Guide: Pretender design for Ulm enigma of Steel

[Ferrosol]

Originally Posted by rdonj

Sure, you can get a pretty solid expansion using these. I was going with an o3/p3/g3/l3 imprisoned oracle in one mp game, and during testing I managed 27 provinces and 2 forts with a third on the way. So technically speaking, a fairly impressive land grab is possible. I'm not sure that's the best way to play ulm in a normal game, but...

the problem is not so much expanding with your troops (ulms troops are pretty good at that) it is taking on other players with your troops. Most of them are at best only average and all have the crappy MR that makes them vulnerable to pretty much anything. Add to that the mages being tricky to get decent randoms and you see the problem. Personally I would recommend taking an awake rainbow to hit conj and construction early and using geared thugs to do your heavy lifting.

Edit a half assed build thrown together Awake Great Enchantress Dom6 O3C3Mis2M1 A4E3S6D3N1 is the kind of thing I am talking about.

[Torin]

In CBM you get 2 other national heros. A D3 and a S2.
A rainbow mage I dont think that works.
Late game is not the strongest with this nation so I feel logical to focus in early game. One mage cannot do everything. But gold and armies do much.
Early advantage carries on. Works for research and gem income. Therefore works for late game.
But in the stance of not using my build (or some similar) I understand some people feel uncomfortable with the offensive type of play or the zerg rush style.
Well, that works in dominions too. You must understand theres more than one point of view and that I like about this game. You dont have to agree with me as we are not robots see.

You have a point in the steel warriors. My idea is to use them as the center of the army. They deal a lot more damage and have better protection and defense. Their job is to fight other soldiers. Im not expectin them to do anything more difficult. Maybe with strenght of the giants they can pierce a thugs armor. Youd be surprised. I feel highly of that blood spell rush of strengt. Pitty you dont get blood here.

[Torin]

I made a more pragmatic build that some may like more.

Wyrm dom 10
Blood 1
O3 P1 C3 G1 MF2 M1

Good overal, very very fast early game and blood magic once indies weares off.
Tough dom 10 seem much. perhaps it will be good to get scales in conquered provinces.

Every player i seen using this nation tought hordes of ulmish barbarians. But other approaches could be good too.

[Wrana]

Dragon strategy isn't bad. But I'd say the nation is wrong for it.
I was relatively successful with a like Dragon, but I played Tien Chi who 1) has a lot of Water mages able to utilise all the gems you'll gather; 2) has absolutely no problems with magic diversity; 3) their sacred are cavalry with already high Defense and a good map movement.
And as was said, with all this you will have no gold whatsoever. And you aren't likely to be successful with less Dominion, as infantry sacreds need more numbers than cavalry...