4-player ME game - Started!

[llamabeast]

Is anyone up for a 4-player mid-era game? We can use one of Gandalf's automated blitz servers, although I don't really want to play it as a blitz. It's set up as 24-hour autohost, which sounds good to me.

The host is host.dom3minions.com, and the port is 8318. I'll be playing Ermor. Now, I've only played multiplayer once before, and I've yet to have a proper game of Ermor in single player - so while anyone's welcome, this game might be especially suitable for newbies, since at least they'll have one person to beat!

Don't hit the "start game" button unless you're the fourth player. You can hit "disconnect" fine though - once you've uploaded your pretender, it'll keep your spot.

Game on! Post here when you've signed on.

[UninspiredName]

Hm, what map?

Not that the answer effects whether I'll join or not. I'm in as Pythium if you'll have me.

[Gandalf Parker]

The maps are randomly generated. No one has seen them.
Altho I have debated posting the map images when the game is setup.

[Cerlin]

I've joined as Agartha. the golems are coming Bwahahaha! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif I am a noob too good luck all http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Cerlin]

Hmmmm my god has been added then it crashed.... O.o I've never had Dom3 crash on me... If something goes wrong let me know ill add myself again >.>

[Cerlin]

Apparently I have a bl_brazilian game in my game list that wasnt there before, does that mean my crash hosted? Do we have to start over? <mumbles to himself>

[UninspiredName]

Ah, my mistake. Thanks for pointing that out.

[Cerlin]

Haha well I'll keep checking here if you both are still interested...back to work huzzah!

[Amhazair]

I'll be joining as Abysia in a minute, wich should take us to four then.

Burn, baby, burn! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif


Edit: oh, I'm a noob too, btw. But you'll all burn anyway. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Amhazair]

Hmm.... As I said I'm a noob, and I'm not very knowledgeable about computers in general, but unless I'm terribly mistaken One of you two started the game, meaning noone else can join anymore... seems you're spared a burning for now.

[UninspiredName]

This would be my first (successful) online multiplayer match, so I definitely think I deserve the title 'noob'.

..And I haven't even connected to dom3minions.com yet.

EDIT: And that would mean, apparantly, I still maintain a perfect no-loss record in multi-player. Ah well, maybe next time.

[Cerlin]

Yeah I think my crash inadvertantly started it, gandalf can we get a reset for us 4? I'll love you for ever! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif hehe

oh yeah and this would be my first multi match ever as well, yay for dead mountain people! US palies shall own you all....AHHHHH THE SUN BURNS!! >< <Runs away> http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[llamabeast]

Okay guys, we'll start again. We'll have to kill that last game somehow (sorry Gandalf, I'm really running through your games today!). So, let's take bl_oarless (it's a random name, apparently), which is port 8279, again on host.dom3minions.com.

The players will be:

llamabeast - Ermor
UninspiredName - Pythium
Cerlin - Agartha
Amhazair - Abyssia

If you're the fourth person on, get it started!

PS Cerlin, if you set yourself to AI on that erroneous last game, presumably that'll kill it, saving Gandalf a job. (I hope it won't go crazy and spend loads of computer time on two AIs fighting each other!).

[UninspiredName]

I timed out... If you've got it working, it might be better to go without me.

EDIT: Oh yeah, firewall. Whoops. I'm in now, though. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Cerlin]

Haha ok Its all my fault! I can handle that http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

I signed up just now and saw at least two of you already signed up, let me know when we start. My drive home in los Angeles traffic commences! Hopefully some fun when I get home. Look forward to playing with y'all.

Cerlin

Edit: I am pretty sure I only saw 2 of you but someone might want to check >< I wasnt looking for it to be honest. Im in a rush to get home.

[llamabeast]

Cool! Okay Amhazair, get it started once you've uploaded your pretender.

I'm afraid I'm off to bed now (it's past 1am in the UK), so any fun will this evening will be 1-turn-only fun I'm afraid! But that gives time to browse the manual and get planning...

I'll not be on my machine a lot over the weekend, but I should still easily be able to do a turn a day if not more. Hopefully in general with only 4 of us we might average more than one turn a day, but it doesn't really matter if not.

[UninspiredName]

So, while we're all waiting... RP/Diplomacy or not?

[Cerlin]

why not? makes it fun http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Im not the most super agressive player ever...
Negotiating can add to the experiance, but roleplay can especially...we got both Rome's, Fire sons and vengeful earth dwelers,

[Amhazair]

Sorry to make you wait. (a bit) I'm an european here, so my hours are a bit different than yours... It was nearly midnight when I tried to connect, and I just got home from work now. I'll start the game in a minute http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Amhazair]

The young people of Abyssia have emerged onto the surface of the world. Led by their experienced 19-year old http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif commander a small handful of troops stands ready to explore this strange new place, and to defend themselves and their people from any unenlightened humans that might be envious of their natural connection to the most powerful element of them all.

The future has begun...

[UninspiredName]

That means you're up for roleplaying? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Amhazair]

Who? Where? What? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[llamabeast]

No worries Amhazair, I'm European too, was just up stupidly late last night!

I'm up for roleplaying and diplomacy by the way, definitely adds a bit to it. Let's make this an active bit of the forum!

