Nuance - Winner: Void! (Finished)

[Velusion]

Nuance

Status Page: http://67.66.187.69/dominions3/stats.php?game=Nuance (pending)

Game Type: TCP/IP (static server)
Speed: 24 hours per host for the first 24 turns moving to 48 hours per host after that. Quickhost enabled.
Era: Middle
Players: 22 (all)
Start: Nations will be assigned when we are filled, or 72 hours – whichever is first. The game will start 48 hours after nations are posted.
Nation Selection: Random with exceptions (see below)
Map: 16.6 provinces per player pre-generated map (325/40 land/sea). Download here: http://67.66.187.69/dominions3/Nuance.zip
Victory Conditions: 240 out of 365 (~66%) provinces controlled, or the surrendering of all other players.
Hall of Fame: 15
Renaming: On
Everything Else: Defaults
Masterpass: Enabled
Length: If you aren’t eliminated this game might last 6+ Months. Be prepared!
Mods: Big-Game Mod here: http://67.66.187.69/dominions3/bgmod.zip

Abysia: Velusion
Ermor: Shovah32
Machaka: Hadrian_II
C'tis: Shuma
Eriu: Cainehill
Caelum: Salamander8
Arcoscephale: void
Agatha: tibbs
Ulm: Baalz
Pythium: Szumo
T'ien Ch'i: Digress
Marignon: Carlosib
Bander Log: Saint_Dude
Oceania: Zolharm
Jotunheim: Remmy
Mictlan: Yucky
R'lyeh: Roots
Atlantis: Zoshan
Pangaea: Honeybadger
Man: Tyrant
Vanheim: Fal

Nation Selection: Once the game is full I will randomly assign nations out. When signing up players may request up to THREE nations they DON’T want. These are nations you DO NOT want to play. Sign up in this thread.

After nations are assigned I’ll need you to email your pretender password to velusion(at)sbcglobal.net. This is because I’ve had issues with the Master Password working in the past AND so we can give your nation to another human player if you disappear. This is not optional. If you PM me your password make sure and include your email address if you would like to be included in the diplomacy email distribution list or want email notifications when turns host.

Once I have your password I’ll send you the ip/port of the server where you can upload your pretender. Once everyone is uploaded I’ll send out an email listing everyone’s email contact for diplomacy purposes and add you to the game turn email notification list (unless you specify otherwise). Then the game starts.

Quickhost will be enabled. The first 24 turns will be set to have a 24 hour autohost – so expect to do at least a turn a day for the first couple weeks. After that the timer will increase to 48 hours though it is hoped that players will normally still be able to play every 24 hours, with the occasional missed day. As turns take longer in late game this might increase further. As players get eliminated we can be more flexible with extensions and extended absences, but not in the first couple weeks.

The map has been tweaked to ensure (hopefully) that all players that start on land have at least four land neighbors and all players that start at sea have 3 sea neighbors. All the major seas are connected so that separated sea provinces connect to each other across straits (hence all seas that look like they should be connected are linked). All the larger landmasses are linked across the straits as well. If we do not fill, we will be using a smaller map.

Players who wish to surrender (resign) should simply let me know so we can find a replacement or turn the nation to computer controlled. If you will be unavailable for longer than a few days please let me know. Failing to do you turn twice a in a row without letting us know will get you put on AI. If I think you are missing too many turns (e.g. 3 out of the last 6) I will put you on AI. Once (*ahem* - If) I am eliminated I’ll rely on the remaining players to tell me when something needs done with the game.

General rules to follow in my games can be found here:
http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=d3maars&Number=507308&fpar t=&PHPSESSID=
I recommend you read them if you haven’t already.

House Rules: There are specific endgame related issues that apply to larger Dom3 games that I have come to dread. There will be a simple Big Game Mod that will be used for this game that will tweak a few end-game aspects.

These changes are not up for debate in this thread. If you don’t like these changes – please make another thread somewhere else to complain.

Large Game Mod Changes:
Arcane Nexus will cost 300 Astral Pearls to cast
Clam of Pearls will require a path 2 (instead of 1) in Nature Magic (Water will stay the same). This will increase the cost to forge.
Fever Fetishes will require a path 2 (instead of 1) in Fire Magic (Nature will stay the same). This will increase the cost to forge.

If we get less than 14 people we will not use this Mod.

[Velusion]

I'm not taking Ermor or Machacka

[Hadrian_II]

I'd like to join.

I dont want Man, Arco and Pangaea.

[Shovah32]

I guess im in too.

No agartha, mictlan or tien chi please.

[Shuma]

Finally got in a game in time! Any non-water nation is fine.

[Fal]

I'm about to be slaughtered in the megagame, so I'm in. No Oceania, Atlantis or Tien chi please.

[Salamander8]

I'd like to join.

No Eriu, Man, or Pangaea please.

[void]

i'm in. no agartha, tienchi and mictlan.

[tibbs]

I'll take any nation. Sign me up.

[Baalz]

I'll play anything but MA Mictlan.

[Velusion]

This game will start 72 hours from the time the game was announced. If we have less than 18 players a new map will be used (similar ratio/proportions) after nations are assigned.

[Jazzepi]

I'd like to play anything but T'ien Ch'i as long as you're below the threshold for the mod. (IE, I don't want to play with the mod).

Jazzepi

[Digress]

I am also likely to be an early casualty in the "Big Game".

Would like to avoid getting C'tis, R'yleh or Pangaea.

[Szumo]

I'm in. No Tien Chi, R'lyeh, Ulm please.

