I have decided to re-post this not only because the forum in which this was in closed down, but also since there are new players coming into our clan and re-commerate this Epic and Awesome strategy. I wish shod the real strength of India and the UPNESS of the Aztecs. I have been good with India on NR games for a while, and would like to show their greatest strengths. Contrary to popular belief, their main strength is not rush, not NR40, but NR20. I will go through the strategy pretty thoroughly, and give some pointers that you might want to take.
Just a quick note: I was actually recently no. 1 in Indian Allround NR (NR10s, NR20s, NR30s, NR40s combined). I'm a little rusty from not playing with them for about 10 games.
Recording:
http://aoe3clan.com/index.php?name=Foru ... pic&t=4969
The 300
Note: This is meant for NR20. The boom described here, however, is the classic Indian NR boom, but more to my standard of liking.
First things first. While waiting for the game to come into sync (the lagg that precedes a game), take 2-3 of your settlers (the first ones actually), garrison them in your town center, and place them on a far wood crate. This will make sure that the villagers don't run into each other as much. Don't worry about the other villagers much unless your playing on high crate maps, because they will go to the nearest wood the best way.
Start pounding the villager key, putting the gathering point of the town center to wood, and once production of villagers is started, send 5 of your 6 villagers to wood. The last villager should gather the remaining wood crates the food crates. If you start with any coin crates don't gather coin until you reach colonial. Keep queing villagers onto wood until you have 8, and ship your 1st card as this:
1st card - Exotic Hardwoods
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... dwoods.gif[/img]
After you have 8 villagers on wood, que 8-10 villagers onto food. Build Houses sparingly and only when you need to. However, there is an exception, as I will discuss later. Age up with the Karni Mata with 1-4 food settlers, and start queing settlers onto coin until you have 9. Place the Karni Mata is a place you know is a bit distant from a trade route, and can fit at least 1 Rice paddy in between your Town Center and the Wonder (A rice paddy takes up a little more room than a Barracks or Caravanserai)
Basic Tip - Brahmin
Before I go on any further, I would like to point something out. India's explorers, the Brahmin, are very strong. Some treasures, such as 4 black bears for 1 coureur, are easily taken. Even 3 Grizzly Bear Treasures are pretty easy. Just make all the bears come to one spot and let the area attack of your Brahmin take affect. Don't be afraid of 3 Outlaw Riflemen treasures either. However, Dacoits and Marathan Thugees are a real problem, so don't try your luck against them. Also, don't forget to let the Brahmin heal the weaker one of the two (the one with the lowest HP) - which ever one that might be. Anyways, back to the strategy. Send your 2nd card as this:
2nd card - Wood Crafting
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... afting.gif[/img]
Your 2nd shipment will probably be available during the transition to colonial. Once you have started to ship this, you should think about building a consulate with 1 wood villager. The ample wood will come very quickly. You will probably be about 60-75% aged up, depending on how many villagers were on your wonder. Once in colonial, you will have 2 extra wood crates, 2 extra food crates, and 1 extra coin crate. If you have not built a consulate yet, build one. Be sure to ally with the Ottoman consulate. Build a market, and upgrade some of the basic upgrades (the smallest ones first; they cost less and upgrade faster; This is the order in which they are to be upgraded in: 5% Hunting eagles, 5% Mining Shafting, 5% natural resources gathering, 10% Hunting, 10% Mining, Imperial Bureaucracy, 30% wood upgrade). Your third card will come soon, if not already. It should be this:
3rd card - TEAM Medicine
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... dicine.gif[/img]
Once the Consulate is up, ally with Ottoman, and switch to the "10%", which gives 60% faster Export rates, but 10% gathering penalty. In a minute or so, you should have those villagers. After researched, end relations with the Ottomans and ally with Portuguese for cheaper age up and cheaper Town Centers, Rice Paddies, and houses. You will have ample resources to age up now, and take 3-6 villagers and build the Tower of Victory for 800 wood. Send 4 of your coin miners and put them onto wood for villager production. All villagers qued after this should be sent to wood. Your 4th card should be this:
4th card - Mughal Architecture
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... ecture.gif[/img]
Once this arrives, Build 1 sacred field, and start building 10 sacred cows. If you have more livestock early on, or have extra food, build a 2nd sacred field and build the cows ample to make it full. After you create the Town Centers, upgrade Ritual Bovines for 150 wood, 150 coin. This will ensure shipment production for late game. If a trade post is available, get it with only 1 sacred field. Now think of it: You don't have any special economic upgrades in age 4, do you? Well, why go to age 4 when you can max out sacred cows while going to and/or while in age 3? So, build cows to do this.
Max Out Sacred cows while in the transition to The Fortress Age or while in The Fortress Age.
