Or if its far away from my castle and I need a quick fix to stop a sudden attack.

I usually try to pad out my PD with something helpful. Adding a captain or two can really help its morale. If it has no archers then adding archers or crossbowmen or even slinger can help. If no mounted then knights help.

The PD of course is mindlessly scattered in the middle of the map and charge forward. So a purchased group set off to the flanks with smart scripting can make use of the distraction that the PD provides.

Lazy_Perfectionist · #10 June 11th, 2007, 09:59 PM

Please tell me if I'm interpreting this correctly...

50 points of PD for MA Agartha costs
(1+50)/2*50= 1275 gold
And for that I get
1st point: 1 Cave Captain 1 Agarthan Light Infantry, 1 Agarthan Infantry.
19 points: 1 Cave Captain, 19 LI, 19 I
20 points: 1 Cave Captain, 20 LI, 20 I, 1 Pale One Captain, 1 Pale One Soldier
50 points 1 Cave Captain, 50 LI, 50 I, 1 Pale One Captain, 30 Pale One Soldiers.

Regularly, 50 light infantry are 500 resources, 500 gold. Regular infantry are 1100 resources, 500 gold.
Thirty Pale One Soldiers are 600 resources, 300 gold.
Total regular cost, disregarding captains, is 2200 resources, 1300 gold. Not a bad deal... Throw in a mage who can cast darkness, four Earth Readers with Earth Boots scripted to cast Earth Power and various E4/E3 spells... Or Iron Bane. And its still way too much money invested, but a lot of precious resources saved for my sloth 1 Agartha. At that point, I'd probably go with another fortress instead, but I'd like to know if I have the math right before thinking too hard.