This is why this game is so good - you can use real tactics, and you have to avoid being seen, and if you are, you have to make sure the scouts don't get back to report about it.
Explanation: I'm an adventure and RPG gamer mainly, so my strategic brain is underdeveloped. I found it very stressy to keep one eye on the mini map and check for the yellow sign (discovered by an agent), kill that guy before he telltales.
I just can't keep the correct building sequences in my head and when I've found/selected the correct building at last and want to look for a nice cosy place = yellow alarm comes. Ok, I kill, but then I lost track of either the building I wanted to create, or the place I wanted to set it up <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" /> - or I forgot where the upgrading building was <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/suspicion.gif" alt="" />
I guess, you would have laughed your head off watching me, Stormrider <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> - I tried the patroling command, but... errhm, my patrols were as stupid as their commander <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/suspicion.gif" alt="" /> - they marched the line and let the enemy spy pass, grrr.
I cussed a lot in that game - but I still love it. So, therefore I tried to wipe out most camps with my ava and/or heroes if available - even if she needed ages to demolish a building. And as respawning only starts heavily after activating a race monument, I know which price I have to pay for my "tactic" => lesser leveling up. I'm nearly lvl 27(mage lvl 11) now, doubt I reach 28, sniff. Only at 28 I can go on the really powerful area spells. Ah, well, my deathblow spell (Todesschlag) makes 125 dam., already, that's good.
I like summoning though, skeletons, undead goblins and now a pretty good shadow as well. My favourite single attack is poisoning and running away - twiddling my thumbs and waiting for the enemy to die slowly. Some are immune to it, but I can curse them first.
Kiya <strategy apprentice>
PS: there was one area though where I really went into war because I was stone-red angry! I had 2 levelups there. Enemies kept rolling in and I tried out how far my death spells worked, let other mages (totems, orc fire mages) slaughter them and watched the troll towers killing them. I spent about 5-7 hrs in that fight until I had the guts to storm that area - just a tip => it was the Rift, WAH! Never again! I had solved the quest there long ago, but wanted to clear that map. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/memad.gif" alt="" />