Your 5th card, when you reach age 3, should be this:
5th card - Royal Mint
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... l_mint.gif[/img]
This will almost be ready immediately, and also, construct 2 Town Centers with your Brahmin (pace this with villager production), and que onto wood until you have 30-38 on wood. End relations with the Portuguese consulate and ally with France for crates and gathering. Once you hit 30-38 villagers on wood (actually, don't be afraid to have 35 or so), then even out the gathering points: put the Town Centers gathering points to food or coin - which ever is closest to that Town Center. Remember that you must never, NEVER, stop villager production unless building houses, consulate, or a Town Center instead.
Save your 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th shipments for age 4. Use the crates from the French Consulate according to what you need (i.e. food or coin, then wood); however, you may have to keep the consulate on "10%", or +60% export gather rates (Hotkey for this is "e"). Age up with the Taj Mahal with 4-6 wood villagers for 1500 coin. You should be around 70+ villagers now, having a constant stream of villagers. Probably your settler management should look like this now: 30 on wood, 22 on food, 25 on coin (about 75). While aging to Industrial, build two barracks and two stable. Start building a couple houses as well (5 at least).
Once you hit Industrial, this strategy really begins to open up. You should have two shipments free to ship. Plan on reaching Industrial anywhere from 14:45-16:00; the sooner, the better. Once in Industrial, send 4 settlers to get the crates. From your Caravanserai, start queing 1 Howdah. Ship 6th card as this:
6th card - Howdah Regiment - (1 Mansabder Howdah + 1 Howdah)
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... egimin.gif[/img]
While this is being shipped, upgrade Disciplined Sepoy at your Barracks, and spam houses and villagers. Quickly put the que of 1 Howdah up to 5 Howdahs, and upgrade Honored Howdah. Build a few Rice paddies now (3 to 5, depending on your natural resources). You can easily have 89+ villagers now, and don't forget to max them totally. Once done with French consulate, if you have some extra export (say 750 or so), then ally with the Ottoman consulate again to get 2 Great Bombards, followed by allying with British consulate. If you don't have as much export, plan to switch to Britain at 18:40. Next card will promptly be this:
7th card - 3 Howdah INFINITE
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... howdah.gif[/img]
After this, upgrade Honored Sepoy and Disciplined Sowar (you may need some; I will mention it later), and some rice paddy upgrades as well. Ship your 8th card right afterward as this:
8th card - 3 Howdah INFINITE
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... howdah.gif[/img]
This will bring your Howdah count up to 1 Mansabder + 1 + 5 +3 + 3 Howdah = 1 Mansabder + 12 Howdah. Scout with your Brahmin to see what your Opponent is doing. If he is massing more cavalry, then que up 20 extra Sepoy, and order 3 More Howdah, and if possible, order the Professional Handlers card. If he is a civ that will more likely build some skirmishers, que 10 Sowar and Order 9 Sowars + 1 Mansabder and upgrade Honored Sowar.
9th card - 3 Howdah INFINITE
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... howdah.gif[/img]
I like having a lot of Howdah, and soon you shall see what this strategy is coming too. This will give you 15 Howdah + 1 Mansabder Order next card as either of these:
10th card - Sowar Regiment
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... egimin.gif[/img]
OR
10th OR 11th card - Professional Handlers
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... _Limit.gif[/img]
I personally like to que 10 Sowar and upgrade Honored, then shipping the 9 Sowar + 1 Mansabder against so that my elephants and later Sepoy aren't dominated by skirmishers. If you have the XP, ship both. If you have half a shipment to go to your 11th or 12th at 18:40, don't worry, because it will be ready in time. You should have maxed villagers by now, and should have at least 1400 wood+ if not a little more (This will fly up in no time). Now the next card decides the fate of the game:
11th OR 12th card - Sepoy Resistance (Sepoy Rebellion)
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... con_64.gif[/img]
So wait, what does this card do? It converts all my villagers into Sepoy. Well, I have upgraded them to Honored status, plus I can create my villagers afterward. So, when you ship this, ship it around 18:40 - 19:20. It shouldn't be a problem in time, but once the End of Treaty timer comes to 19:59, call all your troops together near midfield, and call a ceasefire from your Taj Mahal, just to get organized.
Well, it just turns out that I have about 3000-4200 food left over, with 1300+ wood, and about 750-1250+ coin or so, and I am attacking with 15 Howdah+1 Mansabder and 99-123 Sepoy. I have shipped the 2 Bombards, and feel confident in my attack. Once I come in decent contact with the enemy army, I put on Inspiration from the tower of Victory. if you see Skirmishers, like 50 of them, go around the army into his base and get his factories, or whatever else he has. Put Howdah into Melee against skirmishers, and put have of the Sepoy into Melee as well. If you have shipped 9 Sowar +1 Sowar for backup, and even without 10 extra Sowars, its ok, because you will deal lots of damage to the skirmishers with them. Still, this army is very overpowering.
