How difficult is this game?

Fenris99 · #1 December 19th, 2007, 05:25 PM

Thanks for the answers, guys.

The manual is good but it doesn't cover everything.

I'm sure I will have more questions after I play tonight. I'm reading the Marignon strategy page, they look straightforward for a beginner.

Edi · #2 December 19th, 2007, 06:14 PM

As far as what determines the paths of your mages, the magic paths are an intrinsic part of the unit itself, so a mage may have certain paths fixed and some randomly determined (randoms can only be less than 100% sure, so not all of your mages always get them all).

Units that have been intended for a specific nation ahve been designed with that nation in mind, so for example the magic paths of mages reflect that.

Yrkoon · #3 December 19th, 2007, 06:44 PM

As well as empowering your mages (permanent increase for a lot of gems) you can also use the gems in combat to boost your level temporarily. You can use one gem per spell to increase you level by one. It's a good way of casting spells you would normally not be able too.

For example a weak fire mage with one level in fire magic can use one gem to cast phoenix power (level 2 fire spell). Phoenix power boost your level in fire by 1 for the whole battle. You mage is now level 2. By using another gem, your mage can cast a level 3 spell. All of a sudden your crappy mage is quite deadly.

Yrkoon · #4 December 19th, 2007, 06:49 PM

There is also communions and sabbaths to increase your mages' power. You can find more about those in the forums, and propably in Edi's FAQ.

Fenris99 · #5 December 19th, 2007, 06:51 PM

This is all great advice, thank you

Taqwus · #6 December 19th, 2007, 07:22 PM

Just note that blood magic is different. Non-trivially useful blood-magic magic sites are quite rare. The vast majority of your sacrificial blood slaves will need to be gathered by your commanders (preferably blood mages -- everybody else is bad at it) spending their turns to do so, thus costing you commander-turns as well as a mix of population/income as you patrol to keep the resulting unrest down.

Mictlan (EA,LA) is a bit difficult to start with, as it's completely dependent on blood for even spreading dominion.

KissBlade · #7 December 19th, 2007, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Fenris99 said:
This is all great advice, thank you

Hey I noticed you mentioned buying the game in downtown NYC. I live in Astoria, NYC just so ya know. =)

Fenris99 · #8 December 19th, 2007, 07:40 PM

Quote:

KissBlade said:

Quote:

Fenris99 said:
This is all great advice, thank you

Hey I noticed you mentioned buying the game in downtown NYC. I live in Astoria, NYC just so ya know. =)

Well hello neighbor. I live upstate but I work in Manhattan.