[lch]

Velusion said:
Large Game Mod Changes:
Arcane Nexus will cost 300 Astral Pearls to cast
Clam of Pearls will require a path 2 (instead of 1) in Nature Magic (Water will stay the same). This will increase the cost to forge.
Fever Fetishes will require a path 2 (instead of 1) in Fire Magic (Nature will stay the same). This will increase the cost to forge.


Just curious, but why didn't you up the cost of the Blood Stone aswell? An increase in the Earth path might be a good idea, because blood slaves are easy to come by in late game while Earth gems might be a bit more limited.

[carlosib]

Please join me in http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif
I'd like to avoid water nations please.

Thanks

[Saint_Dude]

I would like to play.

No Arco, Atlantis, or Oceania please.

[Zolharm]

I'd like to join.

No ULM, MAN, or MICTLAN.

[Remmy]

signing up. i'll play anything

[Yucky]

I'd like to join this game, please.

I'd rather not play as Eriu or R'lyeh since I'm playing them in other games.

Thanks.

[Roots]

I'm a nub but I'll take any. Thank you.

[Zoshan]

If you have room sign me up pls. Following is a list of nations I would not like to play. They are listed in order of least liked to ones that if im stuck with them I could proly play them but really dont want to.

1. Shinuyama
2. Bander Log
3. Eriu
4. Vanheim
5. Man

Ok thanks

[Velusion]

Sign up for this game is going to be closed by the end of today! If you want in, now is the time to join!

[HoneyBadger]

I'll take whatever's left after only one thing is left

[Velusion]

HoneyBadger said:
I'll take whatever's left after only one thing is left



Glad to have you! Let's be friends in this one ok? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Fal]

Post deleted by Fal

[HoneyBadger]

ofcourse we're friends http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Tyrant]

I was hoping an early age would start, but I guess not, so i'll join. No Oceania, Ryleh or Caelum please.

[Cainehill]

I'll join - no Ulm, Abysia, or Oceania.

[Micah]

Ich, about the blood stones - Middle Era doesn't have much blood, the only nations with it are Pan, Abysia, Jotunheim, and Vanheim. Of those Abysia and Pan are cap-only blood units, and the magic diversity of both of them sucks, I think it's good to leave them access to a gem-producing item given how many gems they miss out on not site searching early-game, and neither has access to clams or fetishes.

Jotunheim doesn't have any earth mages, so they're looking at having to find indy E mages to make them, and Vanheim's blood hunters are 280 gold and only have a single point in the path, so they need dousing rods to get any sort of decent income. Both of these nations also require a blood empowering on an earth mage to get the required paths.

Basically MA doesn't have any nations that can abuse them, so they don't need to be nerfed. LA Marignon, on the other hand...

Anyhow, dunno if that's Vel's reasoning or not, but the difficulty of getting the stones in MA seems to balance out the fact that they're now a better deal than clams. Upping the earth requirement would hurt Abysia a lot since they have weak earth magic, and they shouldn't take a hit to their already limited late game, IMO.

[Velusion]

Nations have been assigned! The only nation left without a player is Shimuyama.

So now I need everyone to send me the password for their pretender - at which point I'll reply with the IP/port and you can upload your pretender. BTW you don't have to have your pretender designed before you send me the password http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.

Also if you want to be on the email mailing list for notifications please include your email with the password (even if I already have it).

Thanks!

[Zoshan]

I just sent you a pm with my password. thanks

[Salamander8]

Pretender sent.

Edit:I forgot to make the pretender passworded so I'll have to redo her and use the password and resend her when I get home from work tonight.

Oops. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/redface.gif

[Shuma]

Woops, looks like I did the same thing. I'll send a new one later today.

[HoneyBadger]

I'm sending mine in today, too, infact it should be in shortly

[Fal]

uploaded, ready to destroy those who dare to stand before me..

[Salamander8]

Resent my pretender with the password this time. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/redface.gif

[HoneyBadger]

Velusion, I'm going to send you what I want for my Pretender through a private message again, just to make sure I get in in time.

[Cainehill]

48 hours from posting? SO pretenders are due ... Saturday morning? Ah, the joys of switching shifts - I'll see what I can do.

[Hadrian_II]

i sent my password, but i did not yet get the port to upload the pretender.

[Velusion]

Hadrian_II said:
i sent my password, but i did not yet get the port to upload the pretender.



Must have missed it somehow... could you send again?

[Velusion]

Cainehill said:

48 hours from posting? SO pretenders are due ... Saturday morning? Ah, the joys of switching shifts - I'll see what I can do.



I'll push it back to Sun Morn if need be...

[Shovah32]

Beware the Chuck my friends..... Beware the Chuck.

[tibbs]

Argatha uploaded. All fear the fat slow ones!

[Velusion]

I still need (or couldn't find) passwords from the following:

Zolharm: Oceania
Remmy: Jotunheim

I know Cainehill is working on his and Hadrian will resend his info.

[HoneyBadger]

I'd just like to mention that finding a decent global strategy for LA Pan was diff-i-cult! They're not weak by any means, but they also aren't suited to the game I'm used to playing.

This is going to be a lot of fun!

[Szumo]

HoneyBadger said:
I'd just like to mention that finding a decent global strategy for LA Pan was diff-i-cult! They're not weak by any means, but they also aren't suited to the game I'm used to playing.

This is going to be a lot of fun!



That must be double hard, as the game is Middle Era not Late http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Fal]

HoneyBadger said:
I'd just like to mention that finding a decent global strategy for LA Pan was diff-i-cult! They're not weak by any means, but they also aren't suited to the game I'm used to playing.

