Help, read all the faqs, playing demo, dont know how to PLAY...

Endoperez · #1 July 21st, 2004, 11:54 PM

The one I posted is simply a simple strategy balanced towards aggressive early expansion. I tested it myself, it went nicely until I forgot that T'ien C'hi has those awesome infantrymen with Glaives. Something like a halberd, but even worse: 10 (!) damage on the top of the normal strength of ten, and my W2F2 Wyrm with Quickness, Breath of Winter AND Fire Shield was quickly slaughtered. He still has enough magics for Quickness/ Fire Shield. I played Ulm and took Order 3, Productivity 3 and Drain 3, dominion of about 6, 4 opponents on Sundering.

If you lose your pretender, remember that you can still fare well. As in my case: not every Ulm has Sages (? + research bonus) and Sorceresses (2A2S and ? in sorcery).

Also, use mercenaries. 'B'id for them and give few spare coins, even small amounts of gold help them to decide if computer player tries to hire them at the same turn. Don't order them on suicide run before the turn during which they would leave you (1 turn left on bid list).

Norfleet · #2 July 22nd, 2004, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Endoperez:
Don't order them on suicide run before the turn during which they would leave you (1 turn left on bid list).

Don't? You mean *DO*, right? If you're not planning to, or able to, afford to rehire them, you should go ahead and deny them to your opponents as well. Or at least kill them down to the Last commander, as the AI will happily hire an entirely depleted mercenary group consisting of a single commander. Don't forget to give him something nice, like a Bane Venom Charm.

Endoperez · #3 July 22nd, 2004, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Norfleet:

quote:
Originally posted by Endoperez:
Don't order them on suicide run before the turn during which they would leave you (1 turn left on bid list).

Don't? You mean *DO*, right?

*Before* the turn they are leaving... I want to get as much as possible from them.

Arryn · #4 July 22nd, 2004, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gavinfox:
This game is REALLY REALLY hard and is REALLY REALLY under-documented...

While this is true of "official" documentation, there are plenty of fan-created docs that will help you. May I suggest the following:

1. Download the various docs I have available on my site.
2. Follow the links I have on my site to other sites and download the docs you may find there (notably, the stuff on Sunray's site regarding playing various nations).
3. Read the AARs (After-Action Reports) for various nations that are to be found on this forum.

Once you've done all this homework you may find that most (if not all) of your questions have been answered. The forum's SEARCH feature is also useful ...

Arryn · #5 July 22nd, 2004, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gavinfox:
there has to be one simple way to win, for at least one narrow civ and god thats agreed on as a very workable strategy? something that tells me what i should be trying to achieve at any given moment?

There is no such thing. Even concentrating on how to play just one (of 17) nations, strategies can (and do) change dramatically depending on the map you choose, the strength of independents, where on the map you begin, etc. Oh, and strategies that work against AIs may fail miserably versus human opponents.

Molog · #6 July 22nd, 2004, 01:22 AM

A simple way to win against AI is with Ermor Ashen empire. Take a ghost king. Take full negative scales on everything, except luck and magic. Take 10 dominion. Give your ghost king a bit of every kind of magic minus blood or 4 in nature. Just make some bischops, have them reanimate warriors and keep attacking. Have your ghost king search each province.

Gavinfox · #7 July 22nd, 2004, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Arryn:

quote:
Originally posted by Gavinfox:
there has to be one simple way to win, for at least one narrow civ and god thats agreed on as a very workable strategy? something that tells me what i should be trying to achieve at any given moment?

There is no such thing. Even concentrating on how to play just one (of 17) nations, strategies can (and do) change dramatically depending on the map you choose, the strength of independents, where on the map you begin, etc. Oh, and strategies that work against AIs may fail miserably versus human opponents.

What I meant was, "Give me a good simple, win-in-40-turns strategy, controlling all possible variables, which will help me to understand various parts of the game as possible with the demo."