ELM strategies Pt 2 From: casben@brolga.cc.uq.oz.au (andrew bennett) Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1993 15:33:37 +0000 Part 2 in my suggested tips for the PBM El Mythico. Early on - first things, if you aren't in the game with a friend in the same or neighbouring province get busy on the phone or with paper. You NEED diplomatic contact with your other players. The only person who might get away without this is a strong governor who has very early plans to wipe out both the other players in his province. This can be done but requires a lot of effort and infighting always make a province an attractive target for a unified attack from say, your next-door neighbours. Alternatively, if you can arrange to start in the same province as a friend then hey, you're set. Even next door is ok, because you can work together to influence or attack in either province. Governors - get your town early and try to secure at least one of the major or minor installations in the first 2 turns. They are a bonus income and even if you have to give them up to your guerilla players as part of a economic split-up of the province, you still get income until they have a unit there. Your APC is the fastest way of getting there early on and NONE of the minor installations start with a garrison. Guerillas - you have two choices, if you are co-operating with the governor then ok - agree which pop centres you are going for and leap into it, if you aren't then get as much equipment into his town as you can and occupy it! It will boil down to who controls it last - but without his port and airfield he turns into just another guerilla like you!! Heavy equipment (APCs, planes, artillery) can really turn a battle so if you can ambush the river along which it is delivered - go ahead. if you ally with the governor, you can deliver heavy (class B) equipment to his port and pick it up yourself. Don't forget that air units can only be raised in a hex with an airpoirt and boats must be raised in a river or coastal hex. Category B equipment may also be delivered to certain "across-the-border" villages as indicated in the manual. Try to build units along admin routes - that way, you can use the 26 order (admin move) to get them where you need them quickly. Don't forget you can admin by sea as well!! As anyone - build APC's and combine them with infantry to form mechanised units as much as possible. This has the huge benefit of allowing the combined unit to move at the APC movement rate AND cross rivers while getting the additional firepower available to the infantry unit as additional equipment. A single man (ie a leader) can dig entrenchments just as easily as a whole platoon - I've had my leader dig a size 4 fort while troops trained their way up to elite status. Hidden at various locations are units belonging to the previous government - usually at major installations and some at important tunnels or intersections. Hidden caches of arms also exist - the ones I know of are listed below. ANDINO airport - (2x) Skyhawk ARMY HQ - M113 + AMMO + 105mm Art Club Bled - AMMO + (2x) ATC Later on in the game, trained units become deadly - take the opportunity to train your initial units up as soon as you can. It only takes 9 turns to go from totally green to assault troops. If these 2 posts meet with a favourable response I'll post more about objectives and particular strategies for the middle and end games. I'll also do my best to give advice about any specific questions people may have. Andrew Bennett. casben@brolga.cc.uq.oz.au Up