This is going to be a lot of fun!



I totally agree with you though, LA Pangaea is probably the hardest nation to play, nonetheless it's also one of the most powerful, particular in later stages of the game.

[Velusion]

HoneyBadger said:
I'd just like to mention that finding a decent global strategy for LA Pan was diff-i-cult! They're not weak by any means, but they also aren't suited to the game I'm used to playing.

This is going to be a lot of fun!



Second Szumo - this is a MA Game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif. Did you get the right pretender?

[HoneyBadger]

ooops

[HoneyBadger]

I don't know why I thought it was Late, but no I'll keep the Pretender that I have, thank you http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Hadrian_II]

Velusion said:

Hadrian_II said:
i sent my password, but i did not yet get the port to upload the pretender.



Must have missed it somehow... could you send again?



resent it, your email is still Velusion at sbcglobal.net?

[Velusion]

got it!


Hadrian_II said:

Velusion said:

Hadrian_II said:
i sent my password, but i did not yet get the port to upload the pretender.



Must have missed it somehow... could you send again?



resent it, your email is still Velusion at sbcglobal.net?

[Cainehill]

Velusion said:

Cainehill said:

48 hours from posting? SO pretenders are due ... Saturday morning? Ah, the joys of switching shifts - I'll see what I can do.



I'll push it back to Sun Morn if need be...



Sunday morning would be awesome - just got home from the new shift. I can have a password to you tomorrow, and the pretender Sunday morning - haven't ever played Eriu, else I could do it quicker.

Thanks!

[Hadrian_II]

Velusion said:
got it!




im still missing the port, did you send it to me?

[Velusion]

Its 11123

[Hadrian_II]

thx

[Velusion]

Just missing Remmy's password. I'll PM him.

[Saint_Dude]

Tis Sunday morning. Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?

Huh? Huh? Are we?

[AreWeInsaneYet]

The better question, still, is Are We Insane Yet? Are We Insane Yet? Are We Insane Yet?
Huh? Huh? Are We? Teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee~~~~~ http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Velusion]

We are just waiting on Cainehill and Yucky to upload pretenders. I haven't heard back from Remmy so I assume he is a no show.

[Cainehill]

Sorry - rough weekend. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif I have a pretender in, but may tweak as long as someone else hasn't got theirs in.

[Yucky]

Sorry for the delay, pretender is uploaded.

[Cainehill]

And I got my update in, so we should be ready to roll, minus Remmy.

[Velusion]

We have started!

[Digress]

Having some difficulty kicking off - keep on getting message "bad packets from server".

Will keept trying.

[Velusion]

If you are getting that trying to download the map tryy downloading the map from the link provided in the main post first...

[Digress]

Did that immediately after posting. Downloading the map has resolved the issue and the turn is in. Thanks.

[HoneyBadger]

My turn is in too.

[Saint_Dude]

Cursed scale bug.

I paid for order 3 and growth, and took heat scales (since the monkeys like it hot). All of which disappeared in turn 2. Needless to say, the bean counters are not happy, as there are significantly fewer beans to count. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Hope it resolves shortly.

[Cainehill]

it would be _SO_ nice if Illwinter would try and fix that bug. Not to mention the bug where immortal pretenders in friendly dominion suffer the usual non-immortal death penalties.

[Szumo]

Try preaching in your home province with a high level priest. That's what helped me get my +3 order back in Jaguar game, i think.

[Saint_Dude]

The curious thing about the scale bug is that it took away everything that is positive about my scales and left behind everything that is negative (and there were plenty of negatives to balance the positives).

I wonder if this is how it usually works. Does the scale bug only affect good scales? Or does it also affect bad scales, and I just haven't noticed?

[Fal]

Scale bug here too...@$#P%*!

[HoneyBadger]

Ok, I took my turn (with only 4 hours to spare, sorry but it was a rough night) and now it won't let me take the next one? Is this because the game hasn't hosted or something?

[Velusion]

fixed!

[HoneyBadger]

woo!

[Fal]

Huh?! did I miss a turn? sorry for stalling, I completely forgot about the game. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Saint_Dude]

Heh,

Not going to last long in this one. Still waiting on the scales to materialize, and now being blitzed by Ermorian shadow vestals with a nasty f9/s9 bless.

[Shovah32]

I killed(all pd) 3 markata and an atavi chieftan and my 7 shadow vestals(1 of whom is blind) only killed the chieftan. I wouldnt really say your being blitzed by my vestals.

[Saint_Dude]

Well that did it. The monkeys are toast.

The original 7 vestals brought along a few friends (another 32 vestals and some chaff) and killed off our main army which had been reduced to capital defense. Nothing left but a few researchers.

Brain and his prophet Pinky have been thwarted. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Baalz]

The forges of Ulm require gems, and we're prepared to pay well for them. 25gp per fire gem, 20gp per astral, and 15gp for any other gems. I expect this offer to be ongoing, though I may not have the gold on hand immediately depending on the timing and interest.

[HoneyBadger]

Hey there's something wrong with the game-it's saying I staled, and I've taken my turn every time, on time?

[Velusion]

Well it hosted twice on one day yesterday at 7:30am and again at 10:00pm. People taking their turns quickly yesterday!

[HoneyBadger]

That may be so, and I understand that, but I've been taking one turn every twenty-four hours, which was my understanding as to the timeframe of the game-namely that it resets on a specific time .

