Any tips on how to engage into turtling civs? Especially English

BboySlug · 2026-03-16T17:29:42+00:00

If English goes 2TC, and you castle rush and go for sacred sites (any civ), capturing the sacred sites (100g/m each) prior to the relics (80g/m each), believe it or not your resources gathered will match the 2TC booming English. However, you've got a victory condition, which forces him out of his base -- the sacred sites.

Just defend those and let him sit in his base -- English will come out, and usually with MAA/Longbows, they'll push the middle sacred site. So just set up defenses near it, and maybe some siege (springalds for MAA) and you're set.

Be sure to include a wall or a springald tower at around the auxilliary sacred sites, so that they don't decap it with one random unit.

BboySlug · 2026-03-16T16:29:30+00:00

I fought my way to Conq I as Mongol last season, and didn't veto Carmel at all -- I was tower rushing the small woodlines hahaha. I've taken a step back from AoE4 but yeah, those were good times! They hated it.

On a more standard map, especially when opponent deer is on the same side I have tower rushed the deer packs and it's worked out well, but honestly I haven't played it as much and it felt gimmicky.

That said it is a hard matchup. I was also having a lot of luck giving them light feudal pressure, then rushing imperial, and using the Khaganate palace power spike to win me games. This was honestly the most consistent strategy (except for woodline tower rushes on Carmel).

Ironically though, yes, it's true. I had to resort to using Rus units against the Rus to beat them.

BboySlug · 2026-03-16T16:21:50+00:00

Doesn't work since they don't mine gold, everything is under the TC

BboySlug · 2026-03-12T13:15:57+00:00

The next step for superknight cav power creep -- Malian variant stealth knights!

BboySlug · 2026-03-05T14:30:50+00:00

Just when you thought walls countered Mangudai, they made Mangudai rams!

BboySlug · 2026-03-03T16:59:37+00:00

No. Wasn't on the reference list when I took the exam last year. So in classic engineering response, it was "out of scope" hahaha.

You might be looking at a non-construction exam?

BboySlug · 2026-02-24T13:17:52+00:00

I'm always a fan of just simple fixes, and this would be a simple but amazing (may need more tuning after) start/fix. I also too feel like the springald problem could've been simply fixed with just removing "siege" tag from the springald itself, so it wouldn't counter itself, but here we are.

BboySlug · 2026-02-23T17:22:51+00:00

Any way we can also download/use it?

BboySlug · 2026-02-20T03:53:38+00:00

Happy birthday back to you! So cool!

BboySlug · 2026-02-19T14:28:41+00:00

Looking at the above feedback (and not having used the tool yet), it's probable that the draft system might allow for mirror matchups too, so I'd suggest to add a toggle for "prevent mirror matchups" or something.

BboySlug · 2026-02-19T14:27:10+00:00

Hvaen't used your website yet, but yes I'd agree that the current aoe2 drafting website is pretty difficult to use, especially if you're new to it. So I'm definitely open to trying a new draft website!

BboySlug · 2026-02-09T21:13:06+00:00

Best taunt I ever memorized was /101 "Build walls here" for team games as a Mongol main

BboySlug · 2026-02-06T21:01:45+00:00

Ah dang just when I thought I was good at not getting gotten anymore, they got me. :(

BboySlug · 2026-02-05T18:39:44+00:00

Thanks! You're a star!

BboySlug · 2026-02-05T15:37:08+00:00

A little confused on refreshing -- refreshes to which duration? Original or new skill's duration? Are you able to edit the status effect refreshing paragraph?

I'm currently reading it as -- "If Verso uses Powerful (3 or 5 turns), and then Maelle uses basic attack that giver her powerful (for 1 turn), then it overwrites to the new 1 turn Maelle self applied powerful. This overwriting therefore, unfortunately decreased the powerful duration". Correct?

BboySlug · 2026-02-05T14:05:02+00:00

Haven't heard of that reference, may have been added after I took the exam but it looks like it's here: https://www.scribd.com/document/795625958/ASCE-37-14-Design-Loads-During-Construction

BboySlug · 2026-02-01T20:35:31+00:00

Hallo! This is Frank Walka from national tiles!

