How do you fight the Niefel giants?

[Aezeal]

Personally I'd try the diplomacy first of all.. you can't really win against a Niefel rush.. you can just hold it back at considerable cost.. preventing that and hope to kill em late game when you (might) have more advantages/less disadvantages

[Edratman]

There have been several suggestions that the most effective counters against an early Neifel rush are either diplomacy or indirect attacks.

That begs the question: if you are Niefel, why resort to diplomacy? Other than limiting opponents.

[SlipperyJim]

To be clear, when I advised diplomacy, I didn't mean begging the Niefel player not to kill you. That's silly. The whole point of Dominions 3 is to cast down the false Pretenders and claim the throne of the Pantokrator. There can be only one!

More to the point, why would the Niefel player listen to your pleas?

You: "Um, could you stop killing me?"
Niefel: "Why?"
You: "No reason, really. I'd just like to live."
Niefel: "Right. Let me consider your point ... nah. Die!"

If you have something that Niefel wants -- and can't just take after he's done killing you -- then maybe you can bribe him into letting you live. Like you could forge neat stuff to equip his Jarls, maybe? That could work. But that's an iffy proposition at best, and I'm thinking that the Niefel player might just kill you anyway.

When I advised diplomacy, I meant you should talk to the other players. (Like someone with Fire magic, possibly?) Explain the situation to them. Explain how allowing Niefel to add your empire to his own will make him into a late-game juggernaut. Explain how it's better to gang up on the Big Snowmen and kill them now, and then you can divide up the spoils. Make an alliance. Offer bribes. Promise favors. Do whatever it takes to get some help. Niefel is very scary 1-on-1, but a decent alliance can take down anyone.

You: "Help, Niefel is killing me!"
Abysia: "Why should I care"
You: "Because Niefel will add my provinces and gem income to his own, and then you'll be next!"
Abysia: "Hmmmmm.... Any other points?"
You: "Um, wait, hold on ... I'll give you a couple of Dwarven Hammers."
Abysia: "Sold! Time to char-broil some giants!"

That's just an example, of course. Your specific circumstances will vary, but the principle remains the same. If you can't handle a Niefel rush alone, try to get help.

[Humakty]

Well, niefel giants cost a lot, you'll surely won't have enougth of them to fight more than two or three opponents...