First Time Through Difficulty

[Tango Bloom]

Is it just me, or is this game like, meant to be played on easy the first time through? Because even on normal, with the traps I have availible, it's darn near impossible to keep every single orc out of the rift... Did anyone else experience this problem?

[PiojoLoco]

the game is not raelly hard on regular normal difficulty. i bought it along with the artifacts of power DLC, they were pretty useful the first time i played the game, but when i was trying to get through the hard mode or to get the 5 stars on regular mode i found the original weapons more useful than the artifacts. it is all about strateg. when i got into advanced levels i found that the Spring traps where very useful. when replaying the game i found the mushroms were awesome against ogres.

[Vagabond X]

It does help if you play the first few levels on Easy, then go back and do them on normal. Keep in mind that the game requires a mixture of action and tatical thinking, so there is a bit of a learning curve... You will fail on occassion, but you should learn from it.
I agree with Wunksta as well: unlocking as many traps as you can helps a lot, and using barricades to funnel the hordes into a well-armed killbox is much more effective than letting them spread out. In this regard the AoE stun from your crossbow is also one of your best weapons: it roots most enemies in place, giving you traps time to hit them again.
Another important thing is to check the map layout and enemy types before the battle starts. That way you can note the areas where certain traps will be most effective, learn your way around in case you need to defend a different area, and have an understanding of exactly what you'll be up against throughout the level.
And when at a complete loss, find a favorite combination of traps to fall back on. I favor the tar patch + spiked pendulem method myself. Expensive, but tends to obliterate anything except an ogre in a single hit. >:D

[GeoRAMIEL]

Putting a lighting cloud outside the door will kill most enemies coming under it, and awesome against flying enemies before they come inside. I usually put two lava pads against each door. archer, automatic crossbow and floor scorcher are currently my favourite.

[TGC GamerGramp]

I agree with wunksta, although on Twin Halls I did the entire level without barricades and got 5 skulls. I think that may be an exception though. (For all other levels, though, I use barricades.)

[Mr. Snrub]

Paladins are very good when upgraded.they can take a lot of hits and force the orcs to stop and try to kill them.

[MysticGuyver-AllynJ]

My suggestion. Spend at least an hour coming up with your own strategies, if after that hour your still scratching your head. Hit you tube, get inspired. Start by repeating them exactly. Then if you think you can do better, go for it. Sometimes the inspiration of others, will lead you down a path that you would never have gotten to on your own.

[Tango Bloom]

Originally posted by AWMClub-AllynJ:

My suggestion. Spend at least an hour coming up with your own strategies, if after that hour your still scratching your head. Hit you tube, get inspired. Start by repeating them exactly. Then if you think you can do better, go for it. Sometimes the inspiration of others, will lead you down a path that you would never have gotten to on your own.

I like this idea, thanks! :)

[tovarish_alex]

Here is a combination that was super useful for me: a Mace (or two) and tar traps under it. Plus I used that belt spell to throw orcs back and win some time for traps to recharge. Leter, playing in levels with ogres, I always tryed to have that 1200 money to place a mushroom trap right infront of the ogre.
I finished the game in aprentice mode first, then in War Mage without buying any Power -Shmower DLC

[Tango Bloom]

Yeah, I dont plan on buying DLC :P

[CptBartender]

If you don't plan to buy dlcs, then dtry something like this... Works in every place you can stuff it into:)
1st line brimstones
2nd line spikes
3rd line tars
4th and 5th line springs
swinging mace (very important to upgrade ASAP) above tars - one is actually better - better combos which give you more score and, what's more important if you think of yourself as a beginner, more money.
archers behind - far enough that they just barely have the killzone in range.
if possible, place arrow walls on all sides of this killtrap
take lightning ring and cast the storm onto the killzone when orcs come, then just spamclick the crossbow (DON'T try to score headshots - better combos without them)
Take the steel weaver (IMO the easiest one) and upgrade everything except paladins (unless you use them as well).

Simple, mostly fool-proof method :) If there's not enough place to use that exactly then, well, get creative and adapt.

Also, if you need skulls for upgrades, repeat all the previous levels where you didn't get 5/5 skulls. With weavers and more traps available, these will be a lot easier.

Hope this helps :)

[Tango Bloom]

wow, nice guide. thanks! :)

Originally posted by Riker:

If you don't plan to buy dlcs, then dtry something like this... Works in every place you can stuff it into:)
1st line brimstones
2nd line spikes
3rd line tars
4th and 5th line springs
swinging mace (very important to upgrade ASAP) above tars - one is actually better - better combos which give you more score and, what's more important if you think of yourself as a beginner, more money.
archers behind - far enough that they just barely have the killzone in range.
if possible, place arrow walls on all sides of this killtrap
take lightning ring and cast the storm onto the killzone when orcs come, then just spamclick the crossbow (DON'T try to score headshots - better combos without them)
Take the steel weaver (IMO the easiest one) and upgrade everything except paladins (unless you use them as well).

Simple, mostly fool-proof method :) If there's not enough place to use that exactly then, well, get creative and adapt.

Also, if you need skulls for upgrades, repeat all the previous levels where you didn't get 5/5 skulls. With weavers and more traps available, these will be a lot easier.

Hope this helps :)

[Under Siege]

If you have the money and want to be really evil when using the swining mace/tar trap combo, add barricades. Put tar traps under the length of the mace, then add barricades running adjacent to the tar traps but leaving a sqaure free of barricades at opposide ends. This has the awesome effect of forcing the orc scum to slowly run the length of your mace rather than just crossing a single square.

[Tango Bloom]

Originally posted by coffee_baron:

If you have the money and want to be really evil when using the swining mace/tar trap combo, add barricades. Put tar traps under the length of the mace, then add barricades running adjacent to the tar traps but leaving a sqaure free of barricades at opposide ends. This has the awesome effect of forcing the orc scum to slowly run the length of your mace rather than just crossing a single square.

hrm... good idea!

[Hassat Hunter]

Not an expert at all here, just trying my best at Warmage difficulty. Getting 5 skulls at start, now usually 3 or 4 at the first try in act III (and I save up skulls, not really sure what to upgrade. Paying 14 to make elves 500 instead of 600 made me wary of updating the paladin, expecting a similar waste of skullls :/).

It's kind of funny most traps I deemed "useless" are advocated here.
Barricade? Nah. Spring? Nope. Tar Pit? I rather spend 400 coins on killing devices. DLC Alchamist sack? Nope.

So yeah, it's interesting to see how my strategies are really different than those proposed here. The fun thing is, they work too.
So as stated before, find what you like and suits you, and run with it.

Effective killing ways (for me);
Kobolds; always running ahead of orcs, so just stand a bit back and kill them as they advance the horde. More difficult on smaller maps though.
Orcs; Stun with crossbow, hit thrice with sword, repeat. Later replace by "have Paladin stun them, kill them with sword from the back"
Gnolls; Decoy. Kill them with sword before it explodes. Very efficient. Haven't seen a need to upgrade the decoy either, since it doesn't get destroyed like this. If it does, replace.

Also always go with the traps weaver. The other lines just don't beat extra gold from trap kills, +20% faster activation (seriously, it's the best upgrade) and all the other pro's it has.

What else?

[Tripas]

Originally posted by Zorpix:

Well, I see the paths, but like, when the 1st wave starts, they only come through one door, and I have no idea which door to start with :/

I don't think this question has been answered yet, so here goes: you usually start the level facing the first door through which the orcs will come through. Remember that as whenver you begin a level ;) .