How do you manage mid game (turns 40-60) ?

[pascal.difolco]

I really enjoy the first 20 turns of any campaign, try to consolidate (whenever possible) until turn 40, but after that I find the mid game kinda annoying
The game forces you to expand, so you get money and can destroy enemies that else will send endless waves of armies; trying to go wide is pretty uneffective as once you have built 2 3 armies, just to defend, you make no money to build anything more
Then you get overextended, you have to manage 10 provinces attacked on all sides, while still needing to destroy factions, can replenish moslty by taking settlements, and have a really hard time upgrading armies as you have to create "reinforcement armies" that take a long time to build and cost a kidney
Don't get me wrong I don't complaint about difficulty but the unfun aspect when you just can't manage "properly" (for me) your armies and empire
How do you feel about his and manage your mid game ?

[SqkaStxppvh]

Publicado originalmente por pascal.difolco:

Publicado originalmente por Verchial:

Faction and Difficulty setting?

It's not faction related, I have same feelings with several factions, last being Queek, Miao Ying, & Thorek
Diff is VH/H

All of these factions are kind of meant to consolidate before expansion and have rosters that (with skaven being exception for being a Swiss Army knife of sorts)are meant to sit, let the enemy come to you and be beaten down/shot to pieces on the approach, and then you mop up the remains and get rich off that+your settlements while gradually moving your forward operating base up further to the front line with mil buildings and upgrade your interior with eco.

I try to plan my engagements and campaign goals like ten turns ahead too that’s not a specific thing to do more just general advice. Rushing blue lines on lords is still my #1 strategy for lightning strike and upkeep reduction makes mid game way better any faction

[Stealthy Mike]

Try slowly expanding. It really depends on what your playing tho, as say high elf eltharion or dwarf is a big difference.

And always build the garrison building in every settlement on harder difficulities. I usually try to pick targets one at a time, go straight for their main province(s), secure it with walls and a ♥♥♥♥ army. (usually 4 archers) from there on expand and take their minor settlements. Its much easier to fight an AI with T1-3 armies than t4+.
Also a good way to avoid getting into fights, is knowing how the game is going to play out. You can bargain and buy time with some factions by joining wars you know they gonna win keeping them off your back for a while. They will also give you free money for joining their wars.
Try to expand so you can force enemies into a bottle neck. And only expand in directions you know you can hold to prevent getting overrun. Dwarfs are a good way to practice this if you start as Thorgrim or Ungrim, as you can really only get attacked from 2 directions in the mountains at a time. (barring enemies using the underway ofc)

[pascal.difolco]

Pretty good advice here, my problem is certainly that I have a tendency to build everywhere while sending armies far to destroy enemies, ending up with a bad econ and looss of money when settlements get retaken, plus close to no sack money
Will follow those advises in my next campaigns, thanks mates !

[Stealthy Mike]

Publicado originalmente por pascal.difolco:

Pretty good advice here, my problem is certainly that I have a tendency to build everywhere while sending armies far to destroy enemies, ending up with a bad econ and looss of money when settlements get retaken, plus close to no sack money
Will follow those advises in my next campaigns, thanks mates !

Aye its rough cause you need that money. I usually deal with the problem by developing a war economy. Some settlements are very attractive to attack for AI, and keeping and army in ambush stance near said settlement will bring in gold on the harder difficulties, cause AI will spam trash and send it ur way to weak spots.

Another tip is taking a hotspot and defending it well, example playing as Grom the paunch, take Helmgart and outfit it with a little army. Reikland will send 1-3 armies every turn and basicly kill them self feeding you money. Gives you more money than you can spend.

[Sarumoon]

Publicado originalmente por WALTUH:

There's no way mid game is turn 200 by before turn 100 you've basically won. AI can't build a proper empire to fight back.

They certainly cant in 60 turns or whatever..

[Sarumoon]

You need to cultivate your enemies. I have a fine crop going.

[meiam]

Does no one use diplomacy or something? As you fight your nearest neighbor you'll usually gain a lot of respect from other faction that are also at war with your neighbor, sign non agression pack with them and expand to their border and that's one less border you have to deal with. That plus expanding to natural border that you don't have to defend (sea, mountain range) and you can make sure you only have one or two front to nurture and can get away with fewer army. Mid game you just bid your time and build up your city for income.

Whenever you get a large influx of cash, open the diplomacy panel and check any neighbor you don't want to expand into and just throw some cash their way for some pack, easy and well worth the measly 2-3K gold it usually cost (plus you'll get it all back in trade).

If you really can't do that, just raze the minor settlement that can't defend themselves and only build up your major settlement that don't need to be babysitted and make most of your cash.