Since of that extra food, you will be able to spam Howdah + Urumi shipments (Howdah are better in most cases). Also, the extra wood will allow you to build few villagers, and you can also use the 1300 wood INFINITE card to help. Make sure that you DO NOT send your army as a meat grinder. Once your huge attack is done, it is hard to follow up, even with Infinite shipments of Howdah. If you see Gendarmes, put your Sepoy in staggered mode, and just make your Howdah in range of the cavalry - don't do anything stupid like moving your Howdah in front or looking at your eco - you literally have none at this time.
Cards after/during fighting if the fight is going your side, or just useful cards in general:
Elephant combat - 15% Elephant stats boost
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... combat.gif[/img]
9 Urumi INFINITE
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... _urumi.gif[/img]
British East India Company - 10% stats boost for Sepoy, Sowar, and Gurkha
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... combat.gif[/img]
3 Siege Elephants
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... con_64.gif[/img]
Camel Damage - +30% Damage
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... damage.gif[/img]
Desert Terror - Sowar better against skirmishers and Zamburack against cavalry
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... tening.gif[/img]
Well this is the basic overview of the strategy - a very strong, overpowering, and fun way to win a game. Note that not many people play as India on NR20, nor do people play NR20 as much in general. However, I am 7-3 from what I remember, maybe even 8-3. I've beaten numerous Opponents, but make sure not to play the same person twice - they will know what you are doing, so you might have to modify your unit selection a bit. This strategy IS beatable, but nonetheless it is quite strong, and not something to be underestimated.
The things that will make you successful at this strategy is the early use of sacred fields with maxed cows and the shipments of Infinite units.
This is the strategy used against Japan as well. Never use Urumi against Hatamoto Samurai, as they will die too fast to be true.
EDIT: I think I am now 12 and 5 on this strategy, and would like to upload some screenshots.
Against Portuguese Lieutenant Colonel: (He had Dragoons and Horse Guns, so I put my Howdahs in Melee and owned all of them. This is the single best way to beat Dragoons for India: to put Howdah in Melee. He killed my Mansabder right away, but still, my Sepoy faired well and that was most important. Also, I sent some miscellaneous Sepoy in my base to deal with his villagers outside his base, which destroys his moral and his eco. I kept ordering more Howdah, especially since Portugal does not have any good hand cavalry or hand units. At this moment I was actually ordering two or three more shipments of Howdah, hence low food count.):
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp10 ... 1281352174
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp10 ... 1281352174
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp10 ... 1281352356
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp10 ... 1281352381
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp10 ... 1281352381
Against British Revolutionaire: (He had 100 CM, 40 Hussars, 5 Rockets, 3 Mortars, and some Gatlings, but I beat his military by playing defensively and, although we had equal armies, I could order better shipments and my sacred fields gave me more XP, plus my Sepoy dominated his colonial militia and he sent his hussars into the melee right away, which was a suicide move. I lost almost all my Howdah as I sent them into the melee have-way into the battle to give a shield for my Sepoy and to kill his artillery. I trained more Sepoy and 10 Sowar, and ordered 9 Sowar + Mansabder to seal the victory. I think I also used British consulate ally as well then.):
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp10 ... 1281351036
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp10 ... 1281351103
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp10 ... 1281351103
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp10 ... 1281351145
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp10 ... 1281351177
The 300 against the Aztecs
Go the regular 300, but instead of building Howdah, ship 4 sets of Urumi Swordsmen and 3 Siege Elephants. With the gold from the Taj Mahal, Build 5 Siege Elephants, and upgrade them as well as Sepoy. You may have time to ship Professional Handlers as well. Here is the Build order after economics:
Save your 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th shipments for age 4. Use the crates from the French Consulate according to what you need (i.e. food or coin, then wood); however, you may have to keep the consulate on "10%", or +60% export gather rates (Hotkey for this is "e"). Age up with the Taj Mahal with 4-6 wood villagers for 1500 coin. You should be around 70+ villagers now, having a constant stream of villagers. Probably your settler management should look like this now: 30 on wood, 22 on food, 25 on coin (about 75). While aging to Industrial, build two barracks and two stable. Start building a couple houses as well (5 at least).
