Turns 55 - 66

The line holds. The line always holds.

Turn 58: The spearmen defeated the Resoln troops by the border despite the presence of the champion As A'Zoth.  As a matter of fact, he ran away, and they had to chase him all the way to the town of Geddens.  He was forced to retreat again, leaving the town in the legion's hands.  Resoln sent a burning Wraith and some skirmishers to retake the town, but by then, Queen Aquillina had arrived, and the Resoln troops army was soundly defeated.

Aquillina chose to remain in her newest town for a while.  Her very presence did wonders for the citizens' morale.  They had already seen the strength of the Queen's army.  Once they saw the skill with which she was governing, they started to slowly get used to the idea that their city was now part of Aquillina's domain.

As for Magnar, a new settlement was founded on the border with his Empire.  It had only one purpose - to spread Aquillina's influence further and further South.  With a little bit of luck, and a lot of persistence, Magnar's resources might come under new management.  Appropriately enough, the new settlement was named Magnar's Doom.  What Magnar made of this, Aquillina did not care.

The Conclave of Blackstead does not mind the new managment

Turn 62: The spearmen seemed unstoppable.  Together with Aquillina, they destroyed a group of Ophidians without taking any casualties.  Leaving their Queen behind, they approached the Resoln conclave of Blackstead, and destroyed a Wraith army under its walls.  Finally they assaulted the city itself, and emerged once again victorious.  Oracle Ceresa was left with only one city.

Cuessa and her wolves noticed Ceresa's army that was marching back from its abortive attempt to attack Flying Water.  Cuessa had the wolves roam the forests just out of Ceresa's reach, tricking the mad sorceress into chasing them.

Aquillina traveled from Geddens to Blackstead.  Somewhat to her surprise, once she was recognized, all sings of unrest disappeared.  The citizens of the conclave had heard of her research and seemed to appreciate the chance to work alongside her. It had been a long time since Aquillina had been able to dedicate any of her time to the study of magic.  It looked as she was about to enjoy her stay in Blackstead.

Aquillina's Kingdom

Turn 66: The spearmen slowly made their way to the capital of Resoln, occasionally fighting the armies that Ceresa was throwing their way.  Cuessa accompanied them as long as they stayed in friendly dominion, but eventually split off and started pacifying the lands near Blackstead.

The fight for Hagudst was long and bloody, but the legion used the same strategy that had worked so well for them.  They advanced together and fortified their positions as they neared the enemy.  Shoulder to shoulder, they held the line, rotating a squad to the read if necessary.  After the enemy infantry line broke, they chased down any ranged and routing units.

Once Hagusdt had fallen, Aquillina demanded and received Ceresa's surrender.  The Empire of Resoln was no more, and Ceresa seemed quite willing to serve her new liege.  An accomplished Death and Water sorceress, she had a lot of potential, if only her madness could be kept in check.

Another phase over - the first war. Time for observations:

1.  The game is painfully slow.  My cities are nowhere close to having built even the critical buildings, I have dozens of undeveloped resources.  At least two have been in my dominion since I founded my first city. I have three outposts surveying 2-3 resources each, and not one of them is developed.

2. You can no longer snake a city over a river.  It seems very deliberate, because you could in Beta 4, and the way to do it has been only removed on rivers.  And removed hard.  No demolishing, no raising land... someone wanted cities to stay on one side of a river.  Such unrealistic, intentionally coded decisions are annoying.

3. It's been a long time since I have designed my spearmen, but I have nothing better to produce.  I finally researched mounted warfare, but I cannot really spare the production capacity for units that are faster, but no tougher than my basic unit.