By the way, to anyone who isn't in this game - this game filled up staggeringly quickly, so there's obviously quite a lot of people out there keen to play. Why not set up your own game? Gandalf's very kindly made his server a public service. Just go to

http://game.dom3minions.com/bin/blitz_chk.cgi

to get a list of available games. The names don't mean anything. Choose an empty one, note down the port number (the host is host.dom3minions.com) and advertise the game here.

Okay, on with the game...

(by the way, I might be relatively quiet on the forums for the next couple of days, since I've come to visit my girlfriend and she has limited patience for such things, but I should easily be able to get some turns done.)

[Amhazair]

Ah, we wouldn't want to offend any girlfriends, now would we? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Say hello to her from me http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Cerlin]

The ancient remnants of the Pale Ones have again come forth with their new allies the humans. Ready to conquer the world of men once again. Onward march the armies of Kriantornia, Lord of Strength, Lord of Metals, to what fate even the oracles cannot fortell.

on marches the next age...

[Cerlin]

I just did my first turn which lead to the second turn http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif Which I've also done! look forward to playin with all of you.

[Amhazair]

Pffft....


You're a dying race, a phosilised leftover from ancient times. Why don't you just crawl back into your caves? It's us, the young and vital races, that will shape the future of this world. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Now let's just hope I didn't accidentally foretell the ascendance of humankind. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/fear.gif

[Cerlin]

Weak humans?! How could they ever destroy and become more powerful than all the elder kind? Pure fantasy I tell you! Weaker blood will never prevail!

[UninspiredName]

On this day, Pythium truly began to re-take the old lands. It had been a hundred years since the fall of Ermor, and the independent peoples had grew fat and weak, while we trained ourselves constantly. (Though we still could only manage 40 of our weakest units) It was an absolute victory, and only the first of many. The lands of Ermor will united again, and it will not be by a shed skin of a kingdom, no more alive than dead.

So says Pothead.

[UninspiredName]

Something went wrong, I think. Agartha became unclaimed, Abysia and Pythium vanished altogether, and Ermor's computer controlled. Anybody know what happened?

EDIT: It also says the game is bl_Brazilian. Yes, I'm sure I'm connecting to port 8318.

[Strages Sanctus]

I think you shoul dbe connecting to 8279
At least there is a post saying you are playing bl_oarless which is 8279 and has those nations you mentioned playing it plus you ermor

[UninspiredName]

Ah, right you are. I'm back, now. Thanks!

[Amhazair]

Oops...

I saw your post a little while ago Uninspired, but I thought you had found out you were looking at the wrong game and edited in the lines about the port number and game name as a cynical comment on your own mistake or something like that http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Sorry for not answering your heartfelt plea for help. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/fear.gif

[UninspiredName]

No problem, it's all good now.

[Cerlin]

At least its working again yay! Turn 4 dawns :O

[UninspiredName]

...I'm not connecting. The port didn't change again, did it?

[llamabeast]

Nope, it's still 8279 on host.dom3minions.com. I don't _think_ the server's been down at all, certainly I've had no problems. Could it be your firewall or something again?

[Amhazair]

I haven't had any problems either. Smooth sailing all the way.

(Sailing? Did I say sailing? Brrrr.... all that water... Yikes. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif)

[UninspiredName]

...Yes, it's the Firewall... I really don't think anymore at this...

Sorry, all. I'll take my turn now.

[Gandalf Parker]

Make sure that you are going to host.dom3minions.com and not www. dom3minions.com (there are different servers with different games). You might also try putting 63.199.8.157 altho thats not a recommended method.

You might also try moving the game on your harddrive to a different directory then reconnecting.

[UninspiredName]

This is truly ridiculous. For the past six months, promises of glory and prosperity blinded the people to all of the able hands being whisked off to war and the steadily depleting storehouse. Now, after such a brief campaign, the kingdom of Abysia is right up against us with a huge army. Surely there will be much suffering and many deaths, all so that a god we've been told exists can do a job any of the other false gods could do just as well. And yet, the people still cheer and herald victory long before it comes. Soon the strife will be too great to ignore, and too late to resist, and yet nothing can be done because nobody wants to do anything. My friends and family are blinded by the bards' tales told of ascention wars past. There is a reason commoners such as us are never mentioned in those tales, and the reason shall be clear to everyone all too soon.
-Tetheus Underbough, retired guard, scholar, and outspoken enemy of the Ascention Wars.

...Yeah, I was bored.

[Amhazair]

This is truly ridiculous. For the past six months the scouting parties of the proud Abyssian people traveled through this new and unkown world, untill they came withing sight of a big settlement, apperently called 'Pythium' or somesuch. Immediately recognising this settlement as the center of some kind of civilisation, they decided this was a matter for their elders to ponder upon, and resumed their journey of exploration. Without even halting to burn the aforementioned settlement!

Apperently blinded by bard's tales of glory the warlike Pythians decided to ignore this grand merciful gesture, and launched a military campaign straight into the heart of Abyssian lands.

Their dreams of glory were quickly turned to ashes, however, when a quickly assembled defense force decisively defeated their invasion army, sending them running whence they came from, the flames of victory hot on their heels.

Soon enough their entire nation will suffer the same fate, with their houses going up in flames around them, the smoke of countless fires taking away their breath, and nothing but the taste of death and ashes in their mouths. And then they'll know. They'll know the superiority of light over darkness, of fire over flesh, and of Abyssian over Human. And they'll belatedly realise the wisdom of submission over defiance. But by then it will be far too late to stop them from burning to death...

