Quick and Dirty Answers

[Tubby Rower]

Since we have a forum for this now, I figured I'd make a thread to ask/answer questions about travian. [bosd]



So share vital knowledge with me [charge]

[Tubby Rower]

How do reinforcements work? I have 1 phlanx and I tried to send him as a re-inforcement to another villiage just so he'd have something to do. I've tried sending him twice and as soon as I leave the screen apparently he comes back and is still in my town. What's going on here? Do you get knowledge of a city's troop levels by sending in one reinforcement just before you attack force?

[Kingreno]

Reinforcement is for friendly villages only! You can send your own troops to a village of your own or an ally (but they will be native to the village they were born in). Do be carefull as they will eat food in the village they camp in...and will die when they have no food.

The other options are raid and attack. These are used on enemies. Attack mean s your troops will first try to kill all enmy troops and then teh survivors take away what they can find/carry. Raid means they just try to take as many resources and then run. Any defenders will be attacked but likely not all killed, nor will you lose as many attackers as in an attack.

[Tubby Rower]

I made an excel spreadsheet that would help you figure out any production things for travian. I'm not sure if this is against this part of the rules quote:§3 Usage of auxiliaries
The usage of any auxiliaries like scripts or bots which automate actions like building things or troop movements is impermissible. This game may only be played with a customary Internet-browser. In addition, it is impermissible to use scripts which change the sourcecode of Travian pages and thus allow players to use Plus features without paying. Furthermore, scripts and bots causing severe server usage such as a map-scanning tools are illicit. but I created it anyway. I'm on the verge of creating a VB program similar to the KOC thingie. But then I suspect that would be shunned (at least out in the open). so if this gets me kicked out, then that's one less thing that I have to be addicted to [:p]

Download Attachment: icon_paperclip.gif Travian.zip (http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Tubby Rower/20061019192044_Travian.zip) <- change the extension to xls
18.86 KB

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Tubby Rower/20061019192145_Image1.gif
56.35 KB

[Dell19]

quote:Originally posted by Tubby Rower

How do reinforcements work? I have 1 phlanx and I tried to send him as a re-inforcement to another villiage just so he'd have something to do. I've tried sending him twice and as soon as I leave the screen apparently he comes back and is still in my town. What's going on here? Do you get knowledge of a city's troop levels by sending in one reinforcement just before you attack force?


Did you click okay on the second screen? Occasionally catches me out where I forget to confirm a raid.

[Tubby Rower]

no I didn't.. my phlanx went exploring and is now back. raids will commence tomorrow [charge]

[Tubby Rower]

without a scouting unit.. .is there a way to determine the strength of someone's military? Also is there a distance limit that you put on any attacks. for instance make real nice with your neighbors within 2 tiles and agree to a NAP.

[Dell19]

I think you have to wait for scouts which are a bit expensive if you include the research cost and building the required buildings.

[Tubby Rower]

OK I think that I've answered my own question in the game... I've been attacking a lot of my neighbors and have made an alliance of the 2 largest neighbors and myself. Here is what I've found out...

- If you attack and everyone dies (or gets trapped), you receive no intel on the troop strength
- If you have some troops return, you get to see what you battled against.

This makes sense if you think about it. oh and I've farmed one of my neighbors down to 0 resources :D he hasn't logged on for a couple of days. Luckily a few more of my neighbors will no longer be under beginner protection today

[Rik Meleet]

How do you see if you've actually ordered a raid ?
I think I've send my 2 legionairs on a raid but I don't get any messages that they are on their way.

Edit: figured it out already. forgot the 2nd OK

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Rik Meleet/20061021121938_attack.JPG
50.86KB

[Tubby Rower]

yeah... there is a confirmation screen that doesn't seem that it is a confirmation screen. I suspect that raids on the normal speed servers are a little more profitable than the ones on the high speed server.

[Rik Meleet]

I failed miserably. No loot and the 2 legionaries dead.

[Kingreno]

LOL! 2 legionaires! That's like attacking with a worker in Civ Rik. [lol]

[Tubby Rower]

quote:Originally posted by Kingreno

LOL! 2 legionaires! That's like attacking with a worker in Civ Rik. [lol]
what's wrong with that??? [confused]

[Ginger_Ale]

How does crop usage work? It keeps going up and up - how does it go down?

[Tubby Rower]

by building buildings, units, improving resource fields, etc. when you select something to build, check the number next to the crop with a red X through it. That will decrease your current crop yield.

[Tubby Rower]

here is a neat site that will allow you to see where alliance members are

http://travmap.shishnet.org/

[Rik Meleet]

What's a good amount of legionairs to raid a small village ?

[Dell19]

I've found 4 is enough if it is an inactive village.

