Mid Era Game (FRANK WINS)

[DrPraetorious]

Game has started.

The map is attached in a zip file, I've been experimenting on it with my post-map generation perl scripts, I also fiddled with it a teeny bit.

Settings will be more-or-less standard, but with increased magic site frequency. I expect the game to run a little long, and for people to trot out crazy late game stuff. There will be one victory point per capital, plus 9 more randomly placed victory points, with 10 VP needed to win.

There are ten start locations, one of which is underwater. Each has at least six neighbors and each is seperated by at least four intervening provinces.

I'll be hosting it on my home machine, I'll post details in a day or two.

I wish to be Ermor but will choose another nation if someone else is set on that.

The game will be auto-host, with no host interval - if the game comes to a halt I will set an interval.

#description "Start provinces have at least 6 neighbors and there are at least four provinces separating any pair of start provinces.
Start provinces are: 33, 51, 61, 70, 155, 181, 239, 244, 271, 272.
The following provinces have many sites: 16, 29, 43, 67, 74, 92, 112, 119, 125, 163, 180, 197 and 295."

Server info:
(game is called - 300mp)
IP
160.39.37.111
port
11111

Let me know if that port number gives anyone firewall problems, I'm not really hip to that sort of thing.

As yet, we have:
TNDP Ermor
WSzaboPeter Jotunheim
Twan Arco
Meglobob Man
Reverend Zombie C'tis
Dexlyn Pythium
Frank Pangaea
Folket Oceania
AdrianP Ulm

[WSzaboPeter]

Sounds interesting. Count me in. 30 prov/player sounds interesting. Increased magic sites is your decision, but tends to favour some strategies, while disfavouring others. But it is your choice.

As nation I think I choose Jotunheim.
I think you should keep Broken Empire, after all it is your game, you choose first.

[Twan]

Count me in too, finally I prefer to take good old Arco.

[Meglobob]

I would like to play as Man, Tower of Avalon.

[Reverend Zombie]

I'll try C'tis, if I might.

[Dexlyn]

I would like to do Ry'leh if I may.

[FrankTrollman]

I would toss my hat into the ring as Pangaea.

Man goat. Creamed Corn.

-Frank

[WSzaboPeter]

I hope noone will take Abysia, Blood and Fire (specially the fire part).

[Dexlyn]

Actually, switch me from ryleh to pythium.

[DrPraetorious]

Go ahead and claim positions. The ":" is a port number, so:
160.39.37.98
port 1025

[WSzaboPeter]

Tested, works. Thanks a lot for hosting. Good luck and have fun for the game.

[Meglobob]

Thanks Dr Praetorious for hosting.

Hope everyone enjoy's the game.

[Folket]

I'm joining as Oceania.

[AdrianP]

I'll take ulm

[Shovah32]

I'll take agartha but if adrian drops out i'll take ulm

[WSzaboPeter]

Good luck and have fun in the game.

[DrPraetorious]

shova 32 - go ahead and take Agartha, Ulm is claimed.
reverend zombie - go ahead and claim C'tis.

The login info again is:
IP
160.39.37.98
port
1025

whoever took R'lyeh - the map only has one ocean start site. I really hate to kick people but the way this game is set up, you won't be allowed a start position and Oceana claimed in the thread.

I'll start in 24 hours or so, so go ahead and claim. The game will be quick host only, unless and until someone starts stale-ing without an explanation.

Good luck!
--TNDP

[Reverend Zombie]

I can upload C'tis after work today (10.23.06) hopefully by 18:00 eastern U.S. I will understand if you want to start without me.

Thanks for hosting~!

[Reverend Zombie]

Uploaded.

[DrPraetorious]

Okay, I'm starting the game.

[WSzaboPeter]

Turn 2.

[Twan]

Turn 3.

[WSzaboPeter]

I'm sorry, but I need to go to the Games Workshop - Warhammer 40K Grand Tournament Romania this weekend. So I can't do turn saturday and sunday. (Maybe Sunday after midnight or something I get home, so I can make my turn then.)
Can we agree on something good for that two days?
Thanks a lot.
DreamSlayer

[WSzaboPeter]

Waiting for C'tis in turn4... I beg your pardon, but what about my suggestion to remove quickhost for the weekend? Thanks a lot.

[Twan]

As I've understood quickhost (without a duration) mean that the game is only hosted when all have given their orders, without a time limit. So if you are away this weekend the game will be stoped untill you send yours.

(but I may be wrong)

[WSzaboPeter]

I beg your pardon again, but the host wrote:

if the game comes to a halt I will set an interval.


Since it will halt for the weekend, I ask patient from everyone.

[DrPraetorious]

I'm aware of your planned absence and will not host while you're gone, don't worry.

--TNDP

[FrankTrollman]

Just a reminder for Dexlyn: We're on turn 6 now.

-Frank

[DrPraetorious]

The server will be down for a (hopefully brief) period while I perform some system maintanence.

[DrPraetorious]

Maintanence on the server only took half an hour or so - it should remain up for the forseeable future.

[Twan]

FrankTrollman said:
Just a reminder for Dexlyn: We're on turn 6 now.




"" turn 9 :p

[AdrianP]

still turn nine

[FrankTrollman]

Turn 10.

-Frank

[DrPraetorious]

I'm installing the patch now. The game will be down for a bit.

[DrPraetorious]

Back up, patched.

[WSzaboPeter]

Great idea. I patched too. This 3.01 is great.

[FrankTrollman]

Turn 13.

-Frank

[DrPraetorious]

I'm in Ohio (working on my Aunt's congressional compaign) on my laptop and I can't connect to my home machine. The game may be paused until Wednesday.

[DrPraetorious]

Turn 15

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Twan]

The server looks down (or is it a routing problem ?).

[DrPraetorious]

The server is going up and down, sorry about this.

Right now I'm getting a "network error" when I try to host.

On a larger front, I just backed up the Hard Drive on which we've been playing b/c it's been *****y. I'll set up a new install this afternoon, hopefully that'll solve the problem.

Thanks, sorry for the glitches,
TNDP

[DrPraetorious]

Okay, I switched ethernet cards and now it's up.

IP: 160.39.37.142
Port: 11111

It'll be down again later this afternoon when I'm switching hard drives. I backed up the game but there is a possibility you may lose turns you play today if the machine goes down again.

Sorry for the difficulties,
TNDP

[Meglobob]

Cheers for keeping us updated Dr Praetorious. Just done my turn, can u let us know when its safe to upload to the server, thanks.

By the way, where is everyone? I have expanded outward at speed, yet I have only met 1 other player, r u all hiding?!?!?

[FrankTrollman]

Heh. Using our harpy scouts, we've found lots of other players, though of course we've only encountered one.

If you need to know, we could sell that information to you for a very modest price. 3 gems or 50 gold per capitol. It would be just like you did the scrying yourself.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

-Frank

[Twan]

The actual localisation of Arco is simple : we are in the region nobody will try to invade or even explore as there is *1* vp (my capital) in a radius of 10 or so provinces, and the closest is another capital. The future localisation of Arco is simple also, everywhere as the other powers are going to fight each other when we will be quiet for loong time, then conquer the world.

