The RTS (vs IA at least) part is still a broken unbalanced mess

[Dieu-Sama]

I hope i'm wrong, but the IA still cheats like there's no tomorrow, spawning units twice as fast as us wihtout needing ressources . . .

For Circle Mage, what was your strategy for Windhall ? My hero is Def/Necro with a wand (He would be almost one shot at melee, is it even possible to have melee hero ?), I have Yria and the Dark Elf and the """""""""""""""""tanky""""""""""""""" (lol) mercenary.

[Paraleo]

It doesn't feel really great with melee main hero (in campaign) even on hard in full army vs army situations I actually keep heroes in the back most of the time or else probably lose the mission instantly.

[Dieu-Sama]

Finally, I managed to win (in Circle Mage, oh boy) by . . . rushing the main ennemy capitol with Fire Golems . . .

HURR DURR, Real STRATEGY game

Fortunalty the rest of the game is excellent so far . . .

[fmalfeas]

Brings up something I've noticed in the RTS portions (especially skirmish).

Barring siege units vs buildings, even the most brutally expensive of the 'Elite' units doesn't feel very elite, EXCEPT the Fire Golems. Since the game favors Zerg Deathballs, and most units have pretty low HP compared to incoming damage, a bunch of 'tanky' golems that spew AoE ranged damage, and can shift to siege mode to remove capitols/outposts swiftly are comparatively amazing.

[Dieu-Sama]

Ok i'm stuck again . . .

At the Dark Elf map

The ennemy spit dozen of spider/infiltrator, their heros One shot mine with a crit and this time, the siege unit SUCKS so I can't go rush the main build

Pfffffffff

[Farlon]

I have no idea what you're doing that you find this difficult.

[Dieu-Sama]

I wonder too.

So, what's the best strategy ?

[Farlon]

Originally posted by Dieu-Sama:

I wonder too.

So, what's the best strategy ?

From my experience, there's no best strategy. I just played like every other RTS campaign, I didn't even bother with rushes or siege units. Just captured a few sectors, made a small army (like 15 archers then 10 sleepers) and pushed forward. I do remember the enemy hero on this map being able to snipe my heroes if I didn't pay attention though

[fmalfeas]

Here was my strat on that map. From the first base, there's 2 outposts just south. One up on a cliff with a winding path up, and one tucked away next to a little lake. Get the tucked away one, and set up a tower, a soul spire, and a barracks (can't remember what the DEs call theirs). Put them /right between/ the path and the tucked away area. At the barracks, produce about 10 spider squads, and 6-7 of the cheap ranged unit. That, with the tower, will repel 99% of the incoming attacks, and stock up your soul count quickly. You'll need to occasionally restock the spiders, but mostly it can be ignored.

Next, make a separate squad with about the same composition, but to this one, add 3 basilisks. You're sending it up the ramp. It's gonna clear that outpost, then you take it. Remove the basilisks from the formation and send them back to main camp, you'll need them later. BTW, don't have them attack anything but buildings, it's all they're good at.

At that outpost, set up the same defense at the chokepoint there that you did between it and the lake outpost. You've got a headstart from the assault team. Other than that, exploit the resources there. It gets attacked far less often, so you'll have to restock it even more rarely. But you still don't want it weak.

Now that those are established, prepare your strike force. You'll want some spiders as distractions from your real troops. You're going with the ranged unit and Sleepers as the bulk of your forces however. Kiss your iron stockpile goodbye. Fill your pop cap with a force that is basically 30% Sleepers, 50% archers, and 20% spiders. Now, callously hurl it at the first DE outpost you can. There's a couple options, but which one is up to you entirely. Follow it closely with the basilisk trio, and have them focus entirely on towers and the outpost itself, while the army hits the troops.

Now that you have it, you have decision to make. If you went for the bottom option,the decision is made for you, you're gonna take the rest of the bottom half of the map. If you went with the other, you pick...drive the army straight down their throats to put an end to it, or take the bottom half.

Be aware that the spider-spam will be relentless. I drive down their throats anymore, because spiders only cost food, and they build lots of farms. As always, hurl the army in, and have the basilisks go for the HQ building. They should drop it in 3-4 grouped spits. Once it's down, your good.

[Dieu-Sama]

thx for advices people, i'll try that this week end

[Dulkan]

If you want to melee, I highly recommend battle mastery + demonology. The synergy skill is a 15sec aura with 17sec cd, which from lvl 2 onwards lifesteals 30-40hp from every enemy around the hero, this easily results in 500+ hp healed per second. Makes a melee character very survivable even on circle mage with the massive resistance penalties.

[Moojuice]

I don't know what to do at the first windwall map. I built a nice base, also broke through the aqueduct and entered the dungeon. I captured the first two outposts outwards and placed 5 towers at each. I built the tunnel to make the subtle quest and had a full army BUT then a big army of the enemy comes and steamrolls me without a chance of harming even 5 units of them. They have a hirophant and some other hero, they have shapers and riders and my 10 golems did all shoot at one enemy. Everywhere I go with my army, his army is there in seconds to kill mine again. I play on normal and can't beat it. My heros are killed instantly, even my bear tank.

[Dieu-Sama]

Build an army of 15 or so golems, reseach their special siege stance at the forge, rush them to the ennemy capitol, pass them all into this siege stance, destroy the capitol in 10 sec.

Worked in Circle Mage, last patch guaranteed

My original post about them is outdated, the dev' nerfed the golems, before they had a basic aoe siege attack so the stance resaerch was not needed. Now without it the golem are useless. But with it, 10 - 15 golem can destroy any building in a few second.

[Farlon]

Originally posted by Dieu-Sama:

Build an army of 15 or so golems, reseach their special siege stance at the forge, rush them to the ennemy capitol, pass them all into this siege stance, destroy the capitol in 10 sec.

Worked in Circle Mage, last patch guaranteed

My original post about them is outdated, the dev' nerfed the golems, before they had a basic aoe siege attack so the stance resaerch was not needed. Now without it the golem are useless. But with it, 10 - 15 golem can destroy any building in a few second.

Before the patch golems did no siege damage without the stance though.

[Dieu-Sama]

Oops

Was it magic ? Then they were beefed up pyromancer, . . . which also made the stance not needed (or the pyromancer I guess, why would you made pyromancer with golem that did basically the same thing). I was able to 10 sec-shot the capitol with 20 or so of them.

[Moojuice]

I finished the map by porting from above with golems and attack the main building as some people mentioned. maybe this is what you should do and no other way is possible? First dark elves rts phase was really easy.