4. Bugs, Bugs, Bugs.  Unrest in conquered cities keeps going up, and I have to go into the detail screen before I end the turn, and make sure that all cities have reset to the correct unrest.  Resources switch cities as new cities appear, retain the old producer, but use the new city production, and basically are all messed up.  The simultaneous moves of monsters and AI produces insane results - AI armies moving twice their move to successfully attack a monster that has moved away from them.  I am 99% sure I saw an AI build an outpost on a spot that should have been marked with my influence.  It may have not been at that very moment, because it seems that when you are upgrading some city buildings, the city's sphere shrinks.  Seriously, I have never run into so many bugs, but my theory is that it's because in this play-through I am simply using strategies I have previously dismissed as ineffective. (Yes, they are)

5. The monsters seem to be ignoring the AI.  I am not exaggerating when I say that some of Resoln lands were infested to the point where there was a roaming monster on every. single. unbuilt. tile.

6. The self-imposed restrictions on using heroes in enemy dominion are very artificial, and feel weird.  My heroes have not been developed, but they outclass the troops by so much, it's not funny.  Especially considering that I have thrown 7K (at the very least) on these troops and cities, while my heroes have been made to sit on the border.

7. The war was a cake walk.  No trained troops can touch my basic spearmen.  Once they fortify, all they have to worry is heroes.  There were some barrack produced troops that could hit them once in a blue moon.  Once they got a few levels, that did not matter.  Lucky + Fortify = Win

Yes, heroes can easily slaughter my spearmen, or at least could with the right AI.  As it is now, I rotate hurt troops out of the line, and regeneration takes care of them.  The enemy heroes do not hunt stragglers.  On the other hand, the enemy retreating units are nothing but a help to the player.

8.  The reduced production hurts the AI a lot more than it hurts me.  I had "wealthy", the AIs did not.

I've noticed these as well, especially monsters not attacking AI units/cities.  In my current game, one of the AI woke up a dragon, which took a casual tour of 4 AI towns, never bothering to attack any of the half-dozen cities he sauntered by, until he finally made his way to my city.  I killed it before I could see if he would attack my town (it was undefended and would have been destroyed).

I'm hoping that the increase to production in the next patch will help speed things up a bit.  Heaven knows nothing could slow this game down much more.

Really good observations, funny they keep being denied... Tuidjy for president... oh wait >_<

I Still enjoy reading these

Sincerely
~ Kongdej

Turns 67 - 81

The influence push is definitely working

Turn 72: Aquillina really liked living in Blackstead.  Her research kept her busy, the citizens loved her to the point of rioting whenever she endangered herself beyond the city gates, and her Kingdom seemed to have no pressing problems.

In order to focus on being a scholar and administrator, the Queen assigned different tasks to her champions.  Cuessa would help the newly conquered Wraith cities find their place in the Kingdom.  Ceresa would lead the newly formed cavalry troops against the monsters that still blighted the homelands.   Othollo was left to do what he loved best - roam the land, look for adventure and help the populace with their problems.

Meanwhile the Kingdom influence was spreading across the border with Magnar.  Tempted by the relative prosperity of Aquillina's subjects, Quendar slaves started fleeing North.  There were so many of them that one of their camps grew into the village of Runaway's Haven.  Magnar was seething, but he did not dare challenge Aquillina's legions.

Slowed, blinded, surrounded by stakes, the Slag has no chance.  Ceresa doesn't play fair.

Turn 77: Under Aquillina's wise policies, the Kingdom's scholars and craftsmen thrived.  There was a lot to be done, but many of the Kingdom's citizens felt that the storied days of prosperity and safety were coming back.

Of course, their safety was only possible through the efforts of Aquillina's champions and legionnaires.  Most effective amongst those was the cavalry detachment led by Ceresa.  It sped through the homelands, seeking out ogres, trolls, slags, and drakes.  Ceresa would blind and slow the monsters, which would then fall under the coordinated assaults of her lancers.

It was ironic that this elite legion had been recruited in the Wraith fortress of Hagudst and was led by the former Resoln ruler.  Some of the Kingdom's citizens worried about it, but the wiser ones knew that Aquillina had a firm hold over all of her subjects, even if they did not quite understand how she managed it.

May we suggest a few winged spears as an alternative payment? Pointy end first?

