am i just a really bad player...
 

or is it kinda tuff playing solo vs impossible AI? generally play vs 5-6 of them on a medium map, and dont last too long. they are set to random stance(agressive/passive).

its ok if the answer is i suck. that'd be kinda funny, cus i always thought i was good at games like this.

Re: am i just a really bad player...
 

I have the same problem. I do better in MP where i can diplo than i do in SP.

Re: am i just a really bad player...
 

The "really bad player" hypothesis is a decent one. Another is that you are playing a nation you aren't good with. I can handle Impossible AIs pretty easily as a matter of course, with most nations. However, there are a handful with which I will simply lose disastrously, at least for now.

Re: am i just a really bad player...
 

How experianced are you in dom3? It has a very steep learning curve, so as a noob you will get crushed by the AI.

AI on impossible has a large advantage that plays out especially in early game. So if you encounter them early on its no great shame to get crushed.

For learning I'd choose one nation, read thoroughly through a guide to that nation and then try some games just playing the first year to test expansion strategies. Then take one of the games where expansion worked consierably well and play on with that game.

Re: am i just a really bad player...
 

thanks for the comments, and they make sense. i have been playing as "random" races, so i really am not good at any of them. i used to play ulm, which i think is a good nation for a newbie, because their troops are tough(ma). but i was totally neglecting magic, just going for blade wind and constuction, so i decided to try something different(also, i only have demo of dom III).

what do u think are the best races for a dub newbie like me?

Re: am i just a really bad player...
 

Try MA Caelum.

Take great scales for Money.
Expand with Mammoths.
Research Tunderstrike. Evocation 4.
Fry your enemies :)

Re: am i just a really bad player...
 

I'm playing Dom3 for 2 years and still can't beat a Normal AI and never won a MP game of a significant battle in a MP game. That's worse than your case :) I'm still playing and learning.

Re: am i just a really bad player...
 

Spells are the key. There are so many spells in this game--it takes a long time to get a good grip on even half of them. If you become accustomed to the use of that many spells, you will probably be able to think of several easy ways to obliterate any given AI army. And there will be good ways to counter whatever you might come up with, but the AI generally won't use those. It'll use the same sorts of chaotic armies in every situation.

If you aren't experienced enough with the game's spells to be able to use magic (and magical items) efficiently, then the strongest AI's will easily crush you with their numbers. If you are, then you'll have a pretty good chance of holding them off long enough to become strong, and once you're strong you will be invincible against them.

Re: am i just a really bad player...
 

(In the short term, an easy improvement to make is to increase PD as much as possible in any province that is likely to remain on your border for a long while. 125 PD is a very very poor investment when you're playing against humans, because one well-dressed commander can defeat it, but against the AI it will do rather well, especially if you back it up with some standing mages of your own.)

Re: am i just a really bad player...
 

Yeah, it's amazing how much the AI will bleed against a strongpoint like that.