AAR - EA bless (Helheim) owerpowered on med+ map ?

[CharonJr]

Turn 11

As expected Arco did attack the indie province of Ligrea and beat them, but made the mistake to split its troops again. About 40 bear warriors, wind riders and some chariots took my lightly defended province of Citala without any problems (had it at 200% tax for the last 2 turns).

The remaining 20 bear tribe warriors, light infantries and militias managed to beat the indies without too many losses, but were no match for my 2 divisions. Sadly my commander and most of my forces were killed, with the Farstrikers only taking light casualties.

We founds some nature gems in the Feldan Forest and some of my units in the Marshlands were cursed for collecting some gems from a vengefull witch.

My dormant breathen managed to wake up from their sleep this turn while I will be confined to this prison for 2 more years...

The Arco walls are still holding, tbut their end should be near.

A new commander is recruited in Ligrea in order to lead my remaining archers. Meanwhile I will give a farewell present to the Farstrikers and send them to the lightly defended Arco province of Midland. After my troops took the brunt of the attacks (still 27 Farstrikers left) that seems only fair to me (I never claimed to be a nice god )...

It seems like Sauro understood what I tried to tell him by taking Florien and finally took the indie province seperating them from Niefel - this might get interesting

During the siege I reorganise my divisons there and transfer the troops of the 3rd and 4th to the 1st and 2nd, which gives them about 16 Helhirdings each. Allsvinn and Gunnlaug - the commanders of the 3rd and 4th move towards the capital in order to lead new troops.

The 5th division will set out to the Marshlands in order to defend the province and either help with the siege or take some of the remaining Arco provinces. It is composed of 14 Helhirdings and 13 Mouted Hirdmen with orders to hold and attack rear. Quite a formidable force.





In order to strengthen my forces on the Sauro border the 8 earth gems are alchemised (if this is even a word...).


CharonJr

[CharonJr]

12 provinces on turn 11 and Arco more or less out of the game, I can't complain here.

But I am a bit disappointed by the AI. I can't understand why Arco keeps going after indie or my provinces instead of moving every trooper it has to the defense of the capital.

I they had another town I might have been able to understand this, but when I take their capital it will be game-over for Arco at this early stage of the game.

IMO if the only fort an AI has is threatened by ample forces to breach the walls it should switch to "save the realm" mode and stop trying to expand/harrass.

CharonJr

[Nerfix]

Hmmm, usual AI rushes people to kill your besieging troops. Unusual.

[CharonJr]

Turn 12

Research up to Thaum 2 was completed this turn and I will try to reach construction 4 next for some path-boosters and Legions of Steel at Con3.

The Farstrikers took the lightly defended province of Midlands without any problems and left my services for a tour with Vanheim.

Arco took Summerlands from my archer defenders with about 20 bear tribe warriors, 6 chariots, 6 Windriders and 2 Myrmidons.

But right after this battle Wyglia, the god of Arco succumbed to its final death due to dominon loss. My prophet at the Arco capital had managed to establish my dominion in Arco's capital province on the turn before. This leaves me to bang on the walls of a now independent fort.

Allsvinn and Gunnlaug continue their slow march through thick forests back to my capital. In hindsight it would have been save to move them via the now secured Marshlands, but better safe than sorry...

On a sour note the lightly defended former Arco province of Mite Marsh in the NE is now held by about 50 indie knights and militias.

5th division will set out to retake Rotmarsh from about 70 indie Bear Tribe Warriors, light infantries and archers.

The way north is "blocked" by 2 indie provinces containing 40 of either heavy infantry and elephants or heavy infantry and heavy cavaleries. But I want to head north since the Sauro capital should be around there. In addition I am fairly confident that 40 heavy infantry and cav will be unable to stop my 30+ Helhirings. But for the moment they keep sieging that ex-Arco fort.

1 Helkarl and 7 Helhirdings are levied with some addition archers and heavy infantries throughout the realm.

3 merc regiments would become available on the next turn, but I lack the money (and the will) to hire them at the moment.

The strong Niefel force west of Fenica has me worried, but with my fast 5th division (3 moves) and the troops I recruit this turn I am confident that I could break a siege of my capital if I had to. With 4 Hanga's in the capital and their skills in death magic (D3) in addition to 3 Helkarls (D1) I am fairly confident that I could frighten away some of this force.




Well, the end of Arco was a bit of an anticlimax...


CharonJr

[Nerfix]

Anticlimax indeed, but the progress is handsome to say the least.

[CharonJr]

And another question before saying anything about this turn later on:




Am I right to assume that beaten nations will scrap their units 1 turn after they were destroyed ? And that the large knight/militia force is only there since there has been an event in this province to cause the knight/militias to take over ?