[UninspiredName]

I... Think you might've missed the gist of what my post was saying. That was a disgruntled scholar who is against Pythium's rampant warmongering.

[Amhazair]

I got that... but what do I care about some disgruntled scholar (unless he overthrows the government), I never met him, I never heard of him, I'm just observing the same as he is, and it's me who'll have to deal with Pythiums rampant warmongering http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Burn, you rampant warmongerer, burn! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif


P.S. the disgruntled scholar is obviously the wisest man in your country, your government should have paid him more heed. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Amhazair]

Cool, another turn... seems we're all playing atm... let's see what happened http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[UninspiredName]

I'll need to head out for a few hours, so this blitz of sorts needs to end. It was fun, though. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Amhazair]

Aye, it was...

And, damn, you built loads of PD... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[UninspiredName]

Ahem. Now that I have more time...

Know this, Abyssia. If you choose to attack our noble kingdom you shall find even the poorest of villagers taking up arms to repel you, while yours keel over at the sight of a single velite in hopes of liberation. Such loyalty can never be achieved in a nation where the people are sacrificed in exchange for demons, or used as fuel for insane experiments. (Not that I know whether you actually use Blood Magic or not.)

So says Pothead.

As for whatshisname the scholar, he didn't want to use his Astral magic for the good of the nation. We burned him at the stake. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Amhazair]

The proud and honorable nation of Abyssia is utterly appaled by the base insinuations made by the Pythian government about our totally imagined practices of human sacrifice and/or demontrafficing! Abyssia's strength is fuelled by the fire flowing through every citizen's veins, not by the fire flowing out of those veins! (Actually, my plans to start setting up a blood economy were rudely interrupted by a certain ambitious ruler starting a war HE CAN'T WIN!!!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif)

And also: Cool, you're already starting to recognize the strength of fire. Soon you'll reach total enlightenment - at the stake too. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[UninspiredName]

Indeed, fire did a brilliant job of delivering him a very slow and inefficient death where steel, or even water would be much more effective. Once it starts getting to our Laboratories, then perhaps I shall respect it somewhat.

I am proud to have put your vile schemes to a halt. A leader cruel enough to (plan to) sacrifice his own villagers, those with no claim in the war, for an advantage that can be supplied by most other paths, will soon find more than Pythium arrayed against him. (Not that I wouldn't likely be playing as Lanka if this was an EA game. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif )

Thus decrees Ridiculously Long Name, self-righteous prophet of Pothead.

[Cerlin]

Reports have come to the Council that there are many zombies shambling across the boarder from Ermor and that they are attempting (poorly) to ravage the countryside. Our priests have held back this sad attempt at spreading influence but We must soon take action to stop these undead from spreading too far. The armies are massing on the boarders and this is our warning to the world! Mass your priests, prepair for the worst, we will.
Prophet of The Pale Ones,
This is a public service announcement. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[UninspiredName]

The mindless, decaying hordes of Ermor will never so much as dent the armor of our mighty warriors, priests or no priests! (Possibly because we're allied)

[Amhazair]

Pythium allied to Ermor??????


What has this world come to? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[UninspiredName]

With my expansion speed, I need all the help I get get. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Cerlin]

The world is coming too "OWWWWW!" The zombies did invade!! SEE?! Dont believe the lies! They will eat the world :O <CHOMP!> haha

Edit: Bwahaha take that undead horses! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[UninspiredName]

It seems both Pythium and Ermor are forced to fight alone. Me against Abysia, (If you call that fighting) him against Agartha.

Though, now that I think about it, Abysia has quite a few wide-open provinces against Ermor's flank. I've been betrayed?

[Cerlin]

Hmm I think so. Your provinces would look wide open from the ocean If I didnt just see your GIANT god there. I dont really think I could afford to lose an army just yet. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Tho those neutral provences you left empty look tempting, whats wrong with them?

[UninspiredName]

Nothing wrong with them, but I expanded way too slowly and now my armies are mostly stopping Abysia from being destroyed. I would heed Amhazair's warning about Provincial Defense, though. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[llamabeast]

Ermor and Pythium are indeed allied, in so far as Ermor wishes only peace with their Pythian brothers. However, Ermor has no desire for a war with Abyssia, and is content to leave the warring nations of the Abyssians and the Pythians to deal with their own disputes.

The empire of Ermor is currently occupied quelling the petty uprising of the uncivilized pale barbarians to the south. However, they will swiftly be returned to their caves, where the Empire will allow them to snivel in peace.

(OOC) Sorry I haven't taken my turn guys. Bizarrely, I'm waiting for my girlfriend to offer her opinion on what I should do - to my complete shock she got really into it at the weekend! Shouldn't cause any delays again, she's just really keen to have some input this last couple of turns (and she's out at a colleague's leaving do tonight).

[Cerlin]

totally OOC I'll be out tonight and not back till late but when i am back ill play my turns too. Yay for dates!

[Amhazair]

llamabeast said:
(OOC) Sorry I haven't taken my turn guys. Bizarrely, I'm waiting for my girlfriend to offer her opinion on what I should do - to my complete shock she got really into it at the weekend! Shouldn't cause any delays again, she's just really keen to have some input this last couple of turns (and she's out at a colleague's leaving do tonight).



I used to love playing strategy games together with my girlfriend, we did that for years. Unfortunately the beautiful days are over and I'm living alone again since a couple of months... so you only have to contend with one brain here http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif


Reacting to a few comments in this thread:


Though, now that I think about it, Abysia has quite a few wide-open provinces against Ermor's flank. I've been betrayed?



