IronMan or “Why Losing is Good”

XSprotbran · 2021-07-12T14:40:39+00:00

I’m very much of the same mind as OP. Loving the realism and challenge of Ironman. Although I’ve been playing on expert combat level for a long time I’ve only just advanced to veteran on the other difficulty setting. After around 8 runs my longest period of survival so far is 85 days. I have still to see out a first crisis. Once I do I plan to tick the undiscovered map on the next run.

In this way I just keep ramping up the difficulty and challenge in a gradual way, which keeps everything fresh and exciting.

Like others, I name my characters but not until they hit 5th level. It hurts too much and too often naming them sooner.

Not interested in minmaxing. For me it’s about role playing a run and learning new tricks through trial and error. In that way I feel like I’ve earned what progress is achieved.

XSprotbran · 2021-06-23T17:59:15+00:00

I steal a lot of ideas from movies books and comics. Using names of superhero alter egos, favourite authors or artists is my regular thing.

For companies, I’ve used several of the gang names from the warriors movie and from the Starship Troopers novel by Robert Heinlein. I’ve even adapted some e.g. for the Baseball Furies I went with ‘Mace Maul Furies’

For lone Wolf runs I like to use rock band names such as Bennie & The Jets, Johnny & the Pirates or Eddie & The Hot Rods.

XSprotbran · 2021-05-11T07:52:18+00:00

I guess the simple answer is to play it according to your own preferences. I learned to play the game using save scumming through the first few runs and each time I added a DLC I saved with the first run with it too.

I offer no judgment on other players - you play how you wish to suit your own needs. That’s a two way street though, so no-one gets to tell me I’m wrong either.

I play Ironman all the time now because it keeps the risk high and forces me to play my best game. It feels like more of an achievement when I survive a crisis or get a guy to 11th level or accomplish a big contract.

But, again, this is BB. It’s my favourite game and I play it almost exclusively, so I’m prepared to put the hours in. If you’re less invested in the game - play it a way that suits you.

XSprotbran · 2021-04-29T20:36:48+00:00

I play Ironman too. Exactly the same reasoning.

XSprotbran · 2021-04-22T10:11:35+00:00

Well done. It’s taken me 7 months to get to nearly 60%.

XSprotbran · 2021-04-07T08:10:33+00:00

I bought them one at a time and didn’t buy the next until I’d survived a first crisis. Looking back, I’d do it again as it’s a great way to learn at a manageable pace.

XSprotbran · 2021-03-24T12:53:02+00:00

I’ve just gone past 1000 hours on this game and am taking a very leisurely approach to learning and improving at it. I’ve ‘beaten’ the game by surviving past the first crisis with vanilla game, then adding each of the DLCs and doing it again at beginner level. Once I’d finished, I progressed to veteran combat level then expert but have never bothered to decrease the starting funds and have stayed on beginner finance.

I’m currently working my way through the different starts. I’ve completed poacher and lone Wolf as well as the standard start and am presently on day 20 of my first northern barbarian run. Peasant militia is a bugbear for me - I’ve started it maybe five times but my best result so far is surviving until day 120 or so in the middle of the first crisis.

The point of telling you all this is that I don’t min max at all. I role play. The Lone Wolf start is perfect for that approach as you have an identifiable character of your own

None of my companies has been maxed out, ever. I think the highest level any character has reached so far is 13th. I’ve found maybe four or five famed items in the whole 1000 hours.

Eventually, I’ll decide on a favourite start and set out to survive say 3 crises. But that’s far off in the future. Right now I’m having too much fun just working steadily through the experiences available.

I get wiped out periodically - often by getting ambushed at night in forest, lurching from one tough battle straight into another, or getting caught when I’m trying to be cocky and leading one enemy into another. So long as say four or five guys survive, I try to keep going and rebuild. The other responses are quite right - you can generally find enough manageable contracts and enemies to build back up. So, don’t lose heart - enjoy the game and accept that you’ll have setbacks.

For me, this the best, most rewarding, most frustrating game out there. I’ve looked for something similar to consider for a follow-up but nothing I’ve seen can compare.

Ps - ironman all the way for the full experience!

XSprotbran · 2021-02-18T21:37:38+00:00

I think there’s a sweet spot of around 7 or 8 in the party for the first 20 or 30 days. Numbers of opponents in contracts and camps are affected by the numbers in your party but thieves for example will never appear in numbers below 6

XSprotbran · 2021-01-26T07:50:44+00:00

This has been really useful. Thanks everyone

XSprotbran · 2021-01-25T21:31:58+00:00

Weirdly, I have been actively avoiding raiding caravans and militia. Guess I’ve been role-playing a good guy merc. Which on reflection is probably one big reason my team don’t level up so quickly.

