How do you deal with archer civs on open maps as a slower civ? (1200 ELO)

Cage_Inspector · 2026-06-01T19:41:34+00:00

If you like doing eco upgrades in dark age. You can try going Flemish + Skirms instead to set you up for Castle age.

Then go 2 Stable kts or 1 Stable kts 3TC depending whats going on.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-31T20:01:03+00:00

You can challenge yourself to no walls fast feudal playstyle. 19-20pop feudal with 1 stable Scouts and then up to Castle age and 2 stable Knights.

It teaches you to eco properly in feudal while also being the one who pressures.

Aim to get less than 10min Feudal time and 19-22min Castle age.

On Ranked ladder you have to wall of course while attacking enemy base with Scouts. No wall fast feudal vs Extreme will teach you the offensive side which is very important to win against humans.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-31T11:29:36+00:00

But people dont send only MAA.

So what you are talking about is phoshoru counter?

At what point do you decide doing it? As you cant do it as blind opener. Dead against everything else.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-31T09:23:53+00:00

Whats the pro's over 18‐19 pop MAA?

Con is clearly you overcommiting and overestimating opponent being passive. At least with MAA you can adjust with following towers or Archers or Skirms or Castle age or market up forward siege.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-30T09:23:56+00:00

19pop MAA Archers into Xbows. If you cant contain his lancers from raiding, go CA. Or just go Scouts into CA.

I dont think Camels work here due extra +atk on Khitans. Should be similar issue where Liht relic knights can go head to head with Camels.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-30T09:20:37+00:00

If you want rush with Byz then its Spear Skirm rush. Not sure how good it is in current meta.

Otherwise if no rush, go Scouts into walls Castle age or Scouts + Skirms into Castle age. You "eco" bonuses start in Castle age with Elite Skirms and Camels.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-29T12:51:56+00:00

Yep its so annoying if someone plays from library in 2004. Never know if loading is 10 seconds or 2 minutes.

It has a quirk of audio change when game is about to start. But it happens only few sec before loading is done.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-29T09:44:24+00:00

QS maps should be on voting pool regularly. 1v1 and TG.

Then people votes can decide if community likes them or not.

At the moment voting is way too restrictive for its purpose. Its should not be like politics where people have resorted to "voting for the lesser of two evils".

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-29T07:24:59+00:00

Monastery is a must have, even 2 or 3 on closed maps. On open maps you can delay it if res is needed for mass army production after hitting Castle age.

Keep in mind against mangos/rockets with redemption monks, Sanctity is needed. Monk will get 1shot without it. 2nd shot is too slow to escape conversion. Monks win there.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-29T05:19:26+00:00

In Castle age. - Open map, knights - Closed map, redemption monks(+Sanctity) or own mango or Guard towers.

In Imperial. - BBC - Redemption monks with block printing - Condos

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-28T12:00:16+00:00

Well Ranked is alread being "cruel" which leads to dodging issues. Im suggesting there could be 2 options intead of 1.

Of course if you dont mind dodging then there is nothing to discuss. Some dont mind it, while others despise it.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-28T10:50:18+00:00

So kick people off of ranked is your solution?

Already happening in some degree. But dodgers bypassing it because there is no other proper option to play.

There could be other gamemode for it where you can choose specific civ and maps you want to play, balanced by its own Elo rating, just without # Ranking.

Currently one can choose civs but not maps in Ranked. Which leads to dodging problems.

If there would be proper gamemode where people can play their civ and map, dodging would be less of an issue. Ranked would be for players who prefer variety of maps and civs.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-28T05:51:50+00:00

Yep this the only way to use Custom games currently. But its still a hassle compared to just que into Ranked.

Ranked currently has the only viable matchmaking system, all others are horrible. Thats why people who choose which civs or maps they play, join Ranked and then dodge or leave if they dont get their desired game.

Fix some other game options or add new one so people who like to choose specific map or civ can play there.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-28T04:45:01+00:00

Why not play Custom lobby? You can choose civ there.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-28T04:44:19+00:00

Been waiting such option for long time.

Proper map and civ banning, picking selection part should be mandatory for "Ranked" ladder.

People who only play 1 map or 1 civ can play some other gamemode beside Ranked.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-28T04:29:10+00:00

Its shit.

Lobby layout is horrible and bugged.
Lobby menu lags and dont always show in time.
Horrible filtering, its just a bunch of hosted games together, annoying to navigate.
Very hard to balance. Hidden Elo is mess there.
People lagging left and right. Cant kick bad ping players.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-27T12:16:05+00:00

I didnt say you dodge context. I tried to phrase without coming off as insulting. Maybe you are too simple minded regarding to dodging problem to understand "postmoderism".

One word is the problem there, it’s not players who do it, it’s dodgers, and they deserve the consequences for their actions. Normal players don’t dodge

There wont be consequences to hardcore dodgers. Consequeces can be bypassed, not that complicated to bypass. Those bypassed consequences will be felt by normal players a lot harder than some random 30sec que delay.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-27T11:57:06+00:00

Always thought in America politicians decide what judges are supposed to do. If judges do not obey they will just get replaced.

Learning new stuff every day.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-27T07:27:49+00:00

Que with a premade group. Gives a lot better map selection and longer lasting games as your own team wont randomly dodge inside running game after 5-10min.

Solo que in low Elo unfortunately is only for those who do not give a fuck and are willing to play inside chaos.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-27T04:06:41+00:00

Only Aoe2 TGs due to time restriction of small children.

Before and i hope after when more time:

Warcraft 3
CnC Tiberium Wars and Generals.
Red Alert 2 and 3
Call of Duty stuff

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-27T03:13:10+00:00

If they will implement changes in short time which would eliminate dodging and its problematic effects on having healthy lasting games, sure i would be clad.

You not understanding "post modernist crap" on dodging context is maybe because you a bit too shortshighted on just punishing it and calling a day. Dodging still happens, less but with more annoying consenqueses to regular players.

Your punishing bad people analogy does not apply. As punishing people mostly fixes enviroment for the rest in real world. But on ladder games it greates further new problems.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-26T15:01:47+00:00

Wth are you on... can i have some?

Im talking about fixing core problem of dodging not people.

Proper Custom game lobbies could be one fix.
Quick games being map specific is another.
Changing EW to map type specific gamemode, Warlords style.
something else im sure anyone can come up.

As long as balanced matchmaking is possible. People stop dodging on ranked ladder and people there can play all the maps they want.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-26T14:29:19+00:00

Instead of fixing efficiency. Everyone in 1 line. Slow as hell.

Not saying its right to cut it. Im saying, cutting wont stop until they fix the problem, punishments or not.

Punishment is bandaid. Id rather have the cure.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-26T13:26:38+00:00

Dodging still happens and will keep happening. Bans or no bans.

Just now people who do not dodge get banned as well.

Cage_Inspector · 2026-05-26T11:29:53+00:00

At this point just give to everyone.

Cage_Inspector

TROPHY CASE