Is there any way to fix this at this point? I'd really rather not lose an entire turn because the game's hosting at weird times-I work 10 hour shifts 4 times a week, and I can't do anything to avoid that.

[Hadrian_II]

HoneyBadger said:
That may be so, and I understand that, but I've been taking one turn every twenty-four hours, which was my understanding as to the timeframe of the game-namely that it resets on a specific time .



After every hosting, you have 24 hours to get your next turn in. If you always play the same time, and if you are the last before the host, then if you get in one day 5 min later than the last, you will go to stale because the game hosted 5 min before (because then was 24h after the last host).

[Velusion]

HoneyBadger said:
That may be so, and I understand that, but I've been taking one turn every twenty-four hours, which was my understanding as to the timeframe of the game-namely that it resets on a specific time .

Is there any way to fix this at this point? I'd really rather not lose an entire turn because the game's hosting at weird times-I work 10 hour shifts 4 times a week, and I can't do anything to avoid that.



Once all the turns are in, the game autohosts. If everyone happens to turn everything in under 24, then it hosts. 24 hours is only the longest it will wait between hosts. Provided you always check in within 24 hours of each host, you should be fine. Also I can always add someone to the email notification (not sure if you are getting them in this game or not) that way you know exactly when they host.

This is pretty standard however - all games that say "quickhost" use this option (i.e. every MP game that I know of). Can't roll back now without a lot of hassle to players who have already taken their turn. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

You never noticed this is perpetuality because there are so many players that someone almost always stales - hence the full 24 hours are always used.

P.S. I know when I first started playing MP I got screwed by underestimating how fast people can play thier turns and waiting 36+ hours to check back, so you aren't alone in the experience. Like you I work 4x10.

Also the game will switch to 48 hour hosting on turn 24, which will make it easier for people with busy lives.

Hope that explanation at least clears things up - even if it doesn't help much with the stale. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Cainehill]

Velusion said:
Well it hosted twice on one day yesterday at 7:30am and again at 10:00pm. People taking their turns quickly yesterday!



Eh - if it's 24 hour quick host, it should never host twice in the same day with someone staling. Not sure if this is when Badger staled - but if it is, sounds like there's a combination of quickhost _and_ fixed host going on.

People should _always_ have 24 hours with QH - it's always 24 hours from when the last turn processed, at least. You can't count on anymore than 24 hours, and it can be less than 48 hours for two turns - but there should always be at least 24 hours from when you turned in your last turn.

[Tyrant]

Cannot connect to Nuance

[Velusion]

crashed on turn end ... its back up.

[HoneyBadger]

I don't think I'm going to be able to play this game any longer. I am just way too busy right now, and although I understand the hosting situation, I need to be able to rely on set times that I can commit to. Right now, between work and home, my life is getting in the way, so if anyone would like to sub for me, please be my guest, as, at this point, I'm not going to be able to play the game regularly enough to avoid stalling.

[tibbs]

I think there is a substitute thread in this forum. You might have some luck finding a sub there.

[Szumo]

Pythium is interested in buying several Endless Bags of Wine, we'll pay a good price in gems. Send me an offer by PM if you can make them.

[Shovah32]

I cant connect(but can to other games), anyone else having trouble?

[Velusion]

Looks like server crashed when hosting. Its processing the turn now.

[void]

Looking for seller of Pearls
Do you have some pearls to spare? The nation of Arcoscephale is in a need of pearls!

Buying: Astral Pearls
With: 25G/per, or 1:1 at fire / air gems
Valid: until summer of the third year

[tibbs]

Argatha is buying/trading earth gems.

25 gold per gem.

1 fire gem for one earth gem.

[Fal]

Argatha, didn't we sign a NAP a while back? It seems you have attacked me without any warning.

[tibbs]

Fal said:
Argatha, didn't we sign a NAP a while back? It seems you have attacked me without any warning.



I believe you are correct. It looks like the mistake is on the part of our elderly recordkeeper, Snicklefritz. It appears that he mistakenly wrote "3 turn NAP" into the recordkeeping books instead of "NAP with 3 turn notice".

Our apologies. We will punish him appropriately.

Regards,
Argatha

[Fal]

no apologies needed, we will punish you appropriately.

[Shuma]

In other news, the brutal troglodytes of Ulm have breached C'tis' sovereign borders. May they be greeted with the warm embrace of pestilence and disease as they slog through to the Sacred City. May the brave temple guards slay for the glory of Ss'athra!

Also, anyone nearby is free to (ahem) help out. You will be rewarded with gems or items from our expansive magical emporium if so (requests welcome). Stop these agressors while you still can, they are rapidly gaining on the graphs!

[Salamander8]

Well this has gotten rather ugly on the frontlines with Marignon. I've only tried Caelum in small doses before and so far I just am not liking the way it works.

[Shovah32]

Staling is very bad http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif.

[Baalz]

Nation of Ulm is trading lizard skin boots. Bulk discount available.

I tell you what, make me an offer and perhaps it will be more profitable to take your gems than to bring civilization to your backward bogs.

[carlosib]

Salamander8 said:
Well this has gotten rather ugly on the frontlines with Marignon. I've only tried Caelum in small doses before and so far I just am not liking the way it works.



The sight of 30 mammoths paralyzed before they can even get to their target is priceless http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

I've never played MA Caelum but i can't really see how to make it work. Their units seem to have huge weak points...

[Shuma]

An unsurprisingly brutal missive from a group of people that measure civility by the thickness of their armour.