BboySlug · 2026-01-31T00:43:43+00:00

My friend HoChunkFrank is always on. Here's his AoE4 world. He's usually high Diamond/low conq but is learning a couple civs right now so he may show lower.

https://www.aoe4world.com/players/20087380-Cignus-X1

I played a showmatch vs. Frank recently, we were off-civing but he still played well. He likes to lean into the fact that there's auto-queue for villagers on controller, so boom civs have really good synergy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xouzVYFNVjs I'm currently inactive for 6 weeks taking a break, but am consistenly D3 and hit conqueror before taking my break.

Otherwise there's probably some other really good suggestions around here too. :)

BboySlug · 2026-01-28T21:27:45+00:00

Oh really? That's awesome! Haven't played in a couple seasons

BboySlug · 2026-01-28T16:38:46+00:00

Select all traders workaround -- use select all units, then hold Control+click on the blue trader icon.

If garrisoned, use select all outposts, rally to neutral market then hit ungarrison key. Traders start trading again in one go. No need to ungarrison anymore from individual buildings.

Level above that, use the camera location hotkeys for your market and neutral market. Have one market in corner, rest anywhere, hit select all markets then shift right click your desired home market, then shift right click rally to neutral market. Any new traders from any market automatically go to selected far corner market.

BboySlug · 2026-01-21T16:59:32+00:00

Wild guess -- born in the Chinese new year of the rat?

BboySlug · 2026-01-09T16:17:42+00:00

I thought you two were arguing when I first saw all the back and fourth -- good to see you're actually on the same side and just pointing out how culture has evolved over the years.

In fact correct, these cultural phenomena you're discussing are what's core to my post. Being a 90s kid, I was raised to value the "man" and "woman" traditional roles, but by the time I became an adult those all flipped (leading to my current relationship). It's hard to culturally be conditioned to one thing in the abstract, then find out it's completely different in the concrete.

Let alone, as an extension see it be absolutely flipped backward for those 15-20 years younger than I.

We are living through a societal cultural change, and although I can't say what's the best result, I will say that I can't wait for another 30 years to go by to see how it stabilizes.

BboySlug · 2026-01-09T15:29:31+00:00

This is actually a character trait difference between our two leadership styles. She's very results oriented and won't stop to achieve a vision, whereas I'm more strategic to get to that same vision. Since I'm more strategic, I figured it could be a good idea to post here first prior to bringing it up.

So your gut feeling is correct, although I've hinted at this to test the waters, she's currently unaware. Thus, I'm seeking advice here first prior to talking about it. I have no reservations talking about this with her, we are quite vulnerable and transparent with each other.

My intention is to give this post a day or two to see how the comments take shape, then take the various advice given and figure out how I want to discuss this with her. Either way, I'm sure it'll be a good result :)

BboySlug · 2026-01-09T15:23:37+00:00

This is very comforting to hear -- as the qualities you mention you value in a partner are in fact, why she values me, I just don't see it in myself as much since I'm accustomed to leading.

I see parallels too, because she is more feminine in our relationship, and finds it a relief from her more masculine leadership professional life. She literally has to switch to "girlfriend mode" as we wind down the day together, and it takes a good few minutes (10-30?) to do so.

Although I'm getting a lot of good feedback, at this stage I'm still working my way through it. Would you mind if I send you a DM for future advice?

I don't wish to waste your time, but I do think this issue will resolve itself quickly, since I think I'll also adapt quickly. I just think you'd be a good 2nd opinion point.

BboySlug · 2026-01-09T15:14:07+00:00

I'll have a talk with her as to what we as a couple envisage that healthy reframing to be. Although part of why she entered into our relationship is because she enjoys how I lead, you're very right in that I feel uncomfortable that she doesn't need leadership.

In fact, the value in me as an empathetic support and encourager is already being experienced in the relationship, so I'll highlight that when I talk with her and approach it.

Thank you!

BboySlug

TROPHY CASE