(oops I've revealed my plan)

[FrankTrollman]

Twan said:
The actual localisation of Arco is simple : we are in the region nobody will try to invade or even explore as there is *1* vp (my capital) in a radius of 10 or so provinces, and the closest is another capital. The future localisation of Arco is simple also, everywhere as the other powers are going to fight each other when we will be quiet for loong time, then conquer the world.

(oops I've revealed my plan)



Too late. We explored it.

-Frank

[DrPraetorious]

It's absolutely safe to upload turns. The risk that the HD will completely fail is quite slight.

[Meglobob]

DrPraetorious said:
It's absolutely safe to upload turns. The risk that the HD will completely fail is quite slight.



Thanks. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Uploading turn now...

[DrPraetorious]

The server is going to be down for a bit while I install a new HD and all, which I won't be able to do until I get back from work.

[Meglobob]

Hope yr new HD is working ok...any idea when the server will be up, cheers.

[DrPraetorious]

I left it at a friends place when I went to watch basketball on my way back from the store http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif. It won't take long to bring the thing up once I get it back to my apartment - sometime this afternoon or this evening.

No-one lost any turns.

[DrPraetorious]

Sorry for the delay, my computer is fixed and the game is again running.

I've purchased a new HD, I'll need to go restart the machine a few times tonight as I install stuff, but the downtime shouldn't be much.

New info:
D:\dominions3\dom3.exe -x -C --ipadr 160.39.37.114 --port 11111

ip address: 160.39.37.114
port: 11111

[AdrianP]

is this game ever going to get moving again?

[Meglobob]

AdrianP said:
is this game ever going to get moving again?



Server is working fine, just waiting on 2 players to do there turns.

DrPraetorious has kept us well informed considering all the hassle he has had putting in a new HD etc...

[WSzaboPeter]

Sorry for the delay. Made my turn.

[DrPraetorious]

Is Dexlyn still alive?

[DrPraetorious]

If Dexlyn doesn't take his turn by this evening (or come onto the forum and explain his absence) I'll move him to computer control.

[FrankTrollman]

For obvious reasons, I'd prefer to have Pythium remain human controlled or to have a new human take over.

I'd have to have a whole new diplomatic status with a new player.

-Frank

[DrPraetorious]

If anyone knows anyone who wants to take his position, I'm certainly willing to allow that.

[Reverend Zombie]

DrPraetorious said:
If anyone knows anyone who wants to take his position, I'm certainly willing to allow that.



If the process of finding a sub takes too long, we run the risk of the other players dropping out. It has been a while since the last turn hosted, and interest may be beginning to wane already among those of us still here.

[Twan]

Why not just letting him stale a turn or two for the moment ? After all it was said since the beginning : "if the game comes to a halt I will set an interval.". To replace or turn Dexlyn AI without a word from him is a little harsh if he's going to come back and have more time to play in a near future, but I think we don't want to wait for him 4 days each turn. A 36 or 48h quickhost would solve the problem untill he gives some news.

[DrPraetorious]

It'll definitely host this evening, Reverend.

[Meglobob]

I believe Dexlyn/Pythium has kept us waiting in previous turns before.

I suggest leave his nation for the next 2 turns, to see if anyone can sub or Dexlyn to turn up. If neither happens, turn him AI. Its better to have the AI play him than no one at all.

I had another player drop out who was my neighbour in another MP and turn AI. The AI put up a far better fight than the previous player. It was very annoying but amusing also. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

If anyone goes away or wants to drop out, its only fair to let the host know. Rather than have us all hanging on like this.

[Folket]

Force host the turn now, and if pythium has not played when he is alone left next turn, turn him AI.

[DrPraetorious]

If I set him to AI after letting him stale he'll be even easier for his neighbors to eat (since they know he won't move.)

If he hasn't taken a turn when I get back from work I'll set him to AI.

[DrPraetorious]

Pythium is now set to AI.

[Folket]

I'm sorry for my bad preformance so far in this game. I should have play tested more. This is my third worse start ever, I do not know if it is a curse or luck to start in the water so that I will not be punished for my incompetence.

[Twan]

There are perhaps too many deep seas around your capitol, as they are low income it's like starting with wastes/swamps around for a land nation. For a next game modding the map to have normal seas around the first province of sea nations would allow a more balanced start I think.

[DrPraetorious]

It would indeed - but it's very hard to place such start sites remote from their land neighbors http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif. The current version actually changes all start-site neighbors to shallow, but this is aesthetically displeasing since they are still dark blue.

Part of it is an issue with the RMG, which likes to make a lot of deep sea.

[DrPraetorious]

Game will be down until morning while I run some installs and updates and things.

[DrPraetorious]

Back up.

[Meglobob]

Just waiting for WsaboPeter/Jotunheim... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[WSzaboPeter]

Okey, sorry for delay. I was crushed by Ermor. Thanks for the good game.

[Twan]

The kingdom of Arcocephale has the regret to have to announce : we are now at war with Oceania. As they were proven unable to have the wisdom of accepting our generous fronteer proposals including up to 6 land provinces for them in our region, provoked us by taking the only province we explicitly asked for during the negociations, and seem to spread an harmful dominion of sloth, turmoil and extreme death, we will be forced to drive them out of our coasts, at least as long as their pretended god does not return to reason and a more diplomatic attitude.

Akates, first follower of Antepelagyos.

[Reverend Zombie]

Twan said:
The kingdom of Arcocephale has the regret to have to announce : we are now at war with Oceania. As they ... seem to spread an harmful dominion of sloth, turmoil and extreme death ...

Akates, first follower of Antepelagyos.



If you think Oceania's dominion is bad, you will want to steer clear of C'tis' miasma... /threads/images/Graemlins/Poison.gif

[AdrianP]

Reverend Zombie said:

Twan said:
The kingdom of Arcocephale has the regret to have to announce : we are now at war with Oceania. As they ... seem to spread an harmful dominion of sloth, turmoil and extreme death ...

Akates, first follower of Antepelagyos.



If you think Oceania's dominion is bad, you will want to steer clear of C'tis' miasma... /threads/images/Graemlins/Poison.gif




tell me about it, I can't get any scouts up north because they keep dying shortly after going through your dominion.

[FrankTrollman]

The really ironic thing is that Pythium is putting up a stronger defense now than three turns ago.

-Frank

[Reverend Zombie]

AdrianP said:

tell me about it, I can't get any scouts up north because they keep dying shortly after going through your dominion.



There's also a province with Inkpot End on our mutual border, which would make things even worse if you have to go through that as well...
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif

[Folket]

I proclaim that the heretics of Arcoscephale must be dealt with. Oceania has taken upon themself, this burdensome task.

Oceania has the blessing of the only one true god, so it would be a insult to give in to Arcoscephales demands. No deals are to be made with the heretics, unless they drop thier claims.

