Matty and Sam_DeathWalker start similarly, a few houses, some wood, Matty gathers sheep, chases some deer, then gets going gathering more wood and harvesting his farms. Both scout the map, Matty seemingly more thoroughly than Sam_DeathWalker and even has time to briefly harass a few villagers before continuing to cover the map.<p> So far no great difference in approach though Matty is gathering resources faster. Critically Matty then starts to wall off his main resource gathering area scattering a few towers for extra protection. Sam_DeathWalker does not, his tack is to get to Castle Age quickly and produce a few mangudai for ranged defense/attack. A big mistake. Matty builds a stable, barracks, Blacksmith and some houses on a rise above Sam_DeathWalker main town center area. Matty gets a castle in same spot. Matty starts to TC in what proves to be an encircling manner around Sam_DeathWalker.<p> Apart from a few skirmishes near Matty’s castle and Sam_DeathWalker’s castle the first main military foray is by Sam_DeathWalker who try’s to probe Matty’s defense and disrupt his main economy. Sam_DeathWalker takes out a gathering group (on gold) with his mangudai (good use of Scout to draw Tower fire while main group attack) near Matty’s northern wall but his few towers are enough to keep Sam_DeathWalker foray party away. Matty’s wall defense critically holds (never going to be breached by a few mangudai!)<p> Matty’s economy now moving ahead big time and Sam_DeathWalker completely circled (more of an arc). Matty starts moving in a TC right next to Sam_DeathWalker northern TC gathering point, Sam_DeathWalker responds by attacking. TC can hold out for a long time, attackers severely disadvantaged (good use of monk to heal). Matty starts moving in a series of two-handed swordsmen and really starts crippling Sam_DeathWalker economy as villagers get garrisoned – the end is nigh. Matty’s economy is really pounding and more two-handed swordsmen and a few trebuchets now start thumping all buildings, people… everything. Matty may not have noticed that a group of Sam_DeathWalker men have moved up to the Northern corner of the map and started a small outpost which eventually leads to a castle but not much else. <p> Meanwhile Matty’s troops grind down and destroy all buildings and seek out all straggling villagers. Last one gone – game not over. Where could Sam_DeathWalker be hiding? Matty’s two-handers gather in formation and move up to North. The Castle and a few mangudai are no match and soon it really is over.<p> Lessons learnt:<p> Scout thoroughly, defend your main economy, gather and control as many resources as possible using Town Centers, start disrupting opponents economy, continue to build on your attack – seek and destroy. <p> SirTristram