ME 2950 Slow Starting or Slow Starters?

The common complaint about ME 2950 seems to be the reduced military and economic status that creates boredom for the more action oriented player. I confess that I felt that way as well in my first exposure to ME 2950 (Fire King, started in winter...'nuff said). However, as I acquired more information through friends, etc., I kicked myself for all the opportunities I had missed.

By turn nine of my Dark Lieutenants match I assassinated four characters, influenced a town away, and am presently attacking the Sinda capital with the Dog Lord. In my Long Rider match, I have beaten two small armies, destroyed a village and two towns, lost two villages and assassinated one commander, all by turn four.

I do not credit these results with any great stratagems on my part but rather as a result of good info from my team-mates. My gains in those matches can be overcome by aggressive enemies and are not inherent to those two nations. I believe that ME 2950 can be a very exciting milieu to play in providing that communication and aggressiveness are your highest priorities.

Your need your allies maps and scouting more than ever. Your armies are too small to fight any but the least defended pop centers and knowledge of their location and condition is vital. In ME 1650 most camps and villages were snubbed but in 2950 they are often the difference between survival and bankruptcy!

Early aggressive play is both the key to victory and enjoyment of this scenario. True, you will be on the edge of bankruptcy or military elimination for the first ten turns or so, but, so what! The gains are more than worth the risks involved. Besides, why spend all that money if you forego that knot in the pit of your stomach or that steely taste of anticipation while awaiting the arrival of your turn results?

To fully experience 2950 we must put away our natural tendency to build our nations up to 1650 standards and work effectively with what we have. Re-learn artifact and character management to improve our military and utilize our nation's strengths because they play a far more prominent role than in 1650. Those weaknesses you perceive in your nation also exists in your enemy's nations. Exploit them to the max.

I have no doubt that a high level of struggle and aggression can be maintained by most nations in 2950 indefinitely. Those players who find the start "boring" are still mired in circa 1650 concepts and must shed those concepts in order to give this a fair try. Anyway, that's my humble opinion. Any who disagree may feel free to blast away. I love a good fight!