My offer is to come attack our lands at your own expense. We'll see how well your famed armour protects you against the fevers of the marsh.

[Baalz]

So be it, let us measure the thickness of your capital's walls then. I find a naked broadsword makes for more civility than good armor, let us see if laying bare the heart of your nation brings civilization to you half men. May you one day find some small honor joining the Pangean half men in the coal mines to feed the mighty forges and help bring civilization to all corners of the world, ushering in a new age of prosperity for all true men. Sadly, I think you personally will not live to see that day.

[Velusion]

carlosib said:

Salamander8 said:
Well this has gotten rather ugly on the frontlines with Marignon. I've only tried Caelum in small doses before and so far I just am not liking the way it works.



The sight of 30 mammoths paralyzed before they can even get to their target is priceless http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

I've never played MA Caelum but i can't really see how to make it work. Their units seem to have huge weak points...



I saw that battle. It really isn't a good comparison of abilities as you had probably at least 3x the amount of gold/resources/leaders invested in your army compared to Caelum.

[carlosib]

Velusion said:

carlosib said:

Salamander8 said:
Well this has gotten rather ugly on the frontlines with Marignon. I've only tried Caelum in small doses before and so far I just am not liking the way it works.



The sight of 30 mammoths paralyzed before they can even get to their target is priceless http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

I've never played MA Caelum but i can't really see how to make it work. Their units seem to have huge weak points...



I saw that battle. It really isn't a good comparison of abilities as you had probably at least 3x the amount of gold/resources/leaders invested in your army compared to Caelum.



I'm still happy with the outcome even if it wasnt a "good comparison of abilities"... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/confused.gif
I'm a newbie and my strategy worked..let me enjoy it for a while (that's until you 3 finish me off in a couple of turns...)
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Velusion]

carlosib said:
I'm still happy with the outcome even if it wasnt a "good comparison of abilities"... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/confused.gif
I'm a newbie and my strategy worked..let me enjoy it for a while (that's until you 3 finish me off in a couple of turns...)
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif



Hehe - whoever said there was more to life than winning was probably a loser. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

You crushed him (and me) pretty good. Notice me running away? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Salamander8]

Dang mammoths are the only solid melee I have and they have such lousy MR, they got gutted. For size 3, Caelum troops are fragile and their propensity to dive onto enemy spears is disconcerting. High Seraphs seem plagued with afflictions too, even with growth. My prophet as an example, now has 5 of them spawned by an old age caused disease that has saddled him with being mute and feebleminded on top of other issues. My luck this game is terrible. At least it's been enjoyable anyway.

[Baalz]

The nation of Ulm has need of earth and astral gems. Our master smiths can make it worthwhile for anyone who wishes to trade for items, or we have most other raw gems as well.

[Hadrian_II]

Machaka is interested in buying death gems, we think about 30 would be good, but we will also trade smaller amounts. We can offer Air and Nature gems.

[Tyrant]

Salamander8 said:
Dang mammoths are the only solid melee I have and they have such lousy MR, they got gutted. For size 3, Caelum troops are fragile and their propensity to dive onto enemy spears is disconcerting. High Seraphs seem plagued with afflictions too, even with growth. My prophet as an example, now has 5 of them spawned by an old age caused disease that has saddled him with being mute and feebleminded on top of other issues. My luck this game is terrible. At least it's been enjoyable anyway.



In the hands of an experienced player Caelum is one of the most powerful nations in the game. Personaly i fear them as much as any nation, including the vaunted heims. But, they are totaly a caster country. Mammoths have there uses, but for the most part the purpose of their army ("winged rats") is to distract and pin the enemy forces while their top notch mages blow the bejezzus out of them with Falling Frost, Thunder Strike, Lightning, Orb Lightning and/or Ice Strike while spewing illusion spam, especially False Horror, to keep the enemy at range. This of course, does not work until till you have the research.

[Salamander8]

My High Seraphs are in fact set to thunderstrike many times before being forced to cast spells which is the only reason things have not been worse than they have been. My first couple battles with the mammoths trampling and my god zipping around with Awe+7 (after she casts thunderstrikes herself) backed by repeated thunderstrikes worked well.

The Prophet finally succumbed to his mass of afflictions this last turn. Now to get my god back...

[void]

Buying EARTH gems for our allies, and ASTRAL gems for myself.
Will pay at 25 per, up to 60 gems, price negotiable.
PM me if interested.

[Shuma]

Looking for Astral Gems in large amounts, willing to trade Earth, Fire or Water in return. PM me or contact in game.

[tibbs]

I would like to trade earth boots for a thistle mace.

Ichi
Argatha

[Velusion]

Anyone else see that large Abysia/Marignon battle?

Carlos-
That was a nailbiter battle. I think you casted about 80+ mind burns at me while I launched about 90+ Fireballs/Fireclouds. At one point I think half the battle field was on fire http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

All my troops are complaining about migraines...

[Szumo]

Kojusoki will be subbing for me till Sunday, August 5th. Any diplomatic inquiries in that time should be sent to him.

[carlosib]

Velusion said:
Anyone else see that large Abysia/Marignon battle?

Carlos-
That was a nailbiter battle. I think you casted about 80+ mind burns at me while I launched about 90+ Fireballs/Fireclouds. At one point I think half the battle field was on fire http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

All my troops are complaining about migraines...



Yes, lots of mages in that battle. Unfortunately mind burns didnt work as expected and a migraine was all your troops suffered. Do you think i should've gone with a massive Paralyze instead? Anyways, it all adds up to experience and i hope next game i'll do better. Well done Velusion!
Good luck! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[tibbs]

Argatha is looking for a Thistle Mace.

