No worries on Dagan, Doo. You outbid me fair and square. I was just looking for more research, but there are better long term solutions (more forts!). I actually have lots of access to astral with the monkeys, so you can probably put Dagan to better use than I could. For some reason I thought he had some air. I think I was confusing him with Obscuro.
You found some indie mages! Nice! Maybe I shouldn't tell you this, since you're trying to crack into astral, but I have crystal sorceresses right outside my capital. Only just conquered that province, and discovered I can recruit them. They're a1s1.
Interesting intel on TC surrounding 101. Hopefully Niefel keeps possession of 77 for the time being, so we don't have to worry about TC crossing over to the southern continent and helping Niefel against C'Tis.
Endo, I've never given any of my guys skull talismans, but it looks like you get a single skeleton to start, and the ability to cast animate skeleton for a single additional skeleton per cast. That spell takes 30 fatigue, so on a non-deathmage commander who has no re-invig, you'll probably get 4 castings before he stops, so that's 5 skellies per commander w/ a skull talisman. Doesn't sound overwhelming. I guess if you have a large death gem income having 10 indie commanders with these (for 30 death gems, if you're using hammers) for 50 extra skeletons per fight could make a difference in some fights. I would think you'd still want some death mages along to cast the better skelliespam spells to fill out the ranks, but maybe the talismans mean you can leave one or two of the mages you would've brought at home so they can continue researching..? I've never played C'tis or tried the skelliespam thing, so this is all just me thinking out loud about something I have no experience in.
Atlantis attacked Niefelheim in prov 60. Niefel is laying siege to an indie fort there, and I guess Atlantis wants it too. Atlantis sent a pitifully small force though (4 coral guards & 3 deep one spearmen, backed up by 6 indie archers), given the Niefelheim force (a baker's dozen of living pillars, a gygja, and a niefel jarl). The living pillars are sz3 sacred amphibious units, decent armor and shields, and they seem to do well with Niefel's bless (a4f4d9e9n4), but then who wouldn't? Niefelheim won that fight easily.
In any case, it looks like those 2 have started irritating each other.
Which is good, IMO, because Niefelheim is actually pretty big. He still hasn't linked his 2 starting forts, but regardless, looks like his total province count is in the 15-16 area. And between his native jotun skinshifters and these sacred amphibious troops, he's got some buff guys stomping around.
Abysia's southern fort continues to wallow - no expansion. I have a scout pushing north to investigate how well he's expanding up by his northern fort.
On the monkey home front, my 1st fort is up, 2nd & 3rd building. My research is starting to suck less thanks to my pretender who is now awake and the new fort(s). I'm mobilizing for war with Niefelheim.
Re: Turbocharged AI vs Humanities Last Hope - Running
I think you said early on that there's about 50 of them, is that count accurate? What's the breakdown (How many Moosen? War trolls? Trolls?)?
Hybrid Mode
