I developed this strategy to destroy the boom and semi FF strategy’s out there. The best part about this strat is that it stops a rush, weakens a FF, and gives you map control. It loses to Germany (stupid free uhlans but then again what doesn’t lose to Germany.
First thing to note is I have 0 settler shipments in my deck. You can use one in Fortress but I don’t feel I need any. In discovery I put 2 vills to gold crates and the rest to gold. All the rest of the villagers created go to food. Once you have 14 villagers qued send 3 of the miners to food so you can age right after your 14th vill comes out.
Your first shipment is 300 wood. During the age up you should have 5 vills on gold 9 vills on food. A little bit after aging gather the wood you sent a build a bank. The bank should be finished about half way through aging. Send 2-4 vills to some hunt or a mine near the middle to get yourself some map control and build a Rax right away.
Now that you are in Colonial your first shipment, if your not getting rushed is 700 wood send it right away. Send 700 gold or pikes if you suspect a rush. With the forward vills you sent, whip together a rax and start pumping skirms. Your goal is to have 10 skirms by like 6:30-7 minutes. Remember this isn’t a rush its just a raid group/first line of defense to help maintain map control.
Your real goal is to get 2 banks up ASAP so they pay themselves off soon. Now once you have some skirms out and 2 banks up use the rest of the wood for a house (30 pop is all you need) and build a market and research hunting dogs. Send the skirms to raid 10 skirms kill an unupgraded vill in one volley. Keep yourself at 10 Skirms if you lose some replace them ASAP.
Harass him as much as possible your goal is to slow him down as much as possible. If your opponent ages to colonial late I will sometimes send my pike shipment and really try and do some damage. Remember though you don’t want to lose these skirms they are your line of defense once you get to Fortress. If you see a stables or a cav shipment you may want to send the pike shipment (This will house you though) Once your housed at 30 its time to try and age to Fortress via the exiled prince. If you see the fight staying in Colonial get another bank up. If treasures are good I can get 3 banks up before Fortress.
Shipment order in Colonial:
1.700 wood if not getting rushed
2.700 gold
3.Pikes/ save the shipment
Now the fun begins. If they do a quick FF then get ready for an attack soon. Keep your skirms close to his base to kill anything you can. You should get to Fortress no later then a minute after he does. Keep pumping skirms and shipping ryuters. With the banks and Vills youll be amazed how fast you get the resources for Industrial even while pumping skirms.
Make sure you get the second Hunting Upgrade ASAP. Keep the pressure on and try to maintain map control. People will not expect this from a Dutch player. If you see yourself losing the map be sure the get a rax or stable up ASAP at your base and maybe ship yourself a fort. The final step in this strategy is to have some map control and be in Industrial at the same time. I usually age up with the 4 vills and 5 Ryuters it’s a really good age up.
Once you’re here Your golden but One thing I do that many people don’t is I put my Factories to resources not HC. HC suck now that ranged cavalry destroy them. Get all your banks up and kill everything with your 150 pop army. Keep a diversified army of halbs cav and skirms and of course cannons culvs mainly.
Fortress age shipments:
1.9 Ryuters
2.7 Ryuters / Fort just try and feel the game out to see if you need to send the fort.
3.10 halbs /1000 food If im spending a lot on Troops / Fort.
Any Further Questions you guys may have feel free to ask I will do my best to answer them
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