boy I must suck....

I suggest for early games to play on large maps with only two or three races in the game ( the reason for large maps is it will take a fair bit if time for the opponents to grow to you from where they start), I have found that the small maps are better when you have more experience with the game.

harpo

Thanks, I have been playing on medium maps with 5 oppenents...too crowded I guess?  Also, it seems the Ai gets a huge resource boost? or is that just me being REALLY slow at this game? 

I come from Civilization and I play at that mindset, I know I have to get out of it here, but its tough for me to do that...:)  Any suggestions?

-Gizmet

In the early game, Kindom factions are easier to hold up against because they do not get Sions (other than Sions the game does not get good units till they have catapults). Also, having more AI players helps give you time to get started because they will fight each other.

Getting some tech going is very important, because with the right research you can get anything else you need.

Hi Gizment,  I will try to offer some 'general' advice.  Specific advice is difficult because there are so many variables, amnd many styles.  Here is mine:  First, are you playing a kingdom, or an empire? 

I generally play a kingdom, so my advice will follow that tech tree.  First, take sovereign with meditation, or whatever its called.  The point is, you want a Sov that will immediately begin research on magic.  This is essential.  Then, begin researching one of tow paths (your choice):  choice one: research level two spells, THEN, research summon familiar.  Avoid combat - don't get near any hostiles.. until you get summon familiar. Immediately cast it, get you familiar, NOW go fight some monsters, and level up.  BTW, use the familiar to fight, not your SOV... she is too weak for physical combat at the start.  OTHER choice, research flame dart.  When you get it, use it to flame enemies, level up.  This is quicker, but riskier - because you might run out of manna before you run out of monsters in a battle. 

ASAP, build your first settlement next to fertile land.  The early choke point for production is usually 'material."  So, build a work pit, or whatever its called - that makes 1 material a turn.  Exercise patience.  Look at the possible choice for builds, and look at the various resources needed, and what you are lacking.  usually its materials.  However, you need food, money, etc.  ALSO:  It is extremely important to get control of at least one lost library, so you can "build its tile" and begin getting 'research' to learn up the tech tree (which has several branches).  You will probably have to build a settler (requires 'materials!).  Build a new settlement next to that library.  Then develop the library tile - start generating research.  BTW, temples do the same thing for arcane (magic spell) research (your sov does one point a turn on her own).

From here, it really depends on what opportunities come up.  However, almost always: a scribe will show up near your first town, second turn of game.  Click on your sov (must be adjacent to scribe), then left click on scribe.  You will see an icon with "..." three dots on it.  Talk to the guy, and he will join you for free.  All the others cost gold.  Now you have two characters to move.  If you have enough gold, and your characters are in your settlement (or in your zone of influence, which will expand as time goes by), buy them traveling boots.  And put the boots on!  Now they move three in stead of two spaces a turn.  Why spend this VERY LARGE amount of money (at this stage of the game)?  Because you must look around, carefully, for all the "goodie huts", like a dropped bag, or a caravan wreck, etc.  When you enter these space, you will get some money, or resources (metal, materials!!!! etc.).  The other players will also be seeking these out, so don't wait on it.  But don't go onto a goodie hut IF a monster (or bandit) is next to that space, unless you already have your familiar summoned and it is riding shotgun with you. 

You will also see an occasional 'Inn." Entering one of these squares will give you a quest.  I won't tell you the quests - that part of the fun.  However, if the quest sends you to a lair - be prepared for a fight inside. 

That's all I can say in very general terms:  Remember, tech research has several (5?) branches.  Finally, take a good look in the forums, read the beginners FAQ, as many things are explained better that i just did.  Both full tech trees,  one for kingdoms (humans) , one for empires (the fallen ones) is posted also.  Look it over. Really, have fun.  AND one final suggestion.  If, after 15 or 20 turns, you discover there are no libraries in range for you to settle next to and use - then book right out of that game and start again.  Not having tech research by turn 40 or so is TOO big a handicap...

Hope this helps you get a decent start.  Welcome to the community!

As a note, the scribe is turned on/off by a setting in the options menu that has to do with recieving 'advice' messages.

Thanks for the advice.

-Gizmet

There are several "early game strategy" threads around you should have a look at.  Also consider looking at Gyb's FAQ that is posted on www.GameFAQS.com it may have some information that will help you out.

