Balancing Eco & Military

[Root_Foot]

To anyone who recognizes my username whom I've made lose a team game - I am so sorry. Trust me, I won't forgive myself for it until I've made 1LT at least. If you want me to get right to the point, skip this next paragraph.

AOE2 was one of my first games ≈2002-2003, started playing AOE3 ≈2007, but have only recently had a steady internet connection to go online. I thought I'd be ready because I could beat two expert AI at once with the help of browsing HeavenGames for tactics, and I'm not awful per sé (I currently hold a -- slightly inflated -- Sergeant rank on ESO with 55% wins), but obviously that's a total n00b thing to say. I've participated in some great rushes, drawn-out games, even 1v1s and won but I'd be lying if I said I didn't depend heavily on my allies for those wins, where I often felt like an auxiliary division. My main problem is this: I cannot seem to maintain a thriving economy without leaving myself completely vulnerable to attack and/or hanging my allies out to dry in a firefight. I'm almost always the "Least Resources" prize winner in games, although in several of those games I've also won "Most Units Killed," even if I've lost the round. In this thread I'm asking for rules of thumb for balancing eco and military (certain amount of units by certain times, build orders, etc). I can tell you now that I struggle with which cards to send because I want to boost my eco, knowing that a strong economy is the backbone of a strong army, but I don't want to send resources or gathering bonuses when I've been rushed so many times, rendering those cards useless! Pls help.

TL;DR: Looking for tips on balancing eco and military. I have browsed heavengames and have been playing for years, but I'm still a n00b because I haven't had internet until recently. I play mostly Germans.

Thanks all. Fight on.

[supahons]

hi, make sure you know the basics (skip the parts you already know, you probably don't know something at an inflated serg rank)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6S1-zyq3cU&list=PL4DwBHWnAJtQSyaoGTBbo4n_AmGLy-OmL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yoiySkMMyY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob1iYKiwiho

then read the guides on the strategy wall;
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=9169

and watch some pro games to improve:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDpnRJ_LXufk8-S0k6AMZAg/videos

i hope this helps

[Root_Foot]

and watch some pro games to improve:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDpnRJ_LXufk8-S0k6AMZAg/videos

i hope this helps

Been watching Blackstar OP vs. LordRaphael finals from last year and have been learning A LOT. You have any specific game reccs?

[lemmings121]

as a rule of thumb: you eco is always too small.
make vills all game long, get economic upgrades whenever possible.

also, if you are playing team, there is one extra rule of thumb: think about how much eco you need, them make 3 times more then that.

[Hazza54321]

vills take pop space. all u need is 10 vills on each resource to afford anything youd like. If u play brit and youre building houses for population, always delete the vill that pops out of it, we dont need to have that space taken up for units with 3 attack, that could be a 23 att musketeer

[HUMMAN]

Try to learn being effecient, try timings. For 10 minutes play no rush trying to max your eco. As you progress in your economic boom try to cut no rush threshold until you start to begin play agressive .

[Gendarme]

@Hazza54321 I hope you are joking. You need a lot of settlers to be able to pump out units. The more settlers you have the more musketeers you will also have, so you argument holds for the absolute short run. Settlers pay themselves off rather quickly relative to the overall pace of the game.

[duckzilla]

A list of general tips for eco:

• Playing Germany, your first two shipments (especially in team games!) should always be 2 settler wagons (Age I) and 3 settler wagons (Age II).
• You should continuosly build villagers, no matter which situation you are in. Better to have a second and third villagers queued than to risk idle Town Center.
• When you age up to Age III, make sure to upgrade the units you currently use. Afterwards your priority should be to construct 2 new Town Centers as soon as possible and build settlers from all three TC's.
• Make sure to send Refrigeration and Royal Mint soon in Age III, since they raise your economic output considerably.
• When you plan to age up to Age IV, make sure to save shipments such that you can send the two factories right away when you get to Age IV! You can set them to the desired output (e.g. coin) and you have to immediately upgrade the factory to raise production of this output.
• Build up to 99 villagers as fast as possible.

Fun fact: regarding team games and playing Germany, you can easily reach the level of 2nd. Lt. without ever sending unit (other than settler wagons) or ressource crate shipments. You get Uhlans for free anyway and your enemies will not be strong enough to exploit that you don't send ressource crates or other unit shipments.

[Root_Foot]

A list of general tips for eco:

• Playing Germany, your first two shipments (especially in team games!) should always be 2 settler wagons (Age I) and 3 settler wagons (Age II).
• You should continuosly build villagers, no matter which situation you are in. Better to have a second and third villagers queued than to risk idle Town Center.
• When you age up to Age III, make sure to upgrade the units you currently use. Afterwards your priority should be to construct 2 new Town Centers as soon as possible and build settlers from all three TC's.
• Make sure to send Refrigeration and Royal Mint soon in Age III, since they raise your economic output considerably.
• When you plan to age up to Age IV, make sure to save shipments such that you can send the two factories right away when you get to Age IV! You can set them to the desired output (e.g. coin) and you have to immediately upgrade the factory to raise production of this output.
• Build up to 99 villagers as fast as possible.

Fun fact: regarding team games and playing Germany, you can easily reach the level of 2nd. Lt. without ever sending unit (other than settler wagons) or ressource crate shipments. You get Uhlans for free anyway and your enemies will not be strong enough to exploit that you don't send ressource crates or other unit shipments.

I gotta say, this has helped me out tenfold. Thanks duckzilla, you've indirectly assisted a lot of my unwitting allies.
Also Gendarme, Hazza54321's cheekiness was palpable.

[duckzilla]

I'm glad I could help!