And yet, when you tried to move into one of those "wide-open" provinces you got soundly beaten... wonder how come? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif


I would heed Amhazair's warning about Provincial Defense, though



Let's put it this way: In the early stages of this war I had beaten his armies, and moved my entire force (45-50 Abyssians) into an empty province. Result: 5-ish surviving abyssians. My offensive stalled a bit after that one http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Ermor has no desire for a war with Abyssia



Obviously. Who in his right mind would want war with our mighty nation.


Yay for dates



Amen to that! Have fun.

[UninspiredName]

I'm also sorry for holding everyone up. For a while there my internet wouldn't stay up for more than five seconds at a time... Back to normal now, though.

[UninspiredName]

And yet, when you tried to move into one of those "wide-open" provinces you got soundly beaten... wonder how come? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif


1: Because Call of the Winds is frickin' useless against heavilly armored units. Even five of them, and 2: Because you're good at predicting where I'll move and having an army there beforehand.

[llamabeast]

In the South, the barbaric cave-beasts Agartha made a brave but futile assault on the sacred soil of Ermor. They attacked on two fronts, and briefly they were at least partially successful.

Many brave men in the local militias gave up their lives to protect their homes. To the east, the militiamen were victorious, and fought off a band of human cave-dwellers. But on the west, Agartha brought almost fifty ancient cave dwellers. They towered above the local legionnaries and butchered them with few losses.

Then the wrath of Ermor descended. Within a month an army struck back. Every one of the ancient ones was cut down, as were all of the Agarthan mages and priests travelling with them. Only six human cave-dwellers escaped with their lives. Ermorian losses numbered a mere single mortal, plus some small number of easily replaceable undead. They shall rise up and fight once more.

Civilization has prevailed. Now the Agarthans shall pay for their crimes...

[Amhazair]

Kragon stoon on a hill overlooking the Pythian capitol. Finally, after months and months of warfare victory seemed to be close at hand. After Pythiums surprise strike into the heart of our lands was repulsed he had expected to overcome the small human nation quickly, but they had shown surprising resilience. The shame of loosing his entire army to provincial levies, no matter how numerous or well-organised they were, still hurt him to his bones. And even worse than his shame, it had taken months to rebuild the army to it's previous size.

But now then, finally, after months of maneuvring on the wide fields of this region, he had commited to a new asault, sweeping aside the enemies defences with sharp steel and a barrage of fire spells cast by the mages and priests under his command. On the fields between him and the city walls the smoke still rose to the skies, darkening the setting sun, and raining a fine rain of ash upon the doomed city.

Yes, Pythium had shown remarkable resilience, but now this war was finally close to an end. Hopefully...

[llamabeast]

UninspiredName, following your comments on the in-game messaging: I found the same thing. This is only my 2nd MP game, but my first one taught me hugely more than all the SP games, and was much more interesting. I built huge armies - and got completely toasted by the first opponent I met, because I hadn't realised how much potential there was for cunning, using magic and so on. I never won a single significant battle the whole game, but I learnt loads. I think MP's definitely the way forward. I look forward to meeting a hardened opponent in the other two games we're both in!

[llamabeast]

Or rather, I mean a hardened player who may be an opponent or an ally and will hopefully be an ally! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[UninspiredName]

I stole your nation, it's the least I can do. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Cerlin]

I think most of us are playing in at least one other game together and I had fun with all of you. This was my first multi player game as well and Ermor definatly taught me some new tricks that I need to defend against, ow. It was educational to say the least!

[llamabeast]

Er, what's with the past tense guys? It's nowhere near over yet!

[Cerlin]

Oh it isnt over but I AM being pushed into the water, and I do not want raisin toes...

[Amhazair]

Well, Uninspired name, in case you're intrested, The AI remnants of your nation managed to hire 2 mercenary companies on one side of the (tiny) bit of land they had left, at the same side I attacked out of your former capitol into the other side... I fully expect them to advance into Pythium and lay siege to the city again http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Even if you stopped playing yourself, you continue to be a pain in the *** http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

(And the PD didn't diminish either, I can't split up my army to take two provinces at once http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif )

It was fun playing with (against) you. And you'll have the benefit of being quite unforgetable to me, since you're my first ever multiplayer war. I'll see you again in some other game soon I suppose.

[Amhazair]

Say, guys,

What are we going to do with this game over the holliday period? I'll certainly be missing one turn, and quite possibly two over christmas, I can imagine some of you might be even worse off?

Since the game is on autohost I suppose the turns will keep going wether we like them to or not, so if you just want to keep playing as we were, and tough luck to the ones who can't play that's fine by me. Alternatively we could either agree not to play x (x depending on our respective schedules) number of turns, wich means that we'll all have tons of money lying about when we come back, or, as an inbetween solution, that we play our turns when we can, but with a 'gentlemans agreement' not to launch any assaults on absent players.

What do you think? Either way works for me.

[UninspiredName]

Thanks for the update. Good to know I'm still being a pain. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Cerlin]

Well as long as Im allowed to fight for my capital and build up underwater and kill some neutrals Im ok. Im at a desperate point right now haha

[Amhazair]

Huh? For some weird reason none of my orders from last turn got carried out. My armies didn't move, my searchers didn't search, my recruitement never happened...


blegh, this sucks :-(

[llamabeast]

Man, that's pretty annoying. Would you like me to miss my next go? So long as you don't attack me!