Once you hit Industrial, this strategy really begins to open up. You should have two shipments free to ship. Plan on reaching Industrial anywhere from 14:45-16:00; the sooner, the better. Once in Industrial, send 4 settlers to get the crates. From your Caravanserai, start queing 1 Howdah. Ship 6th card as this:
6th card - 9 Urumi INFINITE
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... _urumi.gif[/img]
While this is being shipped, upgrade Disciplined Sepoy at your Barracks, and spam houses and villagers. Quickly put the que of 1 Siege Elephant up to 5 Siege elephants (they cost A LOT of wood), and upgrade Honored Siege Elephant. Build a few Rice paddies now (3 to 5, depending on your natural resources). You can easily have 89+ villagers now, and don't forget to max them totally. Once done with French consulate, if you have some extra export (say 750 or so), then ally with the Ottoman consulate again to get 2 Great Bombards, followed by allying with British consulate. If you don't have as much export, plan to switch to Britain at 18:40. Next card will promptly be this:
7th card - 9 Urumi INFINITE
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... _urumi.gif[/img]
After this, upgrade Honored Sepoy and Disciplined Sowar (you may need some; I will mention it later), and some rice paddy upgrades as well. Ship your 8th card right afterward as this:
8th card - 9 Urumi INFINITE
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... _urumi.gif[/img]
This will bring your Urumi count up to 27 Urumi and 5 Siege Elephants. Scout with your Brahmin to see what your Opponent is doing. If he is massing more cavalry or Coyotes, then que up 20 extra Sepoy, and order 9 more Urumi, and if possible, order the Professional Handlers card. Sowars are useless against Aztec for the most part but can distract your opponent if necessary. If you wish to do so, then que 10 Sowar and Order 9 Sowars + 1 Mansabder and upgrade Honored Sowar.
9th card - 9 Urumi INFINITE
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... _urumi.gif[/img]
I like having a lot of Urumi against the Aztecs, as they cannot counter unlimited numbers them, and soon you shall see what this strategy is coming too. This will give you 36 Verumkai Urumi. Order next card as either of these:
10th or 11th card (NECESSARY AGAINST AZTECS)- 3 Siege Elephants
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... con_64.gif[/img]
OR
10th OR 11th card - Professional Handlers
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... _Limit.gif[/img]
I personally like to have 36 Urumi (72 pop) in front maming everything with 100+ Sepoy support and 7-8 Siege Elephants (28-35 + 21 pop) clear to kill buildings. If you have the XP, ship both Professional handlers and 3 Siege Elephants. If you have half a shipment to go to your 11th or 12th at 18:40, don't worry, because it will be ready in time. You should have maxed villagers by now, and should have at least 1400 wood+ if not a little more (This will fly up in no time). Now the next card decides the fate of the game:
11th OR 12th card - Sepoy Resistance (Sepoy Rebellion)
[img]http://www.hanson-family.ws/aoe3/icons/ ... con_64.gif[/img]
So wait, what does this card do? It converts all my villagers into Sepoy. Well, I have upgraded them to Honored status, plus I can create my villagers afterward. So, when you ship this, ship it around 18:40 - 19:20. It shouldn't be a problem in time, but once the End of Treaty timer comes to 19:59, call all your troops together near midfield, and call a ceasefire from your Taj Mahal, just to get organized.
Well, it just turns out that I have about 3000-4200 food left over, with 700+ wood, and about 750-1250+ coin or so, and I am attacking with 36 Verumkai Urumi and 99-123 Sepoy and Several Siege Elephants. I may have also shipped the 2 Bombards, and feel confident in my attack. Once I come in decent contact with the enemy army, I put on Inspiration from the tower of Victory. Lure his army in with your Sepoy to a defensible position and cream him with Sepoy + Urumi. Keep your Sepoy at Range if possible. Also remember that Siege elephants will break down the wall and protect your army from a lot. Remember to hit the walls quickly and at a corner piece so that you take it down immediately. If you have shipped 9 Sowar +1 Sowar for backup, and even without 10 extra Sowars, use them as a distraction or a raid. This army is unbeatable against the Aztecs.
But what about doing Howdah murd? Why not those against Aztec? Now I will tell you calmly why we never do Howdahs against Aztec. Remember about me talking of looking back at your eco as something stupid? Well everyone does it once in a while, and you don't want a surprise of 7 Skull Knights killing all your Howdah in one blow do you? No, and since the Aztecs can't beat Urumi, it is safe to have Siege elephants die and Urumi win. Plus, Sepoy won't get pwned by hand infantry. That is why I prefer Urumis in this situation, and I believe you would understand how lame it would be for you to lose almost all your Howdahs to a little plague of looking at your non-existent eco.
Screenshots against full 200 pop Aztec Army: (He had some arrow knights and targeted my siege elephants, and he was bringing like 20 Skull knights and 50 Jags to my Sepoy, which I started firing, and I brought my Urumi into the melee and destroyed his entire army without mercy at my gates.):
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp10 ... 1281351723
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp10 ... 1281351698
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp10 ... 1281351659
http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp10 ... 1281351659
Recording:
http://aoe3clan.com/index.php?name=Foru ... pic&t=4969
I hope I helped some of you, maybe all of you learn of a great NR20 strategy.
Thank you for reading!
God bless you all
!regards,
murdilator
