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TowerLord
Promising
Supreme Hero
Hero of Good, Slayer of Evil
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posted April 24, 2007 11:38 AM |
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Academy advanced strategies
I've been playing Academy lately, and the town really performs well in many ways, and gives many opportunities of winning the game. Depending of the skill choice there are some distinct Wizard classes in my oppinion, each one effective in its own way. I am gonna describe each of these builds, the heroes most fit to use them, and the pros and cons.
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TowerLord
Promising
Supreme Hero
Hero of Good, Slayer of Evil
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posted April 24, 2007 11:40 AM |
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The Armageddonist
The skill build-up :
Main Skills
Expert Destructive Magic - no comment
Expert Sorcery - Faster casting equals more Armaggedons, which is great
Expert Enlightment - the extra Sp and knowledge are really nice to have
Secondary Skills
I'd go for Defense and Logistics, because they really give some important bonuses, but some other skills might work too.
The town build-up :
You focus everything on building money and troops! Getting Master Gremlin upgrade early is very important so you can creep easily. Other important stuff for this strategy are spell power artifacts and +50% fire damge artifacts, so you might want to buy an Artifact Merchant too.
This build is very powerfull and reliable on maps with Mage Vaults. Each mage vault provides a high level spell, so if you visit two mage vaults you are going to have Armageddon for sure. So your goal is powercreeping and getting armageddon asap! You don't need mage guilds for it so you are really on your way to victory, if you're on the right map.
Best Hero - Nathir
He starts with Destructive magic, and he has Fireball in his arsenal, he also has Fire-Spells specialty(but it is broken  ). Fireball is great because it's perfect for killing Mage Vaults with only 7 Obsydians. That makes him the real Armageddonist, but all the Wizards can do it, he just has some extra.
Other good heroes - Jhora, Nur
They start with Sorcery, which is a very important for the Armageddonist too, and also eldritch arrow, which helps creeping alot, so they work well too.
Narxes is another nice hero, because he starts with Enlightment, but he doesn't have very good creeping.
Once you've got Armageddon go for the kill, don't wait any more ... take your Gargoyles and your Golems(maybe). With two big stacks of these creatures(and another five splitted gargs for protecting these two) you won't even need to retreat, if you attack early - middle game, but the strategy can prove very powerfull even in middle - late game... you'll have to equip all your troops with resistance artis and maybe defense, and you're good to go... In a couple of rounds of armageddon the opponents troops will be dead.
This is the most beloved Wizard to me, always winning the game for me... The armageddonist is very powerfull, and he can win even if the opponent has -50% fire protection artifact. However if he has both -50% fire artifacts, things become a little harder. That is why, when he starts a battle he should check with Eldritch Arrow or Fireball, to see if any of those artifacts are available for the enemy. If they are he will have to rely on the other Destructive spells he posseses, MotW Implosion being the best alternative, but even a MotW Lightning Bolt with 50% artifact is very efficient! Also this kind of Wizard might get into trouble against other Wizards using resistance mini-artis, and probably he shouldn't be used against other Wizards, especially not without a backup magic (Summoning or Light).
Moderator's note: QP applied for helpful and informative post, and for starting a great thread with many interesting strategy contributions.
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Lesij
Famous Hero
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posted April 24, 2007 11:59 AM |
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Does Sap Magic skill protect ur troops if u use armageddon? Cuz it is written, it protects only from hostile spellz...
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GenieLord
Honorable
Legendary Hero
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posted April 24, 2007 12:15 PM |
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Very nice strategy. 
It works against almost all the factions.
The problem is against Dungeon and Fortress-Black Dragons have immunity to all the spells, and Magma Dragons have immunity to Fire.
Before you use the Armageddon against Dungeon, you should check that with the number of Steel Golems and Obsidian Gargoyles that you have, you can beat the Black/Magma Dragons that the enemy has.
P.S: This thread is posted twice, in the Altar and in the Temple.
Ask a moderator to delete the one in the Altar for you.
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Doomforge
Admirable
Undefeatable Hero
Retired Hero
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posted April 24, 2007 12:20 PM |
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Fortress will completely pwn it;
not only magmas are completely immune, but there's the rune of elemental immunity, which lasts whole combat. So armageddon will affect only a few stacks (those which were unlucky not to get fire immunity)
Also, lategame haven will just stomp over it.
