Italian 2 lombard opening

User avatar
Italy Garja
Retired Contributor
Donator 02
Posts: 9729
Joined: Feb 11, 2015
ESO: Garja

Italian 2 lombard opening

  • Quote

Post by Garja »

Italian 2 lombard opening

My go-to strat for Italians. Fairly powerful build but most importantly flexible/safe.
Compares well with a French semi FF but it also gives the option to go industrial or stay in the second age. I think Italians do (it) better in industrial or age2 compared to French so this strat should be atleast competitive in most MUs.
Age up times for reference (ideal situation):
- reach age2 at 4.35
- reach age3 at 7.45
- reach age4 at 10.45

Standard deck
Image

Deck for the semi FI (might become the standard deck depending on the MU/how the meta evolves)
Image


Build order

Age1
As we all know by now, Italians want to market to get extra vills from techs. The way I do that is:
- 3v on food crates to queue the first vill, then one starting vill collects the wood crate
- pay the market cost at 80w
- research the vill hp tech first unless there is a 50c treasure in base
- queue vills up to 10/10 (to overpop with the vill from market tech)
- second tech is either the vill damage tech or hunting dogs (depending if the explorer took any coin treasure yet)
- first vill from TC production hunts animals
- third tech is hunting dogs (if no coin treasure then sell 100f and get it)
- fourth tech is gang saw (more expensive than placer mines but needed in transition)
- generally no 5th market tech (so the age up is at 16v or less)
The architect builds market -> house -> TP -> back in base for houses (have an hotkey/ctrl group for him). If the TP is really really far then maybe this strat is not ideal for the map but if the TP is in a corner of the map the architect might as well just drop houses there (unless the opponent has a cav civ which is going to raid him).
First card is capitalism (coin trickle). Click on the Lombard+1v age up at 16/20 pop.

Transition to age2
Collect 75f then move all vills to chop wood. Get placer mines then steel traps (move couple vills on gold if needed to time it perfectly).
In order to not get housed, you have to buy buildings for a total amount of about 125w. It doesn’t matter which building, the sooner the better. Just time it with the market ups (which have priority). If your macro is perfect and the map allows for that you might get an extra TP passage if you buy the remaining cost of the TP.
Once you have bought that amount and you have 200w, move all vills to food and coin with the following allocation:
- 5v on coin, rest on food for a huss start (main build)
- 2-3v on coin, rest of food for musket start
- 8w on wood, rest on food for the rare case you want pavisiers or pikes
TC rally point is to food.

Age2
From here I’ll assume it is a hussar start.
Send the lombard+700 card, drop the lombard from the age up and build a stable with one vill (architect keeps building houses).
Queue hussars and drop the second lombard when the card arrives.
If the opponent is rushing/threatening something in age2 then send 700w and drop a rax (see the how to defend rushes section). Otherwise send 700g with the intention to age up. Usually this is a 5huss semi, but you can make more batches of huss if needed (just remember to buy houses or won't have the pop space).
Third card is the age1 fast age up card.
The most appealing age up options are 9(12) Pavisiers and the TC wagon (+300xp). For the semi FF I suggest the first one, while for the FI the latter. But feel free to experiment and consider also using the musketeer age up in some cases.

Transition to age3
Drop a rax once you got 200w from the lombard income.
If the plan is to stay in age3, speed up the construction of one or two houses to afford the pop space for the upcoming units. Then move about 9v on coin and rest on food. You will start making goons asap while waiting for 1k wood to upgrade/make more pavisiers.
If the plan is instead to go industrial then keep all vills on food (unless you expect immediate pressure in which case leaving couple vills on coin for minutemen is recommended).

Age3
For the industrial plan just collect the xp crates and send 1k coin. Drop the 2nd TC from the wagon close to the 2nd coin mine (rally point on the mine). Start producing vills from both TCs and decide which one is safer to use for the age up. Use the 3 falconet option or occasionally the 1k experience option if it suits the situation better.
For a semi FF strat send 1k wood while making goons. Use the 1k wood to upgrade the pavisiers (you should have 12 already from the age up), then start making more while setting the TC rally point to wood (so that you are already macroed for when the 1k wood bank expires).
Next card is usually 2 falconets (to match the 2falcs of the other civs) or a big crate (1k coin for mercs, Lombard card for a 2nd rax). Then usually the pavisier range upgrade.
Then it’s up to you. The game should play out like a classic skirm/goon semi FF.

Transition to age4
As soon as you click on the age up, move about 10-12 vills on coin and start making dragoons from the stable (or alternatively move more vills on coin and make some other anticav merc that is more appealing). Spare some resources for minutemen in case you spot the opponent coming to your base with his army.
Since the time window to industrial is quite narrow and the build is tight, it shouldn’t be easy for the opponent to cause a lot of damage without committing super hard. 5 goons, 12 minutemen, 3 falcs and a couple hussars can hold lots of age2 or age3 units. If the opponent breaks that then the problem is the choice of the FI strat.