[Kingreno]

hmm.

4 can carry only 160 resources, and that means a lot of raids for it to become beneficial. Also, raiding inactive villages will not always get you resources as they may have been raided by someone else.

I'd focus on resourcefielddevelopment first. Though a few units are not that big of a gamble to just say no to.

[Dell19]

Tiny villages tend to get raided regularly. I would agree that there is little point building units until our villages are larger. Maybe pop 150 and I would stay away from raiding Gauls because of the traps. I had 25 Imperians and my hero trapped a few hours ago however the defender released them after I asked. I think it helps that three members of the alliance I am in are nearby. Planning on building a new village today or tomorrow.

[Dell19]

Abandoned valleys.

Firstly these are nice for giving heroes experience. There are going to be casualties to your troops but they are generally manageable and roughly follow the results of the combat calculator.

What I didn't realise was that these valleys produce resources. One that looks like clay will produce more clay, one that looks like mountains produces more iron. The only problem is that they max out at 400 storage however it is the most productive raiding I have found.

Obviously this may be different on different servers.

[Rik Meleet]

How does one recognise a abandoned valley ? And how does one distinguish an abandoned village from an active village ?

[Kingreno]

Click on it on the map, it will tell what it is.

[Tubby Rower]

does anyone know what it takes to get a second hero? I've upgraded my hero's mansion to 2, but alas no extra slot.

[Kingreno]

I know nothing about heroes, as they are not present on server 6, where I got my experience.

[Ginger_Ale]

How do I build a rally point? I want to build a barracks (I have lvl3 main building), but it says I also need a rally point.

[Kingreno]

The Rally point can only be built at the east side of the village centre. It is the only building, besides teh wall, that has a fixed spot.

[Rik Meleet]

Is a Grain Mill a worthy investment ?

http://travwiki.byethost33.com/wiki/index.php/Grain_mill

[Tubby Rower]

level 1 is only 5% so I'd say no since you have to save up 1200 crop. Depending on how many gross crop you get, it could be worth it to build it via trading other resources for the crop needed and you wouldn't have to upgrade your fields and get a nice increase.

[Kingreno]

Leter on it is virtually inevitable. On server 6 I have a decent army that eats 400 grain per hour, if I were to go realy offensive, I'd need way more. The 25% of the grain mill and later the 25 % for the bakery are much needed.

[Dell19]

That sounds like quite a lot of troops. I only have 100 Imperians and 30 Equites Imperatoris on server 3.

[Kingreno]

On server 6 I have:
75 legionaires
130 Praetorians
70 Imperians
10 Equites Legati
30 Equites Imper
60 Equites Caearis
10 Firecatapult

That is a lot of grain...:D

[Rik Meleet]

I know buildings can be build quicker by upgrading your main building. Is there a way to increase speed on resource-improvement ?

[Kingreno]

It is not mentioned in the regular manual, but the MB also increases the speed for lands.

Find out more:

http://help.travian.com/faq.php?page=cropland

[grs]

I have been attacked on my account on a different server. No losses since I do not have any military yet and my cranny is big enough. But I have a question:

I got a message on 15:05 that I was attacked. I read somewhere, that you get an info while the troops are on their way. Did I miss that? How does such a message look?

[Kingreno]

In the main screen with the resource field, right above the hourly production, there are 3 possible markings: red for an attack on your village, yellow for an attack by yourself, and green by a reinforcement of freindly troop. A time is displayed telling when the guys will arrive.

[Rik Meleet]

Why do my guys get killed when attacking an abandoned village?
"Village Meleetian Ri attacks abandoned valley" - "None of your soldiers returned." :(

[socralynnek]

there are dangerous animals in there

[Kingreno]

Very dangerous! Go to the rally point and use the combat simulator.

[Rik Meleet]

I see ...

[grs]

Most FAQs say you need a hero and some troops to attack.

[Tubby Rower]

something that bit me was that after your hero gets to level 1 you can no longer re-distribute the points. So once you get a hero to level 1 make sure you add some regeneration in there unless you plan on suiciding him.

[Dell19]

I would suggest making a defensive hero.

[Rik Meleet]

Walls.
When will they become visible to others ?
(seems like a nice scare tactic and decoy)

[Dell19]

There are two scouting options and the second option reveals the level of walls IIRC.

[Rik Meleet]

I meant that on the map of the surroundings of your city, some cities have walls visible while others do not. I have build a wall and it is not visible.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Rik Meleet/20061111135143_Walled non-walled.JPG
12.42KB

[grs]

Maybe you see them after you have attackes once? Just guessing.

