Storm Islands

Introduction

As you know there is a monthly event called "Storm Islands".  Alliances compete in storm to achieve the highest position in the server.


Top Alliance: 
Storm Lord achievement:  Harnesses five special titles which the alliance leader can dispatch within the alliance or to allies that will provide a boost on different abilities.  In addition, the leader attains five punishments that will limit abilities when passed out to chosen enemies.

Top 5:
Gain a special Public Order Item for each alliance member participating in the event.

200k Cargo Points:
Yields 2 more pieces of unique equipment to each member of that alliance who participated in the event. 1 commander, 1 castellon piece.

160k Cargo Points:
Each alliance member is awarded a random level 6 gem.

90k Cargo Points:
Yields 2 pieces of unique equipment: 1 commander, 1 castellon piece to each alliance member participating.

One of the most convincing excuses for participating is storm is the gear that is available through the event.

Commander's Gear

Castellon's Gear

Obtaining the full sets of both packages will increase your strength significantly as a player and all it takes is acquiring aqua.

Obtaining Aqua

Like everything else in Good Game Empire, if your a ruby buyer you will have far less hardship with this event. In order to achieve aqua, build ships, make cargo, etc... it requires dedication and a lot of troops lost.

First, there are multiple ways for anyone to achieve aqua/cargo in the islands:

• Perform the tasks
• Siege storm forts
• Capture Aqua Islands
• Attack other Castle Lords

Three out of the four listed items above are acceptable under Barghest guidelines.  If you haven't figured it out, attacking other castle lords and stealing their aqua is completely unacceptable and is viewed by many as dishonorable in addition to an act of war.  So in order for you to remain in Barghest and on our queen's good side it is evident that you adhere to the other means suggested.

After receiving your instructions on which direction you are assigned to jump (north, south, east, or west) you will immediately land on an island and have a few basic resources and buildings there to begin your journey.  Many of the basic building improvements and expanding wall tasks can get you aqua from the get go.  Keep in mind, you may deviate from these ways, but the suggestions following are best for quickly getting yourself established and on your way towards capturing islands.

Overall tasks that need completed:

• Level 7 Storehouse (to fully expand walls)
• Minimum Level 3 Keep (to boost speed of building)
• Fully Expanded Walls (make room for cargo ships)
• Demolish all unneeded buildings (make room for cargo ships)

The storehouse task is mainly needed for wall expansions.  If you ruby your walls the storehouse expansion isn't as necessary, but still will be needed in order to hold enough food to feed your troops while you plunder aqua islands.  Remember, the more space in your storehouse the longer your troops can last and the larger army you can hold.  "Unneeded" buildings are clearly defined by the player's perspective.  That being said there are two types of players:

• Players that feed resources from other kingdoms for building
• Players that use the resource buildings and attack resource islands for building

All in all, the need for resources are short lived, once your walls are fully expanded there is no need for them any longer other than if you are producing resource tools on the island in the siege workshop.  Which again, there are two types of players:

• Players that ship tools and troops from other realms for attacking
• Players that build troops/tools and still ship troops/tools from other realms

Yes, you heard right, you will still not be able to produce enough tools and troops on the island alone to amount for the significant amount of aqua you will need for the gear.  The sooner you realize this the better.  Even if the resources are plentiful the amount of troops and tools sacrificed in order to capture aqua is too great to be produced by a single barrack/siege workshop in one month's time.  Regardless of either playing style you will be shipping aid from other realms in order to meet the aqua requirement.  It will be your decision as whether to attempt juggling both or to outsource it all.  If you choose not to mess with producing resources on the island for tools, then your "unneeded" buildings will expand to Woodcutters, Stone Quarries, Sawmill, Stonemason, Siege Workshop, Defense Workshop....look at all that room you just freed up for cargo ships!
Few people will note, that demolishing your Defense workshop will leave you vulnerable for attacks in storm.  Honesty, storm island attacks are very rare, and usually only done so by inexperienced players.  The need for space largely outweighs the benefit of chance for defense...in which case you can always outsource defense tools with defenders from another realm if needed.

For most, the only "needed" buildings on the island are your Farmhouses and Flour Mill, which is what every player should solely have existing towards the end of the islands regardless of playing style...Those that use other buildings will demolish them at the last moment in order for space for the last few remaining cargo ships.

Attack Guide 

Aqua islands are the main source of aqua (logically) in the storm event.  Capturing these islands will yield the highest return on aqua than any other avenue listed above.  There are two types of islands:

• Large Islands (Yielding 52,000 Aqua after an 18 hour period of occupation)
• Small Islands (Yielding 11,500 Aqua after a 6 hour period of occupation)

Ruby and Non-ruby players alike need to have one focus:  A 90 Range Commander for this event.
Losses are significant with a 90 Range CO but even greater without.  Ideally a 90 Range CO with extraordinary Wall Reduction is ideal...this way the main focus of tools can be on mantlets to reduce the defenders to minimal combat strength.

For Non-Ruby Players:

• Attack storm forts (preferably level 60's)
• Attack Large Aqua Islands (significant troop loss = best bang for buck on aqua)

Storm Forts pop up outside a player's island at different levels...Level 60's in particular are the "sweet spot" of all forts.  They yield the highest aqua to troop loss ratio for a resource tool player.  Successfully attacking with a 90 Range CO will yield a troop loss of <100 and a loot of aqua ranging from 1.3k-3k each hit.

Attacking large islands is your other "best bet".  Large aqua islands will have significant troop loss, but will be worthwhile with 52k of aqua coming home in return. Adhering to the following strategy guide down below for these attacks will yield the best results.

For Ruby Players:

• Attack Large Aqua Islands
• Attack Small Aqua Islands

Level 60 Storm Fort Guide: (Non-Ruby troop loss estimate: <100)

• Ensure 90 Ranged Commander is Equipped
• Fill 1st three waves with martyr troops
• Fill all flanks on 4th wave with all Ranged Attackers
• Carry tools equivalent to equal 120% wall strength. (12 ladders)
• Carry rams equivalent to equal 80% gate strength. (8 rams)
• Carry mantlets equivalent to equal 120% DOR (Defense of Ranged) strength. (24 mantlets)

Large Aqua Island Guide: (Non-Ruby troop loss estimate: ~200 / Ruby troop loss estimate: 45-90)

• Ensure 90 Ranged Commander is Equipped
• Fill 1st wave with all Ranged Attackers
• Carry tools equivalent to equal 120% wall strength
• Carry rams equivalent to equal 80% gate strength
• Carry mantlets equivalent to equal 225% DOR on Left/Right, 275% in middle

Small Aqua Island Guide: (Non-Ruby troop loss estimate: ~200 / Ruby troop loss estimate: 35-70)

• Ensure 90 Ranged Commander is Equipped
• Fill 1st wave with all Ranged Attackers (additional Ranged attackers filling left/right flank in second wave is suggested)
• Carry tools equivalent to equal 120% wall strength
• Carry rams equivalent to equal 80% gate strength
• Carry mantlets equivalent to equal 225% DOR on Left/Right, 275% in middle

**Note: Adding Gems or extra Wall Bonuses to your equipment will only improve your results and overall troop loss...especially courtyard bonus gems**