CHAOS Realm

[MilesBeyond]

I've played 10 Chaos Omniscient Dark Elves before and I would agree with JOMT that it's probably not the most efficient way to use Red/Omniscient power pumping. The problem is a lack of synergy - to really take advantage of Dark Elf power production you want to get high-pop cities as quickly as possible, which means Life for pop growth and Nature for max pop.

Now, I will say that 10COmDE was probably the most fun game I've ever played, because yeah once you hit midgame and your cities are getting to their pop cap your power production is just absurd, and that's even before taking volcanoes into account (I also got lucky and picked up Archmage, Specialist, and an 11th Chaos book in ruins, which didn't hurt). But I think someone who can get lots of power buildings up quickly (Klackons, Halflings) can generally make better use of it, or rather make use of it at a more crucial time. Hmmm, I kinda want to try 10 Chaos Omni with High Men now. 15% discount on buildings, focus on getting all those power structures up ASAP and use summons as early force instead of normals. Could be good. Definitely would be fun. Who doesn't love the idea of fire-breathing Paladins?

[Lobosolitario]

Any tips on pure chaos vs death, early game?

I started as Tauron on a smallish continent with Sharee. I was able to take out the two starting cities and siege the capital by zerging with hellhounds, but there's a full stack of ghouls inside that absolutely annihilate my hounds / common troops. What's the quickest + most efficient way I can take them out? While corrupting all the tiles around the city and waiting to research nukes seems the easiest solution, there are three nature wizards on the plane, and I could do with the resources elsewhere before they grow out of control. Plus, if that ghoul stack decides to break out, I get the feeling I'm just going to be gifting Sharee a bunch of undead hellhounds...

My starting race is high elf and there are orc and lizardmen neutrals on the same continent. I'm still on (default as Tauron) starting spells, except for fire elemental, which just finished research.

As it stands, I'm in a fairly fortunate position - but what would I have to have done if I hadn't been able to contain Sharee early, and had to face proper fights in the field? Is it just a case of overwhelming through sheer numbers of hellhounds? Black sleep was pretty lethal as well, when it came into play.

[Seravy]

Fire Storm and Gargoyles are your best options against large stacks of ghouls. The poison Immunity on Gargoyles makes them especially good for this. Be careful though, certain buffs can make Ghouls a lot deadlier.

[Lobosolitario]

Gargoyles are uncommon and flame strike is rare, right? So as pure chaos do I always have to pick gargoyles and rush research instead of expanding? Once the fighting starts, power is going to get diverted from research to mana/skill, and I can't see any higher level spells being ready in time to be useful, while the death wizard is going to be pushing out ghouls from turn 1.

[Seravy]

Chaos has a powerful late game and is good at defending itself so you can afford expanding slower than usual if necessary.
Flame Strike is rare but I recommended Fire Storm which is uncommon.
Gargoyles only cost 420 RP. You can get that much even from building 3 libraries.
Of course, if you can avoid conflict with the death wizard, and fight other, easier targets, or stay on the defense, that's the best. Chaos isn't that good at early expansion but is excellent at holding cities it conquered thanks to Wall of Fire, Immolation, Warp Wood. As long as you control enough territory to be on an even ground with everyone for the midgame, you're good. In general, if you control as much as 40% of the Arcanus plane, you're most likely winning unless it's on very high difficulty.

[Lobosolitario]

Great, thanks very much for the tips!