machaka for newbies

[lapo]

Hello,
I just started playing (SP) Dominions 3 with Machaka MA. I'm using as Pretender an imprisoned Lord of Fertility with N9/W9 Dom 4. I expand pretty soon with my black hunters, but in the middle game I'm usually attacked from several AI Player with huge armies (300 units)...(Playing Glory of Gods with every race). PD of Machaka is useless.
Furthermore being a newbie I do not have a clear magic strategy. Which magic path and which spells would be the best?

strategy advices ?

thanks

[Teraswaerto]

One thing to go for with Machaka is Flaming Arrows, Enchantment 4, a potentially devastating spell that makes missile weapons cause fire damage. Machaka has both cheap national archers that are easy to mass, and mages that can cast the spell.

[B0rsuk]

Regular sorcerers are your best researchers, I think. I select those with 2 fire to be my combat mages. You can research Evocation3 for Fireball, then Fire Cloud and Falling Fires. You're going to need Phoenix Power for the last 2 spells (Conjuration... 3?). Both spells are great against swarms.

I research early Alteration spells for access to Barskin and Eagle Eye.
Once I'm starting to use Black Sorcerers, I research Stoneskin and Ironskin. If enemy uses lightly armored units,black sorcerors can cast Summon Earthpower and Blade Wind.

[Sombre]

Borsuk borsukked the words right outta my mouth. Simple and effective early magic that's fun to use.

I found a combo of massed archers plus machakan hoplites pretty useful.