Slow build speeds, the "one building at a time" rule and enemy attacks make the "Buy game coin" button on Evony look incredibly appealing. The game claims "free forever" as its tag line, but it's geared toward encouraging players to spend real world money.
But for players with intelligent strategy, it is still possible to succeed without pulling out a credit card. Here's how:
Take Advantage of Speed Ups
Nothing makes some game coin sound more appealing than watching the progress bar crawling along the bottom of the screen. Fortunately, Evony offers the option to "Speed Up" construction, research and other game tasks. The game offers a free speed up for any tasks that take five minutes or less. This fact can be used to set up the basics of a kingdom in minutes instead of hours.
Use Free Package Items Judiciously
The game does provide beginning players some basic reward items as they progress. The trick is to use these at essential times, usually after a player has gone past the protected seven-day period, to build essentials before an impending attack.
Walk Away
The old adage about the watched pot never boiling certainly applies to Evony. Especially when improvements or research are going to take more than half an hour, it's helpful to log out, set a timer for the next milestone, and come back later.
Check the Quest Box
Before spending real-world money to boost resource production or purchase resources outright, check the quest menu to see whether any quests have been completed. It may be that the award for completing a quest fulfills the needed resource.
Join an Alliance
Every Lord or Lady needs a few friends to watch their back. In Evony, joining an alliance can help keep enemies from picking on one player like a bully and save valuable resources.
Use In-Game Marketplace First
Get a marketplace as quickly as possible. The in-game trading system can help unload excess resources and gain the essential ones for no real-world cost.
Have Multiple Functions Going at Once
The one-building-at-a-time rule is hard and fast, but the game does allow other actions to go on at the same time. So the same time that new barracks is going up, get the academy going on technology research, train some new troops and scout out the neighborhood at the same time.
Participate in Evony Contests or Write a Review
There are other ways to earn game coin than sending Evony money through Paypal. Although it continues Evony's tradition of objectifying women, participants in the "Queen of Evony" competition and similar contests have earned game coin. Players who post a review of Evony can also earn 500 game cents (Full disclosure: This reviewer has not sought this award).
Use iEvony
This is by invitation only and involves successfully referring friends and family to Evony. If they sign up, the player receives credits that can be exchanged for unique in-game items or game cents. But beware, iEvony involves downloading software from Evony, so caution should be exercised that this is not spyware.
By using thse tips a player committed to strategic gaming still holds a good chance of prevailing against competitors armed with a credit card - but little strategy.
Adam Pracht - The best word to describe Adam Pracht is "nerd." That is, he's a passionate intellectual who can become obsessive in his interests. And ...
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