I'd like to address another issue; people under 2.1k rank attempting to start a strategy OTHER than Archer sword on Castle, Marsh, Swamp, and Halloween.

STOP

Most likely, you do not have enough micro skills to conduct a start such as Archer Miner, Sword Miner x2, or Miner x2 into Archer x2.
You will end up losing, and complaining to the 2.1k people who invented the other short map opening that the strategy is defective, and that it does not work.

Archer Sword (Into Sword) Strategy is the standard build in Short map. It allows you to capture center, and destroy any other opening that is not Archer Sword. You are able to forward kite ANYTHING, and you are able to pressure anything. In the event that you play a fatty(insert animal) or a turtler, you are able to cancel your 2nd sword and build a miner (And secure center). It leaves you with 4.5 miners (3 miners+1.5 Center) and a better army, while your opponent only has 4 miners and a castle archer.

So, on short map, start Archer Sword. Its as simple as that.

This is what happens if you try to do something fancy (WATCH IT)
http://www.stickempires.com/play?replay=replay1899722&version=1.68 OutKited
http://www.stickempires.com/play?replay=replay1910096&version=1.68 Outkited Again

Quote from Maxchiang .

I'd like to address another issue; people under 2.1k rank attempting to start a strategy OTHER than Archer sword on Castle, Marsh, Swamp, and Halloween.

STOP

Most likely, you do not have enough micro skills to conduct a start such as Archer Miner, Sword Miner x2, or Miner x2 into Archer x2.
You will end up losing, and complaining to the 2.1k people who invented the other short map opening that the strategy is defective, and that it does not work.

Archer Sword (Into Sword) Strategy is the standard build in Short map. It allows you to capture center, and destroy any other opening that is not Archer Sword. You are able to forward kite ANYTHING, and you are able to pressure anything. In the event that you play a fatty(insert animal) or a turtler, you are able to cancel your 2nd sword and build a miner (And secure center). It leaves you with 4.5 miners (3 miners+1.5 Center) and a better army, while your opponent only has 4 miners and a castle archer.

So, on short map, start Archer Sword. Its as simple as that.

This is what happens if you try to do something fancy:
www.stickempires.com/play?replay=replay1898460&version=1.68

Ok,i am 1900s,and i beat 1900s with the archer miner strat. So why tell everyone to do a strategy that might not be good for them? (I do agree miner archer is bad on castle and halloween.)

If it works for you, then that's good. I have taught a lot of 1800s my archer miner and sword miner (into archer) start, and they are complaining that it is not working.

These do not work against anyone +2.1k (unless you are 2.1k yourself).

Attempt only when you are favored.

Quote from Maxchiang .

If it works for you, then that's good. I have taught a lot of 1800s my archer miner and sword miner (into archer) start, and they are complaining that it is not working.

These do not work against anyone +2.1k (unless you are 2.1k yourself).

Attempt only when you are favored.

Yes,but also sword miner is used by everone isnt it? In top live Wyz goes either sword 2 miners or 1 miner 2 swords :l

Quote from xanderman222222

Yes,but also sword miner is used by everone isnt it? In top live Wyz goes either sword 2 miners or 1 miner 2 swords :l

I'm trying to help you guys. Sword Miner doesn't work, unless you are high rank and know how to micro.

Honestly; Maybe that is why the rankings are in the high 2ks; we have 1900s who think that these tactics work, and 2ks who understand that they don't, and that Archer Sword counters everything.

The only reason the stragties are out there is because the High rank players got bored of Archer Sword, and invented them. They work because high ranks can micro extremely efficiently. I don't think anyone in the 1900s can...

Quote from Maxchiang .

I'm trying to help you guys. Sword Miner doesn't work, unless you are high rank and know how to micro.

Honestly; Maybe that is why the rankings are in the high 2ks; we have 1900s who think that these tactics work, and 2ks who understand that they don't, and that Archer Sword counters everything.

The only reason the stragties are out there is because the High rank players got bored of Archer Sword, and invented them. They work because high ranks can micro extremely efficiently. I don't think anyone in the 1900s can...

I am extremely near the 2ks,and Everyone does sword miner on long and MEDIUM,on short sure go sword archer.

Quote from xanderman222222

Everyone does sword miner on long and MEDIUM,on short sure go sword archer.

Sword Miner works on MEDIUM and LONG MAPS

To do that on short is just asking to lose rank. Xanderman, if you want to be 2k, you should stop doing rogue strageties on short map.
Even a 1600 can beat a high rank with archer sword

Short maps require a huge offense since it is much easier to harass economy. So you always need a huge offense to prevent harassment of your economy. On long maps, I always use archer and miner and build a sword with my first income.

Quote from Maxchiang .

Sword Miner works on MEDIUM and LONG MAPS

To do that on short is just asking to lose rank. Xanderman, if you want to be 2k, you should stop doing rogue strageties on short map.
Even a 1600 can beat a high rank with archer sword

Did you read my post? I said on long and medium sword miner,on short do sword archer -_-

I have just started playing the game yesterday... My only loss what a lagg issue. I tend to, at the start, buy 2 more miners, making it 4. They all mine. Then, I send a swordwarth forwards, capturing the middle, then scouting their base and killing their miners. Usually, I manage to kill 2 miners before they get a swordwarth or castle archer to defend theirselves. From that information, I do other stuff.

Example: www.stickempires.com/play?replay=replay1903652&version=1.68

Seeing he has many miners, I concluded that we will be making a large force to take me down. Knowing that from the start, I decided to create an even larger army. I thus won. This strategy has worked for me on multiple occasions.

Quote from Bryden38

I have just started playing the game yesterday... My only loss what a lagg issue. I tend to, at the start, buy 2 more miners, making it 4. They all mine. Then, I send a swordwarth forwards, capturing the middle, then scouting their base and killing their miners. Usually, I manage to kill 2 miners before they get a swordwarth or castle archer to defend theirselves. From that information, I do other stuff.

Example: www.stickempires.com/play?replay=replay1903652&version=1.68

Seeing he has many miners, I concluded that we will be making a large force to take me down. Knowing that from the start, I decided to create an even larger army. I thus won. This strategy has worked for me on multiple occasions.

I'm sorry to tell you, but many people that low think economy is key, but way too much early game. I saw it when I played using 2 alts that low.

A large offensive such as a sword+archer or even an archer will push you back to garrison, and if you don't have enough for a castle archer, I can leave and keep coming back to prevent your miners from even mining anything at all. If you get a castle archer, I will either get a ghost to tank arrows for my archer or a spearton to go shield wall behind your statue and tank the arrows while raged swords and archers pummel your statue with continuous hit n runs. While your miners are retreated, mine are still mining so temporarily, I have an economic advantage no matter what.

A small offensive would usually lead to a turtle in my mind which only works effectively on Grass Hills, especially deadly if you pull a surprise giant mass. I always make that mistake when I face fatty[insert animal here] and I take the offensive, I think I am winning and I think he is going for a certain army, so I build to counter that army, but I always get a giant rush which my army might not be built for.

But my point is, offense is more important than economy for the first minute or two of the game.

I know. Now i'm around 2.2K, and also, i use a very awesome strategy, which will automatically pwn sword archer counters, 2 miners, or 1 sword 1 miner. 1 sword 1 miner is very good, but every strategy has a counter. my strategy's counter is sword archer, but its not that easy. To counter this, u have to get more than 1 archer by the 1st minute, then u must have excellent micro to kill my archers, like i said, its not that easy. However, i know how to counter this.

Quote from FailingAtFailing

But my point is, offense is more important than economy for the first minute or two of the game.

*Center is the most important part of a small map within the first minute or two of the game. Whoever controls it has the higher chance of winning.
The next important thing is range; do you out-range your opponent (Archer, castle archer)?
Then, its tank force; can you protect your ranged units?
Finally is economy.

Quote from Maxchiang .

*Center is the most important part of a small map within the first minute or two of the game. Whoever controls it has the higher chance of winning.
The next important thing is range; do you out-range your opponent (Archer, castle archer)?
Then, its tank force; can you protect your ranged units?
Finally is economy.

On a short map, ahem, I am looking at you Castle, a few ranged units could stay at the center and still be able to harass the economy without moving more than a few feet, so I agree with center being important, heck necessary for a win on a small map. You won't be able to turtle or pull a spear rush because it's too easy for the enemy to harass and replenish their forces quickly. Also, most ranged units are not as effective against speartons due to their armour, so I would say that you need some melee units being built along with your ranged units. Swords at first (horrible tanks but they will take some hits for your archers) and speartons once you get a miner or two on mana.

Vs'd another <2k person who thought he could start with Archer Miner.

Outkited, as usual. Posted the replay on the first post.

For any person <2k, let this be a warning that rogue starts don't work if you can't micro.