Age4
Once you reach age4 it’s time to gauge where you are in the game compared to what the opponent is doing. Generally speaking you want to get away with as many eco cards as possible in order to play out a normal game where you started from the industrial age while the opponent wasted resources and cards in the prior ages. So, if you don’t expect immediate pressure start sending the factory card, followed by the 3k lombard resource card and then anything else you feel proper for the situation.
The overall plan is to make bersaglieri and dragoons, while producing vills from two TCs and teching up w/e you can afford (free vills). As soon as you can, drop a basilica (more techs for vills and access to the shadow upgraded papal units). Because of all the free stuff from the age IV cards you can even afford to transition to mills and estates at some point without having to fight for the very last hunt or mine on the map.
Usually the optimal card order is something like factory, 3k res, 12 bersaglieri, advanced arsenal, cav combat, ranged infantry attack, etc.

How to defend rushes
In case the opponent is rushing, you should turn the hussar start into a stable+rax age2 play. In order to do that send 700w and drop a rax. Start making pavisiers and send 8pavisiers as the next card. Try to delay the engagement to this point when you will also call minutemen and time everything together to trap the opponent. If there is too much pressure before that point then you have to commit with minutemen (priority over trained units) and micro your best. However, with perfect macro there is almost no time window for the opponent to do real damage.
Once you have several pavisiers and hussars on the field the rush just doesn’t work anymore. At that point you can start adding musks (or pikes) and push the opponent forward base or even try to age up.
Keep in mind that an untouched huss+pavisier build scores about 50 military pop at 9 minutes. Italy has one of the best 8/9 min timings in the game.
Image Image Image
User avatar
Tuvalu gibson
Ninja
ECL Reigning Champs
Posts: 13597
Joined: May 4, 2015
Location: USA

Re: Italian 2 lombard opening

  • Quote

Post by gibson »

Many are saying garjabaldi is tearing up the ladder with this build
User avatar
Germany Lukas_L99
Pro Player
Donator 01
Posts: 2059
Joined: Nov 15, 2015
ESO: Lukas_L99
Location: LĂĽbeck

Re: Italian 2 lombard opening

Post by Lukas_L99 »

Why alpini in the standard deck but not in the FI deck?
User avatar
Italy Garja
Retired Contributor
Donator 02
Posts: 9729
Joined: Feb 11, 2015
ESO: Garja

Re: Italian 2 lombard opening

Post by Garja »

Lukas_L99 wrote: ↑
17 Aug 2022, 20:58
Why alpini in the standard deck but not in the FI deck?
Standard games play out in age2 and age3, so industrial cards are just factory + ups (and 3k res which is simply too good). FI games require unit cards etc. There was simply no room for that upgrade.
Also, I made some last minute changes to the decks so I might have just forget it.

By the way, I'm not sure about the auto target feature. Sounds a bit counterproductive in some cases.
Image Image Image
Rainbow Land callentournies
Howdah
Posts: 1676
Joined: May 6, 2021
ESO: esuck

Re: Italian 2 lombard opening

Post by callentournies »

didnt they reduce the time it takes angelo, michael to build lombards?

is the thought behind not maxing lombards that you cant pump res into them as fast as they convert?
If I were a petal
And plucked, or moth, plucked
From flowers or pollen froth
To wither on a young child’s
Display. Fetch
Me a ribbon, they, all dead
Things scream.
User avatar
Italy Garja
Retired Contributor
Donator 02
Posts: 9729
Joined: Feb 11, 2015
ESO: Garja

Re: Italian 2 lombard opening

Post by Garja »

callentournies wrote: ↑
17 Aug 2022, 23:33
didnt they reduce the time it takes angelo, michael to build lombards?

is the thought behind not maxing lombards that you cant pump res into them as fast as they convert?
My personal reasoning is that 5 lombards just don't help you to win games as much as 2 lombards + a TP and the subsequent flexibility do. Even with the basilica card 5 lombards just don't return much more compared to a TP which is a way smaller investment. I just prefer to use the architect to build houses so I can make units. Also I don't have to justify a Basilica card that has little use and can send 700 res instead which is the equivalent of 6-7 vills for about 3.3 min of game.
Image Image Image
European Union horsedancingwithcrow
Crossbow
Posts: 38
Joined: May 9, 2023
ESO: sdff
Location: fsf

Re: Italian 2 lombard opening

Post by horsedancingwithcrow »

No more talks on this cool guide?
Now they nerfed the architects hard. All this hate, and meta changing when other civs also are over powered.
I really hope the developers stop using changing meta to renew the game and keep the meta at some point stable, I understand that people will always find ways to "exploit" things becasue it's like a huge brain working to find new ways against a little group of developers, but learning every time how to use a civ is a bit taxing... I understand players might be teenagers but... it is proven that most gamers are post 35 years old and you got no time to always learn how to use even just a civ again if they keep changing everytime tons of things as you need to know also how other civs have been changed... a civ is not an island. I don't want at all to offtopic.

