Table of Contents
LA Ulm, Black Forest
Lore
After years of civil war, the Iron Kingdom crumbled. During the Night of Treason a great Malediction was placed upon the kingdom. The forests became dark and hostile. Wolves and creatures even worse stalked the land. Slowly the kingdom recovered, but it was not what it once was. The knightly order was all but destroyed and the Master Smiths had disappeared. The secrets of blacksteel were forgotten. An order of Black Priests emerged in Ulm in the last days before the civil war. They formed an Iron Cult, consolidated their position and forbade the use of magic. Magic outside religion was announced to be sacrilegious and the few surviving Master Smiths were put to the flames. Although magery is forbidden, there are some fortune tellers and members of the Order of the Illuminated Ones who secretly ply their trade in the arcane.
Ulm of the later eras is inspired by, amongst others, Teutonic Knights and German Landsknechts. Late Ulm is an intended shift of style towards central and eastern Europe, southern Germany/Bavaria, and Transylvania. One of the classic ingredients of gothic novels is tainted bloodlines. Another feature common amongst the traditional, Anglo-Saxon and Protestant, gothic novel is that it takes place in some part of Catholic Europe, so making a Goethicized fantasy 'Bavarian' Ulm is a natural step, I think." - Illwinter
Overview
If you are considering picking this nation to play, what should you know?
National Features
| Magic Access | Alt. Access | Unit Summary | Core Abilities | Buildings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 2  2 (rare 3)  1  1  1  1  1  2 | Heroes3 22 232 232 Summons 212 31 22 12 3 2 | Medium Infantry Stealthy Rangers Knights Ghoul Guardians |  Undead  Spy  Inquisitor  Forge Bonus |  Standard Forts Forts produce 25% more  resources. |
Capitol Gems: 1
2
1
The Modern Ulmish are a proud, stiff-necked, and slightly narrow-minded people. Despite being humans, they have 12 HP instead of 10. Though disorder has broken most of the old classes and forms, many have 1 more Strength than their current station would suggest, and many have 2 Encumbrance instead of the standard 3. The Ulmish are still incredibly "magophobic" and have 9 Magic Resistance; and their Mage-Priests, keeping to their ancient word and avoiding non-religious magical practices, have 4 Encumbrance.
Units
Commanders
| Sprite | Unit Name | Special Attributes | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Ranger Captain  60 8  1 |  Stealthy (40)  Forest Survival | Commentary here. |
| | Commander of Ulm 95 24 1 | Commentary here. | |
 | Black Acolyte 65 1 1 | 1 010%  Sacred Inquisitor | Commentary here. |
 | Illuminated One 105 1 2 Recruit Anywhere | 1 7 Stealthy (65) Spy | Commentary here. |
 | Member of the Second Tier 210 1 2 Recruit Anywhere | 21010%    11 Stealthy (75) Spy | Commentary here. |
 | Black Priest 225 2 2 | 12010% 9 Sacred Forge Bonus (1) Inquisitor | Commentary here. |
 | Wolfherd 75 2 1  Capital Only | Stealthy (40)  Animal Awe (2)  Uninspiring (1)  Beastmaster (3)  Mountain Survival Forest Survival  Summon Allies (Wolf) | Commentary here. |
 | Ghoul Commander 150 44 1  Capital Only |  Poison Resistance (25)  Darkvision (50)  Castle Defence (2) Undead  Need Not Eat | Commentary here. |
 | Hochmeister 195 72 1 Capital Only | 1 Sacred  Skilled Rider (2) Inquisitor  Combat Caster | Commentary here. |
 | Black Destrier | Sacred  Animal | Commentary here. |
 | Fortune Teller 135 1 2 | 11100%  Fortune Teller (15) | Commentary here. |
Troops
| Sprite | Unit Name | Special Attributes | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Villain 10 5 4 | Stealthy (40)  Undisciplined Mountain Survival Forest Survival | Commentary here. |
 | Pikeneer 10 20 9 | Commentary here. | |
 | Halberdier 10 22 9 | Castle Defence (1) | Commentary here. |
 | Infantry of Ulm 10 23 9 | Commentary here. | |
 | Ranger of Ulm 12 8 14 | Stealthy (40) Forest Survival | Commentary here. |
 | Zweihander 14 36 18 | Commentary here. | |
 | Ghoul Guardian 20 44 47 Capital Only | Poison Resistance (25) Darkvision (50) Castle Defence (2) Undead Need Not Eat | Commentary here. |
 | Black Templar 75 72 51 | Sacred Skilled Rider (2) | Commentary here. |
| | Black Destrier | Sacred Animal | Commentary here. |
Heroes
| Sprite | Unit Name | Special Attributes | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Ulrich Patrifagus - Ghoul Baron | Poison Resistance (25) Darkvision (50)  Halt Heretic (7) Castle Defence (5) Undead Need Not Eat Summon Allies (Ghoul x 5) | Commentary here. |
 | Member of the Third Tier | 23219 Stealthy (90) Spy | Commentary here. |
| | Member of the Third Tier | 32219 Stealthy (90) Spy | Commentary here. |
| | Member of the Third Tier | 23219 Stealthy (90) Spy | Commentary here. |
Magic
Summons
Ritual
LA Man doesn't have any recruitable mages with both 
Death and 
Blood, so a pretender is the best way to get Sanguine Heritage started. Most of the summonses do have the right crosspaths, and with some boosters can continue casting Sanguine Heritage themselves.
