Help a newbie out!

[Kjeld]

As a relative newbie, I have alternatively followed two tactics :

- Played "test bed" games with the easiest possible settings (big map, few easy ais), and try to experiment a lot, cast varied spells just to see how they work (not fearing about wasting ressources, doing inefficient and ineffective things, etc ... just casting them for the sake of learning their use).
The aim of this kind of game is to have a grasp at the game immense compexity, and find cool things to do.

- Played harder games (errr hard means normal AI for me ), in relatively small maps with very "focused" nation/tactics (usually, something inspired by one of the many strategic Posts in the forum) : like Ulm with construction, "blood" Jotunheim, Man with Sidhes and a bless effect, actually following more or less rigidly a set strategy.

After quite a lot of those games, and a ton of aborted game starts and mid games, I have now a much better grasp at the game complexity, and can now (as an example) think of a lot of good ways to put a new independant mage to good use should I find one site that complement my national and pretender magic well. I still have to learn about using mages with gems in battle (and micromanaging the ressuply), about using the so called "supercombatants" ... so much things to do !