My Philosophy on Strategy Guides

[Redeyes]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Parker

The problem then is that some would call it a tutorial. We do have a thread label for tutorial. I think as far as this thread goes we might be talking about tutorial, guide, and tips. Maybe FAQ. But even then we seem to be lacking enough labels for everyone.

So there's no strategy in scripting?
Or even in buying a cheap commander early, or leading with a mage to use the battlefield spells you will soon have researched?

Perhaps you are speaking broad strokes, which is what I'm thinking right now, where Strategy Guides should be general advice and guidelines instead of formulas for "this is the best way to expand and win"?

Just asking because I think your stance could be expanded on. It feels as if you like a Socratic kind of guide, where the "teacher" has a dialog with the student so he can find his own way of approaching the problem.

That's just one kind of guide to me, though quite useful I sometimes like something more comprehensive "tutorial"-like, and sometimes just a near numerical analysis so I can see exactly why jotun skinshifters lose to blessed jaguar warriors with certain backup.

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally Posted by KissBlade

I'm not too convinced by that argument. How can you rate something as "best mp guide" when earlier you, yourself mentioned that under your opinion, there is no "best" of anything because of variables?

Your right. I wanted to put "best mp guides" in quotes.
But I didnt want to give the impression that I was saying they werent great guides. The general consensus here on what the best guides are probably should be considered as best guides.

I just wanted to point out that it doesnt mean best for everyone. Im against trying to limit the definition.

[JimMorrison]

Originally Posted by AreaOfEffect

Recently, a player commented on a new guide of mine. The comment implied that I had not written a guide to the nation, but rather a strategy that happened to be specific to that nation.

...My philosophy now is to avoid writing everything there is to write and instead put forth a focused cohesive strategy. Not only that, but make it a point to slim the strategy down to the minimum of what is needed to make it work.

I'm pretty sure I am the player that made this comment, and I really did not intend to crawl under your skin at all. <3

All I meant, was that when I think of "Guide", I think of something that at least goes into detail about the basics - your standard description of the basic strengths and weaknesses of the nation, description of units and commanders, that sort of thing.

I didn't mean to detract in any way by stating that I didn't see your strategy post as a guide per se, it was simply that you had focused only on the mechanics that you wanted to highlight, and that's perfectly fine. I just see a guide sitting down and explaining the differences in recruitable types first, so you have a quick reference as to the various capabilities of the Caelian troops for example, rather than only specific mention of map move or armor in the context of why you are using those units a specific way, as opposed to other units.

It had nothing to do with the fact that I have a very divergent over-arching strategy worked out (that I AM kind of proud of, just as I think you should be proud of your own work with Caelum), because regardless of how you use the tools provided with the nation, you are still using the same tools. It's just that your description of how to build a rocking chair, didn't start with an assessment of the various tools available to a woodworker, but rather only described them in the context of the project that you were displaying.

I for one like your strategies, and think you're an excellent player, but my respect for you won't change my own semantic differentiation between a Guide, and a Strategy.

[AreaOfEffect]

@ Jim - You didn't crawl under my skin at all. I love you Jim. In that I-don't-know-you-but-I-always-love-to-hear-what-you-have-to-say sort of way. See, now I'm trying hard to dispel any sort of creepy vibe I might be giving off.

Rather, I was originally just going to say that it's a strategy guide and not a nation guide and that a true nation guide could not be made. It then evolved into something larger and I just wanted to make a discussion out of it. I understand your point-of-view, but I feel I did address most of the units in one way or the other. Some I felt needed no introduction.

By the way, I can't wait to see what you've cooked up.

[chrispedersen]

Sorry,

Failed my MR against 'creepy vibe' =)

[vfb]

Originally Posted by Aezeal

You don't need a strategy guide then, you need a thread with silly idea's which could be usefull.. there is a differce, I think a strat guide should help you in SP (which most fun idea's could do) but also in MP (which is a bit more demanding)

I wasn't even considering SP. I think it's usually assumed that if someone's writing a guide, it can be used in MP. SP-only strat guides usually have some sort of disclaimer attached.

[JimMorrison]

Originally Posted by AreaOfEffect

@ Jim - You didn't crawl under my skin at all. I love you Jim. In that I-don't-know-you-but-I-always-love-to-hear-what-you-have-to-say sort of way. See, now I'm trying hard to dispel any sort of creepy vibe I might be giving off.

I am sitting here staring at this window, thinking of a million amusing things I could say right now. But for once I will resist making 12 people cringe in the pursuit of getting 3 people to laugh.

And anyway, I am pretty comfortable with my sexuality. I am Unisexual, in that, I only have sex with the Universe. So you can say what you want, love you too man.

Oh, and hey Chris. What are you wearing right now?

[KissBlade]

This thread certainly got a lot weirder ...

[RamsHead]

It is those damned Void Spectres I tell you.

[Lingchih]

OK. I am completely disturbed by this thread.