: Unique, 
Cold Resistance (15), Poison Resistance (25), Darkvision (100), 
Invulnerability (25), 
Immortality (1 Month Reform Time), Underwater Damage (100), 
Slash Resistance, 
Blunt Resistance, Undead, 
Cannot Cross River, Need Not Eat
| Summon Spell | Unit | Special Attributes | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanguine Heritage (Blood 0) 33 and 44 |  Ludolf von Achenbach - Vampire Count or | 2213  Fire Vulnerability (5) Stealthy (40)  Kills Population (10 per Month)  Reforming Flesh (10%)  Flying  Dominion Attracts Units (Thrall) | Commentary here. |
 Burkhard Nachtzehrer - Blood Marshal or | 29  Pillager (20) Reforming Flesh (20%) Flying Dominion Attracts Units (Thrall) | Commentary here. | |
 Blood Countess or | 311 Fire Vulnerability (5) Stealthy (40)  Blood Searcher (2) Reforming Flesh (10%) Flying Female Dominion Attracts Units (Thrall) | Commentary here. | |
 Vampire Countess or | 1211 Fire Vulnerability (5) Stealthy (40)  Seduction (Morale vs. 9) Reforming Flesh (10%) Flying Female | Commentary here. | |
| Vampire Count or | 2213 Fire Vulnerability (5) Stealthy (40) Reforming Flesh (10%) Flying Dominion Attracts Units (Thrall) | Commentary here. | |
 Vivisectionist or | 2221 Fire Vulnerability (5) Stealthy (40)  Cause Unrest (1 per Month) Reforming Flesh (10%) Flying Dominion Attracts Units (Thrall) | Commentary here. | |
 Vampire Count or | 3113 Fire Vulnerability (5) Stealthy (40)  Fear (8) Reforming Flesh (10%) Flying Dominion Attracts Units (Thrall) | Commentary here. | |
 Blood Graf | 21215  Fear (6) Fear (8) Reforming Flesh (20%) Dominion Attracts Units (Thrall) | Commentary here. | |
 Demon Steed |  Fire Resistance (15) Need Not Eat  Demon |
||
| Sloth of Bears (Conjuration 3) 2 and 6 |  Great Bear x 15+ | Undisciplined Animal Mountain Survival Forest Survival | Summons high strength blobs of hitpoints. Can work as evocation bait, as the bears have more HP than your troops and even lower MR, but otherwise unremarkable. |
Other Spells
Combat
- Iron Darts (Evocation 3)11
The signature spell of Ulmish Priests, firing a spread of 3 magic armor-piercing darts that deal double damage to magic beings. Massing Black Priests allows you to shower the enemy in shrapnel that ignores 60% of protection. - Iron Blizzard (Evocation 6)11
Trades some range and damage for a truly astonishing 30 darts per cast. Can be casted by even a lowly Black Priest, but with a high fatigue cost. This is an powerful evocation spell which is particularly lethal to magic beings. - Gift of the Moon (Enchantment 4)1
Commentary here. - Tempering the Will (Thaumaturgy 5)3
Commentary here.
Magic Items
- Black Halberd
(Construction 3) 1
Commentary here.
Magic Access
See Magic Access. These guides supplement the summaries at the top.