Any support in this war will be welcomed. Surly anyone can see the gains from bringing me gold. The cripplement of Arcoscephale and the undying friendship of Göran, and his Oceanian pawns.

[Meglobob]

Dr Praetorious can not upload my latest turn, keep getting 'this may take some time', I am the last to upload, so as soon as I upload everyone can do another turn. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Have been trying for past 5 hrs, will continue to try throughout the day.

[Twan]

I was starting to give my orders online. Then friends have come, so I've clicked "save game and quit" to continue later. A screen when you click on "save game and quit" when you are connected say that the moves won't be uploaded untill you reconnect. "Cool, if my orders are not uploaded, the game shouldn't be quickhosted before I finish them" I thought.

Anyway 3 hours later I finish my orders offline, connect to the server... and realise that the turn has been hosted with only my first orders (0 recruitment, only 3 or 4 moves, without the suicide of Göran on my immobile troops it would have been a bad turn).

So hum... I don't know... Was it a bug ? Was the turn force hosted ? Have I misunderstood or made a mistake (an accidental reconnexion don't know how) ?

PS : anyway the turn was finally fun, the fight against Göran was a great moment, imagine a paralyzed pretender attacked by 30 or so hoplites and heart companions + an high province defense horde, and my men not succeeding to kill him before the 50 rounds limit... because all my troopers surrounding him were blind due to his eye shield.

[DrPraetorious]

Ah, okay, here's the issue - it doesn't send the turn when you "quit and save", HOWEVER - if you later reconnect, it will *immediately* send your current turn file. Which, if you're the last person, will trigger a quickhost.....

[DrPraetorious]

Oh, also, meglobob - did you ever connect? I haven't been having any issues connecting to myself, for whatever that is worth....

[Meglobob]

DrPraetorious said:
Oh, also, meglobob - did you ever connect? I haven't been having any issues connecting to myself, for whatever that is worth....



Yes, kept trying and connected eventually. It was strange could connect to the port 11112 game fine but not the port 11111. Just tried connecting a hour ago, could not get to either but I expect later I will be able too fine. I will just treat it as a quirk. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

So long as you never force host it, I should be okay, I think and not miss a turn.

[Meglobob]

Just waiting on the reverend one...C'tis.

[DrPraetorious]

This evening I'll be heading home for our national harvest festival.

The game should stay up and I hope to be able to send in turns but I cannot be sure.

Keep on keeping it real,
TNDP

[Twan]

The kingdom of Arcocephale is happy to announce that the war between our nation and the sea people of Oceania is now ended. We greet the wisdom of our adversaries who, after showing themselves courageous opponents, accepted to ratify our original fronteer proposal instead of being obstinated in a war none of us could really win. We adress them our condolances for the death of their pretender and publicly pledge not to contest them the provinces they got as long as they don't attack us.

Akates, first follower of Antepelagyos.

(ps : this game lack of ambiance speeches and international animation, I would be glad to hear more about other conflicts and politics)

[DrPraetorious]

Oh, certainly.

Chuck Norris, the true Dragon, prince of tides, savior of the world, decries the unjustified and intolerable aggression of the vile and deceitful worm Crystalmist, and the entire nation which he has lead into cannibalism and pederasty, against our sovereign protectorate of Jotunheim. Though we desired only peace, we will not allow our friends, the Jotun, to fall under the evil sway of Crystalmist the vile, and call upon all nations to attack his other border, which is undefended.

A policy of corrective necromancy will be initiated shortly, allowing the poor unfortunates whom Crystalmist has led astray to recover from their karmic burden in this lifetime.

The speaker of the ways,
wssddd

[Meglobob]

DrPraetorious said:
Oh, certainly.

Chuck Norris, the true Dragon, prince of tides, savior of the world, decries the unjustified and intolerable aggression of the vile and deceitful worm Crystalmist, and the entire nation which he has lead into cannibalism and pederasty, against our sovereign protectorate of Jotunheim. Though we desired only peace, we will not allow our friends, the Jotun, to fall under the evil sway of Crystalmist the vile, and call upon all nations to attack his other border, which is undefended.

A policy of corrective necromancy will be initiated shortly, allowing the poor unfortunates whom Crystalmist has led astray to recover from their karmic burden in this lifetime.

The speaker of the ways,
wssddd



Or alternatively,

The forces of good and life lead by Crystalmist god of Man, Tower of Avalon is fighting a epic war against the Evil of Ermor. Ermor is steeped in death and foul practices, they have a undead army some 500+ strong with unholy vestels at there head. Already, well doing a fighting withdrawl through a mountain pass, a great battle was fought. Man suffered grieviously, losing over 200+ brave warriors of nature and life but we killed 100+ of the foe, but who cares about undead soulless and zombies?

Since that fateful day the guilds of air/nature have gathered there most powerful mages together and been joined by dozens of monks and priests. This force along with countless knights of avalon, longbowmen and lead by Crystalmist herself have vowed to wipe out the evil which is Ermor from the face of this world.

Two other points, we were allied with the Jotuns but were too late to save them. Jotunheim was NEVER attacked by Man.

Also Ermor is the current game leader with VP's, so I am doing everybody a favour by dismantling his nation...

[FrankTrollman]

Unfortunately, the high priests of Pythium fled to the wilderness leaving their nation an unruly mess as soon as they met our Goat Men in the field of battle. This behavior is apalling and we believe that the only honorable thing to do when facing a superior foe is to fight to the last.

Nevertheless, we are busily adjusting their nation to produce those things which are important to us: little girls and music.

The maw of the woods hungers for these things.

[DrPraetorious]

I should have gone with the Astral-9/Water-9 oracle instead of the dragon.

Ah well, next time.

[Meglobob]

DrPraetorious said:
I should have gone with the Astral-9/Water-9 oracle instead of the dragon.

Ah well, next time.



That was a cool battle Dr Praetorious, those shadow blasts were nasty, very nasty but then so were my wind guided flaming arrows... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

I am going to remember that tactic and use it in another game. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smirk.gif

The best battle of the game so far...I may put some screenshots up, I am not very good at screenshots, so don't hold your breath!

[DrPraetorious]

I have another army marching from the capital and more shadowblasters just teleported in. Watch this space http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.

[Meglobob]

The Battle of Runia, 2nd major engagement of Man vs Ermor.

The evil Ermor horde.

http:// http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/uploads/472960-Evil%20Ermor.JPG (http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/uploads/472960-Evil%20Ermor.JPG)

The servants of light, Man.

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/uploads/472960-Man%2C%20servants%20of%20light.JPG

Mans wind guided, flaming arrows tear into the masses of undead.

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/uploads/472960-Flaming%20arrows.JPG

Ermor responds with a dozen shadow blasts which tear into the unprepared forces of man.

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/uploads/472960-Shadow%20blast.JPG

The order of monks stand firm against the advancing undead horde, knowing it is certain death...

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/uploads/472960-Monks.JPG

A last desperate volley of flaming arrows fails to stem the tide...