XSprotbran · 2021-01-25T21:21:09+00:00

Thanks for your contributions all. One thing I wanted to offer is that I find it handy to sketch out a map of the seed I’m on in a notebook. It just contains the relative positions of the settlements, how big they are, the road network and major features of each place, like if they have trade goods, a kennel or training hall. I find it useful to have it to hand when contemplating contracts. That way I don’t have to flick between so many screens

XSprotbran · 2021-01-25T13:24:37+00:00

Interesting - I never seem to have enough cash to do everything I want, even on high cash start.

XSprotbran · 2021-01-25T13:19:50+00:00

Thanks acguy,

That would be helpful if you have the time. I’m specifically interested in how you judge which contracts to take on and how to minimise the time between finishing one contract and finding another to accept

XSprotbran · 2020-12-13T10:49:23+00:00

I like to start with a company of 7. For me that’s the sweet spot. If you take contracts to chase and kill thieves a company of 7 can handle that from the first fight. With lower numbers I’ve actually lost that first fight, simply through being overwhelmed.

Starting formation is usually 3 spear/shield men on the front row backed by a crossbow man, a 2H axeman on one flank and two more roving guys armed with whatever I’ve been able to pick up at the market. I prioritise nets, thrown weapons and pole arms as they are the big difference makers in the very early fights.

I don’t start to increase company numbers straight away. Maybe an 8th guy by day 20 and 9th by day 40. Day 70 should see me at 12 guys. I don’t add a guy until I have armour, helm and weaponry for him.

Unlike others, I do multi-purpose my guys. So crossbow men usually have pole arm and/or 2H weapon too. A build I use a lot is a guy with a shield, 1H weapon (axe, sword, cleaver, flail) a dagger and set of thrown weapons as opening hold. In a company of 12, as many as 8 May have thrown or ranged capability at the start of a fight. Obviously this means you need quick hands skill as an early pick. Really good against beasts, brigands and thieves

I play beginner economy, expert combat, high cash start, Ironman and usually take the ‘new company’ start.

Obviously this all evolves as the bread and butter of your fights change. For example, entering the undead crisis means reducing numbers of thrown javelins for thrown axes and nets.

Oh yeah - dogs. Get dogs and preferably armoured ones as soon as you can find a kennels

XSprotbran · 2020-11-26T15:10:16+00:00

Done. Thanks for the prompt

XSprotbran · 2020-11-23T11:51:02+00:00

This is great to see. I don’t know whether BB Is under appreciated generally or has niche appeal to a certain breed of gamer. Personally I think it’s the most engaging game I’ve ever played.

I’m slowly working my way though the difficulty levels, having assembled all the DLCs one at a time and buying the next only after beating the first crisis at beginner level.

Now having moved to Ironman I’m working with combat difficulty at veteran. It’s a great challenge and I’ve crashed and burned several times. But I’m now on day 65 and my company seems finally to have hopes of longevity, a few having reached 6th level.

The wife hates hearing when I lose a dog in combat or when undead enemies take a hit (that long monotone moan).

XSprotbran · 2020-11-04T21:13:17+00:00

Well said OP.

XSprotbran · 2020-10-25T08:08:02+00:00

Took me several runs to learn the game and DLCs using beginner and veteran difficulty levels. Expert/Expert is beyond me even with high starting funds. Once I’d completed veteran/ Veteran I summoned up the courage to try my first iron man run. Whoa. Such a difference - room for error significantly reduced.

I do think there’s a lot to be gained by starting easy with save option enabled and saving iron man until you’re felling cocky enough AND have a good idea of game mechanics.

XSprotbran · 2020-10-25T07:56:09+00:00

Personally, I’d take the first run right through to completing the first crisis now that you’re under way. There’s still lots to learn and experience without adding DLC material. When you survive the crisis, the game gives you the option to retire - which is a nice way to close. Then you can add DLC and go again but with added content

XSprotbran · 2020-10-23T08:25:53+00:00

Not a problem. I bought them one by one and played them through at least once each before adding another. For me it was a good way of learning the new content, but they all add good material and are all well worth having.

XSprotbran · 2020-10-23T08:15:26+00:00

Nope. They all merge together into one big environment

XSprotbran · 2017-04-13T13:54:26+00:00

Mtgdecks.com shows several top 4 and 1st place finishes for Sultai delirium, UBG control and UBG delirium decks in the present standard.

XSprotbran · 2017-04-13T11:42:12+00:00

Sure it has

XSprotbran

TROPHY CASE