Ok So I Downloaded The Demo

[Kristoffer O]

The walkthru by Bruce Geryk is a very good start. It is fun to read and it guides you through a couple of turns.

http://www.maladjustite.com/dom2_walkthru.html

[Gandalf Parker]

Uh Oh, we hooked Atrocities. The SEIV forum is gonna hate me.

One of the things I like most is that I dont feel like Im being forced to learn someone elses (the programmers) strategys. Each nation has a definate feel but its not like the strategies are completely built in. There is so much variation that you can play your own style. Berserker, researcher, defensive, expansionist, stealth, just about any style that fits you. You can find the best nation, best pretender, best scales, to pull off the moves you come up with. After years of playing Im still able to come up with some surprise tactics.

Early demo hints: play Ulm (low learning curve), play against ctis, man, pangaea (or at LEAST leave out Ermor and water nations), turn independent strength up to about 5 (slows the AI more than it hurts you)

[ July 29, 2004, 14:04: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

[Atrocities]

Thanks guys. I am looking forward to playing.

[Ironhawk]

Atrocities, the things I like best are:
-Lack of MM. Most of my turn time goes into strategic thinking only
-Extreme Depth. Constantly surprised at all the new combinations of abilities.
-Solid balance. You'd think given the depth there would be a clear best path, but no.
-Sustained Fighting. Unlike some empire-building games, losing a big battle does not mean you will lose the war.

And as for getting into the game - reading has never been my thing (at least before I play with something). If you are like this too, I suggest you play your first SP game with Ulm. They have pratically no magic, so you can basically ignore that entire part of the game. That will give you an opportunity to understand recruiting, movement, and combat mechanics. Once you've done that, move on to a more magical race.

Lastly, the only word of warning I would give is: resist the temptation to build units in every province you take! I did this because I thought I was tyring to "maximize production" originally. But in truth, your national troops (from your Forts) are way better so only build there unless you need a particular indy unit.

[KroolDeath]

Ironhawk,

You're Last statement is interesting about not recruiting from indy provinces. Keeping in mind I'm a newbie myslef, I find myself recruiting from indy's to replenish my losses, mainly because I can't get capital forces to the frontline soon enough. This is mainly archers and stuff, etc.

Which brings me to a question. Assuming a non-watchtower castling strategy, how often/when do you build a new fortress generally? To move your frontline? As a defensive anchor? High resource provinces?

Thanks,
Krool

[Taqwus]

Fortresses come in handy for a variety of reasons, such as keeping a short supply line -- supplies available get a bonus based on the shortest available path (not through hostile provines) to a friendly fort and it's admin rating, for instance. Handy unless you've got so much nature magic that you're rolling in wineskins, summer swords and cauldrons, or are using need-not-eat troops.

They're also useful for protecting a temple, obviously, but with a rapid-response team you can use a watchtower for that.
More importantly, if there's a unit type you like in that province -- be it from the independent type or a magic site -- a fortress will help you produce more if it's resource-limited. And it'll let you produce more of your national troops there and worry less about streaming reinforcements up, or it can serve to recruit your cheap researchers while your capital goes for some capital-only commanders. Or so forth.
If you're rolling in money because you can't recruit good troops fast enough, you probably need another castle. *g*

[KroolDeath]

Excellent information!

Since they drain resources from neighboring provinces, you wouldn't want to put one in *next* to a resource rich province, but rather in that province, correct?

Krool