Otherwise in it's current form the game becomes quite a bit easier if you focus on researching up to spell level 4 (or 5?) as soon as possible and research Imbue Champion (empire starts with it, kingdom can research it immediately), Summon Familiar (level 2) or the empire equivalent, Summon Fire Giant (level 3 or 4?) and Rolkoth's Promise (level 4 or 5?) along the way.  Imbue a champion and get your sovereign and that champion up to 16 essence (cost of summon fire giant) through leveling asap and then summon a familiar, fire giant, and stone giant with sov and champion.  This gives you a good stomping army early game and should keep AIs off your back just because they will see your military as 'stronger' and if not you should be able to stomp them before at least around turn 150.  Just don't get too attached to this strategy because it likely won't work after 1.1 but it should help you learn the game for now.

Each time I started new game on huge, I always had one enemy (usually empire) right next to me. So my typical strategy, which lets me win even on ridiculous with ease is to smash this enemy early in the game. Research party ASAP, build 3x peasants and capture its cities. This way you will secure another food source, 2 gold mines, and usually additional library for yourself. Plus, next enemy is further away, and will not come close as fast.

I usually start with a sovereign with meditative and brilliant trait so I can start researching at turn 2 for magic AND tech. I build my city (with the study, arcane lab, workshop, watchtower and all the other that I can) and after that I'm settle, I build a pionner . I'm a turtler so I'm not aggressive and with this kind of setting, before patch 1.1, it's risky because city spamming is a "must" if you want to have a good resource/tech/magic research. I'm hoping that with 1.1, I'll be able to build a few really strong city and be able to start production rigth after. Also, if you cast brilliance (+1 tech research) and nature bounty (+1 food) on all your city, this can be really helpful.

Goldmos:  I agree with you about the hopes for 1.1   I hate the city spam - have to focus on administrative details just to stay a contender in the game, because the AI really believes in "Spam-a-lot."

Turn 1:  Found city next to Fertile Land.  Position so that any nearby resources will get inside border sooner rather than later.
Turn 2:  Hire Janusk and rename him Bob.  Start Workshop build in your city (so that materials are produced ASAP).
Turn 3:  Buy a staff and then go exploring with Bob.

Research Flame Dart as your first spell (build the Arcane Lab or whatever it's called as your third city building - Workshop, Hut, Arcane research thing). 

While you are exploring, attack EVERYTHING so that Sov and Bob level up a couple times.  Build up Sov's intelligence and mana; give Bob some Strength and Constitution.

Turn x:  Using Sov and Bob, attack the first AI you come across and take all of their cities.

Now you should have a pretty good base to build upon.

Had not played for awhile then the newest patch came out and I played a couple games. Lost my 1st two.

I was shocked, A far away power(Yellow) declared war on me, I wasn't worried because another huge power(Green) was the only one next to me.

Green land was the only way I could expand so I attacked them, took about 6 of there citys plus there capital I'm pretty sure. Then there main army slipped past mine, no probelm I will catch up to them so they don't reconquer all of the citys I just took and possibly more.

Then Yellows 2 main army shows up(I had not seen them the whole game) and blocks the pass back to my newly conq. citys and my citys. I fight and beat the 1st and then get nuked by there spell casters on 2nd.    Sov. got trapped and couldn't tele out(no mana of course) and I lost a game I thought I had in the bag.

2nd One that roving band of archers and Brigands came out of nowhere twice and destroyed my 2 expansion citys. Only had a turn to see them then was attacked. AI had 10 citys by the time I had my 2nd(or 4th if your counting the razed ones) and a big army walking towards my capital.

Very fun, Played a couple more and did better. Making adjustments so I could do well early game.

When I start a new game, I'll always save the game, then spend 20 or 30 turns just exploring the immediate area. The idea is to find the best starting point for my first city. Then having done that, I reload and bee line for that spot.

You could save yourself some time by saving using the reveal map cheat (add the word cheat to the end of the shortcut and push Ctrl+U) then just look around the immediate area and keep your mini-map off so you don't see everything then reload the save.  Not sure how you feel about that idea, but it would be quicker by far and accomplish the same thing.

I find if I enable cheats, it is far too tempting to then use other cheats when in a pinch, which of course then ruins any challenge in the game. My little trick above is technically a cheat, but I figure if I'm not actually using cheat codes, then I'm cheating the 'fair' way.

I have found it useful to pick a medium map, only 1 opponent, and them on beginner - just to learn the ropes.

Even then they may start right nearby and go all medieval on you, not much to do except start again.  I suspect I have started more games than is good for me and finished very few of them

Just learning.  I have particularly enjoyed exploring each tech tree in depth without worrying too much about winning - winning actually cuts into my learning time atm.

Then 1.1 will shake me all up again lol - but I have had lots of fun to date.

That's cheap you CHEATER!!!!