MA Abysia tips?

[Meglobob]

I have played Ma Abysia once and I think death is a very, very bad idea even if you intend to research straight for boots of youth. I would have 0 in the death/growth scale. Personally, I think death scale is only for La Ermor and blitz games, not long term 60+ turn MP games.

Besides that I am not sure what to say, I struggled with Ma Abysia myself. I did go with a N4 pretender which was useful, a awake dragon, it was a very, very small map that particular MP game. So unsafe to go with a dormant or imprisioned pretender. On a bigger map I may have gone with a dormant pretender instead.

[JimMorrison]

Originally Posted by Meglobob

Personally, I think death scale is only for La Ermor and blitz games, not long term 60+ turn MP games.

I think that is a pretty hard statement, personally.

I used to have a terrible phobia of Death scale as well, but in my testing I have found that certain nations, MA Abysia included, can take Death2, and if they have a cohesive strategy, and make good use of those 80 points, it works out well. Just as an example, if you said you wouldn't ever take Production OR Death with MA Abysia, I would think you are missing out on the brute force possible through taking 2D and pumping those points into 2Prod. But, I suppose it can't be said enough "playstyle playstyle playstyle".

I do avoid 3Death like the plague (haha!) though, as it seems to dramatically increase the rate and severity of pop killing events, not to mention the -growth% seems to compound at a far faster rate. But 2Death is simply very manageable under the right circumstances - part of the key generally being an early game strat that gives you just a few more provinces, which is why I like Production, as with proper care and a little luck, your infantry should be feared across the globe.