Just finished first game using most current beta casting spell of making. Some observations this was using a custom soveriegn life/air aprentice, general, merchant, and tactician. Race was Mancers, Kingdom of Capitar. Starting location was nothing special, 4 grain, 2 materials and 2 essence, really focused on research. The initial location was not really good, only reason was able to massively out grow AI was through use of custom unit, Pathfinder which has scouting, stealth, road building and for self defence wooden staff.
The pathfinder unit allowed me to rapidly build a road network, set up a couple of early out posts, and eventually found a city. Having civic and 1000 starting gildar due to Sovereign traits allowed for rushing prodcution which was an important aspect. First three cities were Conclave, Fortress, and then a Town. Proceeded to build a second fortress, conclave then town. The last town was prime location but required killing off a Slag, which is no easy fit in the early to mid game, in particular without any fire magic, or fire based weaponry.
Some general observations, champions were sparse, did not have that many. Found Inslow, then there were two level seven Champions both of Ironeer blood and mages, kind of a odd combo. It was mid game before had adequate technology to recruit. A lack of low level champions can be a problem in the early to mid game. The AI seems to be really fond of killing off champions that are of opposite race (fallen/men). Was not every really pressed by the AI. Altar was hemmed in by the Pits of Moantor (sp?), then there was a massive Ice Elemental, which killed of in the late game, that hemmed in Resoln and Magnar from Kraxis and Pariden. Gilden had the misfortune of staring near Yithril, which I made an effort to help them, part of my play style is to help out the other Kingdoms when possible, of course Pariden proceeded to conqueor Gilden on their own.
Did not really get to enjoy the use of magic item from the technology tree since I was always lacking in crystals. My second city which was a fortress I ended up building the Great Mill, with specialization and through getting the war college was able to create extremely formidable troops form just this one city. Had great fun once I was able to build catapults and finally use them with the splash damage. As usual Kraxis was a major threat, and Emperor Karavox, which I believe was an assasin did insane critical hit damage, Kraxis units tend to be real pain to fight, and employed a great deal of armor. It was a fun challenge keeping one of my overextended armies alive that was deep in their territory trying to complete a quest when Kraxis declared war on my Kingdom.
Looking back I think one of the key decisions that I made was to have my first city and capital become a conclave, I was able to maintain a significant technology edge. When reviewing the power graph, I was signicantly ahead of the AI in both technology and population. I did not take over many AI cities, when playing a Kingdom faction I tend to raise Fallen cities, but from the cities that I did take over they seemed to be significantly behind, I think the AI over emphasizes units. I does not build up it's infrastructure adequately because from what I recall of the end game power graph there were several occasions where both my research and population graphs shot up almost near vertically on the graph.
Anyhow, overall it was great deal of fun, and the game is progressing nicely. Have played several different factions with beta four namely, Gilden, Pariden, Altar, and Capitar. It has taken me a while to figure out the mechanics of the game, until recently I would get hammered by the AI, still remember a rather unfortunate war against Yithril were seemingly endless swarms of juggernauts reigned destruction upon even my best armies and champions, probably why I have a deep seated hatred for Verga.
-CoG
