I've been messing around lately, and a lot of useful Aggressive Strategies (mainly rushes) from original RoN doesn't measure up too well in T&P.

Things that worked in RoN but not too well in T&P:

1. Kamikaze Rush
2. Delayed Power Rush
3. Staying in Ancient Age Strategy
4. 100 Attack
5. Aggressive Ancient Age Border Push


Alternatives and Things that still work:

1. Drunken Strategy
2. Classical Delayed Power Rush (Despot Rush)
3. Fast HC/HA Raid
4. Defensive Classical to Fast Medieval and Gunpowder Age Boom
5. SCI 1 MIL 1 Barracks for Ruin Scouting

posted by El_Capitan at 9:36 PM

Well, I made up a new strat today at the request of Zurtech for the French. It may be overpowered. =p

This was also my first game playing as the French since the expansion.

Go here to check out the game against PCA_Frogman.

It was against the nerfed Spanish, but having played the Spanish recently, they're still pretty good with using the Fast HC/FA raid (plus, they counter the French pretty well with their UU HI). In this game, PCA_Frogman had no Timber at his 2nd City, so he decided to go for an Ancient Age 3rd City to find Timber, which pretty much slowed him down from doing the Fast HC/FA raid and put him on the defensive (which is rarely good).

Anyways, being the French, I had no Timber problems. The premise of the French FA/HC Assault isn't focused on your economy, though. You can do a French 100 or French 150, but it all depends on how much Knowledge you're accumulating. As long as it's at +20 to +40, you're fine. You can go either way with researching MIL 1 in Ancient Age, or do the Delayed Despotism MIL (meaning you go up to Classical Age, research Despotism, and then research the cheaper MIL 1 and MIL 2).

Build your Stables first to raid with HC. Then build your Barracks next and upgrade your FA. Then, build your Siege Factory for your Supply Wagon. Get your economy stabilized, and make sure to get as much Food and Metal as you can with 2 Cities. If you don't find any Rares that will give you Knowledge, build a University or two. Research COM 2. Now, this part's all micro.

1. Keep making HC.
2. Keep making FA.
3. Make sure you have 2 or 3 Catapults.
4. Protect your Supply Wagon.
5. Assault and keep taking down military buidings and cities.

How do you keep making HC and FA? Simple. Sell your Food and extra Timber. You won't need Food after you max your economy except to get to Medieval Age. You'll also have a lot of extra Timber leftover.

The French HC are the toughest in the game supported by tons of FA, and they get Supply Wagons that heal in enemy territory. Nothing should be able to get close to your army while you're doing your assault. This strategy for the French is probably overpowered. Maybe even more so than the Romans and Americans. I'd suggest this strategy for everyone wanting to improve their battle micro. Micro your FA against HI, and your HC against anything else, and move your Supply Wagon and General around so they don't get killed. Also, make sure your siege are safe as well.

posted by El_Capitan at 8:37 PM

A new strategy which I would have tried out in the 1st T&P Smackdown on MFO had I been able to participate.

There are two games at RoNU vs. Amoun. Go here to get them.

Game 1: El_Capitan (Aztecs) vs. Amoun (Persians).rcx

Ancient Age raiding with LI and FA. Usually I wouldn't make as many FA, but I have to watch out for the ranged UU HI that the Persians have. I continue the raiding in Classical Age with LI and HC and continue to do so until Gunpowder Age when I mount my attack.


Game 2: El_Capitan (Aztecs) vs. Amoun (Russian).rcx

I have to take a different approach due to the Russian attrition. I go for a semi-fast Classical for Despotism in order to get the General and nullify the attrition when I start my LI/HC raid. I continue raiding until Gunpowder Age and my concentration is in gaining edge cities to slowly drain his resources while gaining mine until I can mount an attack on his Capital that will hold.


Strategy: The build order will differ on certain maps, and against different Nations. The premise is to raid mainly with LI in Ancient Age, and using a few FA for support. This is to slow your opponent down and scouting out potential raiding areas in the future. When you reach Classical Age, continue to raid, but only using LI and HC, using the leftover FA you had in Ancient Age to raid as well or stationed at your Capital in case of a HI rush. Don't waste time getting HA. The reason for this is that your LI and HC will stay alive longer, and they will kill all units rather well except for HI. The great thing about that is that if your opponent does build HI, you're eventually going to take them down when you reach Gunpowder Age, which will usually be at around 12:00 - 14:00 minutes. HI won't be able to take down your raiders anyway because of their slow speed (know when to retreat! Raiding is a hit and run tactic, not hit and die), and Militia will get killed by your HC. Make sure to make some Siege on your way up, so right when you research Democracy, Arquebusiers, and your HC upgrade, you can mount your attack. If you raided correctly, your army should outnumber your opponent's. Plus, you can spam Barracks to make your army larger, meanwhile getting +60 resources to feed your battles.


posted by El_Capitan at 5:37 PM

Many players can take advantage of Ancient Age Raiding, but many don't. American, Iroquois, Aztecs, British, and the Bantu are all great for Ancient Age Raiding.

What people should realize is that the first unit to raid with should be the HI. Why? Because it forces the enemy to build a Barracks. TC fire isn't going to kill it, Citizens aren't going to kill it. This forces the enemy to research MIL 1, a Barracks, and a Foot Archer.

Your 2nd unit should be a Slinger. Have it scout the dark areas going to your HI to support it against the FA. Your enemy will counter appropriately by making a Slinger in return, or an HI. Or, they can micro one of their Citizens to attack the Slinger.

Usually that's enough to take the early lead, resulting in your enemy spending more vital resources than you, while you retreat and search for Ruins and Rares.

If you want to follow up with the Ancient Age Raiding for more Raiding, then build small groups of 1 HI, 1 LI, and 1 FA in raiding parties. Retreating and reinforce. What's even better is building a small secret army of 6 HI to flank around your enemy to sack the Capital while you distract your enemy by raiding them in their 2nd City.

Remember, Ancient Age Raiding isn't all about how many Citizens, Merchants, and Caravans you kill, but how many resources your opponent spends on defense. If they make 2 Towers, 3 Foot Archers, you've done your damage. You can go to Classical Age and raid again with HC.
posted by El_Capitan at 5:34 PM