posted 30 August 2003 07:24 PM EDT (US)
I have over 1000 games with zeus and while I am no expert I have got him to 1900 be it briefly and he remains to this day my favourite civ. I am using him in rated only and am still hovering around 1870 but i am sure that if egypt were nerfed that would be different - yes isis too!
FIRST when u start the game press CRTL and the down arrow on the keypad - the screen is bigger u can see more it helps ok - nice
firstly never use centaurs in more than groups of 2 to raid. Why? because with there special attack they kill 1 villie in one shot in groups of two. So hotkey them and sit them just out of l-o-s and just dart in kill one villie and dart out again.
never send a centaur to raid alone because he gets there fires his shot the villie runs home and it is no kill. You have also given away what units u r making without even killing a villie and for sure a hero will be waiting for u next time.
I use centaurs in two ways. If I rush with them I classical 4.30-5 and pump two cents for raiding one side of my opps base. I then build two more and send them around the other side a little later. Speed is essential as u might have 2 kills before they get towers or counters.
Now u have to micro centaurs because when the heroes come they die soooooooo fast. This means u will need to hotkey both raiding parties. Dont bolt hero it is a waste unless u really have to, centaurs are faster and should always be able to run off. Ranged or cav heroes are the exception to that rule. Microing makes my econ suck eggs but it is worth it just keep that tc pumping and the gather point set and make sure you are constantly watching the battles.
The second way to use centaurs and much easier is to go up late slap down two stables build horses and centaurs as u can. Cavalry and centaurs are versatile strong and noone like to see them in classical. I think this is zeus's stongest unit combo in classical and whilst not my favourite it does the job. You should be looking to pop 115 around 10 mins with about 4 centaurs and upgraded hippokons. This should give you map control for the first part of classical at least.
I'm getting carried away now and listening to tunes so I will continue with my minataur rush if any of u are interested. This is the funnest strategy going and is so effective if you get it right - which is hard.
minataurs are giants in classical thay have a throw which is an instakill most units and villies so just touch a villie and it is dead.
The premise is to send 2 minataurs staight to ur opps base as early as possible walk straight into their base IGNORE ARROWS they dont hurt minos and throw villies. The disadvantage minataurs have over centaurs is that you can not run off from heroes so how do u deal with them well 3 ways. well when u see the first hero its bolt time ! This strat works up to 1850 for me but I'm sure a faster player could get it higher. Generally I use minataurs for norse and centaurs for greek. Things that annoy me as greek - when u make a lumber and the villes go to the gold that is 18 tiles away. if any greeks are having trouble with midgard fish big fight with like 3 ships - cast cease fire when he is about to kill ur fishing - about 7 - 8 mins earliest. This will give u enough time to pop with zeus's hoplites and go directly to his tc what else ooh if you practice on medi you can hit a 4.30 classical with two docks try it 3 wood dont copy create I am gonna go do quickmatch now with zeus i gonna do the centaur thing the minataur thing and the water build and post it for all you zeusers out there. i will put the link in this thread in an hour or so Don't worry about set keep it real zeus will rule the expansion Farmer
next hero your minataurs will attack and kill him (unless greek) when there hitpoints are low walk them out of the base stand them still and restoration. That is a lot of hitpoints replenished and you have just killed 4 villies made him make 3/4 heroes and not even lost a unit toxotes work well on high food maps cos u dont have to farm too early and can advance with ur opp, on low food maps though i would use the wood for early farming and raid with hippos after your initial assault which should have put you considerably ahead. Make ur first two heroes straigh after classical too they r cheap and if your minos have used bolt restoration your heroes can kill their heroes. u will have 4 very strong units 2 minos 2 heroes in ur opps base by 6 mins.upgrade them to medium on the way over.
next dock and house then to wood
3 sheep
1 more wood for total of 5
rest food
do not build granary find sheeps if u can if not delay granary untill last sheep is gone
build no more than 8 ships before your temple and second house.
This should see u up at 4.30 if u practice it and is the only way i can win water against a good player with zeus on medi. It is damn hard
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