General Access
Elements
- 1 on one-in-four Black Priests
- 1 on one-in-four Black Priests
- No water magic
- 2 on one-in-four Black Priests
Sorcery
- 2 on each Member of the Second Tier
- 1 on one-in-four Fortune Tellers (capital only), or on roughly every fortieth Member of the Second Tier off-capital
- No nature magic (outside of a hero)
- 1 on one-in-four Fortune Tellers (capital only)
Rites
- 1 on each Member of the Second Tier
- 2 on Black Priests
Boosted Access
Although LA Ulm's mages only have 1 recruitable, they have heroes and summonses with 2 and good crosspaths for making Blood boosters. Bind Heliophagus and Bind Demon Lord are both reachable and give powerful mages in all paths except 
Water. Both spells are late in the Blood research path and expensive though.
Cross-Path Boosters
Ring of Sorcery and Ring of Wizardry are reachable, although it's difficult. The Member of the Third Tier heroes have 3, which is a help. Black Priests can have the right paths for Staff of Elemental Mastery, but it requires a ton of boosters. The hero, Member of the Third Tier, is six total boosters away from a Robe of the Magi. Theoretically doable, but tricky.
Fire
Highest starting: 1 Black Priest (1 in 4). The hero, Member of the Third Tier has 2.
Bind Arch Devil Limited Amount
22 The hero, Member of the Third Tier +
The Arch Devils have at least 4.
The Forbidden Light Unique
23 The hero, Member of the Third Tier + 
The Fire boosters are the difficult ones to get.
Air
Highest starting: 1 Black Priest (1 in 4). The hero, Member of the Third Tier has 2.
Tome of High Power Unique
23 The hero, Member of the Third Tier
Water
No native access.
Summon Spectre
1 Fortune Teller (1 in 4) +
Spectre has a 7 in 16 chance of at least 
1
Earth
Highest starting: 2 Black Priest (1 in 4)
While a Black Priest has the right crosspaths for Staff of Elementary Mastery and Atlas of Creation (Unique), they require a ton of boosters to get.
Astral
Highest starting: 2 Fortune Teller (1 in 4) or Member of the Second Tier. Any of the Member of the Third Tier heroes has 3.
Coin of Meteoritic Iron
11 Black Priest (1 in 4) + 
Tome of High Power Unique
23 The hero, Member of the Third Tier
The Oath Rod of Kurgi Unique
21 Member of the Second Tier +
32 The hero, Member of the Third Tier +
The Void Sphere Unique
21 Member of the Second Tier + \\
Ether Gate
11 Fortune Teller (1 in 4) +
Ether Lord has at least 3, 1 in 4 has 4.
The Forbidden Light Unique
23 The hero, Member of the Third Tier +
The Fire boosters are the difficult ones to get.
Although LA Ulm has the crosspaths for The Trapped Dreams of Hruvur (Unique) and Atlas of Creation (Unique) they require a ton of boosters.
Death
Highest starting: 1 Fortune Teller (1 in 4)
Ether Gate
11 Fortune Teller (1 in 4) +
Ether Lord has at least 2, 1 in 4 has 3.
The Black Book of Secrets Unique
11 Fortune Teller (1 in 4) +
Sanguine Heritage requires 33, a crosspath difficult for LA Ulm to get outside of a Pretender. If cast, it has a 4 in 8 chance to summon a commader with at least 2.
Nature
No recruitable access. The hero, Member of the Third Tier has 2.
Glamour
Highest starting: 1 Fortune Teller (1 in 4)
A Fortune Teller may have the right crosspaths for The Trapped Dreams of Hruvur Unique but it requires a ton of boosters.
Blood
Highest starting: 1 Fortune Teller (1 in 4) or Member of the Second Tier. Any of the Member of the Third Tier heroes has 2.
Tome of Lower Planes Unique
21 Member of the Second Tier +
32 The hero, Member of the Third Tier
The Oath Rod of Kurgi Unique
21 Member of the Second Tier +
32 The hero, Member of the Third Tier +
Armor of Twisting Thorns Unremovable
22 The hero, Member of the Third Tier +
Sanguine Heritage requires 33, a crosspath difficult for LA Ulm to get outside of a Pretender. If cast, it is likely to summon a commader with 2.
Strategy
How to win as the nation. Feel free to use the following sections, or delete them, or change them.
Expansion
Different expansion options.
Early Game
Early game options.
Mid Game
Mid game options.
Late Game
Late game options.
Example Pretender Builds
Format for putting a pretender build in.
Chassis: Awake Titan of Crossroads
Paths: 457
Bless: MW/Arcane Finesse, Invuln 10, Regen.
Scales: 
6
2
0
3
1
2
3
Format for putting a pretender build in.
Chassis: Awake Titan of Crossroads
Paths: 457
Bless: MW/Arcane Finesse, Invuln 10, Regen.
Scales: 6203123
Weaknesses
What are the nation's weaknesses?
See More
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