Postby Asplundh » Fri May 04, 2012 5:47 am
Eldorren - in the early game, I round-robin the City Hall, Warehouse, and the three resource engines, upgrading the Farm as needed to keep up with the growing city population working in the upgraded buildings. When they reach Lvl-15, I start the Barracks, Forge, and Stable. I tend to stop the City Hall at Lvl-25. I take the Warehouse and the resource engines all the way to Lvl-30. I take the Forge to Lvl-20 and both the Barracks and Stable to Lvl-15. When the Barracks and Stable reach Lvl-15, I start the Wall (maxing it out). Lastly, I build a Lvl-3 Workshop if I am only planning on building Rams; or a Lvl-5 Workshop for Ballista.
In my first city, I build Lancers, Sentries, Berserkers (Zerx), Scouts, Knights, and Guardians. Because I don't build rams or ballista in my first city, I forgo building the Workshop. On a 3-research world, I research Sentries, Zerx, Knights, and Guardians to Lvl-2. I build 1500 Lvl-1 Lancers, 3000 Lvl-2 Sentries, 4000 Lvl-2 Zerx, 300-500 Lvl-1 Scouts, 2000 Lvl-2 Knights, and 3000 Lvl-3 Guardians. Your defensive troops are the Lancers, Sentries, Guardians, and half the Scouts. The Zerx, Knights, and rest of the Scouts are your offensive troops. In a pinch, you can use some f the Guardians on the offense.
When I reach those troops levels, then I build an Academy. If you are conquering nearby barb cities no more than two hours away, you can get by with one Scholar. After you've capped three or four barb cities, you should be ready to build an Academy in your 2nd city. You can cap a city in four Scholar attacks, but you would be wise to plan on it taking five Scholar attacks.
Consider specializing subsequent cities. Defensive cities produce only defensive troops. Offensive cities produce only offensive troops. A Scholar and Scout city produces only Scholars and Lvl-3 Scouts (and maybe Lvl-3 Rams and Lvl-3 Ballista).