[socralynnek]

i think it has something to with size (250 pop or so)

[Socrates]

quote:Originally posted by socralynnek

i think it has something to with size (250 pop or so)

I concur. I passed that mark recently (and I have no wall). [thumbsup] It is just graphics that tell the size of the village. It also changes at 100 pop.

[Tubby Rower]

I thought that the walled cities were the capitals of multi-citied players

[socralynnek]

Funny story:

The guy (from LT-B alliance) that always attacked me (but my crannies were except for one time big enough), reinforced my village on friday.
I sent him a PM asking him whether he pushed the wrong button. After I have seen him read it but didn't get an answer, I sent his troops back.
Yesterday he sent them again with 500 clay, 500 wood and 500 iron.
Today his village(and I think he had a second) was gone...did he overexpand? Can one lose the village if all food is eaten?

[Rik Meleet]

I think he is quitting.

[tofra]

How can you defend yourself against catapults?

[Tubby Rower]

move very quickly...

oh in the game.. I'm not sure

[Kingreno]

You can't. Though a very large number of defensive units will in general stop most attacks.

[tofra]

What does NPC trading means?
I've just done that, and I filled in what resources I wanted and they got transformed to the number I wanted.. :-)
But it cost 3 gold..... But where can I see the amount of gold I have?

[Dell19]

Gold is something that you buy with real money.

[tofra]

how many gold do I have currently? I've done this now two times.. And I can't see anything about this...

[Tubby Rower]

I think that you start out with 30 or 35 gold on server 3

[Ginger_Ale]

Can anyone explain how heroes work? I haven't built a hero mansion yet, but once I do, and train a hero, what do I use him for? Should I keep him on defense? Use him in raids? Take over an oasis/production bonus territory?

[Kingreno]

He's a superunit that gets bonii as you see them fit, let it be attack, offensive for the entire army, defensive or highly regeneration. As he gets experience from battles he gets more skillpoints to distribute.

[tofra]

What does someone need or need to do to conquer my second village? (I need to know how I can prevent that!)

[Kingreno]

If someone sends a senator or chief to your village several times your village will eventually turn. This is measured in loyalty, when it drops to zero it turns.
You can counter it by having a lot of culture (palace/resisdence and festivities). Or by posting a decent defence that kills the attacking tribeleader!

Do keep in mind that someone needs accadamy lvl 20/palace lvl 10 to research a senator. This is somnething that takes a long time.

[Rik Meleet]

I'm sending some Equites Ceasaris - they are good against mounted units.
31 legionairs + 16 imperians + 6 EQ C.

[Socrates]

I'll soon build Palace level 10. Is there anything else to do before sending settlers to found a second village ?

The area in my neighbourhood is getting more and more empty, as villages disappear one by one due to inactivity (of which one of our ancient members, just next to me). There is plenty of room to expand ! What are the criteria to found a nice village (distance to capital, resource valleys around, neighbours, etc...) ?

[Kingreno]

Any free spot is available. I believe you need 600 of each resource to send along. Basicly, the croplocations (more then 8 crop) are best for war.

[tofra]

I've build my second village next to my existing one.. It only takes 5 minutes to travel resources..

[Rik Meleet]

I haven't build any palace parts yet. Should I ?

[Kingreno]

Palace lvl 10 is required for setlers/senators. In other words, for a second village.

[Rik Meleet]

I killed all animals in an oasis. How can I claim the tile for myself ?

[Socrates]

Just founded my 2nd village !! [thumbsup] A few tiles away, which is good, but I wonder if I made a mistake : this new village has 15 crop fields and only 1 of each of the rest. I followed KR's advice a bit too greedily, I think. [blush]

I believe I should transfer resources from Village 1 to Village 2 so as to develop the 2nd one faster ?

[Kingreno]

You need Hero mansion Lvl 10 (for 1 oasis), the oasis has to be within 3 tiles of your hometown, and there have to be no animals left in the oasis. Your hero will automaticly conquer it after the last attack kills all remaining nature.

I just conquered my nextdoor iron-oasis!:D

[Ginger_Ale]

I have a hero at 38% of his hitpoints. How can I heal him?

Also - to attack a nearby abandoned valley (99 Rats, 84 Spider, 9 Serpents, 1 Bat, 34 Wild boars) with a hero to gain experience for him, how many troops do I need (in terms of legions/imperians, as I don't have a stable yet) to ensure they don't all get killed?

[Kingreno]

Heroes only heal if you have put some points in regeneration, on of his 5 attributes.

To know if you stand a chance against nature use the combatsimulator! It is available when you select your rally point.
In this example...99 Rats, 84 Spider, 9 Serpents, 1 Bat, 34 Wild boars...will need a very large ammount of troops to let even half your guys and the hero survive!