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/uploads/472960-Last%20volley.JPG

The army of light is beaten, again, how can the might of Ermor be halted?

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/uploads/472960-Ermor%20wins%20again.JPG

Conclusion.

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/uploads/472960-Conclusion.JPG

[Epaminondas]

It's rather remarkable that among all the carnage you inflicted, you did not kill a single Ermor commander! Was this just an aberration? Or was there a reason for this? In a long battle where both sides take a beating, you'd normally expect an errant arrow or spell to do in at least one commander.

[Meglobob]

Epaminondas said:
It's rather remarkable that among all the carnage you inflicted, you did not kill a single Ermor commander! Was this just an aberration? Or was there a reason for this? In a long battle where both sides take a beating, you'd normally expect an errant arrow or spell to do in at least one commander.



Note Ermor's excellent placement of his troops/mages. For example he placed a force behind his mages, so attack rear would not work. Also my longbowman are very, very accurate. With wind guide they had precision of 18, anything beyond 10 is doubled so thats 26 precision, they hit what they aim at! I set them to half attack closet/half fire at archers, a pity there is no fire at mages/leaders order! In retrospect thats why I lost the battle in the end, I set too many to fire at archers. I killed all his archers down to the last man/undead. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gifI should have done 75% attack closet/25 % attack archers...oh well live and learn.

[Folket]

I'm looking for an astral cap and air gems. I will trade any gems exept death against air gems. If you have an astral cap just message me and we will discust a price.

[FrankTrollman]

So our first clashes with Ermor were unsatisfactory.

Minotaurs perform poorly against Shadow Vestals. Etherealness really takes the wind out of the sails of tramplers.

[DrPraetorious]

"We are victorious again, my lord, but the armies of the foe yet surround the city of the Jotuns."
Chuck Norris, he who divides the waters, prince of winter, snarled through a mouth full of yard-long, razor sharp teeth. "Then let them come against you again, we have more onyx for the death fires, it shall be of no account."
He whom before all else tremble, the prophet of the True God, trembles now before his master. "Lamentably, my lord, We drew too much from my acolytes. They lie dead. And the eastern vestels are but a shattered remnant of their former strength, my lord." The morning before the battle, he had bathed with them, as was his custom. He was too old and frail to take the innocence upon which their fierce power depended, but greatly enjoyed the cool, ghostly touch of their flesh as they bathed him. In the previous battle, they had all fallen in the field, before a hail of flaming arrows. Now his students lay buried beside them, pale, killed from within by the life force he and the other masters had drawn from them.
He before whom the mountains tremble roars his defiance. "The worm, Crystalmist, it is dead?"
"It lives, my Lord. It fled the field of battle when its minions were scattered. But if you were to slay it yourself, my Lord, the people would rejoice..."
"You overstep yourself, my herald. The time shall come when that may be needed. If you drew so much upon your acolytes that they all died, how is it that any of the foe yet live?"
The priestly lord swallows. "Some fled the field, oh Light of the World. Some were held in reserve, and the enemy was not so thick upon the field that all of our blasts found their mark."
The rightful Lord of the Whole World snarls again. "Should the worm enter my deeper desmesnes, the strength of my true Church will be the end of it, the vile thing. That will be time to prove who is the true heir of the first dew."
The prophet is heartened by this, his eyes shine with religious zeal. After all, though the worm Crystalmist shines more spendidly than any thing, one need only draw breath in their presence to know that Chuck Norris was a more potent lord of water and cold. "So it shall be..."
"For now, focus your power more tightly, and shred them with nether bolts. You still have an entire legion of Praetorians under your command - the enemy has not yet tasted their sting, and greatly underestimates their strength, I think."
The face of an elderly man appears in another of the mirrors. The lord of Ermor has taken from his priests their names, and proclaimed that they should be known by their offices.
"High adept of the air, we greet you in brotherhood on this day."
The Great Lord of the World is not so quick to anger as he might have been, as this is one of his most favored servants. "We had tasked you with hunting the places of power in our near west, aassdd. How come you to interrupt our council of war?"
"A thousand humble apologies, oh Master of the World, and greetings to you, adept of the water, high master of death, herald of the true God. My Lord, one of your western provinces, my Lord, but recently liberated by your own hand, has fallen to the western savages. Their army of bull-men marches towards us even now."
The great lord roars.
"I will tell assdd to marshal his host of vestals and bring it to the border. You, wssddd, will abandon the city of the Jotuns and march west. When our plans are complete, we will have the power to smash both the tree-lovers of the east and the west in one stroke. But for now, we cannot extend our power so far."
He roars again, all defiance and rage.
"Do not fail me again, adepts."
They bow their heads as the mirrors wink out.

[Twan]

Hum... I was supposed to send 25 air and 25 death gems to Oceania. It looks like the gems have disappeared but Oceania didn't recieve anything. I think I've probably sent my gems to a wrong nation, perhaps Ermor as I had a trade with him the same turn or Man because I often trade with Man in another game (and the worst thing is I have no way to verify). If the reciever can have the amability to send the gems back to Oceania I will celebrate him as the most honest player in the dominions universe.

[DrPraetorious]

I got 25 water gems and 1000 gold from you - I sent the skulls this turn. No air or death gems, though.

[FrankTrollman]

Ah. Yeah, I got 25 Air Gems and 25 Death Gems from you, I was sending you a message about it wondering what was up. No problem, I'll send them to Oceania, it's not like we need the gems. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

-Frank

[Twan]

Cool, thanks a lot.

[AdrianP]

Madness! Madness! A back-to-nature cult has taken over Ulm and is destroying our great nation. It's complete anarchy! Mobs are roaming around the nation destroying anything that resembles civilization and planting acorns.If only the army was here to save our great people.

-----

Good thing I am not playing this to win or I would have just screwed myself. Playing a suicidal game when it is not necessary is a first for me and I admit it's pretty funny, though I doubt c'tis appreciates my humor.

My huge battle against c'tis pitted 2 300+ man armies against each other. His side: his god, a lord of summer plague,several behemoths,sirrushes,vine ogres, and many many mandragoras; and of course recruitable troops and about a dozen mages(spamming skellies). He even had a bane lord.

My side had a ghost king(who was worthless since he didn't follow my script and just stood in the back instead of attacking),some ulmish meat shields and a half dozen crushers and about 200+ missile units with wind guided flaming arrows. Oh yeah, I almost forget, I also had 72 master smiths casting blade wind and magma eruption.

I lost 34 men while he lost over 300. I think I might have engaged in a tad bit of overkill. I seriously thought I might have lost this fight because I have so much inexperience fighting humans and I greatly overestimated the strength of his army.

I also must mention I am greatly disappointed in the fighting prowess of bane lords. I am making several in one of my other games and now I am reconsidering in how I was going to use them.

I thank zombie for a great battle and hope to engage him some more.

