Last question (I hope) on magic learning strategies (Machaka or similar multi-path)?

[customer717]

I tried machaka Last night and was doing okay with them, but their province defense was killing me. It did not seem to matter if I had a PD of 1 or a PD of 30, they got destroyed by anything. The low defense and zero protection is a killer. How do you guys keep enemies out of your territory with these guys?

[PvK]

Use the Holy-3 priests to keep the militia fighting with Surmon of Courage, and/or a magician with group protective or other group-enhancing spells, and/or a small other force whose strength will be multiplied by the enemy also having to deal with the cannon fodder. Cannon fodder is effective, but only as an element of "combined arms" - you generally need some other elements to make it worthwhile.

PvK

[Pillin]

Forgot about the thistle mace, its all making sence now

[ March 08, 2004, 02:34: Message edited by: Pillin ]

Well Alteration 6 gets you Invulnerability, Incinerate, Drain Life, Elemental Fortitude, and Mass Protection.

Mass Protection on Hoplites gives them an incredible Protection Value making your normal armies almost invulnerable.

There isn't a reason to not go for Mass Protection after you get Flaming Arrows IMO.

[LaFollet]

For PD I read somewhere else that someone(I can't remember who) suggested to use archers in equal numbers with the PD. It really works well, especially since the PD absorb so much damage (you really need a lvl 3 priest to make the absorb lots of dmg) while the archers(national or indy, either will do) take apart the enemy. I play machaka ALL the time, use massive armies of hopts and archers(bags of wine and giant cauldrons required) with small amounts of Black Hunters to take out rear units.
What I've been doing to help my hopts with the front row fighting (and my supply issues) is using Vine Ogres, right now with my Druid pretender I can summon 5 at a time, for only 1 nature gem.