Basic Multiplayer tips wanted

[Dedas]

I would say, whether it is pointless or not, that it depends on what the PD is composed of.

[TwoBits]

Here's a basic tip for early game SP or MP:

Keep at least one commander (an indie is fine) behind your army(s) of expansion. If you do suffer some sort of setback (I've often captured a province, but had significant portions of my army rout back the way it came before the outcome was settled), it will minimize your "downtime" before you can get offensive operations back on track.

Pause a turn to recruit reinforcements with your main army, while your trailing commander brings up the stragglers/cowards, and then you're back on the move.

Actually works best on those risky "line" expansions, as your routers have only one way to flee

[jutetrea]

Score graphs: good or bad?

The impression that I'm getting is that unless you can get a very early, very large lead in provinces its best to just be in the top third? otherwise you'll get ganged? To small and you get gobbled up?

Research - do you generally find a huge research lead is grounds for a gang up?

Forts - probably not so much

Income - ?

gem income - ?

Seems like you almost have to play the graphs along with your diplomacy game. For example, I took my last expandable province in a game just to have my main army doing something... the previous province leader lost a province and it put me on top. Oh crap So then diplomacy comes into play.

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Random - are elephants/mammoths worth it for the late game? Do you have to jack the morale significantly or does it not make a difference? Is there enough magic floating around that the investment and routing possibilities isn't worth it?