[Meglobob]

72 master smiths...eek

[FrankTrollman]

When we chew our way through Ctis into Ulm, we'll keep that in mind. 72 Master Smiths is no joke.

-Frank

[Reverend Zombie]

AdrianP said:

I lost 34 men while he lost over 300. I think I might have engaged in a tad bit of overkill. I seriously thought I might have lost this fight because I have so much inexperience fighting humans and I greatly overestimated the strength of his army.

...

I thank zombie for a great battle and hope to engage him some more.



My low-prot horde was no match for your Bladewind-casting Master Smiths. I think either the Smiths or the Flaming Arrows alone would have done the trick, actually. Both was probably overkill.

In any event, very well done!

[DrPraetorious]

"Him that you would have placed above all, a new Lord of the World, this God is dead?" The village headman is trembling with sorrow and fury.
But a few days before he would have said "the True God," and meant it.
"Yes." says the crippled old man, who glows still with the holy mantle of the Prophet.
"But worry not, ye faithful. He will rule still - not in this world, perhaps, but our fallen brothers march still in the Land of the Dead, and we will make him King."
At a gesture from wssddd, one of the shambling corpses who had held down the village elder slits his throat. The soulless corpse rises a moment later.
Another dozen zombies are busy tilling salt into the fields - they hunt down the people of the village and slay them, and when they fall, they rise also to join the slaughter.
The great city of eldregate itself is in flames. All through the dominion of the True Dragon, there is wailing and death and gnashing of teeth.
aassdd gestures towards the mountain of treasures. Gold, yes, but a full thirty score gems of power, besides.
"Will we take this with us to the world of the Dead, brother adept?"
ssssdd grins. Stars spin in his eyes, for this one has reclaimed that power of the spheres which once made Eldregate so mighty - but it was not enough. "They will serve us better in this world, and in vengeance. The foes of the cursed Worm will turn them into weapons of death for a surety. Crystalmist has defeated our God and his legions, but we can yet ensure that the victory spawns only the blackest fruit."
He lifts a single perfect pearl in a clenched fist and crushes it. Two silvery portals open up in the nothingness. In each, very startled young women are strumming on stringed instruments, but in one they are accompanied by dancing goat men, and in the other they lounge on silk pillows in some manner of temple.
At first it seems they expect some horrible manner of necromancy, which seems to amuse ssssdd, but he bows. "Enjoy," he says.
A host of undead toss gems by the fistful into the gates. For the goat-men, onyx and emeralds - for the maidens of the cultured temple, pearls, diamonds, sapphires and tourmalines.
"The long months I walked the land, seeking the places of power, and it comes to this?" snarls aassdd.
ssssdd shrugs philosophically. "Between them, with the power of these gems, they should have no trouble splitting the kingdom of Man in half and destroying it utterly. When we chose to conquer the Jotuns, we knew one of our enemies might take advantage of that moment of weakness."
aassdd spits on the floor. "Folly. This will buy no mercy from the goats."
"All the works of men are folly, as we will soon discover. Come, the armies of Man are on the march. We go to join our brethren."
A last shattered remnant of legionaires forms into ranks. They are broken and crippled men, but none will be left behind. At the last, only a valient death will give them a stand beside their dead God.

[Meglobob]

The prophet had returned from the shattered lands of death in the west, he brought news of a great battle and finally a great victory for Crystalmist, man and the tower. It was the latest good news, in a seemingly never ending stream of good news.

Chuck Morris, Ermor's pretender had been killed in the heart of his dominion by half a dozen air mages, lightning bolted to death. The Praetorian guard slaughtered to nearly the last man, hundreds upon hundreds of undead burned to ashes and a dozen behemoths destroyed before they could even complete there charge.

What remained of Ermor would most likely fall back to there capital, to embrace death. The only question, would it be at the hands of man or pangaea?

It was almost certain that Ermor was where those two empires would meet, would it be a cold war between two titanic empires or instant war? Time would tell...

Crystalmist had shed her dragon form, some time ago and was in the heart of man. There, along with countless other mages across the empire of man, mighty conjurations were being cast. Host after host of magicial beings came into existence to fight for the tower of avalon. Hidden troops moved into position, eyes and hears sent a endless stream of information back to the tower.

In truth Man was far stronger now than ever before, Ermor had been eliminated using barely a third of the Tower's power. Also Man had command of every sphere of magic air, earth, fire, water, astral, nature and yes even blood and death. The empire was most active and full of industry. Crystalmist, Man, the Tower of Avalon was ready for what would come next...

[Twan]

Coming with news of the north, Exadios was informed that the Mighty Antepelagyos had asked to have all these news directly transmited to him. Encountering the legendary Divine Smith was a great honor for an humble scout. The priestesses recommanded him to take a bath and adorn its most beautiful clothes during the realisation of the parchment at the size of the immense god on which his message will be written. Enjoying to read but probably a little myope, the Sword of Balance had ordonned to always deliver him messages on size 4 paper format.

Exadios accompanied by 8 slaves to carry the enormous letter reproduced by the priestesses on an elephant skin was finally allowed to enter the gardens of the Utonshire fortress, where the Prince of Craft was sculpting statues.

The messenger didn't had the time to appreciate the beauty of the god's creation and how well Antepelagyos represented on them the face of his former ennemy Göran (no one except Antepelagyos himself, and perhaps his trade minister, know why he has decided to make statues at the image of another god).
As soon Antepelagyos closed the letter he threw it on the messenger's squad, killing 3 of the slaves. "We have waited too long. It shouldn't have been !" he said of his enormous voice. Then, suddenly calmed he started to dictate a never ending list of orders to Exadios who suddenly realised he had forgoten to bring something to write. By chance he could write on the back of the elephant skin with the blood of one of the slaves. There were detailed orders for all the fortresses. There were orders for a dozen of astrologer and the triple of mystics. There were new orders for near to all the commanders of the empire. Many of these orders were simple but mysterious "say to Hippomacho that the time has come", "say to Maiandros to prepare the bridge", "say to Master Mazes it's operation Greenfall". Some others included details of cabalistic formulaes the mages were supposed to use and Exadios couldn't understand. He noted that the Mighty Divine Smith asked many mages to make a bridge, and insisted a lot to have the more possible of his armies "rofen" and that adepts of a foreign order should be used for that, but that mystics could "fifen" at least.

Exadios didn't had time to think about the meaning of all these stranges sentences, as soon the gigantic Prince of Craft ended to dictate, he took suddenly the elephant skin parchment to reread it, ejecting Exadios who was sat on it to write, up to 12 meters high. The last vision of the scout, during his fall down, was his inattentive god searching where he could had disappeared.

[Twan]

The fall of an empire is often followed by the fall of its conqueror. The god of Jotunheim has been followed by the one of Ermor in the inferno. It's now the turn of the dragon of Man to see the river Styx. We are the ones destined by the Old Pantokrator to be the flail of Man, our only neighbor on land. We accept our destiny and will help Crystalmist to encounter his fate, as the time of it has now come.

Arkates, first follower of Antepelagyos.

