Zhao Ming in immortal empire is nerly impossible

[Tech-52]

I'm a total war veteran and always played VH in Warhammer ii and one and found that Zhao ming in immortal empire is actually very hard to play. He is surrounded by enemies from the skaven east greenskin west and dark elfe south. Greenskin are broken as usual always number one power with 25-30 regions at turn 50. Dark elf also with 20 regions and the skaven keep playing mouse and cat. The bastion is completely overrun. All the other Cathay factions are utterly useless. Any ideas?

[franz]

uh , that one is super easy . Go take the walls or go take the red chatay area all the way in the back where its safe . Give away cities that you cant defend , gain + relation confed them . done .
You know the cathay allies will fall like straw in the wind , use it . And you also know once the enemy is on you they will never take another AI city , only focusing you . Use it to your advantage .

[Tech-52]

Originally posted by gg:

uh , that one is super easy . Go take the walls or go take the red chatay area all the way in the back where its safe . Give away cities that you cant defend , gain + relation confed them . done .
You know the cathay allies will fall like straw in the wind , use it . And you also know once the enemy is on you they will never take another AI city , only focusing you . Use it to your advantage .

taking wall is not possible unless i attack other cathay and also by turn 20 greenskin and ark elf are dominating the upper areas. So ill try to retreat and go to red chatay area and sell my cities which i always forget cuz it wasn't possible in warhammer ii.

[franz]

The best is to attack/take the walls , as these bastions are super OP and you wont have to fight on 2 fronts AND the enemys cant use teleport stances over it .But the back area can work too np.

[Tech-52]

Originally posted by gg:

The best is to attack/take the walls , as these bastions are super OP and you wont have to fight on 2 fronts AND the enemys cant use teleport stances over it .But the back area can work too np.

taking the walls will still be 2 fronts right? you get attacked by chaos and marauders from north and greenskin and the rest from south.

[franz]

You will see just play ;)

[[AJSA]MeloDeath]

honestly i never struggle with any cathay factions so i dont really know how you can do so poorly lol sorry no offence.... But you need to be agressive at the start first conquer your starting province at the firt couple of turns then take Shang-Yang by either cheese the enemy army or ambush stance it then go for Tai-tzu, this needs to be about turn 8 then focus on eschen be careful and try to ambush them. By turn 15-25 they and the minor greenskin faction needs to be ereased. Then you can focus on dark elfs (lokhir fellheart)
Just take Lord of shangyang skill to increase relation with ogres and the east is secure until you should be done with Lokhir. Have an army close to the bastion to assist defence if they crumble to fast... And yes when bastion is in your hand its almost impossible to lose them as you can have armys in the settlements almost for free in them. Also dont attack the cathay if they have the bastion just help them until you can confederat them shouldnt take to long.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3128283103
My last campagin as Zhao Ming on legendary/very hard

[fmalfeas]

Zhou Ming is the alchemist faction. Look at the bonuses. Better alchemists, discount on line infantry.

The focus is to tie the enemy down and then hit them will Wall of Wind and Fire, and Constellation of the Dragon. You fight defensively until you have the power (including grown capitol) to defend with a second army, and then have Zhou himself roll out with an army to annihilate nearby threats.

I found that with him, early expansion is kind of a trap unless you do it perfectly. So instead, I focus on early /leveling/. Get those troop buffs and spells, and his regen. Like all Cathay campaigns, your LL *has* to pretty much carry things for a while.

And don't make the mistake of trying to expect anything from Lanterns. Sky Junks are awesome. Sky Lanterns are pretty lame.

[Isaac]

Huh? Cathay in general are one of the easiest to play. and then zhao ming? you must be doing something really wrong to have problems with him

[Abisha]

? how about dealing with skaven first 10 turns?