Turn 81: For years, Aquillina's scouts had been reporting Yithril troops movements along the border.  In the last few months, the tone of the messages had changed.  Significant numbers of huge, hulking humanoids had been seen alongside regular Torg troops, and some legionnaires seemed shaken by the idea of meeting the monsters in battle.

Aquillina recalled Ceresa and her men to Hagudst, but before they could ride back, Yithril troops massed on the border.  For a while, Warlord Verga kept sending them across and withdrawing them when Aquillina asked, but at the end of the Spring of 179, Warlord Verga demanded a large payment and a monthly tribute as the price for the Kingdom's continued existence.  Aquillina would not bend to extortion, and peace was once again shattered.

I am always curious at your sovereign and important hero levels, and what levels your spearmen achieved, I sadly find most combat between factions slighly too rewarding xp wise (in the games where I was stuck between 2-3 attacking factions on expert... don't ever just go on a declare war rampage when only using trained units... either that or play better than me :D)

Edit: Ment to say "War between factions needs some rewards xp wise... But I was obviously tired

Seems that krax is a very powerful use with lucky, hope krax's fortification gets changed at some point, everytime I experience it used it I shutter at how I could boost dodge to even greater lengths with those +30...

Sincerely
~ Kongdej

I love this thread.

Me too.  It truly captures the internal dialogues of my gameplay experiences as well, and what I believe to be one of the most enchanting features of the Elemental series: enticing the creative spark out of players.  Thanks again folks, a million. :&#39;)

Thank you.  I am very happy to hear that you are following it.  I hope that if you see something you don't like, you'll make it impossible in a future release

Aquillina is level 11, sitting in Blackstead, governing.

Othollo is level 19, untouchable.  He is doing quests only, not even helping with the pacification.  He's too powerful to be interesting.

Cuessa is level 7, governing Hagudst.

Ceresa is level 12, clearing my sphere of influence from monsters that were too tough to tackle earlier.  She casts support spells, the cavalry is doing the work.

The trained units are as follows:

Ceresa's two units of cavalry are level 8, riding back West.

Two wolves, level 3 and 4, are scouting Yithril and Kraxis.  Unfortunately, they haven't been able to make it across.

Spearmen, level 6-7, and an unit of panca archers, are guarding the Yithril border

Kongdej's perceptive question, Re: the levels of your champion and trained units, and your excellent answer (above) provide some really interesting/useful information here.  Nice work all around!

Your practice of relating the narrative in character makes the story more interesting; and because you drop out of character periodically to provide so much additional information, this whole thread really is an excellent project/experiment in every respect.  Again:  Nice job all around!     

Very entertaining and informative.

The phase that just ended was a peaceful one, so I have only a few remarks.

1. The combination of Blindness and dodging troops is very effective.  You do not really need fortify except against the scariest enemies... Storm dragons are the only thing that gave Ceresa's little army any trouble - by the time Ceresa got through the dragon's magic resistance, it had actually landed a few blows.  Not that it mattered much against level 8 troops.

2. There's something very wrong with the cash flow in this version.  Partially, it is due to not being able to build merchant type buildings except for the first one.  But even if I could build them, I still think that the cities would not produce enough money.  I cannot imagine myself raising taxes, even if all my cities were founded by my own side.  Taxes hugely affect research and production, and there are other sources of income: quests, selling loot, selling metal and crystal to friendly sides that have not gotten their own suppliers.

As it is right now, one can completely ignore the money buildings, and build them only when there's nothing better to do.  By the way, up to turn 80, EVERY city of mine has been building crucial buildings (Production, unrest control, growth, food) without ONE turn to spare.

Of course, I rush production every time I have the cash.

3. I was the object of a domain push for the first time.  Annoying.  It cost me a lot of Gildar, but I managed to push back.

4. I really enjoyed seeing Yithril juggernauts armed with spears before he got a mine. I even sold him some metal at exorbitant prices.  Immediately he started churning out juggernauts with guillotine axes, and soon afterwards he attempted to extort money from me.  I love moments like this.

