March 2004

"Every Guide I read listed the Ulfsark as an easily countered and all but obsolete unit, and my first experiences using the unit affirmed this, Raiding cavalry cost the same raw resources, for a faster unit, with more hitpoints, and great pierce armor for the raiding I knew I needed to Slow, and occupy my enemy as I made my bid to heroic, and vie for map Control.

All my attempts at raiding and attacking with Ulfsarks were pretty ugly, they dropped like flys under arrow fire, and so I never thought to make them in favor of raiding cavalry.
But I knew something was missing in Classical, because a good player CAN all-together defend himself from raiding cavalry stabs after 6 minutes, and when he does, your left the weakling in Classical."

"The AoM Fropco is proud to announce a new and powerful tool for viewing Ensemble Studios Online statistics from the outside. It is called ESO Fropco (http://eso.fropco.com), and uses php to pull XML data from the ESO servers and turn it into readable detailed stats.

Features:
- Full AoM and AoM:TT support
- Detail Player Stats
- Player Search
- Top 1000 Players Real time (grouped into 10 pages)
- Top 1000 Players Detailed (updated once daily)
- Recent Game Lists
- Full GameStats with Graphs
- Detailed Population Statistics
- Time Offset setting with cookies
- Community Statistics"

1 Battlefield Vietnam - Electronic Arts $36
2 Unreal Tournament 2004 - Atari $32
3 Unreal Tournament 2004 Special Ed - Atari $32
4 Call Of Duty - Activision $47
5 MS Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection - Microsoft $30
6 The Sims Deluxe - Electronic Arts $20
7 MS Age Of Mythology - Microsoft $32
8 MVP Baseball 2004 - Electronic Arts $40
9 MS Flight Simulator 2004: Century Of Flight - Microsoft $48
10 Hoyle Casino 2004 - Vivendi Universal $23

22.4% - 240 votes Yes
45.0% - 482 votes No, next year
10.3% - 110 votes No, it two years
22.3% - 239 votes Dunno

Total: 1071 votes

Now let's take a look at two typical game examples of how these ridges may be used for tactical advantage. In the picture directly below, note how by using small sections of wall (highlighted by white lines), this Eggie player has effectively used a ridge to protect their slingers and TC from an attacking squad of hoplites (blue circle). The Greek player must either walk all the way around to close with the slingers, must destroy the wall sections, or could use a transport ship to land behind the little section of wall nearest to the water. Either way, it's difficult and time and resource consuming to get at the Eggie's slingers. If you're still curious about the map, you might be interested in KS_Josey_Wales' Anatolia guide as well.

"2. Group Test
This test is basically to show what sort of impact the Einherjar's boost has. First, I sent up 3 Battle Boars against a TC (2800 hp). They took 35 seconds to destroy it. This is quite a common scenario for Norse players in heroic. Next, I added one Einherjar to the fray but not as a combat unit. I made sure it did not attack the TC but just boosted the Batlle Boars. With the boost working, the 3 Battle Boars took just 28 seconds to destroy the TC. This clearly shows the value of the Einherjar's boost effect on friendly units. In short, the more powerful the unit, the better the effect is."

1 EverQuest: Gates Of Discord Expansion Pack - Sony Online Ent. $29
2 Call Of Duty - Activision $46
3 The Sims Deluxe - Electronic Arts $20
4 MS Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection - Microsoft $29
5 The Sims: Makin' Magic Expansion Pack - Electronic Arts $31
6 MS Age Of Mythology - Microsoft $33
7 Delta Force Black Hawk Down: Team Sabre Expansion Pack - NovaLogic $19
8 MS Flight Simulator 2004: Century Of Flight - Microsoft $49
9 The Sims Double Deluxe - Electronic Arts $40
10 Hoyle Casino 2004 - Vivendi Universal $23
11 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic - LucasArts $49
12 The Sims: Unleashed Expansion Pack - Electronic Arts $29
13 Battlefield 1942 - Electronic Arts $29
14 Halo: Combat Evolved - Microsoft $44
15 Lord of the Rings: Return Of The King - Electronic Arts $24
16 Final Fantasy XI - Square Enix USA $49
17 The Sims: Superstar Expansion Pack - Electronic Arts $30
18 Sim City 4 Deluxe - Electronic Arts $40
19 Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 2004 - Electronic Arts $22
20 Warcraft III Battle Chest - Vivendi Universal $47

