Tips for newbs - just add

[Aezeal]

After attacking a lizardmen province in one of my early turns with my pretenders I would like to share:
( I know it's known to most, I had even read it somewhere before )

TIP:
DO NOT ATTACK LIZARDMEN INDIES WITH VALUABLE TROOPS/COMMANDERS/PRETENDERS

reason: the damn mage will cast curse on you, getting a cursed pretender is not nice

--> plz add more general newb info, I and I suppose other have a lot to learn (preverably not the hard way)

[ologm]

Don't attack independent barbarians with your pretender in the beginning, they can hurt. Barbarians can't handle arrows.

[Ironhawk]

Heavy Cav / Knight provinces are also dangerous to attack with high value units due to thier lances.

[Ironhawk]

Always buy at least 1PD in every province. Don't buy more than 10PD unless you have a specific reason to do so.

[K]

-Always script Divine Blessing and Blessing if you have sacred troops, because the casting AI is not smart enough to do it.

-Alway double-check Stealth commanders, because they Stealth as a default and won't join battles.

-Mercenaries are a great way to site search for Paths your nation doesn't have naturally.

[chrispedersen]

Yogolgna is a great way to build underwater temples, if youre a landlubbing nation.

[cleveland]

In general, it's more helpful to choose a pretender that diversifies your nation, rather than a pretender that builds on your nation's existing strengths.

So if your nation has strong Nature magic, don't waste design points giving him a lot of Nature magic.

If your nation has access to flying commanders, don't waste points on a flying chassis.

If your nation has powerful non-capital mages, don't waste points on a Magic-3 scale.

Etc.

[Endoperez]

cleveland said:
If your nation has powerful non-capital mages, don't waste points on a Magic-3 scale.

What do you mean "waste"? Faster research is faster research, even if your researchers are also good in fights. There might be better options, but that doesn't make this one weak or wasteful, just not-quite-optimal.

[Dedas]

Endoperez said:

What do you mean "waste"? Faster research is faster research, even if your researchers are also good in fights. There might be better options, but that doesn't make this one weak or wasteful, just not-quite-optimal.

Also, people tend to forget that Magic 3 gives several other benefits than just research points. For example:

• * 30% less fatigue when casting spells in combat.
  
  * -1 MR (actually good if your troops/mages have high MR and the enemy has low).
  
  * Some spells effectiveness rely on magic scale.

Pushing that magic scale into enemy lands (with dominion) could benefit your invasion a lot. It is also a good thing to have if attacked in some cases.

[mathusalem]

use boots of quickness to double the effect of items with spell (acid staff, Tempest, Sceptre of Corruption, Rod of Pheonix, Herald Lance, Rod of Kurgi, Sword of Justice, Crossbows & Bows, Crown of Overmight, Wand of Wild Fire, O'al Kan's Sceptre, Sun Slayer, Standard of the Dammed, Winter Bringer, Skull Standard)

ex : a non-mage commandant can cast 2 drain life per turn with boots of quickness and a Standard of the Dammed

Awaken Sleeper are great for this purpose : high precision and lot of hit points

About Combattants and low level paths
1 level in Water is good for quicken self
1 level in fire for fire shield
1 level in astral for luck / body etheral
1 level in death for reanimation
1 level in nature for protection / forge food / eagle Eyes
1 level in air for aim
2 level in air for mistform
3 level in death for soul vortex
1 level in blood for blood Vengeance



In blood :
Blood Boil is the only battle spell usable without slaves (1b & 1f)
Agony is really useful with High level caster, Harm too.
Infernal Prison or Claws of Kokytos are usefull for casting under astral corruption or to send to hell big horrors