5. Some items have ridiculously high prices, without being particularly good.  The burning battle axe and the guiding pike sell for nearly 200 gildar each, and are nothing to write home about.  They paid for a mill.

6. Othollo got a Druss blade from a trivial quest.  He got asked a simple riddle, picked the obviously answer, and received the sword.  No risk, no fight.  Now that you do not have to research quests, this looks like the quest to find on level one.

You provide the best information on obvious lapses in the game's mechanics.

I don't always agree 100% with your conclusions, but I do hope the developers are paying close attention.

+1 for you.

Turns 82-92

The former Ducal Guard has it all worked out

Turn 82: Warlord Verga led a couple of juggernauts across the border and headed toward Blackstead.  The spearmen watched him slowly trudge through the forest, then used their scouting heritage to intercept him short of the city walls.

Some of the juggernauts were well trained, and managed to bring down a few spearmen.  But Verga himself only had a shortsword, and had trouble overcoming the legionnairs' regeneration.  Eventually he had to use his magic to get away with his life.

When Aquillina read the report of the battle, she decided that she did not have to worry too much about the fabled juggernauts.  The spearmen could hold their own, Ceresa and her cavalry were approaching the front lines, and the borders were heavily forested, which gave the legionnaires a huge advantage in mobility.

The Queen felt that she could focus on running her Kingdom while her legions took care of the war.  She authorized a group of settlers from Far Colony to found a city even further to the North.  They chose site between a crystal quarry and a Fire shard, and named their village Crystal Flame. 

Conclaves accept Aquillina's rule willingly

Turn 85: Ceresa reached the area of hostilities, and led her cavalry against the Yithril armies that had ventured in Aquillina's domain.  This freed the infantry legion to march on the Trog conclave of Ahilga.  The assault was conducted with the spearmen's usual efficiency.  Just like the Wraith conclave before it, Ahilga accepted Aquillina's rule without any unrest.

Meanwhile, Othollo had been adventuring in Procipinee's lands.  One of the many people he helped gifted him with a trained ophidian.  When reports of a rampaging ogre made him ride back to Far Colony, he let the ophidian loose to explore.

The legions appear unstoppable

Turn 90: After an year of constant fighting, the infantry legion cut its way through the armies streaming out of the Trog fortress of Timbraikat, and assaulted its walls.  The garrison was defeated easily enough, but the citizens were rioting, so Cuessa was sent to help them integrate into Kingdom society.

Meanwhile, Verga recovered from his wounds, gathered an army of juggernauts and set through the forest to challenge Ceresa.  Ceresa retreated, dragging an old slag skin behind her horse, and raising a cloud of dust.  While Verga was trying to catch up, the cavalry detachment rode around him, and occupied Alhain-al-Assan.  Ceresa dumped the skin, left Verga lost in the forest, and rejoined her cavalry.

The Empire of Yithril had lost its last city.

Aquillina's Kingdom after the fall of Yithril

Turn 92: Aquillina knew that Verga's spirit was broken, and that he would surrender if given the chance.  She also knew the importance of giving a conquered country a stable local government, and suppressing looters and rioters.  She instructed her legions to secure all known Yithril outposts and resources, as not to give its neighbors a chance to grab any former Trog lands for themselves.

When she felt the time was right, Aquillina asked Verga to swear fealty to her.  He agreed, and soon enough was ruling his former city of Alhain-al-Assan in the Queen's name.

In the process of drawing the new borders, the legionnaires made contacts with the nations of Tarth, Altar, and Gilden.  All three were friendly enough, and seemed interested in trade and cooperation.  

Aquillina went back to her research.  Always a realist, she knew peace was unlikely to last, and focused her research on military matters.

Another quick and victorious war.  It's likely to be the last, because I am flying to location tonight, and won't have time for this for about a week.  A couple of remarks:

1. I built the Ducal Guard somewhere around turn 30.  It was not until turn 90 or so that I actually researched a more powerful unit.  Sure, the "elusive cavalry" is faster and thus more effective, but it was not until I had "Blacksmithing" that I actually could upgrade my first spearmen's spears and shields. 60 turns seems a bit long between gear candy.