Cathay is most easy to play in the game not sure what you did the first 50 turns but you already should have like 25% of the map by then

[Ratto The Man-Thing]

You sure you didn't mix up vh and easy in WH2? Cause every lord there was much more difficult than any lord in WH3 right now, ESPECIALLY Zhao.

[Tech-52]

Originally posted by fmalfeas:

Zhou Ming is the alchemist faction. Look at the bonuses. Better alchemists, discount on line infantry.

The focus is to tie the enemy down and then hit them will Wall of Wind and Fire, and Constellation of the Dragon. You fight defensively until you have the power (including grown capitol) to defend with a second army, and then have Zhou himself roll out with an army to annihilate nearby threats.

I found that with him, early expansion is kind of a trap unless you do it perfectly. So instead, I focus on early /leveling/. Get those troop buffs and spells, and his regen. Like all Cathay campaigns, your LL *has* to pretty much carry things for a while.

And don't make the mistake of trying to expect anything from Lanterns. Sky Junks are awesome. Sky Lanterns are pretty lame.

and i felt into the trap of expending early so i had multiple front to defend with no income so 2 armies at best. now that you say line infantry discount i haven't looked at that. That can be helpful thanks

[Whut]

How can you call yourself a veteran if you have trouble with one of the easiest campaigns?

[fmalfeas]

Originally posted by Tech 99:

and i felt into the trap of expending early so i had multiple front to defend with no income so 2 armies at best. now that you say line infantry discount i haven't looked at that. That can be helpful thanks

Discount on upkeep for Ogre mercs, and 15 more armor for all melee infantry, as a faction effect. 25% upkeep reduction for all melee infantry in Zhou Ming's army. So phase out the peasants ASAP, replace them Jade Warriors and Ogres. You'll be able to afford it.

[Tech-52]

Originally posted by fmalfeas:

Originally posted by Tech 99:

and i felt into the trap of expending early so i had multiple front to defend with no income so 2 armies at best. now that you say line infantry discount i haven't looked at that. That can be helpful thanks

Discount on upkeep for Ogre mercs, and 15 more armor for all melee infantry, as a faction effect. 25% upkeep reduction for all melee infantry in Zhou Ming's army. So phase out the peasants ASAP, replace them Jade Warriors and Ogres. You'll be able to afford it.

That's what i did, only jade warrriors with the perks and wow they are kicking ass. Also retreated to south so took out Burning Wind Nomads and took all of his regions, made peace with Dissenter Lords of Jinshen for the moment. and now i consolidated my power into that region. now i only have 2 front from where i can be attacked from which can easly be defended. Next get out, destroy that scum of dark elf if the ogres can hold out the greenskin for a moment. TBH yesterday i haven't though of a strategy before starting and paid the price. Though it was just gonna be an other easy piece of pie but i as mistaken

[fmalfeas]

Originally posted by Tech 99:

Originally posted by fmalfeas:

Discount on upkeep for Ogre mercs, and 15 more armor for all melee infantry, as a faction effect. 25% upkeep reduction for all melee infantry in Zhou Ming's army. So phase out the peasants ASAP, replace them Jade Warriors and Ogres. You'll be able to afford it.

That's what i did, only jade warrriors with the perks and wow they are kicking ass. Also retreated to south so took out Burning Wind Nomads and took all of his regions, made peace with Dissenter Lords of Jinshen for the moment. and now i consolidated my power into that region. now i only have 2 front from where i can be attacked from which can easly be defended. Next get out, destroy that scum of dark elf if the ogres can hold out the greenskin for a moment. TBH yesterday i haven't though of a strategy before starting and paid the price. Though it was just gonna be an other easy piece of pie but i as mistaken

Remember that ranged units are still good, but thanks to your improved Jade Warriors, you can abuse that. Lock them down and you can use Iron Hail Gunners from the flank, in addition to the magic. Their short range is normally an issue, but unlike Vampire Coast Hand Cannon mobs, the iron hail gunners actually can move, instead of slowly and uselessly shambling.