We have earth boots available for immediate trade. We will also trade gems or we can create other items of equal value.

[Velusion]

Hah!

You guys were too scared to send someone to go up against my 2F2H mage for the death match eh?

[Shuma]

I always forget about those Death Matches. At the start of the turn I'm usually psyched for some fun arena combat and by the end of my turn I'm mired in invasion details and production plans.

I need a Death Match reminder.

[Zoshan]

I found this on page 2 so thought I would give it a bump. Pls feel free to help out Atlantis they are under attack from the EVIL Oceania!!!

[Velusion]

I (Abysia) am looking to trade death gems away.

I'm looking for Astral/Fire/Earth or air boosters.

I'll trade gems 1:1 and pay the base cost for air boosters.

[Velusion]

After some troubleshooting it would appear that Tien Chi's turn file is corrupt and the turn cannot host.

Digress - you will need to delete the turn info in your Nuance game folder and completely redo your turn (do not resubmit the same turn). I reset the clock so you have 48 hours to do this.

Sorry about the delay people, but these things happen!

[Digress]

Sorry just saw the post - will go and get the turn in.

Bugger it went and put the turn in and crashed my computer - past experience tells me it has probably crashed things at your end too http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif

Damn that ability to multi-task.

You read the post while you are opening the game at the same time - but get to the critical bit as the turn is being resubmitted.

[Velusion]

K try it again Digress

[Baalz]

Selling lightless lanterns, 5 death gems apiece.

[tibbs]

Agartha has gone AI. My Pretender got beat down twice by Arco's army. I thought that 35 MR would stop about any magic attack but I learned that Solar Ray is not resistable.

[void]

As I have something important to attend tonight could you please delay the host for one more day?

[Shovah32]

Still in spain, found a net cafe. Did I get a sub or am I gone now?

[Velusion]

No sub http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

But then I don't have one for me either - not sure if I'll make the deadline or not.

When do you come back Shovah?

If void misses his then all of us in the SE with stale http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Shovah32]

Im coming home tomorrow. Should be home tomorrow night but probably cant play til the day after.
Stales really suck for me, I just started a war with caelum...

[Baalz]

just push the deadline back a bit I say...

[Shovah32]

How many times has the game hosted since wednesday? *gulp*

[Velusion]

I'll hold the game until tomorrow evening for you Shovah.

[Shovah32]

Looks like I managed to get my turn in but thanks http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.

We, the people of Ermor, are in search of earth gems. We need 50-60 and can offer death gems and/or a limited number of fire gems in exchange on a 1-1 basis.
Contact me by PM.

[Tyrant]

Looks like the server may have locked up when i triggered QH.

[Shovah32]

It does seem that way.
On another note the nation of Ermor(and our strange research priorities) has recently developed the ability to cast vengance of the dead with a number of its mages.
We are not a greedy people, and, with that in mind, we are willing to offer our services to the other nations of the world. If you are interested in purchasing some of our mages time please send me a PM.

[Tyrant]

Server's fine now.

[Velusion]

I'm looking for water gems. I can trade fire gems or blood slaves.

I'd be willing to trade away 6 fire gems for every 5 water gems or 10 blood slaves for every 5 water gems.

[Shovah32]

Ermor is trading away fire gems. We offer a 1:1 rate trading fire gems for earth/astral and a 6:5 rate when trading fire gems for death gems.
We have a reasonably large stock and income of fire gems and would consider setting up a permanent/long lasting trade.
Offers will be improved for bulk buyers.

[void]

Arco is buying pearls.
We offer all other sort of gems incl. blood slaves at a 11:10 rate, with the exception of slaves which is 20:10. If you are interested in gold, we can buy at 40g per pearl.
PM me for more details.

[Szumo]

Preparing to cast Arcane Nexus, huh?

[void]

Preparing to summon a horde of Seraphs to rescue people of the Pythium from grasp of the most-stupid-ever leader, I suppose.

[Velusion]

I'm looking to trade away my excess fire gems.

For every 5 water gems you trade me I'll give you 6 fire gems.
For every other type of gem you trade me I'll give you 1:1 exchange.

[Velusion]

I was asked to delay the hosting for 24 hours.

[Velusion]

Bah! Forget to set the Nuance clock back to 48 hours. I'm restoring the backup before it hosted.

[Shovah32]

Aww - but I want to play my next turn =(.

[Hadrian_II]

Shovah32 said:
Aww - but I want to play my next turn =(.



^^

[Velusion]

Has Vanheim staled twice in a row? If so I'll have someone flip him to AI.

[Digress]

Damn ... Vanheim's intervention had taken Ulm's increasingly heavy, armourclad boot off my neck (and pretty much every other body part http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif

[Baalz]

Well, FWIW Vanhiem is going to be conquered in 3-4 turns and is in a pretty hopeless position. This will free up the forces which got pulled off of my T'ein Ch'i conquest so I can return to finishing them off, which will free up the forces which got pulled off of my C'tis conquest so I can finally kill off that god forsaken miasma. Gah, I'm getting blue balls from not being able to finish a conquest yet and you tennatious bastards certainly take advantage of every distraction! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Shuma]

Yeah, good battles Baalz. I got tired of trying to run down those accursed Dragons, which I'm sure are being churned out faster than I can kill them. I was hoping for more of the army vs. army battles, which were tremendous fun.

This was my first game and I learned a lot against a worthy opponent. GL Baalz!