One could argue that I should have researched warfare earlier, but I find no fault with my research strategy so far.  I had the troops I needed for the task at hand, and I was developing my production capacity.

2. Upgrade costs are likely buggy.  I have the racial trait that should allow me to upgrade at half cost.  Nevertheless, the cost to upgrade my existing cavalry unit, with shields and spears already up to date, is about 40% higher than the cost of rushing a brand spanking new unit of the same time.  Nonsense.

3. Diplomacy really needs work.  At the very least, Magnar and Kraxis should have joined against me.  I was the aggressor in my first war, and as soon as I was attacked by Yithril, all Empires should have smelled blood.  I believe that diplomacy needs to be tuned differently, depending on the difficulty settings.  The weight the AI assigns to "Close borders", "Different allegiance", and "aggressor" should be enough to precipitate a war as soon as an AI sees a chance to win.  Magnar and Kraxis should have joined, and attempted to bribe every Kingdom to jump me.

4. I am really enjoying playing with troops, but I may have been singing a different tune if I had not stumbled on such a powerful combo. 

5. The "elusive" line of troops isn't unbeatable.  Juggernauts with the right accuracy upgrades, maul and back-swing would have worked.  Of course, the AI could not come up with this.  I think that they should be given templates, and an algorithm for switching to the right one based on the enemy troops.   They already can see the whole map, I see no problem giving them a bit more oomph.  High difficulties only, of course.

--------

Anyway.  I wish I had the time to try the next version as it comes out, but I do not.  I may post a few more turns, but for now, this play-through is on hold, possibly for a week or so.

its the Torg, RUUUUUN!
gotta make a custom Torg race now, sounds kind of evil

I hope this will be implemented on some level on every difficulty level.

Sincerely
~ Kongdej

Safe travels, and great work.

Tried reading this story, and google translate helps a lot.  Feels like played game already.  Looks impressive and complicated, and very very smart.  It on Steam, and thinking buy for myself.

BUT!  I see Tuidjy writes story.  How much is game, and how much is story of Tuidjy?  For example: Is really Othollo help people?  Is really Magnar slaves escaped?  Is really trade and cooperation with three new sides?  Why with them and not with Magnar/Pendor/Kraksis

I ask how much game, how much writer imagine?

I am sorry for my English.  By the way: Plans for Russian translate on Steam? My Russian better than Engiish

The internal dialogues that this game helps generate are much more detailed, Tuidjy just summarized with personal flavor.

I can only imagine how badly the Russian community is dying for FE.  To my knowledge if it does well enough there are plans for northern European translations (someone please correct me if I'm wrong).

Northern Europe languages are finish, dannish, swedish (and possibly UK). Russian would be eastern europe.

This is from Frogboy himself:

'If we do end up doing translation, German and Russian would be the first two we'd do.'

You can find the post here. 

Details, details details, he meant russian

Sincerely
~ Kongdej

Most of the things I write about have a basis in the game, but not all.  Specifically:

Yes, Othollo helps people, i.e. he goes around and takes quests.

No, Magnar's slaves did not escape, I just started a city near the border.

Yes, there is trade and cooperation with the three new sides, because they are Kingdoms, which are friendlier to my side than Empires (Magnar and  Kraxis are Empires, and I am trading/cooperating with Procipinee already)

BTW, Pendor is in Mount & Blade, here we have Pariden.

---------

By the way, I think that this playthrough has played itself out.  There is a new version out, and as soon as I get some sleep, I will try it.  I should probably start thinking about the rules and settings of the new playthrough, and I would very much appreciate suggestions from people who have been playing the latest version for a while (you lucky bastards!)

Hm I must be weird, haven't played it THAT much.

Try having ALL your champions go path of the governor, and not using them after lvl 4 .

Either that or play with pariden/resoln, they have ridiculously few hp on theyre sovereign/heroes.

Another rule could be playing without master scouts

Sincerely
~ Kongdej