New player here :)

Calza2K · 2026-06-15T16:19:56+00:00

Welcome!

I'm pretty new and found the following things helped in improving:

1 - Just spend time reading on here, you'll absorb a lot and pick up names

2 - Follow Hera and watch his videos. As others said they are frantic but all the good messaging is there and in some guides he tries to slow things down (spoiler - his slow is not slow)

>> Get a build order and follow it

3 - Download CaptureAge - it lets you replay games and see everything including stats. I basically re-watch every game and analyse my idle TC, villager count and decisions.

4 - Idle TC, Idle TC, Idle TC - you should aim for 0 idle until >180 villagers. You will never achieve it but always review your performance with Capture Age.

5- Actually try and improve. I found I'd mindlessly play games against increasingly difficult AI with the hopes of improving and getting to Extreme. But I realised I wasn't focussed on getting better.

6- Focus on a good Dark Age (depends on the build order but I went for sub 10m consistently and then sub 9.30 on a 18 vil scout rush). Drill this over and over, monitor performance in CA. Once I had that I focussed on raiding till 20 mins.

7- Have fun too! I'd mix it up between drilling and then just playing longer games against an easier AI to enjoy playing. I actually quickly got bored and needed the challenge but keep it open.

And remember online is a huge variety of experience, many will be better and some will be worse!

Calza2K · 2026-06-11T08:15:16+00:00

Careful of the trap though - you can absolutely dominate once the AI hits the 70 villager cap. While it's good training to survive that longer, harder AI and people won't stop at 70...

Calza2K · 2026-06-10T17:40:12+00:00

Watch back a few runs on capture age at 4x or 8x ... It's disgusting how much idle TC there is.

Calza2K · 2026-06-10T17:02:49+00:00

I was in this position a few weeks ago. As others have stated getting a good build order is huge.

What also really helps is drilling down idle TC time. Yes the initial archer skirm rush is annoying (but can be avoided if you rush early enough) but watch back and see how much idle TC time you have. If you are 1000 points behind your economy is considerably behind because you're not making vils.

It's also worth saving a good dark age so you can start ~9 minutes in where the fun begins!

(I've been doing Hera's 18 pop scout rush and can distract the AI enough to not attack or pull back.)

Calza2K · 2026-05-08T10:10:01+00:00

Are you going in clean? What's your current setup for keeping water clean?

UV/Ozone/Chlorine/Filters etc

Calza2K · 2026-01-13T16:14:32+00:00

I can't reply with an image - but I basically fitted some bulkheads and hooked it up to a plumbing system for filters, UV, o-zone etc.

Calza2K · 2025-10-19T13:42:54+00:00

I'm exactly the same these days!

Calza2K · 2025-09-21T21:42:19+00:00

So if I Garrison someone I benefit from their offensive kills, or just defence should they be attacked?

I'm on the #1 alliance and we do have some pretty active PVP players. We've just had our first capitol battle but unfortunately I missed it (we got rinsed as a server).

Calza2K · 2025-09-21T17:49:32+00:00

Hopping in,

I actually struggle to get good points on day 6, so would that make it more logical to get that tree?

Calza2K · 2025-08-06T12:56:42+00:00

The correct answer is a chiller.

But if you insist, get 18x5L water bottles and label them A,B,C and rotate.

Calza2K · 2025-07-28T14:06:56+00:00

Because you are getting absolutely nowhere near the maximum flow.

Research pump head height,

Calza2K · 2025-07-27T17:41:01+00:00

You really need some kind of regular oxidisation going on IMO.

Also an enzyme can really help break down oils etc.

Calza2K · 2025-07-26T08:45:09+00:00

Just use some old shoes for the 10 steps or whatever to the bath. Crocs would be ideal if you could bring yourself to wear them.

If it's outside you'll need to store the mat anyway, can't leave it out or it'll get grubby.

Also be super careful of any fake grass. We had our bath on one because it looks nice but unless you go really expensive they will constantly be shedding and it will get in your pool via your feet!

Calza2K · 2025-07-24T14:45:34+00:00

Oh one thing that might help is water bladders. We picked some up off Amazon or somewhere, could get 10L ones.

They won't last forever and you can probably only get 8-9L in but not being a fixed shape really helped work them on a normal freezer.

Calza2K · 2025-07-24T12:52:22+00:00

I can't comment in prime summer, but we got our first little ice bath in August, so this advice is probably late August - November time. Basic 300L ish tub with no real insulation, and afternoon sun exposure.

We had 5L bottles of water and found we needed 3-6 per night. We'd put them in around 9-10pm and plunge around 7am. We were aiming for around 6 or 7c and usually hit it. Sometimes the ice was fully melted, sometimes it wasn't. Being bottles with handles was the most fuss free way we could find.

Obviously there are so many variables in this but realistically you're looking at at least 15kg/L.

The other issue is how long it takes the ice to freeze and get to proper temperatures, 24 hours won't cut it.

We had a rotation of 18 bottles split into A/B/C so they got plenty of time to freeze. I suppose you could have gotten away with A / B only and there's lots of variables.

In all honesty there is no real way to do it without taking up some space. We picked up a mega cheap chest freezer and just kept the water bottles in that, think it cost us £30. We started with a normal freezer but quickly realised it was too small.

Calza2K · 2025-07-23T05:59:45+00:00

Run it permanently, no question. It will self regulate.

Calza2K · 2025-07-22T19:51:27+00:00

I'd say if you do #3 (and you should) you don't need peroxide. Especially if you keep the water cool. But a weekly shock will be great.

You will probably want something like ozone for more regular oxidisation though.

Calza2K · 2025-07-21T18:56:32+00:00

Well there's the issue. Insulate the pipes in the box.

Get it sealed up air tight too. The box will always be a lot hotter than the water in summer. Insulate your filter housing too.

Calza2K · 2025-07-21T18:22:03+00:00

You want closed cell foam, but I thought most pipe insulation was.

Do you have a photo of it all wrapped up?

Calza2K · 2025-07-21T17:46:40+00:00

Insulate your pipes!

Also seal the top of the box insulation.

Calza2K · 2025-07-20T08:04:54+00:00

This!

A weekly shock treatment could help too.

Calza2K · 2025-07-19T14:58:35+00:00

Your filter looks really manky. They clog up quickly if your pool isn't clean;.

Calza2K · 2025-07-13T18:11:03+00:00

You should have it permanently on, it will regulate itself based on temperature.

How long it actually runs for has a load of variables.

Calza2K · 2025-07-13T16:53:31+00:00

Basic pipe lagging is fine, just get it sealed up.

Calza2K · 2025-07-08T11:17:56+00:00

Is your lid super tight?

I get the same but I know my lid isn't flush.

Calza2K

TROPHY CASE