[Twan]

I have a big technical problem (to resume I'll probably have to send back my unique pc for repair) and don't know if I will be able to play before a week or so. If I give no news in the following days host without me, sub me or turn me AI.

PS : it's really not the right moment for the Arco empire. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif I hope I will be able to find a solution and continue to fight.

[DrPraetorious]

Patching to 3.04.

[Twan]

A friend has found another pc for me, but I have a lot of things to do this afternoon. I bring it to my home tonight, install it and will probably able to play my turns this night or tomorrow morning (it's 14h in France

[Twan]

Grmbl... I have installed the other pc and could send my turns for pbem games but I have a strange bug for this one, when I log on the program start to download my turn and stop in the middle with a "got bad packet from server" error message.

[Meglobob]

Twan said:
Grmbl... I have installed the other pc and could send my turns for pbem games but I have a strange bug for this one, when I log on the program start to download my turn and stop in the middle with a "got bad packet from server" error message.



I have had this before, just keep trying, eventually it downloads, took me 4 go's if I remember correctly. It downloads real slow as well, so have something else to do well it gets on with it.

[Twan]

It finally worked - it's strange I have recieved my full trn in the 300mp folder even if it crashed again during loading- (gg Man, for killing 6 commanders including my prophet + half an army with... 3 well sent seeking arrows).
Giving my orders....

[Twan]

"Sorry to interrupt your work but I have bad news my lord"

Antepelagyos stopped his sculpture to search who could have spoke. Not finding anyone in the Utonshire garden he realised that it was a telepathic message from one of his astrologers, probably using an astral cantrip.

"... after the death of Akates, and the destruction of the little army waiting for him, we have lost a new battle, continued the voice, the fast forces of Crystalmist engaged our third army before it could leave Fanligia"

- The third army was supposed to attack him anyway and show to the dragon the courage of my followers. This army had two squads of elephants to trample the miserable wolves and archers he uses, and astrologers with the best penetration gear to paralyze him. It wasn't the best force he may have encountered, we expected to meet him in Obalshim, but he must at least have suffered heavy casualties fighting it.

- Sorry our Mighty Divine Smith, but it wasn't really the case, except lots of expandable wolves, his clockwork horrors and a little number of horsemen he lost nothing in the battle. All his archers and mages survived.

- How is it possible ?

- Crystalmist didn't divide his forces to protect Obalshin or the lab province, all his southern army was on the battlefield (http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/6583/bataillman1rc5.jpg) couting 27 commanders mostly mages against 17 on our side. The third army was powerful but a little smaller (http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/4110/bataillman2to2.jpg) but it isn't the main reason of our failure. As I've said our army couldn't live Fanligia and, positioned for attack most of our mages ended in the middle of the provincial militia, we lost some of the key mages very fast when his horde of crones and illusionists started to chain cast thunder strike and lightnings on these troops (http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/9154/bataillman3sc1.jpg). Our mages were supposed to be lucky, but luck wasn't sufficient to save them. The survivors, confused by the damn militia casted fire fend on the local peltasts instead of buffing our heart companions and hoplites, condemning our best units to die fast against the wind guided flaming arrows Man used as expected. Our cavalry could have saved the day, but when the first squad trampled lots of clockwork horrors before routing, the second one, our supposed to be lucky and ethearal elephants and chariots were engaged by Crystalmist himself during their preparation phase (http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/3075/bataillman4mv6.jpg), who was sufficiently lucky to resist many paralyzation attempts. Of course some of our mages succeeded to inflict many casualties to the lots of light troops he have, blade wind being as expected the most efficient spell against their kind of army (http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1083/bataillman5bt4.jpg) but it wasn't sufficient against their flaming arrows and chain casted lightnings (http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/5257/bataillman6fr2.jpg). A kamikaze giant eagle using a medaillon of vengeance was the cherry on the cake in Man's strategy, killing half our last squad of elite heart companions, the remaining troops being forced to flee to save their lives (http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/3479/bataillman7pu5.jpg). I'm the only astrologer who survived.

- Annoying...

- My lord I'm sorry to say that but I think this defeat is not the last, we stand no chance against this kind of army without good air mages to protect our slow and heavy soldiers, and our scriers report that Man has far more and better troops to come. You should open negociations with them.

- Young Depylos, your knowledge of astral secrets should have learned you that we are all here to be the agents of the fate, and can do nothing to escape it. The Old Pantokrator with his strange humor doomed us since the beginning, giving us only one neighbor on land, Man, but in the dozens of provinces of our empire, many of them explored with acashic record, not one producing the right tools to counter their magic. It was known since the beginning that this war was going to be a desesperate one. But what else can we do ? Staying in peace waiting for the return of the oreiads or spending years trying to conquer Oceania, letting Man concentrate his forces in the west and conquer the places of power ? Crystalmist would be near his ascension now. This war is the only way to slow him, and continuing it the only choice we can make. Even if we ask for he would be stupid to accept peace with us, knowing that all we may do is waiting to have more assets to attack him again. And if our chances are small we may finally win, the numbers may matter in the end. We have a greater gems and gold income, we may produce far more troops, and finally we may have some cards we don't have used yet that may be efficient even against hordes of air mages. Don't worry about the losses, don't worry about the defeats, we are all only here to accomplish our destiny, and only the final result matters.

[Meglobob]

Can you please bring me better magic items next time please? Crystalmist was not impressed with the pendants of luck and shrouds of the battle saints (why?!?), my commanders will wear those trinkets to celebrate my victory.

My hastly gathered force designed just to slow you down has performed much better than expected...your in soooo much trouble when my main forces arrive... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/firedevil.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Twan]

I hope nobody is disturbed by a rhytm of about 1 turn / 3 days. I'm at war in the 5 games I play, with big empires in 4 especially this one, and start to have difficulties to find time (ok it's my fault I've spent far too much time these last days finishing my Oeridia map). Anyway I've not finished my orders for this turn, and won't be able before some hours as I have some urgent RL things to do, and it will probably be worse the next weeks as I have an army of nephews coming to my home for christmas holidays.

[Meglobob]

Twan said:
I hope nobody is disturbed by a rhytm of about 1 turn / 3 days. I'm at war in the 5 games I play, with big empires in 4 especially this one, and start to have difficulties to find time (ok it's my fault I've spent far too much time these last days finishing my Oeridia map). Anyway I've not finished my orders for this turn, and won't be able before some hours as I have some urgent RL things to do, and it will probably be worse the next weeks as I have an army of nephews coming to my home for christmas holidays.



I am ok with this. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

My turns take ages to do in this game, I have a HUGE empire and am fighting a 2 front war. Also I am in 6 MP games and at war in all of them. 2-3 turns a week is more than fine by me.

[Twan]

Finally I'm not the last, so I think everybody agree.

[DrPraetorious]

It is nice to remind people that this game is still going, though http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Meglobob]

DrPraetorious said:
It is nice to remind people that this game is still going, though http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif



Is it possible to put this game on a 72hr quickhost? This works out 2-3 turns a week, so hopefully Twan should be okay. I like a deadline, I tend to be very good at working to a deadline but rubbish when I am allowed to get my turn in whenever.

