If you see Lucian Cold Iron, you know the end is near

[Johnar]

Am I the only one who thinks that he is unbalanced and overpowered?

I've played a few games mp now with a friend playing as the Doviello, and lost each time I've had Lucian Cold Iron showing up alone in my land. Yes, alone. He needs no company.

In our last game (at epic speed, standard sized map) with a strenght of 10 and 8-11 first strikes and more marks and other promotions than anyone else could ever hope to collect at this early time in game, he came alone, plagued, level 14 after killing 3 other civs before me (emperor diff.). I was playing Alexis as Calabim and at turn 250 had cities packed with archers, archery ranges, palisades (I don't think city walls would have saved me). I had no heroes, or catapults, but was close to getting Saverous. He wouldn't have done any difference anyway.

Needless to say, Lucian made short work of it all, as he had done before in earlier games. Am I missing anything? is there a way to stop Lucian as he is? Clearly any other early to mid game heroes still would be unavailable for most civs or too low in level and strength to pose any meaningful resistance.

 

[Fafnir13]

I might blame this one on the epic speed setting. 250 turns on normal speed should be more than enough time to have the troops to deal with even powerful heroes. Sure, it does mean the Doviello player will get Cold Iron earlier, but he will have less time to hunt for marks and gather xp.

 

[Sephi]

shadow lvl 1 spell blur gives immunity against first strikes. A powerful tool to fight heroes who have lots of first strikes.

 

[Avahz Darkwood]

Rust and dispel magic will make him cry like my little girl...

 

[Johnar]

the epic speed setting is probably one of the reasons Lucian gets to get so powerful. This sounds reasonable. While research for technology is slow compared to standard speed, the gathering of marks of levels will be as normal. The game as it is is probably best balanced for standard speed play, so at epic speed we just have to survive as good as we can and hope Lucian will spend too much time rampaging some other civ's land.

I didn't think about the Blur and Rust spells. That is certainly an inexpensive (techwise) addition in any plan to stop Lucian. Thanks!. Both excellent choices, if you have the mana for it. Dispel magic is a step or two more expensive. Might be too late for Lucian.

 

[Ekolite]

Entropy and Shadow both become available at Necromancy so it shouldn't be too out of your reach on normal speed. The Calabim already start with Shadow iirc which is a bonus.

A couple of throw-away Moroi with blur and burning blood sounds like a good counter.