[Baalz]

Heh, yeah I wasn't a big fan of marching my heavy infantry into a heavy poison environment which is why I avoided the army vs army scenario after our first engagement (very well deployed, BTW). I did have a plan to flood you with mechanical men in addition to iron dragons to take your capital, but that got..er...sidetracked. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif I hate leaving people crippled - doing just enough raiding to keep them from getting on their feet but I kept getting attacked by new people! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Have to say though that was quite gratifying when I finally smushed a couple dozen of those damn sirussh...they were such a thorn in my side for so long. Very well played for your first game!

[Szumo]

Was this game on 24h timer?

[Velusion]

There was some mix ups because of a request for a 24hr time extension which I forget to change back so it hosted early and I had to revert and add an addtional 24 hours to the clock.

Currently though turns are on 48 hours (just changed it to the correct time).

[Baalz]

Cool, I wasn't sure how well that Djinn air drop would work, and indeed he's now diseased and almost dead (unlucky crossbow bolt :/), but that was just as hideous as I'd hoped. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif I wasn't sure how the math works out on a single 9f mage casting a 500 fatigue 5f spell holding a bunch of fire gems - I was quite worried he'd pass out on the first round and let your dudes walk up and slit his throat. Only 50-something fatigue though, not bad, and living fires is just scary with a fire mage that powerful...

[Szumo]

Anyone else having problems connecting to the server? I connect, get 'waiting for game info' message then the game hangs http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Baalz]

yeah I couldn't connect to any of Vel's servers this morning.

[Velusion]

Here is the deal:

DO NOT CONNECT TO THIS SERVER WITH THE 3.10 PATCH.

I will post here when the game is updated and you can connect with the new patch.

I will upgrade all the games on my server at once. The timer will be be taken off all the games and I will manually upgrade and host all of my games Wed (tomorrow) at about 10pm. Please do all your turns with the old patch (3.08)

Until the upgrade of the server please continue to use the old 3.08 patch.

Thanks!

[Shovah32]

Could somebody tell me if my turn is in please? I updated before reading this and my internet is going really slow so going back to 3.08 and then back up to 3.10 would be a real pain.

[lch]

*hint* *hint* (http://67.66.187.69/dominions3/stats.php?game=Nuance)

[Shovah32]

Oh shush, I don't use the stats page =/.

[Velusion]

Yep - I see your turn Shovah.

[Velusion]

When I first started noticing Vengeance of the Dead being cast on my pretender many, many turns ago - I gave the benefit of the doubt to other players, assuming (though I've never seen it before) that the AI nation I was fighting (Caelum) was casting it.

Then I noticed it was cast 5+ a turn on my pretender. I was extreamly skeptical it was the AI, but as I wanted peace I wasn't going to accuse anyone as I had NAPs with all my neighbors.

Then, a couple turns after the AI went under I got a few more. Still I ignored 'the villain".

About 4 turns ago I started to get them again, still I ignored them.

Last turn the villain decided to cast murdering winter on a province with troops. THAT I cannot not tolerate.

So, after considering the volumes of circumstantial evidence Naberius, Lord of the Pit and Devourer of Children, declares that Ermor has broken the spirit of the non-aggression pact and unleashes his demonic brethren upon the lands of the living-dead.

[Shovah32]

Ok no, just plain no.

Why the hell would I cast vengance of the dead on a god, in friendly dominion, who I have seen with well over 20MR?
Why would I cast a 50 gem spell requiring cold on a heat 3 nation?
Think what you like, and use any reason you like to declare war.
See you on the field of battle in 3 turns time?

[Velusion]

Shovah32 said:
Ok no, just plain no.

Why the hell would I cast vengance of the dead on a god, in friendly dominion, who I have seen with well over 20MR?
Why would I cast a 50 gem spell requiring cold on a heat 3 nation?
Think what you like, and use any reason you like to declare war.
See you on the field of battle in 3 turns time?



Why would anyone else? Arco is the only other player I border now... So either he did a hell of a job setting you up over the last 15-20 turns (targeting my pretender only when he is a province that borders your own so I'm not in my own domain) or it's you! You even advertised your Vengeance of the Dead services!

*tears up the violated NAP and points at Ermor* I call Shenanigans! The Legions of Hell already are on the march! Make your time! Count your days! All your base belong to us!

[Shovah32]

Well I'm incredibly annoyed. Mainly because this is the second time I've been attacked in a game by an 'ally' who has decided to disregard the NAP I had with them, although I know this happens.

Although this is the first time it has happened after that allied claimed "That it is perpetual and only ends by one of us giving notice to the other player and waiting the said amount of turns before commencing any hostilities".

Oh well - Have a fun game guys. I don't see myself surviving against abysian armies+most of the games blood uniques fully equipped.

edit: A small foot-note to apologise for the sulky nature of this post.

[Velusion]

Astral Corruption will only be up for approximately 5-7 turns.

To those that lost globals (minus ermor), my apologies. I seriously assumed the really valuable casters would be scripted to defend against horrors, etc.

[Shovah32]

New turn is up guys - My war isn't going too great.

Also, the Unquenched Sword and the Barrier are both free now.

edit: Vel got in before me with the new turn news but my comments about the artifacts still stand.

[void]

....only if you dare to forge.

HOLY [censored]. The sky turned bloody in a split second.