[Amhazair]

Nah, not your fault... just do your thing.

And then, if you win, I'll never admit it was a legit win, and claim you only could beat me cause the computer screwed me over http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[llamabeast]

Aaargh Agartha, I can't believe you beat me!

So, for those of you who aren't Agartha - I broke the walls on his capital, and attacked. He didn't have many men really, so it looked like an easy victory - but somehow I lost! I think what happened (do you think the same Cerlin?) was that my legionaries couldn't fight properly because it was dark (I hadn't realised it was dark). So they just clogged up the gateway while Agartha's 8-or-so priests systematically banished the rest of my army. Grrr. Next time Cerlin... next time.

[Amhazair]

I actually had a scout there... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

My assesion of the situation when I saw the armies arrayed at the start was that he stood a rather decent chance to beat you (unless you pulled some nasty magical trick), partly, as you said, because of the darkness, but also because of those tough prot 22, unbreakable statues (and somewhat less tough, but equally unbreakable claymen) that would have you standing in the gateway forever, while the castle arrows and spells rained down upon you.

(note, btw, that those statues didn't have darkvision either - they should have imho, but anyways - so between your troups and them darkness didn't matter much. The couple of men Agartha had did benefit form it though, and probably lasted a bit longer and killed a bit more because of it.)

[Cerlin]

Haha that was an AWESOME last stand! I was trying to to summon as many troops as possible. That damned spell that steals sacreds was horrid tho, really hurt my numberes in all the battles. I was hoping that it would at least kill one army, thats the best I could hope for this late in the game. It was good learning for the future, I've never had such a good battle for a fort as agartha. I think the reason is most random maps do not have Mountain provences, which are the requirement for cave forts.

[UninspiredName]

I thought Agartha automatically got a Cave fort...

[Cerlin]

cave fortress for the main provence, but to build them you need mountains. which builds only cave forts http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[llamabeast]

Guys, if any of you happen to see this before you get the new turn file - any chance you could send me the last one? My girlfriend wants to see it and I forgot to save it.

About christmas - what I suggest we do is imagine there's a maelstrom coming. At some point soon, all units will be unable to receive orders for a month. If you have a turn and you know you won't be able to have another one for 24 hours, send a message to the other players saying we should all miss the turn. Then if we start a turn and get that message, just don't do anything.

I should easily be able to play over christmas, except for christmas day itself, when I imagine I will get glared at if I slope off to do a turn.

[Cerlin]

Well I am almost dead but yes, If we need to take a turn off just let me know.

[Amhazair]

Well, a bit too late to send you an ingame message anymore, as I won't be able to play the current turn ;-)

I'm spending christmas at my parents, and will be back home late tomorrow night (Belgian time) wich means, within 24 hours.

Merry Christmas to all http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Amhazair]

This actually was about two days ago, but with all the christmas stuff I didn't manage to write it before...



The curved knife hung perfectly motionless in the pre-dawn stillness, waiting, raised high in the old and wrinkled, but unshaking, hands of Astaroth, dragon of the faith. The flickering flames of the holy brazier standing in front of him set his shadow moving amongst the holy statues behind him.

In that interminable moment right before sunrise the army stood arrayed in front of the altar, holding it's collective breath, their attention fully focused on the scene in front of them: the dagger, the brazier, the priest.. and the stunningly beautiful maiden lying on the altar.

Then, at long last, the first ray of the raising sun set the dagger ablaze, and it descended in a perfect arc, connecting with the vein visibly pulsing in the maiden's throat. So perfect the cut was executed that the life blood streaming from the wound, the fire fuelling Abysia's citizens, all landed upon the holy brazier. The glowing coals roared to life, an unnaturaly fierce flame leaping from the brazier, roaring the gods approval of the untainted blood. "BAEL'FIR!" the crowd chanted as one, "BAEL'FIR!" the echos reverbrating from the valley walls a mile off.

At the front of his army Kragon smiled a little smile. Astaroth might be old, but he was nowhere near senile yet. Not only had the sacrifice been performed with utter perfection - Not an easy task, since this was the first time in a couple of decades Abyssia had felt the need to send this ultimate plea of help to their god, only dim childhood memories had guided Astaroth in his recreation of the old ceremony - he had also chosen his victim with care: All soldiers had felt sorry for her, waiting for the dagger to fall, and their anger, their outrage for the loss of this fine woman, this dancing flame, would be skillfully canalized by their commanders, fanning the flames burning in their hearts, fuelling their impressive performances on the batllefields, untill they were finally quenched in the blood of our enemies.

He allowed the chanting to go on for some time, and then gave the order to march. The proud Abyssian army struck out due east, towards the bleak and desolate plains of Ermor. Such a fine army this was! Surely not even the cold plains, and even colder hearts of their enemy could stop this army. Surely not.

[llamabeast]

Amhazair, you're a lucky boy, I got home to take my turn about a minute after it hosted! Aargh! Still, I think I was quite lucky and nothing really bad happening, apart from you invading all over the place again. Stupid devils.

Cerlin, this must be getting to be a really strange game for you. I don't think you can really do that much, unless I'm underestimating your cunning, but man are your sea provinces hard to take! I just can't match your shamblers in the water! You have so many of them and none of my magic really works in the water.

