Getting started..............

[paplan]

I've had this game a while, and have tried to get started a couple times.
Been through the tutorial.

Any recommendations on getting started and learning the game?

Nation, age, etc.

I'm sure this type of question has been asked many times; I just couldn't find a good thread on the first couple pages, or by using search terms "getting started".

Also, is there a better way to save games and restart (I understand the "iron man" philosophy, but find its faster learning if you try a strategy and it fails, to go back to the point where you mad that decision)?

[Gandalf Parker]

The game saves everything each turn. Its part of the basis of a PbEM game (play by email) which this actually is. Copying your games directory to another name will create a backup. Various players have created different methods to do the same. From simple modification of the shortcut file on your desktop, to extensive python programs.

As far as getting started, I personally recommend Middle Age Ulm as a nation to play. It relies very little on magic or preaching. Most of the nations tend to specialize in something. Ulm specialized in armor. Most people tend to come to the game already understanding armor. So it has fairly low learning curve. You can just get used to making armies, moving armies, etc.

[sansanjuan]

pap,
Another suggestion is EA Niefelheim on a small map with two other AI players. Plenty of strategy stuff on them in the forum. The game should go pretty quickly on the small map. This won't prepare you for MP (multiplayer) or late game tactics but it should be fun as a first non-tutorial adventure.

-SSJ
PS Don't forget the cold-3 scales and a starting Dominion above 3. Enjoy.

[dirtywick]

I would pick a nation without blood magic to start. EA Arcosphale is pretty straight forward. MA Ulm isn't bad to start with if you understand the scales, just take Production 3 in the scales if you.

There's a strategy index at the top of the page, I would pick one with a guide so you can follow it a bit as you go.

[DonCorazon]

MA Ulm is good to start with in SP since SP moves quickly and the AI is not particularly effective at using magic against you.

I wouldn't recommend MA Ulm though for your first MP game. It was my first MP nation in an MP noob game and found that not only did I get crushed but I didn't learn much about magic, so my next game I was just as much of a noob. MA Ulm is easy in that you can focus on the other game mechanics, but given the slower pace of an MP game, MA Ulm is probably too limited. If you want to get up the learning curve quicker you might want to try a nation with a bit more magic. I like LA Tien Chi because they have solid troops (infantry, archers, and calvary are all good) but also a fair bit of diverse magic that will help give a more well-rounded intro into the game.

[Tyrant]

One thing to understand when learning this game is that it is a magic game with armies, not the other way around.

I second GP's suggestion that you start out with the Middle Age, but i would recommend a nation with more magic that Ulm, perhaps Marignon or Machaka. If you're having difficulty beating the AI a nation with strong province defense (PD) such as Marginon, Pythium or Ermor will be easier to win with. I'd also suggest skipping the Blood Magic nations such as Mictlan and Abysia until after you have gotten the hang of things, blood magic is weird and takes a little more effort than the conventional schools.

You might want to try Tien Chi next, they have a broad range of magic and that will give you a chance to mess around with lots of spells and summons.

[llamabeast]

I'd recommend Middle Age Marignon. Good combination of strong human troops and powerful fire magic to use on the battlefield.

[PvK]

Ya, Marignon is good because it's like Ulm plus mostly fire and holy magic, which are both fairly simple, and the theme is pretty easily understandable (think Spanish Inquisition).

[Edratman]

The nation choices above are all good choices. You can pick many others, but I do recommend you stay away from blod nations. That's a complication that you can learn later on. One great way to start is to look though the nation guide sticky and pick a nation with a guide and follow the guide.

I would choose one of the prepackaged maps and set number of opponents so that there are about 30 provinces per player. That will allow you to expand through indies for a while and get some feel for the game.

The settings I recommend are AI- normal. Gold, resources and supplies at 300 and research to easy. This allows you, and the AI maximum build capabilities.

You need to learn how to distribute your commander purchases in castles. Trial and error is as good a method as any. This is not Civilization, you cannot do everything at once. You have to learn how to balance your army and commander builds. Castles generate only one commander per turn and you have to choose among battle mage, research mage, priest and military commander. Don't waste a castle turn buying a scout or assassin. The game is based on distributing limited resources and you need to learn how to choose well.

Another mistake I made was buying every indy troop I could. There is a factor called upkeep, look at it as tax, for troops and you will find that wanton purchase of cheap indy troops will erode available gold as the game progresses. The upkeep for sacred troops is less than that of regular troops, so in the long run they are the most efficient purchases. You will be better off just buying the best troops from your castles and filling in with indies for needs. Indy mages are almost always a wise purchase.

Do not fortify provinces away from your border with troops. Use province defense (PD), because PD does not have an associated upkeep. A PD of 10 is a good value.

As for magic use, the forum is the best source for optimal spell useage. The chaps playing MP games continually astonish me with the cleverness of spell useage, so look for these kind of threads.

Pretender creation is in itself a game within the game. Read the guides and follow them to start. Adjust as you learn. Just remember, many of the pretender build guide descriptions are geared to MP, which is an entirely different game with a emphasis on mandatory early expansion that is not necessarily applicable to SP.

Many players say the AI is weak. That is not true. Until you learn to play the game you can expect to lose a lot (I lost every game for 3 weeks). The AI is predictable and exploitable, but not if you play the game like CIV and think you can just amass the largest armies and hammer the opponents.

[das123]

I've had the game for about a year but still consider myself a beginner. I made the mistake of starting against a single enemy thinking that was going to be easiest. It's actually easier to play against two or three AI (I play on the small or medium random maps with the AI on Easy).

Some of the basic tips I picked up:

* Pick a couple of spells you want then research this strain of magic until you have them. Have a basic plan once you start the game.

* On the first turn or two, tax your home province at 140% and set your starting army to patrol. This will give you quick funds to build the army before attacking independents.

* Don't send mages out looking for magic sites. Use magic for the search.

* If you can't take an enemy castle, siege tax it at 200% until unrest is over 100. This way they can't make many troops. Then leave a small holding force and take-over the surrounding land. I think this also helps in starving the defenders.

* Before storming a castle, send in a loan scout or low-quality leader. Put him at the back of the screen set to retreat. Then when you watch the replay see what you are up against. You may need to specially equip a leader to counter what you find.

* Many of the strong battle spells require magic gems. Equip mages with a limited supply and hard-code the spells they are to perform keeping note of the fatigue cost. Let a scout carry the bulk of the gems to replenish the mages between battles.

* I never pick pretenders well so take this 'tip' with a grain of salt. I always pick a pretender very strong in magic and use him/her for research and constructing magic items. They are always dormant and I always pick 1 extra production with dominion of 6. I do this no matter what race I have because I haven't discovered a better use for my pretenders yet.