It may work against other factions, though!
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feluniozbunio
Promising
Supreme Hero
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posted April 24, 2007 12:34 PM |
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I can give a strategy that grants you a free win against dungeon.
Take Jhora. Skills needed:
Sorcery->Counterspell
Exp enlightenment
Exp War machines->ballista, tent
(Attack-> archery, flaming arrows)- this one is hard to get but do it if you have the chance
Last slot is your choice, preferably summoming magic for better creeping.
When you have formidable hero create +att/+def/+init/+hp arties and go to the last battle with your full army.
When you fight your opponent Jhora should go before his hero. Use counterspell with her. With your creatures/ballista kill all witches(they can disrupt your counterspell process). Constantly use counterspell to prevent warlock hero from casting. He will be able to cast a spell once in 5 turns or something thanks to sorcery, so keep that in mind. Till he casts a spell however he should be long gone, giving you made powerful enough mini artifacts.
This tactics cripple warlock for good. There is not much he can do about it, even if he knows your strategy.
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GenieLord
Honorable
Legendary Hero
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posted April 24, 2007 12:38 PM |
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Quote:
Fortress will completely pwn it;
not only magmas are completely immune, but there's the rune of elemental immunity, which lasts whole combat. So armageddon will affect only a few stacks (those which were unlucky not to get fire immunity)
Also, lategame haven will just stomp over it.
It may work against other factions, though!
On the first time you use it, the enemy won't be ready. The enemy doesn't know you have Armageddon spell, and probably won't use Rune of Magical Immunity.
After the first time, the enemy is ready and might use Rune of Magical Immunity with many units.
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Doomforge
Admirable
Undefeatable Hero
Retired Hero
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posted April 24, 2007 12:44 PM |
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Quote:
When you fight your opponent Jhora should go before his hero.
YOu have to get her to level 20 for the extra point, and 11 vs 10 initiative doesn't give much. Seriously, I've seen things like m.hunters acting before djinn sultans (10 vs 12) many times, so I wouldn't depend on that extra point.
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Use counterspell with her. With your creatures/ballista kill all witches(they can disrupt your counterspell process)
Uh-huh. What about surrounding them with hydras and minos? Academy forces may be strong, but not that much to reach them instantly, and they don't have any pala-"we kill everyting in one hit"-dins or grif-"Hit everything on the field no matter how well protected"-fins. And mini-arties cost a fortune. Only 86wyp can afford them in every game
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feluniozbunio
Promising
Supreme Hero
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posted April 24, 2007 12:50 PM |
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Quote:
quote:When you fight your opponent Jhora should go before his hero.
YOu have to get her to level 20 for the extra point, and 11 vs 10 initiative doesn't give much. Seriously, I've seen things like m.hunters acting before djinn sultans (10 vs 12) many times, so I wouldn't depend on that extra point.
You are right , its not 100% reliable, but you must be very unlucky to go second. I don't consider those cases. Besides, lvl 20 is easy to get you often will be facing 20+ lvl hero, so its more than 1 point difference.
About shielding witches. I think you haven't seen a full wizard army if you say you can somehow prevent academy player from killing your witches. Archmages alone kill all of them with a single shot and if you split your witches, gremlins and ballista will finish the job.
Quote:
Only 86wyp can afford them in every game
Unfortunately that's not truth.
Ive played like 6 games against top academy players recently with dungeon and i know what i am talking about. Trust me. Its an even match i would say till academy gets counterspell or UNsuspected shackless.
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Doomforge
Admirable
Undefeatable Hero
Retired Hero
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posted April 24, 2007 01:04 PM |
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Wow, archmages? I guess you're talking about their regular attack, right? So, it will get even worse with the introduction of battlemages 
Yeah, to be honest I've never played vs. a really good academy guy (for some reason ppl I play against dislike that town..) so I'll believe you. 
Still, I think we just shouldn't let them gain so much power.
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feluniozbunio
Promising
Supreme Hero
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posted April 24, 2007 01:06 PM |
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Quote:
Still, I think we just shouldn't let them to gain so much power.
