Archmage is not for weenies
Written: Jun 27 '00 (Updated Jun 28 '00)
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Pros: endless strategic complexity
Cons: online help is somewhat sketchy
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| refmaker's Full Review: Archmage |
If you are the type of person that plays Doom or Quake only in the "invincible" mode, then Archmage is not for you. If you, on the other hand, enjoy the challenge and roleplaying, you will be captivated for months to come.
The first step to enjoying Archmage is "reincarnating" a character. Five different magic specialties are available each of which has it strengths and weaknesses. Ascendancy (or white magic specialty) is the most defensive of the five and is the easiest one to play for apprentice mages. Eradication (red) gives you ability to summon red dragons, the most destructive creatures in the game, but it is also the hardest one to play. After you've created a character, take a few minutes to download and read through the Newbie School that teaches you the basic gameplay.
As with most strategy games, the game revolves around resource management. In Archmage, your primary resource is land. The more land you have, the more powerful your kingdom is, the more buildings you can build, and the larger the army you can support. The three other resources are gold, magic points, and population. Different magic specialties depend on some resources more than on others, so learning to balance these resources will be the key to your successful Archmage career.
To fully enjoy Archmage, you must remember that it is a multiplayer game. Visit bulletin boards and chats to talk to other players and learn from them. Joining an active guild adds another dimension to your Archmage experience. As a guild member you can go after guild enemies together with guild mates or participate in guild wars. Most guilds also have their own bulletin boards where guild veterans share their secrets with newcomers.
As the new Mage of Terra you must be prepared for initial setbacks. Archmage is a WAR game and in every war there's always a winner and a loser. But unlike real war, there are built-in attack limitations in Archmage that make completely killing someone very difficult. View these setbacks as an opportunity to learn. If you are losing a lot, look for ways to improve your defense. Ask top players of your magic specialty for advice or even ask your attacker how he managed to beat you. Join a guild and learn from the guild leaders. And above all have fun!
Recommended:
Yes
Best Played With/Intended For: Multiplayer
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Epinions.com ID:
refmaker
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Member: Katya Dolginova
Location: Cambridge, MA
Reviews written: 6
Trusted by: 3 members
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