CharonJr

[CharonJr]

Turn 13

With Arco's god gone Rotmarsh was taken without any opposition by the 5th which will continue to Cimri in the hope of finding more former Arco provinces there before other nations arrive to share in the spoils.

Construction 1 has been reached and research will continue.

The now indie fort at Arco is still under siege.


A mixed archer/heavy infantry unit from Marshlands will reclaim Citala while the newly formed 6th division (14 Helhirdings) will retake Summerlands.

In addition some commanders are moved to provinces in order to gather the newly recruited troops (archers/heavy infantry) there.





With 5+ 20k+ pop provinces in my realm I am starting to feel inclined to use my B1 Hanga for some bloodhunting (did I mention that I am not a nice god ? ), but will refrain from it for the moment...


A Svartalf is recruited this turn in order to prepare for forging a dwarfen hammer/earth boosting items later on. In addition 7 Helhirdings and 3 Mounted Hirdmen are recruited. Since my treasury is depleted by this point I have to take small consolation that the former Arco provinces I am about to (re)take should provide a considerable boost to my income.

Caelums's presense in Dunheim does worry me a bit as well as Sauro's forces on my border, but at least the large contingent of Niefel is no longer right at my border.


For the moment I try to consolidate my power and reap the rewards of my Arco campaign, but I feel that I will have to do something about Sauro soon, unless an easier target will present itself


I try to avoid looking at the game graphs too often, but here is a snapshot of the current balance of power:





Except for provinces and income (where I lead) I am mainly in the lower half of the graphs, which does not bode too well. Especially Sauro seems to be a major power, further strengthening my believe that I have to do something about them soon.

I am aware that quality plays often a larger role than quantity, but even the research and gem income of Sauro is very high. On the other hands that means that many already researched provinces might fall into my hands from a campaign against Sauro

Edit: I have just seen that Ermor has built a 2nd fort 1 turn ago with Atlantis, Mictlan and Vanheim having done so this turn. Even more reason to strike at Sauro soon before they are able to get additional troops. If only the indies would cease to defend Arco...


CharonJr

[CharonJr]

Turn 14

Desaster struck at Cimri. My 5th was met by close to 130 Caelum units who had managed to sneak into Cimri before my troops were able to arrive.

4 Mammoths trampled my Helhirdings and while my troops managed to take down 2 of them and repel the other 2 morale broke soon after this due to the heavy losses suffered. The Caelum flyers had no problems killing my fleeing Mounted Hirdmen to the last man, only the Helkarl managed to survive the onslaught.

Overall I managed to kill 51 Caelum troops + 16 undead, but the prize my troops had to pay was way too high. I have to find a means to neutralise these Mammoths when I run into them the next time. Massed archers with order to shoot at large creatures might be the solution, but Caelums flyers are surely ordered to attack archers. I hope Caelum will stay on the sidelines till I am able to bring the large number of troops to bear I will need vs them.

On the bright side Citala and Summerland were retaken without any opposition.

And to end with something negative - the fort at Arco still holds (slowly I am beginning to wonder if this is a bug, or maybe the walls were magically restored after the ownership of the fort changed hands ?!). I need those troops on my southern border with Sauro, not being kept up in the north. In addition another fort and the associated gem sites of a former capital would be a nice boost.


Vemund, the luckless commanders of the former 5th is ordered to sneak back to the capital. The less the news of the disaster of Cimri can spread the better...

While keeping a close eye on Caelum the 6th in addition to 40 heavy infantries and archers are sent to Carnag in order to prepare for a possible strike vs. Sauro.

40 archers are brought south from the northern province of Silver Fangs since the threat from Niefel has diminished for now and they might be needed vs Sauro soon.





Another Svartalf and 7 Helhirdings are recruited in addition to as many archers as the treasury can supply.


The Canyon of Sand was found in Rotmarsh (1 erath-gem/turn), a relic of the Arco empire which should help with money/later magic items.


With research up to 54 points/turn due to the returned Helkarls I will reach construction 2 this turn and ponder about researching more aggressive spells. But despite the defeat I am still confident in the physical abilities of my troops and in the power fear can have on my enemies.


Sadly there is nothing I can do right now about the barbarian uprising in Hubbarton south of Fenica, but if Sauro is not able to establish order during this turn my troops in Carnag might feel inclined to step in to keep the peace there


For the moment I will concentrate on Sauro, but this might change fairly soon if Caelum decides to make a move. Thanks to my fast units and the limited size of my realm I am able to reach most provinces in 1 turn should it become neccessary.