Thats the only way. Unfortunately its not always possible to rush. And still counterspell will deny your casting, this skill is too powerfull if you ask me, and soo easy to get.
Quote:
Wow, archmages? I guess you're talking about their regular attack, right?
Yes, i am.
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Doomforge
Admirable
Undefeatable Hero
Retired Hero
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posted April 24, 2007 01:08 PM |
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Bah, if only dungeon had some defense against dark magic.. perhaps we could even go for Kythra and melee instead of relying on destructive vs. academy. But a thinking academy hero will go for dark magic when he notices kythra from the start ~~
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TowerLord
Promising
Supreme Hero
Hero of Good, Slayer of Evil
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posted April 24, 2007 01:46 PM |
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The most difficult opponent is another Wizard with resistance minis. Fortress isn't so bad, Magmas(actually Fire in a rush) can be taken out by implosions or lightnings and troops, and the others troops are easily taken care of by armageddon(they are slow and won't be able to cast the rune in time)...
Dungeon's Blackies are probably not gonna attend the party in the early stages of the game... Later they could be important , but still Academy's troops can kill them, and armageddon takes care of everything else .
Haven very very late game, as well as every other might town's lategame is hard to beat. If you let haven acumulate 100 paladins, you are probably gonna lose, but there is no way you should allow that! With 1000 + Armageddon you can win even against 20-30 paladins and all the other Haven troops.
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feluniozbunio
Promising
Supreme Hero
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posted April 24, 2007 01:57 PM |
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Everything seems to be true Except for the dungeon part. If dungeon player gets at least 50% fire resitance , you are in trouble. I always get earth /fire resistance if i can. Well.. everybody can get those resistances but dungeon doesn't suffer from reduction of their armies and they have greater chance to get those artifacts... oh yeah i forgot you can always switch to counterspell
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Elvin
Admirable
Omnipresent Hero
Endless Revival
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posted April 24, 2007 02:02 PM |
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It depends on what arties the dungeon player can buy. If he is aware of your plans of course 
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H5 is still alive and kicking, join us in the Duel Map discord server!
Map also hosted on Moddb
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feluniozbunio
Promising
Supreme Hero
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posted April 24, 2007 02:05 PM |
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NO no, you get the things wrong Elvin. These protections are a MUST if you face wizards. You may be unlucky not to get them but if you don't get them because you may feel they wont be needed, you only dig a grave of yours.
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Elvin
Admirable
Omnipresent Hero
Endless Revival
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posted April 24, 2007 02:10 PM |
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I guess you are right, after all they don't cost too much. What would concern me however is what else will appear as your gold is limited and there have been times with a warlock where I couldn't get elemental protection arties AND knowledge/luck or whatever.
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Map also hosted on Moddb
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feluniozbunio
Promising
Supreme Hero
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posted April 24, 2007 02:11 PM |
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These artifacts mean much more than ANY other if you face wizards. You may skip some units if you are short on gold, but get them.
I had a game where i chose a hammer that adds 25% fire resistance over 2 black dragons (i had the shield too). It was very good choice since my opponent used armagedon strategy(i didn't know he is using it). It was much more useful than dragons. If he didnt have armageddon,well, dragons would me more useful, but there are not many deadly strategies except for arma/motwed implosion/counterspell. So its almost always better to secure yourself from them than doing some other random things.
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Elvin
Admirable
Omnipresent Hero
Endless Revival
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posted April 24, 2007 02:20 PM |
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I shall heed your words then It's been only recently that I started playing multiplayer and some things still elude me 
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ZombieLord
Promising
Famous Hero
that wants your brainz...
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posted April 24, 2007 02:23 PM |
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Quote:
YOu have to get her to level 20 for the extra point, and 11 vs 10 initiative doesn't give much.
She increases the initiative right from level 1, even if it is not shown.
10.5 initiative for example is 10.5, not 10, although in the game it says the value rounded down
Quote:
Seriously, I've seen things like m.hunters acting before djinn sultans (10 vs 12) many times, so I wouldn't depend on that extra point.
That's why I hate the random start ATB
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