Please bring some update to this amazing guide! maybe with new strategies... but this one really contains a lot already-.
Rainbow Land callentournies
Howdah
Posts: 1676
Joined: May 6, 2021
ESO: esuck

Re: Italian 2 lombard opening

  • Quote

Post by callentournies »

dear microsoft,

i hope you are doing well. it's been a long time, huh? funny how that happens. today i turned post 35 years old. remember how we laughed and played as small children on the computer? solitaire, worms, and rollercoaster tycoon. i was young and mentally nubile, had for time all the world in my wrist watch. these complex moving picture games were nothing for my vast malleable intellect and free time.

i wanted to ask if you could please stop balancing aoe3. ever since gaming behavior was banned except as it was grandfathered in for those who've turned post 35, as part of the globalised war on CoD lobbies voice chat, i forgot what flags go to each civ, for instance, the green flag, whnich one is that?

please stop changing flags. also please stop nerf civ I play 77% of the time, as you know, I am post 35 and probably playing against teenagers playing the game illegally. if you could nerf their civs which aren't my civs, that would be acceptable. you hating on pizza and ageist.

thank you for reading. also, can you please add new strategies to the game, but not if nerfing my civ and not too difficult and not if it chagnes flags, i have post 35 brain
If I were a petal
And plucked, or moth, plucked
From flowers or pollen froth
To wither on a young child’s
Display. Fetch
Me a ribbon, they, all dead
Things scream.
User avatar
Italy Garja
Retired Contributor
Donator 02
Posts: 9729
Joined: Feb 11, 2015
ESO: Garja

Re: Italian 2 lombard opening

Post by Garja »

Garja wrote: ↑
18 Aug 2022, 01:45
callentournies wrote: ↑
17 Aug 2022, 23:33
didnt they reduce the time it takes angelo, michael to build lombards?

is the thought behind not maxing lombards that you cant pump res into them as fast as they convert?
My personal reasoning is that 5 lombards just don't help you to win games as much as 2 lombards + a TP and the subsequent flexibility do. Even with the basilica card 5 lombards just don't return much more compared to a TP which is a way smaller investment. I just prefer to use the architect to build houses so I can make units. Also I don't have to justify a Basilica card that has little use and can send 700 res instead which is the equivalent of 6-7 vills for about 3.3 min of game.
Well, looks like this one didn't age well :lol:
On a serious note, it basically took an outpost spam to justify multiple lombards and architects. I am curious to see now what will the meta be with Italy post nerf.
Image Image Image
User avatar
Brazil look
Howdah
Posts: 1411
Joined: Jun 4, 2015
ESO: LoOk_tOm
Location: Brasil, UK

Re: Italian 2 lombard opening

Post by look »

Garja wrote: ↑
01 Aug 2023, 13:42
Garja wrote: ↑
18 Aug 2022, 01:45
callentournies wrote: ↑
17 Aug 2022, 23:33
didnt they reduce the time it takes angelo, michael to build lombards?

is the thought behind not maxing lombards that you cant pump res into them as fast as they convert?
My personal reasoning is that 5 lombards just don't help you to win games as much as 2 lombards + a TP and the subsequent flexibility do. Even with the basilica card 5 lombards just don't return much more compared to a TP which is a way smaller investment. I just prefer to use the architect to build houses so I can make units. Also I don't have to justify a Basilica card that has little use and can send 700 res instead which is the equivalent of 6-7 vills for about 3.3 min of game.
Well, looks like this one didn't age well :lol:
On a serious note, it basically took an outpost spam to justify multiple lombards and architects. I am curious to see now what will the meta be with Italy post nerf.
semi musk or huss

i guess itally have a lot of gameplays now
instead of just FI lammer
semi 10 musk or 5huss

-colonials gameplay, yes itally probable have one of best age 2 games
-age 3 bow +halb
-age 3 tcs booms and everything with arquitects
-FI is still right here with good scout and properly defensive game
Kaiser sucks
Garja Noob
grunt the best
Kickass God
BSOP OP

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest

Which top 10 players do you wish to see listed?

All-time

Active last two weeks

Active last month

Supremacy

Treaty

Official

ESOC Patch

Treaty Patch

1v1 Elo

2v2 Elo

3v3 Elo

Power Rating

Which streams do you wish to see listed?

Twitch

Age of Empires III

Age of Empires IV