My poor, unfortunate pupils. You stand before me, battered, beaten, your grain stores emptier than a beggar's coin purse, your villagers looking at you as if you were a sheep leading them to slaughter. Yes, I know the look of a farmed soul well.
I have seen mighty commanders reduced to little more than walking granaries for some ravenous warlord with too much time on their hands. The raiders just kept coming with no end.
But hear me now and hear me well; this is not the end of your story. No, no, no. This is where it begins. A warrior is not judged by how many times he is knocked down but by how many times he rises again…
Stop feeding the beast and build crannies
Your enemies are no different from hungry beasts; they sniff out the weak, the defenseless, the convenient meals. If your resources flow like wine at a Roman feast, they will never stop coming. So, the first step?
- A cranny hides your resources. A lot of crannies make you untouchable.
- The more crannies you build, the less a raider takes until they get nothing at all.
- Gauls, you blessed souls, your crannies store twice as much. Use this to your advantage.
- You can always deconstruct your crannies once you need room for other buildings.
"The lion does not return to an empty den."
Punish their greed and build traps (Gauls only)
If your opponent believes you are weak, prove them wrong. Even the most relentless raider will hesitate when the cost outweighs the gain.
- A single trap can turn a fearless raider into a man rethinking all his life choices.
- Small, frequent raids? Perfect. Those are exactly the kind of careless attacks that get trapped.
- Trapped troops cannot attack, and they do not return home, unless you let them that is. If your enemy is smart, they will stop and ask for the return of their soldiers.
"Turn their arrogance into shackles and their warriors into your prisoners."
Move your wealth, not your worries
If you still have too many resources and your crannies are overflowing, do not sit idly waiting for your fate.
- Train scouts to prevent enemy spies from watching your movements.
- Send your resources elsewhere! Have a friend? A kingdom? A second village in the making? Transfer resources there before a raid lands.
- Invest your wealth in construction before a raider arrives. If you have nothing to steal, a raider gets nothing.
"A wise ruler does not hoard riches in a burning house; he builds a new one elsewhere."
Stay active and strengthen your walls
Active players catch the attention of strong kingdoms. Join one. A good kingdom will defend you, and soon, your once-mighty oppressor may find himself on the receiving end of a siege.
- Upgrade your wall. The extra levels will support your future.
- Start training defensive units behind your walls. A day of revenge is on the horizon.
- Most important, stay active! A passive target is an easy target and others track your inactivity.
Let them think you are a chicken farmer
Ah, now we reach my favorite part, revenge.
You see, my dear pupils, every time your raider attacked, they grew comfortable. Too comfortable. And that is their mistake.
- The Boots of Chicken allow your defensive troops to flee from overwhelming attacks. Keep a pair of these boots in your inventory at all times, or trade for more efficient ones.
- Keep training your essential defenders while wearing the boots.
- Your troops will never die… but they will grow in numbers.
And then, one day, when the time is right, when your walls stand tall, when your crannies are full, and your army is no longer meek, you will take the boots off.
And when you do?
Your raider will walk into a massacre.
Call nature to your side
Your village is strong. Your defenses are impenetrable. Your enemy no longer comes for easy loot.
And now… it is time to make sure they never return.
- Once you have your peace, use your hero to capture animals with cages. By this time, you've amassed many cages from adventures and auctions.
- Bears, tigers, and crocodiles don't eat your food, but they do eat raiders.
- Place them in your village, and let your enemies know your home will never be a farm again.
Secrets from those who endured
- Find a trusted ally to manage your affairs while you sleep, eat, or deal with lesser mortal concerns can mean the difference between survival and ruin. Choose wisely.
- If you must be absent, do not leave your army waiting to be pillaged. Send them on an extended march. Pick a target far away and call it team building!
- Not all raiders are heartless brutes. Some simply seek easy prey. A respectful message, a bit of wit, or a well-placed offer of future cooperation can turn enemies into allies.
- Keep dodging attacks until your army is strong enough to match the enemy. Leaving a small number of troops for slaughter is just rewarding your opponent's Hero with free experience.
I have seen men go from farmers to warlords. I have seen weaklings rise as titans, their banners waving where once they cowered.
You were not meant to be someone else's farm. You were meant to be feared.
Make the raiders regret ever setting foot on your land.
"A wise commander builds walls. A brilliant one builds walls, traps, armies, allies, and a grudge that lasts generations."
Tacticus out.