Editing Rampart (section)

== The Rampart {{wll}} ==
The following is a short story that was written by a New World Computing employee and published on the now-defunct fansite "The Nether Gods".

:<div style="font-style: italic;">"Based on many of your questions, [[Marcus Finch|I]] have chosen the Rampart city as my topic for today. The Rampart cities of [[Erathia]] are most similar to the [[Sorceress (class)|Sorceress]] cities of [[Enroth (continent)|Enroth]]. Found mostly in remote and heavily forested areas, they are, as one would imagine, populated by creatures of nature.

:To start with, the [[Ranger]]s and [[Druid]]s no longer serve as troops in the armies of [[Erathia]]. Instead, they have risen to join the elite few who become heroes of this land, and it is the creatures of the Ramparts who now serve them.

:Whenever a new Rampart is constructed, it is the gentle [[Centaur]]s and sturdy [[Dwarves]] who arrive first to pledge their loyalty. In fact, once you offer proper training to the [[Dwarves]], they will begin to "horde," bringing both additional units and income to your city.

:Before you know it, [[Elves]] will begin to join your city, [[Wood Elves]] at first, then [[Grand Elves]] as time passes. More amazingly, once they are convinced of the cause you fight for, the [[Elves]] will begin to bring to the Rampart their great [[Pegasi]] mounts, creatures both beautiful and deadly, to join your armies.

:One day you will suddenly find yourself surprised when you learn that apparently overnight, the trees themselves have come alive! Great and noble [[Dendroid|Treefolk]], who you discover have been watching your progress very carefully, offer to join your ranks, and as word of your success spreads throughout the forest, mystical [[Unicorn]]s will show themselves, also ready to do battle in the name of good.

:But it does not end there. When at last word of your heroic deeds reaches the far corners of the world, massive [[Green Dragon]]s, and their elder [[Gold Dragon|Golden kin]], will begin to arrive. Your success is almost assured!

:Beautiful, noble and elegant. These are the traits that can be found uniformly in the creatures that inhabit the Rampart cities of [[Erathia]].

:So ends our discussion for today. If you have any requests for which of [[Erathia]]'s cities you would like to learn about next, please voice them here."</div>

{{user commentary|
* With  two  slow  creature types, [[Dwarf and Battle Dwarf|dwarves]]  and  [[Dendroid Guard and Dendroid Soldier|dendroids]], rampart armies may be best suited to defensive tactics. Most of Rampart creatures, however, have enemy hampering abilities that can be used to turn the tide against many opponents, especially those dependent on magical attacks.
* [[Silver Pegasus|Silver Pegasi]] are among the fastest creatures in the game, which often offers chance to act first in combat. However, they are quite fragile and should be used with caution.
* [[Gold Dragon]]s' [[spell immunity]] is a double-edged sword, their skills cannot be enhanced but nor can they be diminished. 
* '''Beware of Green and Gold Dragons' breath attack which can damage your own troops.''' 
* Having only Gold Dragons in your army and having learnt [[Armageddon]] spell somewhere, you may rush through the map with [[Dragogeddon]] manoeuvre. Green Dragons cannot be used for Dragogeddon as they are susceptible to 4-5 level spells.
* [[Dwarf and Battle Dwarf|Dwarves]] and [[Dendroid Guard and Dendroid Soldier|Dendroids]] are tough and useful in shielding Elves (or other shooters). 
* The [[Grand Elf]] is a nice shooter, but is often [[blind]]ed or [[direct damage spells|damaged]] through spells. Thus, protecting this [[ranged attack]]er with [[Double attack]] by anti magic spells like [[Anti-Magic]] (4th or 5th level spells only, up to spell immunity) or [[Magic Mirror]] (20% to 40% chance of reflecting spells back to the enemy and then target a random stack) can be useful.
* It is beneficial to build and upgrade [[Homestead]] prior to all the other dwellings.
* Defending a town, it is possible to use [[Dendroid]]s to bind enemies in the moats.
* Try to build [[Treasury]] as soon as possible. Having a Treasury, don't spend money on Days 5-7 if it isn't necessary, and try to sell resources for gold at a [[Marketplace]] or [[Trading Post]]. You will earn interest when the new week begins.

'''Pros:'''
* [[Centaur]]s and [[Centaur Captain]]s are among the best 1st level creatures.
* Several [[Treasury|Treasuries]] can become extremely powerful in longer games as every treasury's 10% bonus is cumulative.
* [[Grand Elf|Grand Elves]] are fast [[ranged attack|ranged units]] that can be acquired early in the game and, what is even more important, shoot twice.
* Several units with high speed rating can form a very potent force in the late game.
* Rampart produces the most hit points per week of all towns.
* The weekly income with Capitol and the Resource Silo is enough to recruit all the units without any external mines.
* Many anti-magic abilities of creatures. This includes [[Dwarf and Battle Dwarf|Dwarves']] resistance, ability of [[Pegasus and Silver Pegasus|Pegasi]] to increase cost of a spell casted by the enemy hero, [[Unicorn and War Unicorn|Unicorns']] aura of resistance, and finally [[Green Dragon and Gold Dragon|Green and Gold Dragons']] immunity to the majority of spells (Gold Dragons can be part of [[Dragogeddon]]).
* Unicorns are versatile high-level warriors, useful in both attack and defense. After being upgraded, they become one of the fastest creatures unable to fly, and have brilliant health. Moreover, they are very cheap, as [[Manticore and Scorpicore|Scorpicores]] and [[Wyvern and Wyvern Monarch|Wyvern Monarchs]] have higher price and lower stats than War Unicorns (while being quite faster than the latter and able to fly).

'''Cons:'''
* Only 1 shooter (The [[Wood Elf]]/[[Grand Elf]]) which is only 3 lvl and has low hit points.
* [[Dendroid Guard]]s/[[Dendroid Soldier]]s and [[Dwarf|Dwarves]]/[[Battle Dwarf|Battle Dwarves]] slow armies down.
* [[Gold Dragon]]s can not be [[Resurrection|resurrected]], but unlike [[Black Dragon]]s can be killed by [[Implosion]].
* Gold Dragons are very fast, but they are immune to [[Haste]] and [[Prayer]]. Therefore, [[Necropolis]] and [[Fortress]] have an opportunity to overtake Rampart by top speed since they both have creatures faster than [[Pegasus and Silver Pegasus|Silver Pegasi]].
* [[Pegasus and Silver Pegasus|Pegasi]] are very fragile and not very strong, having the lowest HP among 4th-level melee units and no combat abilities like [[Crusader]]s' [[double attack]] or [[Basilisk]]s' [[petrifying attack|petrification]]. Moreover, their dwelling requires high amount of [[Crystal]]s, and without it you will never get [[Unicorn and War Unicorn|Unicorns]] and Dragons.
* Unlike [[Dungeon]], Rampart cannot have [[Armageddon]] in the [[Mage Guild]], decreasing the possibility of [[Dragogeddon]]. Moreover, Rangers cannot learn [[Fire Magic]], which disallows them to use Armageddon spell in the most effective way. On the other hand, [[Prayer]] spell is allowed in Rampart and banned in Dungeon, and it strongly buffs Green Dragons (but not Gold Dragons).
* Grass which is Rampart's [[native terrain]] doesn't give any [[movement penalty]] to the enemy.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{Town 'see also'}}

[[Category: Rampart]]
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