Hyborem Spoiler Thread!

[Selrahc]

No warfare.

[Tasunke]

it'd probably be better to upgrade ritualists to eidolons (rather than using diseased corpses)

[Selrahc]

it'd probably be better to upgrade ritualists to eidolons (rather than using diseased corpses)

Ritualists are bad to upgrade to any unit that will see real combat. They take a -25% strength penalty. It's like starting with C-1.

Now admittedly, getting some good starting promos probably outweighs that. But since my entire core of experienced ritualists just got wiped out, it isn't really a hard choice to use units that don't carry a negative promo.

[Tasunke]

Hmm.

Still though, what is the benefit of upgrading Diseased Corpses -> Eidolons rather than building Eidolons outright?

more gold than hammers?

[Selrahc]

Yes. Basically. Technology will be shutting down, bar a crawl towards Warfare. Everything is going to gold.

[Selrahc]

I've finished building all the Malevolent Designs goodies. This has upped the AC to 50, so Buboes is in play.

Meanwhile, I've been romping around with a small elite force in Lanun lands, hoping to teach my doggies to become irresistible forces, while also getting some manes. It's working out okay, but it won't win me the game. I've captured the AV holy city, which is always fun. The AC will soon be high enough to allow me to build the Meshabber... who at 5000 hammers will be done somewhere north of T200.

Buboes could be a boon, but since both Dantski and Mardoc have courage everywhere, the most I'm really expecting is for him to smush a backline city. And he can't even really do that against Dantski, until sanctuary is up. Hopefully they will attempt to use War. It isn't at all helpful in fighting Demons, and I'll enjoy the AC boost effects a lot more than they will.

[Mardoc]

, but since both Dantski and Mardoc have courage everywhere,

Pretty sure you killed me out of this game long ago :neenernee
[SIZE="1"]
Yeah, I know you meant Ichabod[/SIZE]

[Selrahc]

Beaten down the Lanun. It was a quick three turn conquest that got me three Size 6 cities with pirate ports, around 7-8 manes and the AV/OO holy city with shrine. Buboes was spotted nearby, although he declined our invitation to join the victory party.

I signed peace with the Lanun. They have a size 2 iceball off to the east, which I imagine Buboes is en route to burn down. In return for the peace, they gave me complete maps of the world and agreed to stop trading with Dantski.

I'm not sure what to do as my next objective. There are several wonders I can grab... Tower of Necromancy for S10 Diseased Corpses stands to mind, as well as possibly a quick grab of Deception for Nox Noctis. Grabbing Great Library is another tempting target. I just got the free Great Commander from Military Strategy, which I was very surprised to find still available. I'm top dog in GNP and Production by a not insignificant ammount, and my army is far stronger than it's ever been.

Really, I need to make some sort of plan and move in on Ichabod. It's just hard to do. I've got some decently high level Beasts of Agares and Eidolons in place now, so it would be harder for Ichabod to do a stack wipe. But I'm very worried that if I just walk into his territory again with my current forces, I'll be wiped again. What I need to do is grab trade and construction, then build a platoon of Nightmare/Sheut Stone Iron Chariots to ride in ahead. Possibly Nightmare/Sheut Stone Horse Archers...

[Selrahc]

Alright. I think I've been shellshocked long enough. Thankfully due to the slow turnaround there haven't been too many turns since my defeat at Kurald Galain, and I at least followed it up by smashing the AI. Let's assess and get a plan together. I want to end this game soon. I've got by far the biggest and most advanced military. I'd better go and fucking do it already.

Current military situation:


Not quite good enough yet. I am however heartened by the fact that Dantski and Ichabod appear to be taking very little action to build up troops... If they are waiting for me to move to begin drafting, fine. Obviously they want to grab some important military tech and don't want to hurt their economies. I can't afford to let them.

I'm going to gather my existing forces over the next 5 turns. In that time I'll have added another 10 diseased corpses at least, hopefully closer to 15. I am going to put everything in one death stack, then move it towards Ichabod. Unlike last time, I am going to leave almost nothing behind. Defence is going to be handled by units built after the main force leaves, taking advantage of teleportation to meet any threats.

I am hoping to the Hells that this "Death Stack" approach works. I think Ichabod will have a lot more trouble breaking this stack, with the high powered units acting as shield and high drill Beasts of Agares deflecting large numbers of low powered troops. I'm also hoping that Dantski hasn't managed to create a cadre of Life 2 mages by the time I arrive. Something that would be a possibility, since he certainly has adepts. This is the last best hope I have that Disesased Corpses will get the job done, so I'm going to pile as many of them as I can into this battle.

If all goes well, I'll be razing every one of Ichabod's cities that I capture. Doing that will have the lovely side effect of boosting the AC quite significantly. If I can hit 80, 90 and 100 then I have this won.

According to plan, I'll be fighting in ten turns and the game will hopefully be close to over as my death stack rolls Ichabod. If he turns it again, he deserves to win.

[NobleHelium]

What's the AC at now?