Turtlers and Rushers?

[fantasma]

I'd say that defense is something else but PD and forts. It means more like holding important border provinces with armies ready to destroy invaders rather than using the armies to attack.

Nobody will survive long with only forts and PD.

The point is rather - and as almost everything else in Dominions - depending on the situation.

If you have good troops and poor perspectives when research starts to be important you have to be a rusher.

If you miss sufficient gems of a particularly important kind you have to expand to find income.

If you came out of the box ahead with a decent income and mages that profit from research you'll be better off guarding what you have - for a while.

If you are in a decent position and have potential for the endgame, I think it's best to pick the oportunities that will show up inevitably.

[Zeldor]

Turtling is rather taking a risk and building research mages instead of battle mages. Site searching securely all your lands. Building forts and spreading dominions. Using gems on items/summons instead of battle spells. Not worrying about hunting raiders, getting rid of unrest that comes with that etc. And preparing your next move in that time. But it all can only work if you are around top in stats when it comes to provinces.

[Gandalf Parker]

Either way can be a gamble. And can be done right or wrong.

Im not so much in applying it as "depends on the nation you are playing". I tend to say it the other way around, instead of the nation choosing your style, that your style might choose your nation. People tend to have a playing style that they feel natural in. Its their favorite way of playing. They should try everything of course but I feel that the best players (or at least the ones having the most fun) are those who decide on their style and then match it to the nation which best fits it. That would be true of turtlers or rushers. Those who play defensive researchers need to choose their nation for it just as those who prefer horde swarming would have to pick appropriately to that.

By the way I dont feel that those are the only two choices either. Guerilla, paratrooper, diplomat, ally, checkerboard, assassin, and dominion are all playable styles

[Folket]

I play dominions very defensively.

[Gandalf Parker]

Of course at some point you have to decide when to stop being just defensive. I forgot to mention the mix style I call "bursting dam". Defensive growth of a major army and when the other guy reachs you all worn out from fighting his way to you, then you burst forth like a wave of water going as far and fast as you can before wearing yourself out. Then tax to the max and buildup fast for the return strike from them. Sometimes using heavy purchase of PD near him for a buffer. Its also a favorite tactic for people who consider themselves "defensive but dont piss me off" revenge-style players.

[Zentar]

Some may consider rusher to be someone who captures independents in a line away from his capitol in order to quickly reach and destroy someone who is not expanding quickly and is perceived to still have a weak army and therefore be an easy target. I expand slowly away from my starting capitol in expanding concentric circles which could be considered a form of turtling until a rusher meets the outside ring, then my production advantage pays off. This kind of reflects what Gandalf was saying. I also like to get my construction to level 4 asap, for weapons, equipment, and to accelerate research with Skull Mentor.

By the way, mercenaries are great for their price and tremendously help expansion especially in the early part of the game.

[Darkstone]

I'm definitely a turtler.

However, recently I've forced myself to be a lot more aggressive in playstyle, and it's been more fun and enjoyable.

[Atreidi]

Originally Posted by Darkstone

I'm definitely a turtler.

However, recently I've forced myself to be a lot more aggressive in playstyle, and it's been more fun and enjoyable.

That defenetly sounds like fun. I wonder how a Kamikazy strategy would work going all out with no PD.