Age of Wonders : Shadow Magic

[Traianvs]

Originally posted by Jamski
Such accusations!

Ok, I just lost the second map by getting my wizard killed.

But wait... Yay! I'm still alive!

Gotta love that.

Ok... why are my Elf Longbowmen (apparently the best archers in the game) utterly pants even against stuff with no armour?

-Jam

They're not the best archers... Centaurs are better, and Archon Charioteers are better too for example . Depends on who you used them on? Btw note that you won't hit them if you fire from too far (the little spheres turn red, and in the bottom left window it will show the odds of hitting your target). Ideally (and logically) you need to position your archers on higher ground and your chances of hitting will improve enormously. Btw archers have 3 shots, but if you move around your archers too much you'll only have 2 shots, or even 1. Also be sure to put your archers behind your grunt troops for protection, but I guess all of that is quite obvious

[ZargonX]

Just appreciate the value of veteran troops. Some units gain more abilites as they level up, so don't necessarily think of all "built" units as throw-away fodder.

[Spaced Cowboy]

Originally posted by Jamski
Really? It seems very easy to get the high ends, much easier than MoM. Barracks, War thingie, and Champion's whatever, and you're there.

I just completely overestimated how good my hero with a couple of levels and a couple of found items was and got him killed. Dammit

Question : What do I need to make items ingame? A spell? A building?

-Jam

An item forge with a level 3 wiz tower, and items will carry over with your heros, but I already have lots of things my single hero, and your wizard should not leave the tower anyway.

[Jamski]

This game is actually good enough that I don't care if they make MoM2 or not. And that's saying something.

I didn't see that you could check the odds, and I didn't know the high ground would help... as for putting the grunts in front, they always get in the way of the arrows

So... give me a week, and then I'll take someone on Its begging to be played in MP.

-Jam

[Traianvs]

You will be utterly and completely crushed Jamski

I didn't see that you could check the odds, and I didn't know the high ground would help... as for putting the grunts in front, they always get in the way of the arrows

Not if your archers are on higher ground, they most likely fire over your own troops' heads. Especially if you shoot diagonally in between units (not straight ahead).
But the easiest way is to put your archer directly behind a grunt troop. Units will fire over your own troops' heads if they are directly standing behind another one of your own troops.

Btw magic is abundant in SM, so be sure to use it all the time to buff your troops etc. (very useful is stoneskin = +3 defense; stoneskin cast on an orc warlord makes the unit nigh indestructible )

[Jamski]

I suppose I need to be an Earth wizard to get Stoneskin? Hmm... I gotta play around with this game some more, its really time-eating me

Yeah, and I'll be crushed, but 'twill be fun

-Jam

[Traianvs]

Yeah that's the biggest disadvantage: VERY time-consuming

[Urban Ranger]

I don't have Shadow Magic, since AoW 2 gave me a very bad taste in my mouth.

One question, did they put Battering Ram back? I couldn't believe they took it out from AoW 2. It's so bloody cheesy.

The Air Galley was awesome in AoW One Galley could wipe out entire stacks of enemy units, particularly ones with no ranged attacks. Also I couldn't find a way to defeat a Rift Lord in AoW 2 without an Air Galley.

[Jamski]

The battering ram is gone, but the air galley remains. They've made the AI build lots of ranged units (it says here) so flyers are pretty vunerable.

Hey, I had no social life anyway

-Jam

[Jon Miller]

spent all day saturday playing this game

got pretty far as shadow demons and frostlings

spent yesterday playing AvP2 and trying to play City of Heroes

in a couple hours will need to go into school and grade

Jon Miller

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Jamski
The battering ram is gone, but the air galley remains.

Bah! Disgusting!

Originally posted by Jamski
They've made the AI build lots of ranged units (it says here) so flyers are pretty vunerable.

Only a ballista has the range of an air galley, though.

[Traianvs]

Or you could use a repeater ballista
It has 3 shots (like an archer) so you can move it around and still fire in 1 turn, it's somewhat stronger, but the individual shots are a bit weaker iirc. Anyhow it's better and more expensive

Well AoW2 didn't really live up to my expectations either. SM is basically what AoW2 should have been. On top of that it's a disgrace that SM costs full price while it's somewhat of a (very very big) expansion, because it's still the same game with a few improvements.

About the battering ram; it wouldn't be of much use as every unit with a melee strike can strike down gates (not walls!). Also keep in mind that a ram is really slow... your cavalry would beat down a gate ages before a ram destroys a wall.
Besides there's plenty of units that can phase, fly, pass walls, crush walls etc, so there should be enough alternatives

[Jamski]

Two heros + 6 summoned unicorns had no problem phasing into my enemy's capital city this afternoon. That was a tasty stack.

The fact that the heros were LOADED with spells and items helped a lot too A helmet with Leadership 3 makes everyone in the battle have +2 attack and +1 defense. Sweet killer unicorns

-Jam

[Traianvs]

a +3 leadership helmet

I haven't even seen that yet. I always get petty +1 leadership helmets. Worthless as I give my heroes leadership whenever I have the possibility!

Btw try the orc warlord+dark gift+enchant weapon+unholy champion+stoneskin+leadership+life stealing (every orc unit receives that ability if produced in a city that has the orc unique building already built there)

=> your warlords will be demigods (and even more so against 'good' aligned units!)

PS: you'll need some mana upkeep etc but it's worth it. Besides magic should be used as much as possible (it's like the potions in BG, don't save them!! In many games I end up with 20k mana in stock anyway so there's plenty)

[Jamski]

I make the Leadership III helmets myself If the hero has Leadership too, then that's 4 levels of leadership, giving all friendly units on the battlefield +2 attack and +2 defence. Even crap level 1 troops can take the fight with bonuses like that before any spells and without any upkeep

Tough units become unkillable

-Jam