I think we are entering the end game now, everyone is at war with each another and the results should determine the winner. I reckon another 20-40 turns should see a winner...hopefully...I had a cunning plan to win by the way but Arco spoiled it by attacking me, now I lack resources to carry it out.

What does everyone else think about having a hosting deadline? It will make us finish the game quicker...

[DrPraetorious]

When my machine is working again I'll consider it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.

[DrPraetorious]

Activate Interlock! Dynatherms Connected! Infracells Up! Megathrusters Are Go! Let's Go Voltron Force!

IPaddr: 160.39.37.111
port: 11111

Note that only the last byte of the IP addr has changed.

[Twan]

I agree a 72h quickhost would be a good idea.

[DrPraetorious]

I am instituting a 48 hr host interval.

[Twan]

Hum considering I've sent the current turn after 3 days (and another player the same), Man after 4, and the two last players have still to send their orders 2 days after, we risk to have mostly staled or rushed turns with a 48h limit. I'm for a limit to avoid to have just 1 turn/week like this one, but 48h is really short for this kind of monster game, especially in this period (I doubt there will be more than 2 or 3 persons finding the time to play properly if there are 2 days long turns the christmas or new year days).

[Meglobob]

We really do need a deadline to keep this game moving. I personally would like a 72hr host, I could play to that and Twan has said he could as well. Is 72hr possible?

Otherwise, I am prepared to get on with a 48hr host just to keep the game going and get it completed. At the moment this game is 'drifting', I suppose a 48hr host is fair in that we will all after do 'rushed' turns every now and again...

[DrPraetorious]

72 hrs if people prefer, sure.

[FrankTrollman]

Deleted

[Twan]

Thanks Dr.

(ps : in fact we perhaps have an abandon, has anyone had news of the Ulm player since a week ?)

[Twan]

(8 days)............................................. ...!?

[Folket]

Ulm has told me that he was going to quit. Never said when. Let him stale once then set him to comp if he does not return til next host.

[DrPraetorious]

I'll set him to comp an hour before he would otherwise stale. I don't generally like stale turns.

[Meglobob]

I have reason to believe Ulm may have dropped out of the game...

[Reverend Zombie]

Meglobob said:
I have reason to believe Ulm may have dropped out of the game...



Thank goodness he sacked me first!

[DrPraetorious]

Time limits on turns are disabled until January.

[Meglobob]

Everyone has uploaded there turn, sorry I was so slow...

The game is not hosting, however.

Can it be hosted? Then we can ponder our next moves over the festive break...

[DrPraetorious]

Oh, oops.

Turned off QH by accident.

[DrPraetorious]

It's hoting now. Remote desktop isn't nearly as good as ssh but at least it works.

[Meglobob]

DrPraetorious said:
It's hoting now. Remote desktop isn't nearly as good as ssh but at least it works.



Thanks. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[DrPraetorious]

Game will be down overnight.

[DrPraetorious]

Server is back up.

[FrankTrollman]

Deleted

[DrPraetorious]

I'll start the timer as soon as I get back from work.

[DrPraetorious]

72 hr host interval is now up.

[Twan]

Is the server up ? I have a problem with my modem and I'm trying to play from a friend's home but I can't reach the server even if all numbers seem right.

I hope I'll find a solution before staling.

[Meglobob]

Twan said:
Is the server up ? I have a problem with my modem and I'm trying to play from a friend's home but I can't reach the server even if all numbers seem right.

I hope I'll find a solution before staling.



Servers working fine for me Twan, we have 50 hrs left on the timer at the moment. I after do my turn this weekend as well.

[DrPraetorious]

I'm effectively dead, persisting only to burn as many of Man's provinces as I can before my dominion winks out. I can take Twain's turn rather than letting him stale.

[Twan]

It seems my friend's ISP had a routing problem with the server adress (and my old modem had a problem with I don't know what, to resume it no longer work). Anyway I've installed another modem at home and can access the server now, I'll play my turn soon.

[Meglobob]

DrPraetorious said:
I'm effectively dead, persisting only to burn as many of Man's provinces as I can before my dominion winks out. I can take Twain's turn rather than letting him stale.



Yea, life's hard for Man at the mo.

A 2000+ strong undead army, rampaging through my lands.

Arco mages teleporting in, then returning home.

Mages dieing by the bucket load to soul hunts.

It's the end of days for Man...but we still have 1 or 2 more tricks to try out before the end...I will use this game to get some practice in with higher level magic.

[Twan]

It looks like the war of the 3 desesperate nations. If I've finally find some ways to annoy you, Arco isn't really in a better position, I still have to win a real battle against your armies and was so unlucky with indie sites that I feel like playing Dom 3 when my neighbours have a dom2-like access to all magics (there are even earth gnomes to cast destruction on my hoplites in Man's armies, it's rather depressing)... It seems I can only eventually win this war economically, after dozens of turns of harassment, and have to hope Pangea (or Oceania who knows...) won't achieve victory conditions before (and if I succeed and become a threat for other nations, I will probably have even more difficulties facing the high end summons the other powers have).

[DrPraetorious]

Server will be down briefly for routine maintanence.

[FrankTrollman]

Deleted

[Twan]

Finally Arco has also won a first big battle (not so decisive, but after more than a year of war and three big defeats it's reinsuring).

This month was the one of our surprises for Man, prepared since a long time, like teleporting a massive army in his rear or using some secret weapons. But we are confident, Man has as many tricks for us.
Anyway this war is now entering a new phase and the next battles will be the most important.

[Meglobob]

Turn 50 up.

As usual a mixed month for Man.

Good news, was Pangaea did not attack me like I thought he would, perhap he has bad memories of the 2 defeats I inflicted on him? Oceania appears to be fighting back against Pangaea which is excellent...

Arco is causing me all kinds of problems...he appears to have turned the tide and now is winning all the battles. Mind hunt, soul slay, doom, battle fortune...he's dishing it all out...

Ermor's 36 mage/1,500+ undead army is at least defeated.

Look's like its Arco who is my main threat not Pangaea, to think only 2 turns ago I was having visions of marching into Arco's heartlands...oh well lets see how we stand by turn 100...

[FrankTrollman]

Deleted.

[Twan]

The destiny of Arcocephale was finally to kill Crystalmist, as it was said in the Prophecy of Akates, in the beginning of the war.

Many months ago, when the odds looked bad for Arcocephale, with Man winning all battles and retaking his territory, in a desesperate move from Arco, a courageous team of mages was sent in the middle of Man's empire, in hope to take a province and keep it a sufficient time to gateway a big army in Man's back and force him to divide his forces. Pursued by somes ennemies, the mages had to fight and flee during half a year before finding a province in which they could stay one turn and build a laboratory, only two provinces away from Man's capitol.

