Cao Cao scheme spam

[Gryphonheart]

On paper the feature sounded incredibly fun and dynamic, really good addition for his faction which portrays his strategic finesse; however, I'm heartbroken as its incredibly broken and ridiculous at the moment, specially if you play any faction other than Cao Cao, and you oppose him.

I started a new campaign as Liu Bei in 190 (Rise of the Warlords) and Cao Cao just keeps spamming the new schemes at me like no tomorrow, literally one after another as they ended: first, -25 public order in my only commandery (Langya, Turn 18) for 3 turns it seemed like, then gave me -20 food production which triggered a rebellion and finally, the cherry on top... a +50% unit upkeep debuff which has all but broken my campaign at this point, since he made his way towards me with powerful new units (Qingzhou bands, Tiger Cubs, etc.) and my army and generals are about to defect due to the bankrupcy plus lack of supplies.

This is just at the beginning of the campaign, which hasn't lasted more than 25 turns. I absolutely dread to think what is going to happen as the game progresses.

A while ago I made a few posts about how I was going to enjoy the DLC, which now I'm kind of regretting. There is no way this has been properly balanced, which leaves me worried about the future of the game.

I enjoy the free content and the patches, but this is ridiculous. Could nobody, really, check what you guys are doing? Are you really that blind to the things you are designing?

[Kimochi]

lol he spammed -20 morale before fighting me as Liu Bei with militia army early game. All my army routed right when the battle start (they still havent even seen his army)

[Gryphonheart]

Originally posted by Yameroo:

lol he spammed -20 morale before fighting me as Liu Bei with militia army early game. All my army routed right when the battle start (they still havent even seen his army)

Yes. Its ridiculous. Im playing in legendary atm as Liu Bei as I thought finishing a regular campaign before the new start date would be nice but all I've found right now is frustration, sigh.

[ShakeNBakeUK]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2421704489

(:

[Locklave]

They clearly did ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ QA or they'd maybe say "hmmm this seems a tad brokenly OP". But here we are with this crap live.

I wish I was wrong about this DLC. I wish it was solid, that they had raised the QA standard this time. I am so bored and depressed in lockdown...

[Aizawa]

it's obvious they don't care about quality whatsoever, same story every patch.

[Eddie G]

I tried a new campaign as Cao Cao yesterday, and I gotta say, while the new credibility mechanic is cool and all. But in the 190 start date, Cao Cao is stupidly easy now. It was already easy before, but with the new units and all, it's ridiculous.

[El Fixo]

Funny when CowCow confederates the entire world as well.
All his enemies are now his generals, makes no sense.

[ShakeNBakeUK]

Originally posted by Eddie G:

I tried a new campaign as Cao Cao yesterday, and I gotta say, while the new credibility mechanic is cool and all. But in the 190 start date, Cao Cao is stupidly easy now. It was already easy before, but with the new units and all, it's ridiculous.

are the new units any good? they seem to have very low morale. but better base stats.

[Darklordnj]

Originally posted by ShakeNBakeUK:

Originally posted by Eddie G:

I tried a new campaign as Cao Cao yesterday, and I gotta say, while the new credibility mechanic is cool and all. But in the 190 start date, Cao Cao is stupidly easy now. It was already easy before, but with the new units and all, it's ridiculous.

are the new units any good? they seem to have very low morale. but better base stats.

Don’t be fooled by their low morale, it feeds into an ability that temporarily gives them unbreakable and a massive damage buff. Aside from that, overall, I think Yuan Shao got the better end of the deal in terms of units. The Qinzhou units are good and a better mid-tier infantry than the bog standard versions, but the unruly trait means that they won’t be completely replacing the standard version imo.

[Gryphonheart]

Only thing I can think of to sort of "fix" this would be adding a restriction to avoid Cao Cao using schemes on the same faction for a few turns after one ends, really. I have no issues with the AI using it, in fact, i like that the AI uses its mechanic as intended but either the effects are too strong or it should be a bit more restrictive.

[Shower With Joe Dad Simulator]

not just cao cao but if u are trying to do the this is total war achievement its a ♥♥♥♥♥, just got the -100% charge scheme ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ among the non stop spam

[Gryphonheart]

Originally posted by Arabian Snape On A Plane:

not just cao cao but if u are trying to do the this is total war achievement its a ♥♥♥♥♥, just got the -100% charge scheme ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ among the non stop spam

Man I hope you never get the +50% upkeep. Literally breaks the campaign; even as Liu Bei using his militia upkeep decrease along with a few "advanced units" (lancer cav militia and spear guards) I was getting a -1500 income malus each turn. If I hadn't maneouvered earlier in diplomacy to exchange trade and non-aggro pacts with Kong Rong and Tao Qian for some extra income for 10 turns, my ass would have been handed to myself way earlier.

[Shower With Joe Dad Simulator]

@gryphon, yeh im using very chrap cav and swordsman with crossbows, can only afford one army heh

[RustyRed]

Originally posted by ShakeNBakeUK:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2421704489

(:

wtf. This is the kind of stuff 5 year olds think of when they don't know how to play chess.

"My castle is a super tank! Vrrrm!!!! pow pow pow! We won, mr castle!"

[Shower With Joe Dad Simulator]

the instant rebellions arent fun either, its like teleporting armies behind your lines