"I was rather surprised when the game loaded to see the other team had one of each of the Egyptian major gods. That would make for a dozen free towers when they got to classical. Pansito has just played his first multiplayer game in a previous party game and managed to get a nice spot in the pocket position (in the middle and thus less likely to get rushed early). I figured the only good shot at winning would mean a boom. It went well except for the fact that I forgot to build a temple until I wanted to start advancing..."

30.0% (547 votes) Greeks
18.0% (328 votes) Egyptians
37.0% (675 votes) Norse
15.0% (273 votes) Atlanteans

Total: 1823 votes

"Okay everyone, it’s official! AoTS will be running a clan league. We are hoping to make this the best and most user friendly league that has ever existed in AoM:TT.

To do this we need you, the community, to help us. Below is a survey that should be proven interesting enough to fill out. Its importance is virtuous for this entire league is because of you. Note that the competition will be starting in no more than a month, so look out for it!

The projected is being headed up by Finch and myself, so if you have any queries about anything to do with the league, you can ask us; I’m probably better to ask as Finch is a very busy man. Once you have filled in this survey you can either email it to me or PM it, or if you wish just reply to this topic.

I can be reached at lordrivon@hotmail.com, my msn account is the same. Feel free to contact me about anything concerning the league.

Automatons are cheap. That's their main strong point. You could practically call them human soldiers in terms of their pop space. They are not mega-powerful classical units like the Cyclops or Sphinx, but don't be fooled that they are as weak as some say they are. If you're going Leto, Automatons will be the only offensive thing you have: No free heroes, no healing and no military techs. Automatons can be used effectively, but once your opponent sees you advance through Leto, you can expect the heroes to be around the corner.

Saying that, if kept away from heroes, Automatons can stand they're ground pretty well. Defending from Raiding Calvary and Hippikons works very well, and keeping 3 of them at your base can be useful to keep attackers away.

Heroes
For each 5 killed units, Romans may turn one Legionnaire, Praetorian, Amazon or Cataphract into a hero; they only may have half the number of their Legionnaires, Praetorians, Amazons or Cataphracts turned into a hero at a time, but those heroes are very strong.
Rewarding or punishing soldiers for their actions on the battlefield was very common in the Roman army: the first soldier to climb over enemy city-walls, obtained a laurel wreath, while of a whole company that had acted cowardly during a battle, each tenth man was killed (decimating).

1 Call Of Duty - Activision $43
2 The Sims Deluxe - Electronic Arts $17
3 Rise Of Nations - Microsoft $28
4 MS Age Of Mythology - Microsoft $33
5 MS Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection - Microsoft $30
6 The Sims: Makin' Magic Expansion Pack - Electronic Arts $30
7 Hoyle Casino 2004 - Vivendi Universal $23
8 Delta Force Black Hawk Down: Team Sabre Expansion Pack - NovaLogic $17
9 MS Flight Simulator 2004: Century Of Flight - Microsoft $52
10 Neverwinter Nights: Hordes Of The Underdark Expansion Pack - Atari $22

15.7% (260 votes) Definitely
24.7% (409 votes) Yes, but not as advanced as some think
11.6% (192 votes) I don't know
10.5% (174 votes) Definitely not!

Total: 1658 votes

You really don't need any suggestions to say that this unit must be used for its healing. Combat wise-

vs Greeks- Use along with RC for raiding tackling Toxotes. Also very good vs Hippkons and the Greek MUs. Massacres Centaurs.
vs Norse- Excellent counter for the RC. One Valkyrie can take 5 RC with no problems. Also excellent against Throwing Axeman and Huskarls.
vs Egyptians- Only use with human backup to take care of priests with. Still, they are useful vs Axeman, Slingers, CA and even War Elephants.
vs Atlanteans- One more MU that is great to use vs Turmae. Also good vs Katpeltes (they do not get any bonus vs Valks) Arcus and Chieroballistae. Weak attie MUs will fall like ninepins against them. They only have problems vs Mythic MUs.