[Amhazair]

A minute... damn that sucks.

I was quite sure you had missed your turn from looking at your (lack of) activity, but I started doubting it when I noticed, amidst the barrage of returning 'random' events raining down on my capital that I had also been struck by an earthquake... seems that one was a real random event then http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

About Cerlin: It's in my best intrest he remains alive as long as possible, as you'd have a new flank to attack me on if he goes down, but I'm afraid I might dominion kill him sometime soon. I actually stopped blood sacrificing when I realised that http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[llamabeast]

Amhazair, you are one lucky boy. I can't believe you won that! That stupid earthquake! I hope you don't have enough gems to empower another one like that. At least he died on casting it. And if I'd just known that spell existed... maybe I could have cast Twist Fate or Body Ethereal on my communion. Although to be fair it would never have occurred to me you'd cast it, being as I didn't know you had earth magic. Next time...

So, 25 mages down, the battle goes on.

By the way, the only "random event" I've been casting on you is the unrest+60 one, the rest must just have been bad luck! I see you've got that unrest under control now, although all your population are dead. Muwahaha! Crucially you can build your lava warriors again though, which I was really hoping to stop.

Cerlin, I don't mean to be funny, but if you happen to be the last to take a turn, would you mind taking the next one as well? It would just keep the game going slightly quicker. Although come to think of it, maybe you staled, I'm not sure what time the timer ran out.

[Amhazair]

Phew, I'm so happy I finally found a way to hurt your mages, they had been causing me a LOT of pain... With hindsight I might have been better of sending in a couple less mages of my own, so the earthquake would have cost me less, but I didn't know how effective it would be (never used it before, SP or MP) Anyways, all in all that battle went more or less as expected, now I just have to find a way to gain as much advantage from it as possible. (as you still have an enormous edge in research) (oh, and btw, do you think etherealness protects you from earthquake? I would have thought that would be classed as magic damage, though I admit I have no evidence to base that on. )

As for having earth magic: my warlocks have 100% FEAB and 2x 10% FEAB randoms, so they can get as much as 3E without empowering or items (though only one in 6400 will get all 3 earth picks http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif ), and with earth boots (actually, I captured the pair I was wearing from you aaaages ago) and summon earthpower 2E is enough to cast the earthquake.

And the magical assault on my capitol: I've been getting 2 deadly disease events each turn for the past 10 or so turns, each killing 700 (when Abysia was still densely populate to 400 (now) people, and occasionally diseasing my commanders and troops. That seems quite a long shot to be atributed to bad luck, though I have to admit I searched the manual looking for the spell that did that, and I didn't find it, so I dunno what's causing it... do those bane venom charms of yours get reported to me that way too?)

In any case, I'm having tons of fun this game, I can't believe how long our war has raged on now without someome gaining a decisive upper hand. I love to hate you Ermor http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Amhazair]

I just played my turn, but I'm going home for the bachelor party of the guy my sister's going to mary this weekend, and I'll only be back by sunday early afternoon (CET), so unless one of you is kind enough not to play his until 3 hours before the deadline or so I'll be missing my next turn http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

But, on the bright side... My little sis is almost getting married http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[llamabeast]

Okay, I should be able to not upload my turn file until near the deadline tomorrow.

What's CET?

Amhazair, I have to know - did many of your people die of old age?

[llamabeast]

Bit of a problem - I played my turn, then clicked "Save game and quit", which says it won't upload the turn. But it lied, and uploaded it anyway. Poo. I can't work ut how to undo it, so I just hope Cerlin can avoid playing his turn too soon - is that possible Cerlin?

[llamabeast]

Problem solved, my girlfriend logged in and miraculously "un-uploaded" my turn file. Very odd!

[llamabeast]

Cerlin, I'm impressed at the tenacity of your shamblers throwing themselves against my walls. I must say, I thought you should have one at least two of the three attacks you've made lately - your men keep running away at the critical moment!

Seems like a real stalemate, this water situation. Your shamblers are dangerous, and it's very hard to spare an army to hunt them down with Abysia putting so much pressure on. Every time I've sent medium-sized armies in their losses have been so horrendous that I've just been forced to retreat (although once I was conveniently able to retreat into Abysia territory and attack him a bit). I'll get you in the end though...

Amhazair, about earthquake - in the manual it says it does mundane damage, so etherealness would work fine. And all the population death messages were indeed the bane venom charms on my black servants. I didn't realise they were that effective! Or that they'd give you messages. I thought your population dying off was because of your patrolling so heavily with such high unrest. So did they manage to disease many of your commanders? Good synergy with Burden of Time eh?

You're right, it is amazing how long we've kept fighting without either of us getting much of an advantage. Well, I keep on _thinking_ I've got an advantage, but it never quite works out in practice. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif I guess it's because you keep on doing things too! I always forget that the other person will also be working on cunning plans so they're a moving target. I also forget how damn good your Abysians are!

4 posts from me in a row - man, that kind of seems a bit sad. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Amhazair]

Don't worry, I keep thinking you've got the advantage too - wich doesn't mean I plan to roll over and die of course http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

The bane venom charms diseased quite a few mages, I reacted too slow to move them out of the province (thinking you were casting a random event, costing you lots of gems, yadda yadda). If I had realised what they were I could probably have patrolled them to death fast, but as it is they did really bad damage. Luckily I had been moving all the demonbreds I recruited closer to the frontlines immediately, where I could have them researching, and then, if I needed them they could reach any battlefield province in one turn, so you only got warlocks and their apprentices, but still...