The first army teleported there suffered heavy casualties taking the province before the capitol, and was then defeated in Man by a garnison lead by the ennemy pretender himself. But a second army and more than half the Astrologers of Arcocephale had been teleported for a second assault, and this time the Fates showed their will.

In this new battle, the mighty blue dragon of Man was suddenly affected by an unbelievable bad luck, and killed by one of the first spells casted on him, despite his extreme magic resistance. Protected by the Fates; the Arco's soldiers had then no difficulty to defeat the doomed Man's forces, and without losing a mage have started the siege of the city.

[Folket]

I was not able to connect and upload my turn so I guess the server is down.

[DrPraetorious]

I just got back from texas - the server is going to be up and down all day while I'm working on various and sundry.

Okay, the server is back up for a bit - you should be able to change your turn. I'll have to bring it down for a bit for a slew of intalls later today, though.

I'll post another note here when it's back up and a new turn is ready.

[DrPraetorious]

Oh, oops. Wrong game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[FrankTrollman]

Deleted.

[Meglobob]

FrankTrollman said:
The game is up and running at a normal schedule again. Only Man hasn't taken their turn and it's due in 8 hours.

Just a head's up.

-The Goat Men.



Doing it tonight, I'm always on the last minute... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Twan]

1 minute left.

... hosted

[Meglobob]

Twan said:
1 minute left.

... hosted



Staled...

Araghh! 3hrs+ working out my orders and then I miss getting my turn in by a couple of minutes! Araghh again!

[Meglobob]

Well...I surrender...well done Twan...well done everyone else.

Set my position AI, may the best person win.

Too much micro-management, I am not having fun anymore.

[Twan]

Well done too, this war wasn't easy at all, without the lot of luck I had with my team of mages it would be hard times for Arco (and even without the capitol I think your nation is far to be beaten).

[Folket]

Damn you meglobob. It was 5 days since it last hosted, how come you could not make your turn earlier. Now you are setting us into a very strange position.

[Twan]

Yes, I don't think turning AI at this point (Man is still powerful : first in provinces, third army, many kinds of indie mages, even if the capitol has been lost -I think even without the stale you couldn't keep it long- ) is very good for the game.

Perhaps before setting Man to AI you may ask for a sub, there may be a player interested by the challenge of taking this kind of position (if a sub can be found I'm even ok for a truce of one or two turns, if the others are ok too).

[Meglobob]

Folket said:
Damn you meglobob. It was 5 days since it last hosted, how come you could not make your turn earlier. Now you are setting us into a very strange position.



Not really, I am inbetween all 3 remaining contenders Arco, Oceania and Pangaea. So you can each get a large slice of my lands.

Trust me, man's empire was finished, I have been in decline for 5+ turns now. I have lost all my most powerful mages to soul hunt, wrath of god and battle, probably 40+ easy. Also lots of other commanders etc... Both my pretender and prophet were killed last turn, my illusionist province was captured, my capital captured, no hope whatsoever of taking them back. All my armies are in the south (near Arco) or west, near Pangaea, they have no real mage support so are very vulnerable to magic.

Remember I have been fighting against Arco/Ermor/Pangaea for some time and have taken appalling losses. Oh yea, I only have 500 - 1,000 gold to spend each turn as well, which is not enough to be able to replace my losses.

The grapths do not tell the full story of how well an empire is doing. Man was not as strong as the grapths seem to imply.

[FrankTrollman]

Deleted.

[DrPraetorious]

I'm patching all my games this evening. Let me know when one of you guys has won.

[DrPraetorious]

Could everyone please take turns? There are evidently patch related problems and I want to host a turn for this game before patching. Don't unload another turn after the game hosts, though.

[DrPraetorious]

Okay, some people have already patched. I have some work to do and then I'll patch and bring the servers back up. Hopefully the turns taken under the previous patch will still work.

[Folket]

Conbquering the seas? Are you insane? No way that is going to happen. Pangaea is blind with greed.

[DrPraetorious]

Server is back up.

[FrankTrollman]

Deleted.

[Twan]

IMHO you may conquer a sufficient number of VP to win faster than Oceania, considering all but one are on land. But it's nice if you let me a chance by spending 30 turns trying to take the seas. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Folket]

Well put it Twan.

[Folket]

I have not been able to connect to the server for days now.

[FrankTrollman]

Deleted.

[Folket]

DrPraetorious, can you change the port of the server? Perhaps port 1025 is blocked for me. I know this has worked before in a blitz.

[DrPraetorious]

Didn't I already change the port number to 11111?

That's probably your problem http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif.

I must've forgotten to update the root of the thread. Sorry, fixing now.

[Folket]

k, thanks.

[Folket]

Can connect to 11111 either.

[DrPraetorious]

Will you be around tomorrow morning? I can mess with it then I have kinda a lot of work to do atm.

[Folket]

Is the IP still 160.39.37.98 ?

[DrPraetorious]

No, sorry, it's 160.39.37.111. I thought I'd fixed all this at the root and I didn't, entirely my bad.

[Twan]

12 hours left (be aware, the timer has not restarted during the turn this time)

[FrankTrollman]

Deleted.

[DrPraetorious]

I have to restart my machine.

[Twan]

Turn 57.

[FrankTrollman]

Deleted.

[Twan]

Argh, I'm totally out of luck.

I was going to gateway a lot of mages and two armies in 7 (a former Ulm VP I took last turn), one of them with a big squad of living statues and claymen. But Man casted a seeking arrow (the only one I had this turn), just on the mage supposed to gateway the second army. Finally my first army fighted Pangea alone, without any morale 50 units, and routed after killing more than half the ennemy army. In addition another team of mages trying to take a neighboring province wiped against Ulm PD so all my troops and mages were lost in ennemy territory. To complete this nightmare turn, I had an attack of Crystalmist on his capitol, who resisted about 20 soul slay and paralysis attempts and killed 3/4 of my troops and some of the mages patroling it. The dragon is now sieging his capitol, far from my other armies. Also I've forgoten to change some orders from an abandoned plan, ending with an astrologer attacking alone and killed by another Pangea army.

Considering the number of astrologers and illusionists I've lost this turn, the chances I had to stop or even slow Pangea have fallen from low to extremely low.

[FrankTrollman]

Deleted.

[FrankTrollman]

Deleted.

[DrPraetorious]

Congrats. I'm shutting the game down in 36 hours or so.

[Meglobob]

Well done Frank and the Goat men of Pangea.

[Twan]

Congratz !

(I've staled the last turn, I was visiting friends and came back too late, but I think I wouldn't have been able to do anything anyway).

ps : yes ritual of return only works if the mage is wounded

[FrankTrollman]

Deleted.

[Twan]

I wasn't going to attack these VP, just 259. No chance I could have stopped you.

[Folket]

I'm sorry but I'm just very very very weak in the end game. I really have no idea what I'm to do.

I must say that I think Pangaea are a very strong nation. Those 50 moral elephants are real killers.

[Folket]

In a way I'm happy it is over. These turns are just to heavy.