Stealthy Gandalf

[Endoperez]

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:

Actually I tried to write up a strat guide because of this thread. Its just not my style to sit and put it all down. We could discuss the different aspects, then someone here can compile it into logical reading.

What do you want first?
C) dominion, scales, and castles

I have two vague ideas of what you are doing. I would appreciate if you commented these and told if you (or why you wouldn't) do things like this.

A stealthy nation often goes out of its dominion, so I quess one could take bad scales and low dominion and fight as far away from it as possible. This would make detection of the nationn's citadel less likely, but the citadel wouldn't be very good as the bad dominion would affect it.

It might be possible to take scales that benefit castles, like production and order, and build temples in the same provinces that one builds his castles. The player would then have strong spots of dominion all around the map, each one would have dominion bonuses for armies. If going this route, taking drain and researching in areas without temples near could be a possibility. To be able to use this one would ned a cheap castle, and cheap temples. I think Pangaea could pull it off.


So, is either of these strategies workable?

[Boron]

Originally posted by Endoperez:
I have two vague ideas of what you are doing. I would appreciate if you commented these and told if you (or why you wouldn't) do things like this.

A stealthy nation often goes out of its dominion, so I quess one could take bad scales and low dominion and fight as far away from it as possible. This would make detection of the nationn's citadel less likely, but the citadel wouldn't be very good as the bad dominion would affect it.

It might be possible to take scales that benefit castles, like production and order, and build temples in the same provinces that one builds his castles. The player would then have strong spots of dominion all around the map, each one would have dominion bonuses for armies. If going this route, taking drain and researching in areas without temples near could be a possibility. To be able to use this one would ned a cheap castle, and cheap temples. I think Pangaea could pull it off.


So, is either of these strategies workable?

a small problem i see is that provinces with high enemy dominion create unrest .
i think as alexi said loot is better . that should drive your enemy insane even
so you still take good scales , generate much wealth in your corelands and try to destroy the money/blood economy of your opponents . so even if they can stop your for some time they will be very weakened and only have the gem income .
especially evil against the basic ulm like nations and in the beginning of the game .

[Gandalf Parker]

Ive tried both. But I like low dominion and cheap castles. Even if its only for the roleplaying. To me part of the stealth strategy is making them wonder where you really are. On large maps its easier. Yes it can allow taking some very damaging scales if you want to play maximum bless, which interestingly enough each of the sneak-army nations arent setup too badly to do. Or good scales with low push so that your candle-power doesnt give away every location you own.

It can throw quite a bend into the plans of the chess-strategist player. He cant plan your destruction, he has to luck into it. He cant put off adding defences to provinces he takes because he has no idea if you are right there next to it and about to spring. you play havok with supply lines. Force all of his mages to travel with armies. He isnt sure where your main castle is. He isnt sure what will take you out. He is never sure how beaten or not beaten you are. If an ally gives you a province on his backside then you can always bounce back.

Set yourself up to be ready to snatch an advantage the moment it shows, anywhere, anytime. If you feel like the formula strategists always out play you because you play randomly watching for sudden openings better than you do planning ahead, try stealth.

[ July 28, 2004, 13:53: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

[Lex]

or what about the opposite.. taking restless worshipers with high dominion and droping castles strategically in the heart of enemy's empires. add alot of looting to cripple their economies, and maybe some disease, and even hit and run tactics if your castle(s) aren't under seige by very pissed off opponent(s). After a short while your army would come in a take out the much weakened empire.

I mean, in modern warfare, you always cripple a nation's economy first, then you cripple their infrastructure, all the while you're spreading propaganda throughout their population, and then finally you send in your troops. Anyone trying to take out an opponent without going through those steps is exerting alot more effort for the same prize.

Unfortunatly, the only way I can think of to counter this would be to build castles on every province to protect yourself (which from reading older threads, not everyone is fond of). that or have emergency response forces that are fast enough to catch a raiding intruder (ie SC with teleport). I'm sure there are other ways to counter this too...