Just some thoughts from a Noob

[jimkehn]

Thanks llamabeast. I am registered for one on Gandalf's server, but so far only two have showed up. Me and another guy. Was hoping to get 3 more. I'll get my *** kicked anyway. I'm Kailasa. I'm playing a solitaire of them now, and they seem pretty weak. Those darn little monkeys run at the sight of the enemy. At least they're cheap to build.

[llamabeast]

Well like I say, if you advertise it on the MP forum you're much much more likely to get players.

The little monkeys are a bit rubbish. I started an MP with the cunning plan of massing so many markatas that I'd overwhelm all opposition. It backfired hideously unfortunately, and I was annihilated with a peak empire size of two provinces. I still think it could work if done correctly though. If those markatas were given Strength of Giants, I reckon they'd chew through anything.

Oh, Gandalf if you read this - how does it work with non-demo people playing the demo game? Can they play races other than the 5 in the demo? Can they research higher? And do they have to be using version 3.0? Just out of interest.

[Gandalf Parker]

No they end up with the same limits. Its built into the client on their side. The host side does affect some things so it can make a difference if the game is run by a demo version or a full version (the demo game on my server is being run by a demo version)

There might be a problem with "not high enough version" though. To be truthful I havent tested the demo/full crossover with each patch.

[jimkehn]

The Markatas are a mystery to me. It seems some unit types they are afraid of and will run after taking a few losses and some they will stand and fight forever (almost). In both of these scenarios the squad numbers were comparable, so I am aware of the Morale consequences of small squad numbers. In neither case were there any magicians casting Sermon of Courage. What I didn't pay attention to was Dominion. I am not sure if they were in enemy dominion when they left. Also....Doesa province with say...6 white candles have a stronger effect on morale than a province with one white candle?

The Guhyana and Yavana won't attach to Monkey Leaders. Is this because they are "Sacred" or because they are "Magical" beings. And does this hold for human leaders as well?

[jimkehn]

Also....Abyssa just entered my home province. My armies weren't there for the initial battle....just the PDs. However, they ARE there in the besieged castle. Is this how they are supposed to act? If they woulda stayed and fought on the battlefield I would have dispatched the enemy army with ease...I think.

Now then....I DID move them into the province the same turn, so maybe they are assumed to have moved in after the field battle occured and found their way into the castle thru secret passages?

[FaceLess]

By default, movement to your own province with a castle will always result in having the troops inside the castle. You can change the move order to move and patrol to have the troops directly help in defending the province. Note that the option "move and patrol" only becomes available after you first give the move order and only if the target province contains a castle you own.
In provinces with a castle, only commanders (and the troops they lead) with the patrol order will defend the province(together with pd). Thus troops on defend, preach, research, forging, casting, etc will never help to defend the province.

[Gandalf Parker]

Dominion does affect morale and Markata cant really afford morale hits. To avoid routing so much you might try breaing units into smaller groups. If you have a commander with one big square of units, then break them into 5 units. It seems to help

[jimkehn]

OK....the game gets deeper and deeper.

[SelfishGene]

Those early Divata summons, the blue dancing girls, come with the morale flag, so you can use them mixed with Markatas to really raise their morale.

The fun little secret of Kailasa is the normal Bandar Warrior; while they seem much weaker then their armored counterpart, they can throw 15 (or 13?) damage Sticks and Stones, with 2 attacks, nearly at the range of a sling. And they'll never run out of ammo.

[jimkehn]

Thanks SelfishGene. SO....do I order them to fire? Or hold and attack, and while they are holding, they will throw rocks?