My global only survived because I've used a minor mage to cast it and then hide him in the end of world sitting in the tower, but countless other mages casting site searching spells and forging items are slayed in the taint. INCLUDING the mage who has been empowered so many times and who had forged priceless uniques in the past. Meanwhile, the unholy nation of pythium has invaded land of Arco JUST NOW and, after seeing his action, I tend to believe that he has something to do for the corruption - know this corrupted pythium, the slaughter will not go unanswered.

[Baalz]

Yes, my pretender was scripted for returning, but not thinking about it I've been pooling my astral pearls to harvest my clams. There go all three of my globals. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Velusion]

Shovah32 said:
My war isn't going too great.




You wouldn't think that looking at your army graph... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

I'm just waiting for your tartarians and undead hordes to come out and play.

[Shovah32]

The funny thing is that my global-caster didn't even die, my well of misery just got over-powered by the Astral Corruption casting before it killed off most of the other nations global casters.

You want my babies to come out and play? Well, maybe, but not yet. I'm going to try and either out-last your corruption or make you go back on your word to get rid of it.

[Baalz]

Nope, I overcast the WoM only to immediately die from a horror. I'm pretty sure I got screwed more by AC than everybody else put together.

[Shovah32]

Damn, Baalz, that's gotta hurt :/.

[Shovah32]

If anyone out there has blood magic, one of the heliophagi is now up for grabs.

[Velusion]

Ok... THAT was a lot of battle reports to read through...

[AreWeInsaneYet]

To the lord of Pythium,
Good use of Air Queen. That's a lesson I need to learn from...

[Hadrian_II]

AreWeInsaneYet said:
To the lord of Pythium,
Good use of Air Queen. That's a lesson I need to learn from...



explain http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Szumo]

Well, that combination of spells worked different than i expected (particularily Wrathful Skies seemed a waste), but it worked nevertheless. 3 Abominations, including the GoR-ed one, down and that's what counts.

Now i need to figure out what to do with Arco's Astral 14 Oracle, scripted to Master Enslave of course, that just snatched my 400-strong army, troops and mages altogether.

EDIT: 400 turned out to be low. See the screenshot.
EDIT2: Right screenshot added.
http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/uploads/558005-battle.JPG

[Szumo]

And Ulm decides to end the NAP, naturally. Not that that NAP was worth much with 50 of his spies inciting unrest in my provinces.

Btw, could we go to 72h timer perhaps? Those turns start to take a lot of time, and i have a quite busy period at work recently.

[Velusion]

I'll change it to 72 hours sometime after this host...

[AreWeInsaneYet]

Hadrian_II said:

AreWeInsaneYet said:
To the lord of Pythium,
Good use of Air Queen. That's a lesson I need to learn from...



explain http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif



Was helping my friend to do some strategy planning on critical seconds, and it's me whose suggestion lead to the birth and the destruction of an abomination raiding party. It's consisted of few abominations, some sprites and some HIs. For some reasons I thought the party is good enough to survive from most single SCs, but I was wrong. The party has been destroyed exactly the same scripting I used in Ludus, and the same Air Queen.
So I lost a bet. I now needs to get my nails done ... haha.

[Hadrian_II]

Szumo said:
And Ulm decides to end the NAP, naturally. Not that that NAP was worth much with 50 of his spies inciting unrest in my provinces.



If ulm declares war on you, arco has won the game.

[Szumo]

Yeah, i'm not evenly matched with Arco alone, and pretty sure when Ulm joins them it's just much a matter of time until Arco wins. Unless Abyssia is much stronger that i think, that is.

[Shovah32]

Well, that really sucks. Haven't checked my turn yet but I know it will be terrible due to me staling.
Guess I'll have to force myself to play whether I feel like I've just been hit by several trains or not.

[Velusion]

Shovah32 said:
Well, that really sucks. Haven't checked my turn yet but I know it will be terrible due to me staling.
Guess I'll have to force myself to play whether I feel like I've just been hit by several trains or not.



Actually it wasn't that bad...

[Shovah32]

It probably could have been alot worse. Particularly if you had planned on me staling(you could have done huge amounts of raiding and such).

[Shovah32]

My cause seems pretty lost and I don't have nearly as much free time right now as I would like.
Any objections to me going AI?

[Szumo]

Not from me, i'll propably be doing that myself soon enough.

[Baalz]

Nope, gg!

[Velusion]

GG Shovah!

[Shovah32]

Sorry Vel, but due to a request I wont be resigning just yet.
But I agree, its been a good game(and could possibly have gone differently with 3 extra turns of preparation... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif )

[Velusion]

Sorry guys- the game must have crashed after I left at some point.

It's back up.

[Velusion]

The game is crashing with a "no space left on bg" error. It is tied into my siege of Ermor's capital (If I rerun the host without sieging it doesn't error out on me). I'm going to post in the main forums because I thought this bug was fixed.

Not being able to take Ermor's capital after so much investment would be very bad for me... so I want to try and exhaust all possibilities in trying to fix this...

[Shovah32]

Would it be childish of me to laugh at this, even a little bit?

[Baalz]

Well, looks like Arco wins. No way everything else in the game can put up a credible fight to what Void is fielding. GG man. BTW, do you have a count on how many tartarians you've got? I think more than 40 dropped on me this turn. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Velusion]

yep I concede as well. congrats void!

[void]

after a raw count I believe I have somewhere near 50 tart commanders, and 15 or so as troops due to a lack of emerald, and no, it can't be that much like 40 last turn coz not all my tarts are able to teleport or to equip some flying shoes :p

Thank you, and thank you both for being reliable alliances in my first dom3 real mp http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif Hope to see you again in another game... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Szumo]

Gratz.