With four archery ranges already built, he adds a second TC. Moments later, he sends his first 15 cav archers over deep into TheMoonGoat's base, in response to MoonGoat's earlier flare. Then the talking starts:

The Sheriff: “Where are they?”

TheMoonGoat: “What?”

The Sherriff: “I'm here, where are they?”

TheMoonGoat: “Oh, I just flared to let you know where I was.”

The Sheriff: [non-verbal sounds]

So, the Sheriff has just wasted two minutes responding to an imagined attack. His score is now 2900, while all the other players are below 1700. Time for some action.

1 Call Of Duty - Activision $46
2 MS Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection - Microsoft $29
3 MS Age Of Mythology - Microsoft $33
4 The Sims Deluxe - Electronic Arts $20
5 The Sims: Makin' Magic Expansion Pack - Electronic Arts $32
6 Hoyle Casino 2004 - Vivendi Universal $23
7 Halo: Combat Evolved - Microsoft $39
8 Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 2004 - Electronic Arts $20
9 The Sims Double Deluxe - Electronic Arts $39
10 MS Flight Simulator 2004: Century Of Flight - Microsoft $52

26.2% (327 votes) Beast Slayer
14.3% (179 votes) Axe of Muspell
42.8% (535 votes) Hand of the Pharaoh
16.7% (208 votes) Heroic Fleet

Total: 1249 votes

1. vs Infantry - 1 Zeus Hoplite (126hp 10 hack damage 41% hack armour)l:
First of all, the Cyclops normal attack takes two forms. First, it has an underarm swing of the club which it does about once a second. Second, it has an overhead swat which it does once every two seconds. Which shot it uses is random and though they might do varying amounts of damage per shot, they will do the same damage on a per second basis. To cut a long story short the cyclops kills the hoplite in 15 seconds finishing with 570hp.
For an Elder Cyclops, the story is the same- only shorter. It takes just 10 seconds to kill the hoplite with 600 hp left.
I disabled the special for this test.

You've reached the third of our "Extra Life" matches, where games that have already lost individual polls get a final crack at advancing in the tournament. This matchup features the losers from the Hyrule and Azeroth brackets. We also allowed in four write-in votes this time. The two in this match are Planescape Torment and Thief: The Dark Project. Which game most deserves a new lease on life? Cast your vote and make your selection heard! Note: Polls close at noon on Monday!

$44 - ryfang
$44 - Cheddarmon
$44 - L_Clan_Pi
$25 - Port_PapA
$25 - Olympus_Fantasy
$25 - ScareD
$25 - KoN_DeaThShrimP
$25 - KS_RiveRo

The 411 .::. This is an great game, with lots of fun to be hand in both single, and multiplayer. Without the Titans expansion pack, it would get a lower score, however the Titans add a whole new dimension to the game. It's your standard RTS.....just a hell of a lot better. Pick both up today. The only hinderance, which gives it a lower score, is the popuation limits.

1 Call Of Duty - Activision $41
2 MS Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection - Microsoft $28
3 MS Flight Simulator 2004: Century Of Flight - Microsoft $46
4 The Sims Deluxe - Electronic Arts $20
5 MS Age Of Mythology - Microsoft $33
6 The Sims Collection - Electronic Arts $19
7 The Sims: Makin' Magic Expansion Pack - Electronic Arts $32
8 Battlefield 1942 - Electronic Arts $27
9 Hoyle Casino 2004 - Vivendi Universal $23
10 EverQuest: Gates Of Discord Expansion Pack - Sony Online Ent. $27

66.8% (884 votes) Yes
16.3% (216 votes) No
16.8% (223 votes) No idea

Total: 1324 votes