Guide to Marverni

[fantasma]

Baalz, great write up.

On most I have to agree and are part of the setup in my current game, in a slightly different way, though. Although I mess it up quite a lot of times, like not having a skullcap in a lab when I need one right now ...

You seem to completely ignore the ambitate nobles, though. I think they are the best general purpose unit Marverni has. They have better att/def then the carnutes and do only marginally less damage. Their morale is decent, also, and they are cheaper, goldwise.

One thing I haven't concluded yet is whether to rely on gutuator's 1/4 for communion or go for stargazers.
You pay more upkeep for 1 less in research and they are mapmove 1.

[Ming]

How do you get blood slaves for Marveni (not counting Pretenders with blood path)?

[capnq]

Ming said: How do you get blood slaves for Marveni (not counting Pretenders with blood path)?

A commander doesn't have to have a blood path to hunt for slaves; having a blood path just makes him much more efficient at it.

I'm not sure your nation even has to have the ability to do sacrifices. I can imagine a "slave trader" nation hunting to supply its allies in a multiplayer game.

[Baalz]

Also, one of the national multi-heroes is a blood druid. If you end up taking luck you're likely to land one or two.

[Ming]

Baalz,

Thanks. BTW, congrats for an excellent guide. I have learnt much from it.

You may wish to update it incorporate the cheap conj5 national summon - size5 sacred trampler, which would be a nice supplement to the Druids. I was toying with the idea of an W9 bless before I saw your guide, but unfortunately A4W9 is probably too expensive for keeping good scales. Not sure if W9 is a viable alternative to a F4A4 Phoenix.

[Sombre]

It's also worth noting that the iron pigs spell grants Iron Boars for marverni which are sacred super high prot high morale tramplers.

In CBM it's pretty crazy, but in basegame it probably still isn't worth it iirc.

[Ming]

Capng,

Thanks. Didn't know one can hunt for slaves without blood path. Useful to know.

[Aezeal]

I'd still like to know Baalz exact proposition for the pretender and scales so I can use that as a starting point for my pretender.

[fantasma]

For what it's worth, I can tell you my build for the newb game I won as Marverni, so far my favorite nation. Much of it is along the lines of what Baalz says, although the game started before his thread.

Marverni needs gold and more gold.
Marverni needs gems.
Marverni lacks thugs (except golems).
Marverni has good synergy with blood.

That led me to the following build:

Fountain of Blood
B4D3F2
O3L3H1M1G1
Dom 8
I think I set it to sleeping

The luck+order give lots of gold and gems. Also keep the bloodhenge druid save! They forge the jade knives and blood stones you will want to build en masse!
Gutuators with wn and two boosters will forge clams.

The magic is good to get started into death and blood, forge the fire booster, forge the devil summon (soul contract?) item, etc.

Cheap temples + sacrifice = dominion kill

The growth is to mitigate a little the effect of blood hunting the capital.

Now you just need to expand fast (don't overlook standards! regroup and prepare carefully for each battle!) , build three fortresses the first year and research as hell.

Make friends early when you are most vulnerable. Time is playing into your hands. Make sure to diversify!

I hope that helps.


ad Boars: I like the great boar, but it is too late in research and summons only 10% / candle iron boars. That is not too impressive. But the greatest weakness is two misc slots only. I wish it had a head slot at least, but that idea got stamped in another thread ...

[lch]

Originally Posted by fantasma

O3L3H1M1G1

I think this was supposed to read Order 3, Luck 3, Heat 1, Magic 1, Growth 1

Originally Posted by fantasma

Also keep the bloodhenge druid save! They forge the jade knives and blood stones you will want to build en masse!

What Bloodhenge Druids? You mean the indies? You mean to charm them, or what? Just because I know of no other way for Marverni to get them normally.