How do you beat the thoughest AI?

[bjm]

The difference in difficulty between Thougher and Thoughest is enormous. While I can beat Thougher 100% of times, I have never gotten close to beating Thoughest and I don't know what to do.
Has anyone beaten the hardest AI? What strategy did you use? Nation?

[[AS]_Pimp-Masterflex]

I'm surprised u can beat tougher 100% but toughest 0%. Seems like a huge schism....

But anyway, it's hard but definitely not impossible. You might see a couple old pro ♥♥♥♥♥ like me going "oh it's so ♥♥♥♥♥♥ easy lol lol I'm so great", and they can go suck a goat. Truth is, it's not a walk in the park, and sometimes they don't realize that not everyone can beat a toughest comp like it's nothin...

But!.... there are some things you can do to help you out. I ain't sayin' that u follow these tips and you'll win 100%, but they will help you get an advantage to help you're in-game decision making easier.

1. SPEED: This is the one advantage where the computer has a perceived infinite leg-up on you. You're fighting against the processing power of your own computer, which can compute billions of instructions per second. So, you REALLY need to make up for this. I would advise learning as many of the hotkeys as you can (K for barracks, N to get your market, etc etc). Once you get acquainted with this, you will have your Player Speed shoot through the roof, so that will give you a better edge at winning
   
   
2. DON'T TURN IT INTO A BOOM MATCH: Frankly, the difference between a Moderate computer and a Tough computer is that the computer turns from defensive to aggressive..... that's it.
   
   The difference between Tough, Tougher, and Toughest is that it makes its income levels per 30, 25, and 20 seconds respectively (so us humans can make like +100 per 30 seconds, or +250 per 30 seconds, computers at high levels make it per 25 or 20). This means that.... unless you happen to be fighting a stupid Lakota comp (which they suck at), you CANNOT win a boom war. I'm not saying you have to rush, but don't try and wait until V to make an attack or a raid. Think more along the lines of a good Classical Raid or a II-III power rush on a 2nd or 3rd city.
   
   
3. RESEARCH FORT TECHS: This is honestly the one reason why people lose and they don't know why. It's a secret that pros never give out because it's SO ESSENTIAL that it makes or breaks a field battle, which makes or breaks a game. When you get to Age III and get Mil 3, you must ALREADY HAVE A FORT BUILT. This is so you can research the "Tactics" tech, which increases the general armor bonus from +2 to +4. Now, you make think this is small.... but this is literally the most powerful tech in the early game. It's even better if you make it to IV and get a quick Mil 4 to research the second left fort tech (which I think is "Strategy"?).
   
   **This is why Romans are a devastatingly powerful nation and peak around age III-IV, because they automatically get these techs for free.
   
   Like Honestly.... I can't stress this 3rd option enough.... if you have a large army with +2 armor, and your opponent has half the size with +6, you will lose..... it's that essential.
   
   
   
4. PSYCHOLOGY: In Multiplayer, the game is 50% skill, and 50% psychology (they are both mutually dependent, but whatever). It's easy to win a standstill easily if you do things like raiding and border pushing to make it seem like you can't be beaten. Humans are their own worst enemy, and when you lose hope, you lose the game.
   
   Problem is.... you aren't fighting a pasty tan-colored human.... you're fighting silicon. And silicon doesn't have feelings or emotions or fears. It has one purpose... to kill you and win the game. Therefore, psychology can ONLY benefit the computer, which honestly means you can't give up hope. You have to realize that even if you lose one battle, you can still make up for it with a great defense. No one is impenetrable, even if they make you think like that with their tactics and persona.
   
   **An example is a nation's borders. Us humans tend to think that, due to fog of war, an enemy nation might seem like a fortress at times. However, I would say around 80-90% of a nation is blank, unchartered space, which many pros know and use for raiding, so they don't let that affect their minds. Don't believe me? Next time you're around IV, take a look at your nation's borders and see how empty it actually is. You're opponent is the EXACT same.

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Honestly, those are my main 4 pieces of advice.... everything else will pretty much have to do with specific nation strategies, or in-game decision making which has to be taught by trial-and-error by yourself (which is why I said this can't make you win 100% of the time. Even the great one's ♥♥♥♥ up).


Good Luck!

[kinginora]

use japanese and 1000 rush good game!

[bjm]

Originally posted by AS_Pimp-Masterflex:

Honestly, those are my main 4 pieces of advice.... everything else will pretty much have to do with specific nation strategies, or in-game decision making which has to be taught by trial-and-error by yourself (which is why I said this can't make you win 100% of the time. Even the great one's ♥♥♥♥ up).


Good Luck!

The difficult part about rushing is finding the sweet spot where you have enough income to make troups and attack. That is why I always pick the "slow" nations and play by building a good defense and a great economy. Thanks for the tips.

[jupinho]

Is there somewhere a video of somebody beating toughest? On twitch perhaps? Would be a great learning experience. Tougher goes easy(ish) but toughest is ... very tough.

Several years ago I used to have RON and remember beating toughest frequently, but since I re-found the game after a decade on steam (extended edition), haven't had luck yet.

[mendāx]

If it's ok for you to "semicheat" and you just want the achievement: custom teams, 6 other on you side against one, standard rules, you win pretty much instantly by territory.

[Fedomar]

Originally posted by jupinho:

Is there somewhere a video of somebody beating toughest? On twitch perhaps? Would be a great learning experience. Tougher goes easy(ish) but toughest is ... very tough.

Several years ago I used to have RON and remember beating toughest frequently, but since I re-found the game after a decade on steam (extended edition), haven't had luck yet.

Jupinho thoughest ai is pretty simple to beat if you just build forwards towards him, and building 2/3 towers and a watchtower directly behind your city. Add me and we can play vs thoughest ai together one time if you want.

[[AS]_Serman]

Originally posted by jupinho:

Is there somewhere a video of somebody beating toughest? On twitch perhaps? Would be a great learning experience. Tougher goes easy(ish) but toughest is ... very tough.

Several years ago I used to have RON and remember beating toughest frequently, but since I re-found the game after a decade on steam (extended edition), haven't had luck yet.

Try on YouTube. You'll find a few videos of people beating Toughest.