Anyway, from my point of view, my big problem in my war against you has always been a lack of mages: first, I get into a war with Pythium, and I really had to use all my resources to kill him (hopefuly fast enough not to get swamped by you...), so I couldn't spare anything to build a second fort to build more mages in. Then, I capture Pythium, but the only non-capitol mages are both kinds of Anathemants. Those guys might be awesome priests and battlemages, but their research is not exactly stellar. Then your bane venom guys manage to disease half of my research squad, and now, to finish it of you cast a burden of time (to answer your question, 16 killed, 31 badly affected according to the message http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif ) and most of the mages (only the demonbreds are still fine) I still have left are now diseased... So, yes, I think you have the advantage http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif


On another subject: thanks for the effort to allow me not to miss the turn, it's really appreciated. The bachelor party was really fun, I didn't know most of those guys, as I've been living in a different city since my college years, so the going-out paths of me and my sister seldom crossed, but they were real fun... she's allowed to keep them http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif... and since it got quite early I decided not to bother to go to bed anymore (at my parents place), but instead to come straight back to my place, so I'm a bit sooner than expected... hope I didn't screw up too much with my sleepy-beer head http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif


And CET is Central European Time - or in my case Belgian time.

[Cerlin]

Well I am doing my best to tenaciously hold the waters and am attempting to mix more undead into my armies for the morale boost. I'll not be giving up any time soon, and a dominion kill will not happen just yet! to the bitter end I say! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[llamabeast]

Amhazair, what's happened to you? Looks like you might stale this turn.

[Amhazair]

I managed to knock over my cup of water and ruin my keyboard yesterday, just installed the new one http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Ah, well, I'll try to pull of one more surprise win, but it prity much looks like you just have to wrap this game up now anyway.

[Gandalf Parker]

Actually you can wash keyboards if you dry them fast (like with a hair dryer). Techs do it all the time.

This is era 2 game bl_oarless on port 8279?
If it does shut down, someone please PM me so I can quickly replace it with a new game. Otherwise it can take a couple of weeks for me to notice, and I dont read every thread here all the time.

[Amhazair]

Sure, we'll let you know when we finish, but I still intend to put up a heroic last stand (or two) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

About the drying and the like: I know it can be done, but without hairdryer in the house that meant opening the thing up, and I found out that I apparently hadn't any screwdrivers small enough to open up the inner parts. (I moved houses a few months ago, I had small ones before the move... wonder where they went) Anyways, the thing had served me well for over a dozen years (it has a wonderful form very suited to my hands I never managed to find again), so I guess he deserves his retirement. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[llamabeast]

I largely missed my last turn (49, I think) because I thought it was a bit unfair for you to be missing out on turns because of unfortunate water-related incidents. I still did a few mainly Agartha-related things, like building temples (I now have a lot of temples, doesn't seem to be helping a huge amount). Just in case you were wondering why none of my armies moved.

Amhazair, did you ever see the turn when your keyboard was broken, when my pretender killed 16ish of your mages with Rain of Stones? Must have been one of the most effective spells of the whole game, up there with your earthquake. I only wish I could take the credit - I'd never even heard of the spell, he was scripted to cast something else but he ignored me. Good decision pretender!

I can send you my turn file if you didn't get to see that turn.

Actually on the subject of powerful spells, Fog Warriors is proving incredibly effective. It just saved me from that evil earthquake trap of yours in Pythium, and I think it's won me the last couple of battles too, your armies have been clearly superior. Actually air magic has been generally very good, storm and mist were also really good for making your fire mages miss. Darkness is working well on the undead as well - again, there's no doubt your army would have beaten my skeletons if it wasn't for darkness. I've decided Alteration is awesome. I never used it before.

I'm hugely impressed you're still fielding such powerful armies with so little cash. I just can't get anyone together at all, I'm just saved by my mages. Have you been short of cash? I've been trying hard to starve you of it with Raging Hearts.

Cheers,

llamabeast

[Amhazair]

Heh, no, I totally missed the rain of stones incident I'm afraid. Lucky you for having a smart pretender http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

As for the cash, The turn after you first cast raging hearts on Pythium - pritty much forcing me to drop taxes to 0 -, wich happened to be the same turn you took a couple of provinces, my income was about 150g higher than my upkeep... Since that turn I didn't manage to buy much anymore...

Before that I had some ups and down on cashflow, but keep in mind that you probably had about 3 times as many mages to pay upkeep for as I did (rough estimate, but I don't think I'll be far wrong there) - and at no time did I even come close to even seriously consider saving up to build a new castle...

Well, time to go check out how mistform saved you from my earthquake.

P.S. I just took a look at rain of stones in the manual- If you have a way to protect your own mages (or just send in the one mage with a small bodyguard to cast it a couple of times and retreat) it looks really nice.

[Amhazair]

Crap, I thought I had given my earthquaker enough gems not too get too fatigued by the earthquake and escape again. Guess not http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Darkness is indeed very annoying too. Going by previous experiences without that darkness in this turn's battle I would have killed more or less all of your undead before being swamped by your skellie-spam, and loosing anyway. (but leaving you without an army)

[Amhazair]

The first rays of the morning sun found Cerberos standing on Pythiums city walls, as they had unfailingly done for the last year, ever since old age, diseases, and battlewounds had conspired to make it impossible for him to lead armies in the field any longer. But on this morning the weight of his 43 long, long years seemed to settle down on his shoulders heavier than ever before. Exactly as he did every morning he lifted his face up, letting the sun lend warmth to his old skin. How he longed to see once more, only once, to behold the sun in all it's glory, before lying down for a well-deserved rest.