[Ginger_Ale]

For some reason I can't build Equites Legati, even though I can build Equites Imperatores! I have a stable lvl 5, and all the necessary resources, so what's up?

In order news, I have 4 lvl 10 woodcutters, 3 lvl 10 clay pits, and 2 lvl 10 iron mines. :D

[Kingreno]

you need to research it at the academy.

[Tubby Rower]

I have found a way to completely destroy someone.

Kill all of their troops,
then destroy their croplands
then destroy their marketplace.

After that you could destroy their main building, but with - 200 somthing crop, it's hard to do anything except quit.

This happened to me on server 7. Some loser left our alliance and then killed me like this. If you ever run across some witch named Tian... kill her for me.

[Ginger_Ale]

quote:Originally posted by Kingreno

you need to research it at the academy.


Me stupid...

Anyway, I'll do that soon KR, so that I can give you back the Pathfinder you lent me.

[Kingreno]

He's eating your crop so it's not that big a deal [lol]

[grs]

Is there any way to rename an oasis?

[Tubby Rower]

quote:Is there any way to rename an oasis?no

[Ginger_Ale]

Wait...can I build a hero's mansion in every village I have? If so, does that mean I can conquer an additional 3 oases? I'm asking because my newest village is near to some oases (my capital is only within 3 tiles of one).

[Tubby Rower]

yes. each village can have a hero's mansion and each village can have 3 oases conquered for it. To transfer your hero just reinforce the new village with your hero and he'll then be "owned" by the new village.

[grs]

Is it possible to withdraw a reinforcement before it arrives. If yes: how?

[Ginger_Ale]

Open your rally point, find the box that lists the reinforcements being sent, and click the red X in the bottom right.

I think you can only do this in the first few minutes of a reinforcement, but don't quote me on that.

[Tubby Rower]

I think that there is only 30 seconds.. just in case you made a mistake. Merchants on the other hand are stubborn and won't return after a trade mission has started

[Ginger_Ale]

That's because you could use merchants as crannies in the event of an attack (send them away with resources, and then call them back to receive them again).

[Rik Meleet]

quote:Originally posted by Tubby Rower

yes. each village can have a hero's mansion and each village can have 3 oases conquered for it. To transfer your hero just reinforce the new village with your hero and he'll then be "owned" by the new village.
I just did that, but I am unable to build a second Hero. Can you advise ?

[Ginger_Ale]

You can only have 1 hero at a time...

[Catalin]

in each city you may have a hero! so if you want a second hero, build another town.

[Togidubnus]

so having had my level 2 phalanx hero killed in the line of duty, is it better to reactivate him, or to create a new druidrider hero?

[Rik Meleet]

quote:Originally posted by Catalin

in each city you may have a hero! so if you want a second hero, build another town.
I have 3 towns ... Can't build a 2nd hero.

[Catalin]

build one hero's mansion in each city and train a hero from there. the hero belongs to the city and you can only have one hero in each city.

[Samson]

Is there any reasnoble guides / tutorials out there/ The one on http://www.travian.com/tutorial.php does not really explain anything.
If you want to answer newbie questions:
Do you need to keep "doing stuff" to keep you village working. Ie. do I need to click on the cropland every 2.5 minutes to keep building cropland. Does the village go inactive whenever I go to sleep?
What do you do with the reasorces you gather (food, clay etc.) Are they just used automatically when you build stuff. [EDIT] I see now that every build operation costs reasorces. That uses them. Is it the only thing that uses them (except population and armies using food I guess).

[socralynnek]

IIRC the build/research operations are the only ones using ressources besides pop and armies. Oh and besides trading via a market of course.

And strictly speaking, if you get attacked/raided your opponent can take away resources.

The longer your game takes, the longer the build operations take. Therefore you might have hours until you can build again.
And resources just gather until the storage is full if you don't use them.

But I don't have any useful link over here.

[Dell19]

There is a travian wiki that you can find on google that gives a general idea about the different buildings and units.

[Samson]

Thanks. http://dhost.info/travian2005/Wiki/index.php/Main_Page has got a lot of information.

One thing that seems to be missing is a discription of what the map symbols (tile images) mean. I guess it does not matter until I have an army or 3 settlers, but it would be nice to know.

And another question, how do you find out how much longer your "newbie protection" lasts? Is it 10 days on all servers?
[EDIT] I just found out that the 5th button at the top of the screen is actually 2 buttons, and as well as the Reports (which I had already found) there is a messages section. That gives you the days protection as well as what you have to do to get additional reasorces.

[socralynnek]

No. The first game I played had 7 days protection, the 2nd had 3 days protection (although both were at normal speed)
I have found that one out by reading the official in-game forum where the server restart was announced, IIRC.