Try to go for Elves/Dwarves/Orcs or stick with humans?

[Micah]

Elves, Dwarves and Orcs are all significantly better than humans in my opinion but the attract buildings for them are as much as 5x lower in effectiveness than human attract buildings. I find that every time I try to attract anything other than humans I end up losing because I simply can't field an army soon enough.

Has anyone had any luck with attracting non-humans in a 200%+ game?

[Itkovian]

With Realism enabled, unless Elven Wood, Monster Bone, or Dragon Bone are REALLY close, I don't put any effort into attracting non-humans because of the one-building limitation. Without Realism enabled, I love going after other races with whatever materials are nearby.

Edit: I specifically mentioned Elven Wood, Monster Bone, and Dragon Bone because they are all part of my normal research paths.

[Crim]

It's like, I'm okay with a building made of Elven wood to have subpar stats... but could you AT LEAST give me some decent Attract Elves? It does feel like a bit of a slap to the face for it to suck and probably not even get you any Elves...

[Kriminaal]

I agree that on higher difficulty with realism enabled, buildings for attraction are "nearly' impossible depending on resource locations. However, on 220% it was really cool to have a expedition of 10 elves and an Orc + Witch. An all piercing strike force with Warhammers was unstoppable. I was able to autoresolve 5 skull fights with a 12 man party (Not immediately, I was having to manually fight until the gear level was on par, but by turn 240 I was autoresolving).

I admit, I only attracted 7 elves by turn 200 with 6 pallisades (80 elven wood each was crazy gathering). I was lucky and had 3 of those events where I ran into an Elf that looked like I could help by uncursing him with a 2 skull Hex challenge. But I had a few elves already with base 4 magic skill and a Witch so they were easily won. I also had to suicide some of the humans I had gathered to get a lower population / higher attraction chance. But, totally worth it :P

[Itkovian]

Originally posted by Talamare:

It's like, I'm okay with a building made of Elven wood to have subpar stats... but could you AT LEAST give me some decent Attract Elves? It does feel like a bit of a slap to the face for it to suck and probably not even get you any Elves...

In my opinion, the attraction rates are on par with the guaranteed quality of the recruits. Elves, Orcs, and Dwarfs have low attraction rates, but you're assured of receiving a powerful character when it procs. On the other hand, Demons are a gamble. You may get some seriously powerful characters, or you may get crap ones. Beasts are the easiest to recruit because, let's be honest, they are only good for cannon fodder and carry weight.

Edit: I place Gobbies in the same category as Demons, although their general usefulness is probably more likely if you are combat-focused.

[Jooshimus]

Originally posted by ilikemadeupnames:

Beasts are the easiest to recruit because, let's be honest, they are only good for cannon fodder and carry weight.

With realism off and a few smithies I make good use of them holding the fort.

[Lampros]

Originally posted by Kriminaal:

I agree that on higher difficulty with realism enabled, buildings for attraction are "nearly' impossible depending on resource locations. However, on 220% it was really cool to have a expedition of 10 elves and an Orc + Witch. An all piercing strike force with Warhammers was unstoppable. I was able to autoresolve 5 skull fights with a 12 man party (Not immediately, I was having to manually fight until the gear level was on par, but by turn 240 I was autoresolving).

Huh? I thought warhammers negated the piercing damage of the elves?

[Itkovian]

Originally posted by Lampros:

Originally posted by Kriminaal:

I agree that on higher difficulty with realism enabled, buildings for attraction are "nearly' impossible depending on resource locations. However, on 220% it was really cool to have a expedition of 10 elves and an Orc + Witch. An all piercing strike force with Warhammers was unstoppable. I was able to autoresolve 5 skull fights with a 12 man party (Not immediately, I was having to manually fight until the gear level was on par, but by turn 240 I was autoresolving).

Huh? I thought warhammers negated the piercing damage of the elves?

Well now I have to test! :)

[Pentalis]

Originally posted by ilikemadeupnames:

Originally posted by Lampros:

Huh? I thought warhammers negated the piercing damage of the elves?

Well now I have to test! :)

They negate it, so he's probably narrating a very old anecdote, back when you could pull that trick.

[Itkovian]

Originally posted by Pentalis:

Originally posted by ilikemadeupnames:

Well now I have to test! :)

They negate it, so he's probably narrating a very old anecdote, back when you could pull that trick.

Must..still...test... :)