But alas, it was not to be. His life would soon be ended, in total darkness, and so to would the life of his people end. Swallowed by the eternal darkness of the grave - and the even deeper darkness of eternal toil behind it. No, this was not a morning for happyness. Even though he could not see it, his other senses were more than aware of the vast horde of teeming undead laying siege to the city. The creaking and groaning of bones that should have been laid to rest long ago found their way to his ears from the fields below, the stench of death wafted up on the morning breeze, the very air tasted of death... and a supernatural chill seeped into his bones. Only a few nights ago blizzards had howled against the walls. Blizzards! In the middle of summer! In the heart of Abyssian lands! He should be sweating profusely under his priestly robes, not shivering in a morning chill.

A surer sign of doom there could not be. Even the streams of pure Abysian blood that had drenched the soil beneath the many altars since the starts of the sacrifices only a couple of years ago had apparently not brought them divine favor. Time and again the proud Abysian armies had stood against innumerable undead hordes sending hundreds upon hundreds of the lifeless abominations back to their graves by sword and by fire, only to be halted, turned back, and ultimately defeated by hundred upon hundreds more, supported by the most frightening battlemagics this era had seen. And now there was nothing left. Only one other companion remembered the glorious days of the war against Pythium, or even the first days of the war against Ermor. Just as old and as sick as he was - and only half a dozen Anathemants had stood up to replace the fallen. It was not nearly enough to even slow the tide of death anymore. Only ten! proud warriors still stood ready to defend the high walls of Pythium, most of the length being manned by hideous crossbred monstrosities summoned by blood magic in this hour of dire need.

No, this was not a good time to be alive, and he would gladly lie down on his bed never to rise again - were it not for the fact that after death would not come the blessed heat of the afterlife, but instead the merciless Thaumaturgs of the enemy...

One blessed moment longer he held his face up, drinking up the sun, looking to the host beneath him just as big and strong as ever, but then he turned away and started shuffling down the stairs, leaning heavily on the shoulders of the young kid helping him, tears flowing from his lightless eyes and evaporating upon reaching his cheeks...

[Amhazair]

Congratulations Llamabeast. I finally ran out of ideas to stop you, so I was planning to just throw everything I had left against you this turn - only to find out that you mopped things up so well last turn that I have nothing left to throw at you http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

I did everything I could while our war raged, but despite gaining quite a few successes I never felt that I could really threaten your powerbase. I'm quite sure that even if the strategic situation had allowed me to just march my entire army against your fortress in Feral Woods after I destroyed your entire army in the "Earthquake battle" in Pythium, that you would just have smashed me with your combined mage-power inthere. So it seems the world has to resign itself to an era of Undead rule. Once again, congratulations.

[Amhazair]

Come to think of it: Would you enjoy playing this game out till the bitter ending (or atleast untill you conquered all castles?) If so I'll just keep playing to the best of my abilities - as I did for the current turn. If you look at it at just a meaningless, boring drag, I'm happy to concede. Either way suits me fine.

[llamabeast]

I really like your story-thing Amhazair, nice one. Good way to end the game.

I don't think I'll really get any pleasure from mopping up your last provinces, I'm happy to accept your surrender there. Cerlin, are you willing to surrender too?

I really really enjoyed this game guys, thanks, it was excellent. I don't think I'd better start any new games right now, as I'm now in two bigger ones, but I'd like to play with you again some time - maybe you can get your revenge! PM me if you fancy another game any time, I'm sure I can be persuaded if you're keen, even if I am in a couple of others. Also my brother now has the game (bought it him for christmas, cunningly!) and he has a server, so if we want options other than those on Gandalf's machine, he's happy to let us use that. (although I think Gandalf's setup was actually ideal for us this time).

Cheers!

llamabeast

[Cerlin]

I'd surrender to you gladly it was a good battle. I'd be up for a longer game with you as well. I prefer em to be a little less fast, even if it is just so I can lose slower. It was great fighting guys thanks.

[Amhazair]

llamabeast said:
I really like your story-thing Amhazair, nice one. Good way to end the game.





Did you notice this Cerberos dude is the no1 in the hall of fame atm? And if I recall correctly at this moment he has: "lost an aye" "lost his other eye as well" "diseased" "chest wound" and... something else. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

I think that qualifies as old and sick. And he has unequalled strength too http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif


Well, since we agreed to end it I'll PM Gandalf that he can take down the game. Once again, it was great fun, and althoug I'm in the same situation as you Llamabeast (2 big games going on atm) I'm sure we'll meet again.

P.S. I have a succubus, and you don't, so I consider myself the moral victor http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[llamabeast]

Ah no, I hadn't seen the hall of fame for ages. 105 kills! Was he a mage? That's quite impressive.

Good point about the succubus. I concede. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Cheers!

[Amhazair]

He was an Anathemant salamander, so actually my lower level mage-priest (2F2H). He somehow, from the very early days, managed to kill more than his Anathemant Dragon (3F3H) superiors. I blame it on a bad childhood or something, too much repressede anger http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif