Marmoset - MA game with mod nations - full

[llamabeast]

Well, it's actually been a while since I've been in an MP game, so I decided to get a new one going.

This will be an MA game with the following mod nations:

Skaven
Arga Dis
Tomb Kings
Ulm Reborn (brought back from LA)

There's also be another three vanilla land nations (of the players' choices) and one water nation, for a total of eight players.

This game is aimed at players who've already played a game or two of MP dominions, although anyone is welcome.

We'll play on my modified version of Parganos, which I think makes the map a good deal fairer. I'll post the map and an uber-mod shortly.

Players:

Ulm Reborn - llamabeast
Tomb Kings - Reverend Zombie
Skaven - Digress
Arga Dis - sum1lost
Man - Alneyan
Bandar Log - Tyrant
T'ien Ch'i - DryaUnda
Abysia/Atlantis - Yucky

[Zeldor]

It is MA or LA?

[llamabeast]

Zeldor - check the title.

[Zeldor]

Oh, but how can you put LA Ulm into MA game? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[llamabeast]

What?

[Reverend Zombie]

I'd looooove to give Tomb Kings a try!!!

[Zylithan]

i think he was saying that he took the ulm reborn, which in some other version/mod was LA, and is putting it into MA.

i dont see any mention of Rl'yeh except for "one water nation"

[Zeldor]

Yeah, my mistake http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[llamabeast]

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

[llamabeast]

I've just posted the Parganos map in the mods subforum.

[lch]

I assume you have checked that these work together with 3.10? Only four nations with at least one of them reusing existing sprites might work, but as you know the latest patch puts grave limitations on games with mod nations.

[llamabeast]

Yes, it's very unfortunate that, we should talk to JK about it.

Anyway yes, I have tested it, and seems to work fine. Except on one occasion I hit an error (too high sprnbr), which I haven't been able to reproduce.

Do we have any concrete information on how many sprites can be included in a single game?

[Alneyan]

I'm not familiar with any of the mod nations, so I'm afraid I'll be boring and pick Man.

[Zylithan]

i like this thread name. also cheese.

[Tyrant]

Bandar Log please

[Nikolai]

Any chance you could let Sylvania? Nerf it, if need... but I always wanted to try it outside my gaming group.

[llamabeast]

Well, I would have liked to... but unfortunately at present Dominions throws up errors when you have too many mod nations in the game, which is very frustrating. I am optimistic it will be fixed in future - I will PM JK in fact. But since I am very keen to see the four listed nations in action I don't think I can include Sylvania, sorry.

Have you tried Skaven or Arga Dis? They are both very cool.

[Yucky]

I'd like to play, any nation.

Sounds fun.

[sum1lost]

If we can have a flexible delay-schedule, I'd like to play Skaven.

[llamabeast]

sum1lost - probably, yep, depending how much you expect to be away. Assuming its not every weekend or something, you're welcome to play.

[Reverend Zombie]

Some Tomb King pretenders say "no description available." (The sons of the sun, frex.)

Did you create any new pretenders for the mod?--I did not see any. I dl'ed the mod from the first link in the Tomb Kings mod forum thread--was that the correct location for the current version?

This is an awesome looking mod, btw!

[llamabeast]

Reverend - sorry for the slow response. I'm just working on a new update which includes two national pretenders - a F1D2 immortal mage (the First King), and an E1D2 one called the Gilded Scorpion (which is like a Bone Scorpion). It'll also add a couple of new heroes, although I may have to remove them from the mod we use for this game because we're pretty tight on sprites.

As far as this game goes - just waiting for two more players. Is anyone tempted by Arga Dis? If you've even seen a trailer for 300 - they're like that. Awesomely powerful Spartan hoplites, backed up with blood magic.

[llamabeast]

Okay Reverend, I've just uploaded the new version with the national pretenders. Let me know if you want to use one of them, otherwise I will probably strip them from the compiled mod for this game.


This is an awesome looking mod, btw!


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

[sum1lost]

Llama, do you have links to all the mods, please?

[llamabeast]

I probably should have linked them from the first post come to think of it. Well, I am just about to crawl into bed (I stayed up much longer than I intended working on a sprite), but you can find them all in Sombre's mod list. I will link them all, and hopefully compile an uber-mod tomorrow.

Am hoping one or two players will sign up overnight so we'll be full...

[sum1lost]

Actually, can I switch to Arga Dis? I just looked at them, and I think that I prefer them to the Skaven, as lovely as the skaven are.

[Reverend Zombie]

llamabeast said:
Okay Reverend, I've just uploaded the new version with the national pretenders. Let me know if you want to use one of them, otherwise



I think I'm going to go with the First King.

[AlgaeNymph]

I was away and probably missed my chance at Invisible Swarm 2. Is there any room for me as Tien Chi?

[Digress]

I would love to give the rats a go - if they remain available.

[Sombre]

Hmm. Arga Dis, Skaven and Tomb Kings all use a lot of extra graphics. I wouldn't be surprised if you ran into the sprnbr too high bug at some point.

I really like what you're doing here though, mixing mod and base nations. I'll be keeping an eye on this game. Any and all feedback for Ulm Reborn, Skaven and Arga Dis is welcome, as always.

[llamabeast]

Okay cool, we have 8 players.

Now, I was intending to have 7 land nations and 1 water nation. But looking at the nations we have, the Tomb Kings are the only land nation that can enter the water, and I'm not sure any of them have water magic, so I wonder if we might be better to not have a water nation and make the seas dead (no income). What do people think?

Parganos has 116 land provinces - I reckon that's probably enough for 8 land nations.

Yucky - do you have any nation preferences yet?

[llamabeast]

Okay, I've just attached the Marmoset multi-mod to the first post. It contains:

- Full Tomb Kings mod
- Full Skaven mod
- Full Arga Dis mod
- Full Ulm Reborn mod
- Marmoset.dm

Marmoset.dm is the mod we'll be using for the game. To my considerable pleasure it uses full versions of all of the other four mods - it took several hours to get that to work. The only thing missing is the pretender choice - the mod nations all have fewer pretenders available than they should do, in order to make room for all the national units and heroes. So, if the players of Skaven or Arga Dis find that they would like to use one of the missing pretenders, let me know and I'll stick that pretender back in.

[Reverend Zombie]

I don't see an attachment on the first post.

[llamabeast]

Yes, sorry. I put it up then realised I wanted to change something. It's up again now.

[Yucky]

I'll take Atlantis if you want a water nation, Abysia if not.

[llamabeast]

Anyone have any opinions on 8 land/7 land + 1 water?

I think I am leaning towards 8 land.

[llamabeast]

Okay, the game is created - you can start submitting pretenders now.

I am hoping to start the game last thing on Sunday, if people can get their pretenders in by then. To submit pretenders:

- Make sure you have the Marmoset mod (only) enabled
- Go to Game Tools -> Create a pretender god in Dominions
- Go to the savedgames/newlords folder in the dominions directory, and find your pretender file (e.g. mid_pythium_0.2h)
- E-mail the file to: pretenders[ at ]llamaserver[ dot ]net
- Crucially, you must have the game name 'Marmoset' in the subject line of your e-mail

[llamabeast]

Okay guys, I will assert my dictatorial powers as host and decie it'll be 8 land players and no water player. So Yucky, I guess that makes you Abysia.

If people need longer to design their pretenders by the way, just ask.

[sum1lost]

I'd like to know if Arga Dis has strong national heroes, please.

[llamabeast]

Yeah, I think they are quite strong. I looked quickly at them when I was doing all the copying and pasting earlier though - I think they are pretty good. I think there is some immortal warrior king, a vicious Gilgan called the Executioner and another one. You can also get ordinary Gilgans arriving as heroes.

[Yucky]

Pretender uploaded.

I'm trying to do a short/quick practice game and can't seem to get the map (Parganos(Llama's fix)) to work, I get a "Can't find a valid starting province" error. Any tips?

[llamabeast]

... well that had me really confused for quite a while, because I have been using that modified map file to start games for ages. It turns out the problem was in the image file - I had made the white pixels which Dominions uses to recognise province locations off-white, so it couldn't find any provinces at all.

Anyway, it is fixed now, so just download it again and it should work. Thanks for pointing that out to me.

[llamabeast]

I am thinking of having no score graphs for this game. Anyone have any opinions?

[AlgaeNymph]

llamabeast said:
I am thinking of having no score graphs for this game. Anyone have any opinions?



I'm neutral about graphs, but I am curious as to why not.

[Sombre]

Graphs do often lead to people ganging up on the first frontrunner and ganking him, particularly if he has gone for research and mages rather than vast armies.

[llamabeast]

Yep - what Sombre said. Also I've not played in a no-graphs game before and would like to try it.

[Reverend Zombie]

I favor graphs off as well.

[Alneyan]

My Pretender is in. I prefer playing without graphs.

You said the sea provinces will have no income; what about magic sites?

[Tyrant]

I joined up without looking at the mod nations 'cause I've been looking for the chance to play Bandar. Now that i've given the mods a looksie i'm really impressed! The sprites are terrific and the nation creative and cool. This will be fun.

I have no opinion on the graphs.

[llamabeast]

Alneyan - yes, no magic sites either. Which reminds me that the map I posted obviously isn't quite the right one, in that the seas aren't dead. But they will be in the game.

Tyrant - thanks! From me and I'm sure from Sombre.

Just waiting on Bandar Log now and we are good to go.

[Tyrant]

Pretender sent, good luck to all and thanks for hosting Llama.

[llamabeast]

Okay we are started! You should all have your first turns. Mod nation people - yours will seem to have been "resent" - this is just a first-turn oddity with me not having done a perfect job yet of getting the server to deal with mod nations.

Incidentally I'd quite like to encourage RP in this game - we have plenty of interesting nations after all. I thought Tuidjy's efforts in Neo Xekinima (http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=526583&page=1&view=collap sed&sb=5&o=&fpart=12&vc=1) were very entertaining.

[AlgaeNymph]

My message says I got turn 2, but it's a copy of turn 1.

[sum1lost]

I have the same issue as dyraunda

[Tyrant]

Me three

[Digress]

Make that fur ... sorry four.

On another note I hope to have a sub playing Skaven for the coming weekend (Friday through Monday)as I have been summoned on a fishing trip.

I will contact llamabeast with details ASAP - have sounded out a couple of possibilities but haven't had a reply yet.

[Digress]

Turn two has arrived and I have staled. Is this a shared experience ?

[llamabeast]

Ooh dear. Really? Let me check.

I seem to be doing well on the bungling at the moment http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif I will rehost it if it's staled everyone anyway. Hang on...

[llamabeast]

Gaah, yes, same here. I will just rehost it...

[llamabeast]

Okay, fixed! Sorry guys.

[Digress]

I have had no luck finding a replacement/sub for the next four or so turns.

I will be heading off bush tomorrow morning and will be away from a computer for 72+ hours.

I will check forum and e-mail first thing tomorrow (my six month old son should ensure it really is first thing) and send llamabeast any good news on the sub front.

Any thoughts ? (I am not averse to being subbed permanently)

[llamabeast]

Digress - no worries, if you can't find a sub we will just wait for you to get back.

[Digress]

Valerius has very kindly offered to sub for me. He has my very public thanks.

I will PM llamabeast his e-mail address.

And remember boys and girls - rats have eyes EVERYWHERE.

[Sombre]

It's true, I modded them to have #nbreyes 1313.

[llamabeast]

Grr, very unhappily I staled last turn. I actually have no idea how that happened, being as I took the turn very carefully, and thought I e-mailed it in. I obviously screwed up clicking the 'Send' button. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif Ah well.

[sum1lost]

If I could get a 24 hr delay, it would be much appreciated- running a 102 fever right now.

[llamabeast]

Okay, done. Let me know if you need a further extension. Hope you get better soon!

[llamabeast]

Just gave myself a 3-hour extension to next turn as the next 24 hours are going to be insane.

[llamabeast]

Okay, the server seems to have largely recovered. Just waiting on Bandar Log now.

[sum1lost]

Bandar log wants our mannanas, and will stop at nothing to get them!

As if that weren't enough, Tien Chi is now massing not one, but TWO armies of mannanaless men in an effort to seize our bountiful lands, just as our men have marched forth against the apes to defend the mannanas of Arga Dis.

We beg the nations of the world to help us repel these threats to our mannanas.

[Sombre]

So could you give a general update on the state of things in the game?

[sum1lost]

Bandar Log invaded me with a bunch of elephants and double-blessed f9w9 tiger riders, white ones, plus a few random militia. The elephants, tiger riders, and white ones chopped down my mixture of hoplites rather handily. I've driven them off, now, but I can't make headway against them. So I've sent a large army to hold the line.

And now that most of my troops are there, Tien Chi has massed somewhere around 300 troops on my other side. ><

I don't know how anyone else is doing, except that the mod nations and abysia are dominating the HoF

[llamabeast]

What're mannanas?

[sum1lost]

llamabeast said:
What're mannanas?


A very low-brow play on words involving the monkey's favorite food.

[AlgaeNymph]

sum1lost said:
Tien Chi is now massing not one, but TWO armies of mannanaless men in an effort to seize our bountiful lands[.]

Actually, they're there to defend the borders. Also, the people of T'ien Ch'i dislike mannanas, too salty.

[llamabeast]

High Priest Heinrich sat at his desk, reading the monthly Inquisition Reports from scouts all over the lands neighbouring Ulm. In the days before the Civil War this office would have been luxuriously decorated, filled with portraits with gilded frames and hung with velvet curtains. Now the room was all but empty. The Aufklarung had brought the understanding that material goods were merely a distraction from piety. Never again would lust for gold distract the priests of Ulm from spreading the enlightenment of Archaeon.

Heinrich paused as he read a report from a young scout by the name of Hans, who was travelling through the kingdom of Skavenblight. Relations between Ulm and the men of Skavenblight had always been cordial, and Heinrich had not expected any trouble. But the report made for strange reading.

--

On his second day in the lands of Skavenblight, Hans had come across a swarm of giant rats, each as big as a large dog, feasting on the carcasses of sheep in broad daylight. Startled both at the bizarre sight and the fact that the vermin were not being stopped by the local farmers, Hans nonetheless stayed undercover and moved on, mapping the lands he travelled through.

On the fourth day he saw in the distance across another swarm of rats - this time moving intently to the north. They did not appear to get distracted by the livestock around them. In fact... they even appeared to be moving in formation. As the swarm came closer and he was able to see them more clearly, Hans choked back a gasp of horror. The swarm was led by some kind of horrific being - it walked upright like a man, but otherwise had the appearance of a rat - what kind of abomination was this?

As soon as the swarm had passed out of sight, Hans knew he must act. The men of Skavenblight must be warned that such monsters moved amongst them! Without delay he made his way to the nearest town, and asked that he be allowed to speak to the mayor. The men of the town regarded him with disbelief, but dutifully led him up to the town hall. Hans was kept waiting outside the main hall for some time, but finally the doors swung open. Hans gasped. Assembled before him was not as he expected a mayor and his loyal retinue. Instead, on a throne sat another rat-thing, dressed in white robes encrusted with filth, and all about him stood more of the rat-men, dressed in armour and carrying weapons like men. As the door opened they turned to look at him, hissing evilly, their eyes glowing red in the dim room and saliva dripping from their maws.

Hans screamed, and ran for his life. Back out through the corridors of the town hall, through the streets and out into the safety of the forest, he never slowed for a minute. Luckily for him the human guards made no effort to stop him - it seemed they had no love for the rat-things themselves. Once in the forest Hans had sat recovering his breath for no more than a minute or so before he brought out his parchment and quill - Ulm must be warned! Having finished his account he brought out the magical scroll contained he had been given by the White Priests, and placed the parchment within. There was a flash and a puff of smoke, and the parchment was gone - his message was safe with Ulm now.

--

Heinrich sat back in his chair, shocked. There was no choice, it seemed. All this time they had been dealing with Skavenblight, they had simply assumed the kingdom was one of men, like those of Ulm, Man and Bandar Log. But it seemed it was ruled by blasphemies of the highest order - Skavenblight was an empire of RATS!

The Neugeboren Guard would be summoned from their barracks. The steeds of the Black Templars would be readied. The enchanted armours of the Anchorites would be awakened, and the Black Priests would urge the Penitents into new frenzies. New Ulm would march to war!

-------

Digress: In case you hadn't guessed, that's a declaration of war - my troops are invading this month. Sorry. Let the battles begin.

[llamabeast]

Ah, it seems Skaven took their turn while I was writing that last. Sorry - I did want you to read it before I invaded, to give you a little warning at least. I meant to write it last night, but got back really late.

[Digress]

The seers had read the signs and our scouts had warned us of the slow march of Ulm's various religous loonies.

Steel against disease ridden rats - woo hoo.

[llamabeast]

Yes, I thought it was probably pretty obvious.

It should be interesting. I actually have no idea which of us is stronger, and it should be a cool and dramatic fight in any case.

[Digress]

We rats think your healthy province advantage and somewhat "distracted" neighbours may well prove decisive.

The Skaven find themselves at war midway through an unplanned (but enforced) strategy change. This is somewhat unfortunate.

The seers of Skavenblight send a message to all powers who still have delusions of victory :-

"Cease your petty bickering and look at the rising power of Ulm for it is taking on the characteristics of an unstoppable juggernaut, albeit without the dominion spread (you have to pay for that bless somehow don't you llamabeast http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif ), that will crush you all"

[llamabeast]

Does anyone else hear chittering? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Hmm, strategy change eh? Interesting.

I do actually have dominion 8 and six temples, but strangely it isn't spreading very well. I suspect Bandar Log and Man have strong dominions themselves which are squishing mine. I can't imagine what you mean about the bless. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Anyway, noone needs to worry about me. Once magic comes into play... ugh. My best non-capital mage is just E1!! Occasionally E2, but I've only had one of them so far. Also of course, New Ulm is defending the purity of the world, and has no interest in war other than the destruction of blasphemies. If you're not a blasphemy, you need not fear the White Priests of Ulm.

Finally, what's the single thing everyone knows about rats in general and skaven in particular? That's right - they exaggerate a lot.

[Digress]

Chittering indeed !

We rats possess a wide range of vocalizations that allow us to sing the praises of the glorius, though in many ways hideously disfigured, horned rat in a great spectrum of sound, much of which your ignorant Ulmish ears are incapable of hearing.

No calling it squeaking either, thank you very much. We rats a revered in many cultures though obviously not your in your steel encased monolithic barbarism known as Ulmish "kultur".

Only poor little E1 mages heh, I seem to have a lot of E3+ mages knocking on my door right at the moment.

"If you're not a blasphemy, you need not fear the White Priests of Ulm." That quote says it all - when you get a couple White Priests together talking about the weather it takes only seconds before there are cries of "blasphemer" "heretic" and a couple of 'em are burning the stake while the survivors are off in their cells "disciplining" themselves. Ulmish people are about as much fun as a simultaneous outbreak of mange and the clap - and we skaven know exactly what that feels like.

We Skaven call it as it is - not as it might be "Once magic comes into play...".

[Sombre]

Need I remind you of this quote from a Skaven of noble character and great stature?

"Die die manthings!" Warlord Queek Head-Taker

You know what to do. Ulm doesn't have hordes of archers or poison immunity or fire resistance. Their armour is of little consequence to your best weapons.

[llamabeast]

Postponed hosting for 4 hours at Digress' request.

[Digress]

Thanks for the hosting delay llamabeast. My apologies to everyone else. Back to the state of the game.

The seers of Skavenblight can report that Ulm's lapdog Man has declared war on our nation. This spectacularly servile breed of man has reduced itself, by this act, to the status of Ulm's most obedient and pathetic vassal. We will not sully our filthiest breeding pits with the corpses of creatures such as these.

They will, no doubt, claim a debt of gratitude to Ulm who came to their "rescue" when they clashed with the Tomb Kings. The war between Man and the Tomb Kings allowed Ulm to grow unhindered whilst their southern neighbours struggled before Ulm turned and crushed the newly risen Tomb Kings back into the desert sands. We note that recently Ulm "nobly" tossed Man some scraps from its table, presumably to ensure they would carry out Ulm's every command.

How long, we ask, before Ulm takes these scraps back ? Not much before it tears stewardship of the forest of Avalon from your weak grasp, methinks.

Again we repeat our call to all remaining powers in the land. Make a peace and turn on Ulm before it turns its baleful, and frankly loopy (in a religous sense), eyes on you. Its power grows while you squabble like children.

There is no glory to be had in coming second.

[llamabeast]

Chitter chitter. Where's the warfarin?

[Digress]

Some of our more committed believers actively seek out experiences that leave them with massivea and uncontrolled internal bleeding and a foaming mouth. As a result our mages have warfarin at the top of the list of research goals.

We have a developed a couple of stop gaps that your intrusion into our lands will allow us to test.

[llamabeast]

Apologies for delaying the hosting even more, I had no fewer than three games to start this morning! Took hours. Anyway, all done now.

The Skaven ratlings managed to kill no fewer than three of my beloved White Priests with Vengeance of the Dead, despite them having 15MR! How is that possible? And I didn't get any messages that they survived any attacks. So either the ratlings cast heaps of Vengeance of the Deads and there is no "you survived" message, or they are insanely lucky!

Also on the insanely lucky front - I was just thinking that the Skaven had no cheap S1 commanders they could use to Magic Duel my lovely white priests when what do I see but a whole load of Crystal Amazons each carrying a pearl ready to sacrifice themselves to the ratty cause. Lucky rats! I guess that means no more White Priests for me then.

I have to say, having effectively got a single useful mage which is capital only and has S1 is a bit disgruntling. Good job my troops are so awesome.

[Digress]

If only I had more gems with which to grind your leaders up with. Your army routing without losing a man was more than a little annoying.

As for vengeance of the dead - hooray for boosters and a magic scale I say. I was hoping to do a little better from that one trick pony (like destroying some of your troops to go along with your white priests http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif).

If nothing else I have made some room in the hall of fame.

[Digress]

My seers see a dark future for the Skaven. I fear I rolled the dice and came up well short of what was required last turn. See what happens this time around.

[llamabeast]

Argh, won't be able to take a look at the turn till tonight. The tension!

I have to say that I was phenomenally lucky to get away with no troops lost last turn, although it was still a disastrous turn for me. You were also quite phenomenally lucky to kill three of my beloved White Priests! But I guess if you were hoping to burst out, Magic Duel all my priests and annihilate my army you must have been quite disappointed.

[Sombre]

Poor ratties, always seem to be under the boot. Shame because Ulm Reborn look on paper to be a good foe for them.

[Digress]

llamabeast said:
I have to say that I was phenomenally lucky to get away with no troops lost last turn, although it was still a disastrous turn for me. You were also quite phenomenally lucky to kill three of my beloved White Priests! But I guess if you were hoping to burst out, Magic Duel all my priests and annihilate my army you must have been quite disappointed.



Quite dissappointed is something of a understatement. I was looking to cause significant casualties, hoping to keep you off my back long enough for me to deliver a short riposte to Man before having to turn around and meet the next Ulmish army marching south.

It looked a wonderful plan on paper ..... bah.

[Alneyan]

Fear not, Skaven! Reinforcements are on the way! Oh, wait, I'm reinforcing the other army. There's to hoping I'll actually manage to be more than a diversion this time. So yeah, go Ulm!

I've tried to write down something like a declaration of war, but it didn't work all too well. The reasons are pretty much the usual thing: old grudges, Skaven's the only convenient target, I couldn't beat anything on my own, you've got some stuff I'd die for (though I'd prefer making you die instead), etc. So instead, I've aimed for something more descriptive about the current state of affairs in Man, but it sort of twisted and shot straight for the weird factor.

With no further ado, meet my Man:


Morgause was not having a good day. She should have, by all rights: she was Mistress of the Vale, the guardian of one of the most beautiful places left in the cruel world, and the most powerful person within the Vale -- the most powerful save for her sisters, that is, and the kitchen staff excepted. Alas, there was the burden of administrating the Vale (for her nephew Mordred did not bother volunteering to help her), the loss of various administrative registers, the theft of some thistle trinkets, Mordred's disappearence, all the warring going on, Gwenhwyfar's snatching her letters, the incessant political bickering of her fellow sisters, and she had misplaced her comb.

Of course, the sister Gwenhwyvach entered her room right as Morgause was rummaging through her items. Ah, there it was, stuck between a weathervorn report from an equally weathervorn scout and a parchment almost as ancient as herself describing some pact they have with a place called Skaven. Gwenhwyvach gave Morgause her usual smirk, handed her a platter of apples (marvellous, juicy red apples picked straight from those great trees the Sisters had so insisted on planting. She saw why they did now, and after all, Avalon was the Island of Apples), and sat down on the floor. It looked as if she had a lot of paperwork on her lap -- nothing that couldn't wait for her to break her fast anyhow.

Gwenhwyvach was the most crafty of the Sisterhood, having more than her fair share of wits and great talent in magic (she stood at the end of the Fold, and she could draw power from all her Sisters and did not have to spare any of hers). She actively craved power, too, and her youthfulness (a paltry one hundred odd years) gave her an edge over her sisters. So she came to become Morgause's most trusted adviser -- and her only one, as most Sisters preferred to plot in secrecy (what were their goals? Morgause had asked the Goddess one evening, and she had no idea. She suspected that not only the Sisterhood's left hand didn't know what the right one was doing, but that the right hand itself didn't know what it was doing).

"... close to victory... war... New Ulm... army... defeat...", Gwenhwyvach was saying. Morgause paid her little attention: she had heard everything about war of late, so what more could she learn? That, and she was no warlord... warlady (not that she really knew what she was). "I apologize, Sister Morgause, but you do not seem to be paying me much heed. I need your leave to prepare for war with our foe." There was that sarcastic note in Gwenhwyvach's voice that Morgause had learned to hate. "*****", she thought -- or she thought she thought that, until she saw the glare in Gwenhwyvach's eyes and understood. "You know that's true", Morgause said by way of apology. "The whole Sisterhood knows too."

For a moment, it looked as if Gwenhwyvach was about to hit her. "None of that", Morgause advised her. "We're not young Apprentices anymore. I wish I was, though." It seemed that Gwenhwyvach's wisdom had the upper hand over pride, and she settled down. Morgause knew she could trust her: she was content of wielding power within the Vale without the actual title that went with it. That, and nobody would willingly become Mistress of the Vale, for the role involved becoming the Matrix of the Fold. She, Morgause, was the weakest of the Sisterhood as she expended most of her strength to help others. She did not know that fact when she became Mistress. She was a foolish Apprentice.

"Sure, war", Morgause went. "New Ulm sounds like a tough nut to crack, but I trust our might." Gwenhwyvach looked positively stunned by the comment; it took her several seconds to muster an answer. "Morgause, that's not quite what I had in mind." "You did say war, right?" "Not against New Ulm; they're our allies. The foe is Skaven." "Skw-what?" "Skaven. There on the map. They have been a nuisance of late, and they are now at war with New Ulm." Gwenhwyvach saw that Morgause was not making much sense of what she told her, so she added: "Skaven. Rat-folks." Those words were enough to get the message through Morgause, if the grim look that took her was any indication.

"Them!", Morgause screeched. "The ugly critters with ... their little piggy eyes! Why do we suffer them to live! What happened to the various kingdoms of mankind? Abominations! Gut them, the..." It wouldn't be accurate to say that she was foaming at the mouth and waxing incoherent; that would be an understatement. Gwenhwyvach did her best to calm her elder, anxious to avoid another epic scene -- it was hard enough already to keep the Vale in kelter. But a fortnight ago, some officer gave her the skull of an undead leader, complete with rot and decay; her nightmarish screams kept them all awake for the better of three nights (until the officer was promoted to patrol duty on the barbarian marches).

"The only men on our borders are Ulmish", Gwenhwyfar offered when it looked like the worst was over. "Our allies. The ones who saved us from our previous foes, when hope grew dim. The ones..." "Those apples are delicious", Morgause said. "... the ones who could have stormed our walls, and with nothing but their greenest soldiers. The ones who are currently warring against the rats. The ones who need our help to prevail." Despite all her proding, it seemed Morgause was not quite making the connection. "They helped us; we must repay them", Gwenhwyfar said at last. At last, there was a glimpser of understanding in Morgause's eyes, and she said: "I see. We have debts to pay, but... I know! Let's give them a lovespoon?"

Morgause was slipping into one of her childish moods now -- apparently a side effect of those youthfulness spells. Gwenhwyfar braced herself for a very long afternoon. "No trinkets. War. They need our men. Our soldiers. It's war again." With a sigh, she took a neat piece of paper from Morgause's systematic chaotic desk and handed it to her. "One: Skaven has failed to provide us with any assistance whatsoever in our hour of greatest need", Morgause duly read, raising one accusating finger with each item. "Two: Skaven has mercilessly slaughtered a patrol of ours on our borders, with no apology forthcoming. Three: Our lands are ridden with spies hired by Skaven, as they are proud of their extensive spy network. Four: Skaven has interfered with our sphere of influence, seizing provinces claimed by the Vale. Five: We have evidence Skaven is researching spells of massive deadly potential that will surely be used against the Vale. Six: ..."

"There", Gwenhwyfar interrupted her. "Do you see why we need to go to war?" A nod. "Good. Now let's write down a nice letter to the rats, stating our griefs. Of course, we also fight for the greater glory of the Vale, but no need to mention that. Do not forget..." "I don't like that. Why do we have to rely on foreigners? We are strong folks, and surely, surely..." Gwenhwyfar shook her head. "We could not defeat a small army of our foes, and now you propose that we fight a whole war alone? Folly, I say." "I just don't like it." Gwenhwyfar took a deep breath, then another, but she was running out of patience. "You don't like Ulm, fine with me; I don't like seeing Man ruled by a dimwit and a monster."

A guttural shriek boomed out as if to underscore her point. It didn't come from Morgause, of course: no human lungs could have that much power. The source was instead hovering a few hundred meters above ground, right above that huge apple tree. The silhouette was hard to make out from the ground, but those with sharp eyes saw a metal-clad warrior all dressed in black and blood, a gothic sight of death and doom. An interesting spectacle, Gwenhwyfar thought; she could already see the whole Sisterhood protesting, folks quivering in fear, and the priests of New Ulm inquiring why this creature was suffered to live. The Sisters liked to see themselves as angels now; they were more like angels with bright hair dabbled in blood.

"Now that I have your full attention", Mordred said, his monochord voice sounding bored, "I'd like to share a story with you. I've just been assaulted by a party of men in the Plain of Bones -- yes, right there were the Skaven hordes slaughtered your kin. The men were led by one Bogus the Troll, as he told me, a big rat himself, and they were agents of Skaven sent specifically to slay me. Their message is plain: they are not content with the blood they have already spilled in our land. Anyway, here I stand before you, with the first spoils of this war. For it is war, undeclared, and our own message is plain: it will be delivered with sword and bow. Ready yourselves for the fight ahead. Erh, that's it." Mordred flew away; he was heading west.

"You know, Gwenhwyfar, Mordred is a slave to the Vale, just like me. Mistress of the Vale indeed!" A pause." "And just like you."

[Digress]

The forces of Man again show their complete lack of ambition or vision. Now would be the time to make at least one attempt for victory and make an almighty strike at Ulm, but instead we see their true nature.

SHEEP. Old tired sheep not waiting to be shorn but to be slaughtered. The Crones of Avalon are like so many old bleating ewes wobbling around crying "oh the wolves of Ulm are our flocks saviour".

The seers see but one future for the forest of Avalon. A future ensured by Man's current course. The ancient trees will be adorned with the broken bodies of the Crones and Daughters of Avalon, strung up by the priests of Ulm as the witches they are.

And on the subject of Ulm - will your armies please stop running away. Even weighed down with all that armour our fleetest footed rats cannot run your troops down.

The Skaven are having some success killing off Ulm's mightiest mages however we are having no luck in bringing down their troops.

[Digress]

It is well and truly curtains for the Skaven I fear. Early gambles didn't pay off and we are now completely out of cards. We send our heartfelt thanks to all those who aided us but maintain aid could have been better in the form of, you know, attacks on Ulm. Are we bitter ... no, apparently rat meat is suprisingly sweet (if a bit gamey).

Again Ulm's troops ran - but this time we started running first (you know after they had killed everybody) ... double bah.

[llamabeast]

My troops didn't run! Or at least I think not - I think they were just chasing some zombie behind them. I may have seen it wrongly though.

Man, that was a hard battle to watch - I am on my parents' computer, and it is _so_ slow. Was quite an epic battle though. I am very proud of my knights, hanging in there for so long, gradually dying of poison, afflictions everywhere (my entire army seems like a mass of afflictions, not entirely sure why), but keeping all your sacreds at bay for all that time until my main army could reach them and mow them down.

Your Shadow Blast was scary. After the first barrage I got really lucky with you missing most of my troops.

Good battle, anyway.

[llamabeast]

Bandar Log seems to have achieved a specatcular recovery. Only two months or so ago they were reduced to two provinces, with a vast Argan army on their doorstep. Now they seem to have reclaimed all of their old territory! Astonishing. Seems the Argans are in trouble.

I wonder what is going on in T'ien Ch'i. I haven't seen any sign of them for the entire game, until just now when a remote scout gave me my first sighting of one of their banners. From the location I guess they must probably be quite large though. Well, I guess the Orient is meant to be mysterious.

[sum1lost]

llamabeast said:
Bandar Log seems to have achieved a specatcular recovery. Only two months or so ago they were reduced to two provinces, with a vast Argan army on their doorstep. Now they seem to have reclaimed all of their old territory! Astonishing. Seems the Argans are in trouble.

I wonder what is going on in T'ien Ch'i. I haven't seen any sign of them for the entire game, until just now when a remote scout gave me my first sighting of one of their banners. From the location I guess they must probably be quite large though. Well, I guess the Orient is meant to be mysterious.



Thats been the entire war, actually- each of us finds a new strategy/spell and devastates the entire enemy army. Unfortuantely, Arga Dis isn't a brilliant nation in terms of magical diversity.

[Digress]

We Skaven know what running looks like. We choose to believe your troops were running like the terrified manwhelps they are http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

I think my bless on the censer bearers, council guards and mages has yielded a rich crop of afflictions amongst your armies but has yielded a particularly poor crop of Ulmish corpses. Sure Ulmish troops will continue to drop dead in the months to come but that ain't going to provide much satisfaction.

And the Shadow Blasts - I know Skaven may not have great precision but it got a little ridiculous watching all that death inflicting badness go flying over the serried ranks of your army .... leaving nothing but vast swathes of dead grass and shrubbery as a mark that the Skaven were actually employing battle magicks.

If only my gem income wasn't so dire - it would have been nice to be able to fire a few more off. I mean they had to start hitting something sooner or later ... surely . http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif

Triple bah.

Edited to add triple bah.

[Alneyan]

After much pondering and wondering, Man has decided to send the following answer to Skaven: 'We hate your guts'. Do I look like a dastard bastard of the 'dagger in your back' traitor type? (That, and I've taken heavy losses without actually fighting anybody. I shudder to think what would happen if I met a real army.)

[Digress]

We Skaven find ourselves wrestling with alien concepts such as "pity" and "shame" when we look to our eastern neighbour.

We Skaven didn't think, for a moment, Man had the courage to fight its never ending slide into complete and utter irrelevance. For that is the fate of Man.

For now Man remains a vassal/slave of Ulm. The seers predict after the fall of Skavenblight you will cease to have any utility at all to your Ulmish masters except as possessing a couple of magic sites that Ulm covets and will look to make its own.

[llamabeast]

Erk, plaguerats. They are seriously nasty. I was really really lucky I only had PD there when you attacked with them.

[Alneyan]

For the love of Goddess, will someone *please* shut down the bloody rat speakers? Their ramblings are getting tiresome... though we may slaughter their men... their creatures by the drove, so do they. Such is the harsh fate of the poor human nations, where mages are few (I'm just above Ulm in that department, it seems) and troops are... well, where's my infantry?

Right. Let's hope Skaven doesn't have any other army to throw my way, 'cuz I'm only any real good at taking down PD.

[Digress]

llamabeast said:
Erk, plaguerats. They are seriously nasty. I was really really lucky I only had PD there when you attacked with them.



They were sneaking not attacking - that is the problem with low morale, low value stealth +0 units - PD finds them easily and then they die.

We note another case of Ulmish cowardice - run, diseased man things, run from the walls of Skavenblight.

Those who wish to harm Ulm - we continue to take donations. Death gems would be lovely as would earth.

[Digress]

HMS Skavenblight is preparing to go under with all hands. Our ever-diminishing hordes (well more accurately raiding parties/roadkill) are finding themselves unable to hold off the hordes (literally) of flagellants marching, rather aimlessly I might add, in the general direction of our capital.

Man appears to have had a stiff drink and prepared to return to fray ... we applaud the effort we really do.

[sum1lost]

Arga Dis went under. Had we placed our mages forward a bit, and had decoys, we feel that Bandar Log's god would have gone down with a number of afflictions. However, with our entire army smashed+most mages dead, Tien Chi invading and one turn from our capital, 87 unrest in the capital thanks to spells by Tien Chi (presumably, since bandar log hasn't cast any so far), and pretty much no blood remaining, and our other fort seiged, the AI can handle things just as well...

[Sombre]

What would you say the determining factor in your demise was?

[Digress]

Well in my case I should really have gone blood, blood and more blood. It certainly would have helped to have got a blood economy up and running before Ulm Reborn's troops arrived - just to be able to pump out rats and more rats to soak more of the hits. My gem income has been pretty dire - maybe Man and Ulm will find the stuff I am missing /threads/images/Graemlins/Envy.gif

On the research front the mages of Skavenblight are pretty damn versatile. Spamming vengeance of the dead against Ulm's more accomplished mages was handy along with the ability to mind duel and fire off a range of death magicks when in combat. Communions and blood sabbaths would have been excellent to pull off more - with Lizard Shaman and Crystal Amazons I certainly had the raw material to back up my seers.

Death Frenzy is a very useful spell - but like Touch of Madness Skaven mages have a habit of firing it off a little bit much - though beserk Skaven priests are fair combatants. I know - don't give them death gems but sometimes you forget or have them scripted to do something else.

As for determining factor - my inability to fight a two front war. Had I been able to concentrate against Ulm I reckon I could have made a real mess of his first foray (as I was able to repeatedly remove his armies leaders with Vengeance of the Dead and Mind Duels). So whilst Man has done little of note they kept my reserve pinned when it needed to be thrown into the fray.

[llamabeast]

Yes, I must admit my flagellants have been a bit aimless - or rather, mainly they are waiting around for reinforcements - I got a bit scared of Skavenblight after my last army got annihilated. There was also an episode of bungling shortly before I attacked Skavenblight. My army had been split across two provinces (A and B), with all my commanders in A. So I moved the commanders to B to pick up the rest of the troops - only to realise I had brought no troops, so half of them were still in A. So then I traipsed back to A. And then I attacked and everyone died. Not so good.

Digress has actually been quite cunning in proclaiming his demise very early, which lead me to greatly underestimate him. Possibly the war might have gone much more swimmingly were it not for my feeling complacent after the initial invasion. As it is victories have probably been reasonably equal on both sides, with my advantage being that all the fighting is happening in Skaven territory, so their infrastructure and resources are falling apart while mine is thankfully unscathed.

Incidentally my initial army was eventually annihilated - but only having been split in two and then one half split in two again, comically without loss of troops as you were saying. And those surviving troops did remain a thorn in your side for a good amount of time. That must have been really annoying for you.

Congratulations go to Bandar for a truly spectacular comeback from two provinces back to being a powerful force. Also condolences to Arga Dis - well played sum1.

[Tyrant]

Good fight sum1, that was a proper slugfest all the way through and you did much better than i expected in the final battle. /salute

Hate to tell you this, but had you marched straight to my capitol after your big victory about a yeear ago you would have had me, I had no more forces at that point.

It's too bad that your territory is as poverty stricken as my own and my victory is largely empty.

[llamabeast]

I'm afraid I can't take my turn tonight (feeling quite ill so going to crawl into bed), so I've postponed hosting till tomorrow (postponed by 10 hours). Sorry about that.

[llamabeast]

Invading the lands of Skavenblight is beginning to feel like fighting a land war in Russia. Resources keep pouring in, yet no progress is being made. Barbarians attack newly occupied provinces, while my best commanders are continually killed off leaving stranded armies behind. This time my one captured fortress is under siege by independents. Aargh.

On the plus side I am feeling better this morning. Hurrah.

[Sombre]

As llama starts to feel better I come down with the flu. That's timezones for you.

[Digress]

I have come down with something too - bleh.

While the Skaven welcome disease in all its guises Clans Moulder and Pestilens claim to have no role in either the creation or dissemination of the current outbreak.

Skavenblight appears to have run out of space (and pushed unrest up perhaps a little high http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/fear.gif) in which to harvest the blood slaves required to spawn replacements for its army.

We continue to consign Ulm's greatest mages to the grave in feats of mindfrying brilliance (though my prophet got fried simultaneously this turn). Their armies continue forward in slow and somewhat disjointed steps grinding us further into the dust.

As for Man - well you best ask them about their continued campaign.

[llamabeast]

I'm off on holiday to the Netherlands from tomorrow, just until Sunday night, to visit an old housemate of mine. Hopefully I'll be able to whack Dominions on their computer, but I'm not sure just how regularly I'll get to play so I think I had better stick the timer on 48 hours.

[llamabeast]

Hi guys,

The observant among you will notice that something went screwy at hosting time. It's fixed now, but I'm afraid I have to ask you all to send your turns in _again_ - sorry!

[llamabeast]

Okay, I'm back, and due to impeccable timing with screwups on the LlamaServer, I won't miss a single turn! Amazing!

I will set the timer back to 24 hours. I anticipate pauses will be needed soon, but I will wait until I'm asked (but you should feel free to ask whenever it would be convenient).

[llamabeast]

Hmm, it seems I accidentally left the timer on 48 hours, so the game won't host until tomorrow night - unless we all get our turns in tonight. It's back on 24 hours now anyway, although I expect it can't be long till people will need christmas pauses (personally I'm all good till christmas eve though).

[Alneyan]

<Bitter> Right. I've sent my Pretender to gun down a Skaven commander that was starting to really get on my nerves (and hopefully snatch one item or two from said commander). The mission was a success, and my Pretender routed the enemy army. Then I yelled 'Victory!' and my Pretender proceeded to cast Immolation on himself. Mind you, the other targets in the vicinity were utterly harmless, and my Pretender was 100% Fire Unresistant.

The end result is, of course, a Pretender back in the capital, no items, and one province still held by the suicide-inducing PD of doom. Of course, it wasn't exactly the biggest battle in the war, but I shudder to think of what else the spellcasting AI might shoot out. Is that sort of stroke of genius current, and I've just been lucky so far? </Bitter>

That aside, that war with Skaven is amazing funny in the 'sheer incompetence' department (mine, that is). I guess it'd help if I actually had some sort of strategy and tactics that didn't suck. At least I can do the AI thing and pump armies left and right, hoping Skaven will eventually run out of money... hey, if the AI is holding me down in another game that way, I guess it works. Next time, remind me to stay neutral if I can't fight three-against-one.

In unrelated news, I'd appreciate an extra 24 hours on December 24, as I'll spend most of the day trekking back to France.

[llamabeast]

More land-war-in-Russia misery for the armies of Ulm in the last two months. Having finally decided to make for a Grand Push into Skavenblight, my army set forth two months ago to a province adjacent to the enemy capital. A priest already there was to build a lab to supply them when they arrived - some new supply items were being forged back in Ulm, so the new lab was necessary, and so I didn't bother taking any gems with me.

The wretched Skaven Mind-Hunted the lab-building priest. So, my army was left without any gems, and crucially couldn't cast the Really Super Spell that was to inflict annihilation on the Skaven. No worries, I would stay put and build the lab again - in the meantime, at least my new thug had arrived in Skaven territory and captured a province.

This turn my lovely (and quite expensive) thug was mind hunted, despite an MR of 16 or so, and to my further shock the Skaven sallied forth to attack my still-gemless army. The brave Ulmish penitents won the day amidst a staggering rain of ratling evocations, but not without terrible losses. Even if we are able to siege the ratling capital now (which is uncertain), it will take countless months to bring down the walls of the underground lair. And reinforcements are far, far away - after all, the army was thought to be invincible.

Congratulations are in order for the god of the Skaven - your rats are pests!

[Digress]

Alneyan said:
<Bitter> Right. I've sent my Pretender to gun down a Skaven commander that was starting to really get on my nerves (and hopefully snatch one item or two from said commander). The mission was a success, and my Pretender routed the enemy army. Then I yelled 'Victory!' and my Pretender proceeded to cast Immolation on himself. Mind you, the other targets in the vicinity were utterly harmless, and my Pretender was 100% Fire Unresistant.





I did rather wonder what happened there http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/confused.gif. I decided to interpret as your immortal pretender deciding it was time to incinerate his current massively afflicted corpse and return to your capital to get a new one http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif.

As for Ulm - well the rats are deserting the ship in droves as my lack of an economy of any sort starts to bite. As for my "ratling evocations" - well it is a case of if only I had some gems left to beef them up a touch. My artillery was obviously scripted incorrectly - most of the armour piercing/negating warpfire/warp lightening throwers all decided to go hand to hand (even before they all went beserk).

You really are able to pump out alot of those twice-blessed bloody penitents aren't you. They really do a fine job of dishing out the damage - winning the battle whilst various Skaven flavoured poisons slowly, too slowly http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif, winnow their ranks.

Skavenblight really cannot stress the need for the remaining powers in the north to actually do something to confront Ulms burgeoning power. They will soon be able to start papering over their gaps in the magic department and you will find yourself .... well like so much roadkill.

The Skaven have bought you time - and as our few remaining troops begin to desert in droves we curse you all ... and wish you well (and perhaps more success, I would say luck but that might be asking a little much) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

The game has been fun though I am beginning to get a little tired of playing the role of llamabeast's speedhump. How many games is it now where I have cost you a couple of shiny mages, thugs or SCs before being ground relentlessly into the ground by your leader-lite armies ? More than one .... one day I hope to move from speedhump to brickwall, or at least some more effective traffic calming measure http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Alneyan]

Digress said:
I did rather wonder what happened there http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/confused.gif. I decided to interpret as your immortal pretender deciding it was time to incinerate his current massively afflicted corpse and return to your capital to get a new one http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif.



If only... but dying only adds some new afflictions (I've pretty much got a full house now). At least I'm in my capital and can 'port right back into the 'go down in a blaze of glory against PD' action... third time is the charm!

[llamabeast]

High priest Heinrich was again sitting behind his desk, sorting through reports from the front. It seemed that the war against the Skaven was going well, even if losses had been far higher than had at first been hoped.

Suddenly his assistant, Sigebert, burst into the room. This was most irregular - Sigebert always knocked and waiting for his master to call him in. But looking up, Heinrich saw that Sigebert was not his normal self - he looked flushed and disturbed - the man had clearly had a shock.

"What is it Sigebert?"
"Terrible news, my lord. It's... it's like the business in Skavenblight all over again."

Heinrich drew in his breath. This sounded serious.

"What? You don't mean to say the Bandar aren't human either?", he asked.
"No no, it's not the Bandar - it's the Abysians! They're not human, not even nearly human. They're monstrous, god-forsaken beings. Sir, they're born from the lava, spawn from the infernal fires. Sire, they're monsters!"

Heinrich considered the news gravely. But he knew there was little to ponder - stretched as it was, the Ulmish kingdom could not allow such a monstrosity to exist. War was inevitable.

------

The mighty kingdom of Ulm hereby declares war on Abysia. We will respect our three-month non-aggression pact. In the fiftieth month of the Ascension Wars, the Ulmish armies will be given orders to march into Abysian territory.

[Alneyan]

Bumpy bump, as it looks like the game might host again pretty soon.


Alneyan said:
In unrelated news, I'd appreciate an extra 24 hours on December 24, as I'll spend most of the day trekking back to France.

[llamabeast]

Okay, thanks for reminding me, I'll postpone after the coming hosting.

Actually I will probably postpone for a few days - myself I won't be able to play either christmas day or boxing day. Anyone else got any days they can't play?

[Digress]

"On the other side of the international dateline" - I must remember to remind myself of that fact more often.

Almost staled through inattention http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif Christmas eve here, have mother-in-law and three year old son who "knows all about Santa Claus" in the house.

The mighty pretender of the Skaven has been reduced to a drooling moron (a result of mind hunting gone bad, bad, bad http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif). Good thing he has such a good chasis for a thug .... not.

The gates of Skavenblight have been breached and the diseased hordes of Ulm prepare to storm through. My remaining troops are pillaging and vandalising all they can before slinking back into our various ratholes ... there to remain for some time to come.

Thanks for the game - likely to set things to AI in the near future.

[llamabeast]

Next hosting is set for 8pm GMT on the 27th.

Ha! I'm glad my crystal amazon caught your pretender. Although you only did two mind hunts before, both of them were astonishingly disruptive.

Thanks very much for playing Digress, you've been an excellent sport, and a pleasure to play with as always. I await your revenge in a future game with trepidation. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Alneyan]

Okay, I'm back in France, but my connection here is utter crap. I should be able to take my turns because it's a PBEM game, but no promises yet. In any event, I'd appreciate if the timer was kept on 48 hours until Jan 6; Quickhost and no timer shouldn't be necessary.

[Digress]

Ulm has misjudged our tenacity again (though probably for the last time).

We have defended the gates of Skavenblight successfully - and put various massed diseased Ulmish cripples to flight (literally). We continue to taunt you from the battlements whilst surveying the field of corpses that litter the surrounds - though in our damaged state it is quite a climb to get a good view of the carnage (a suprising number of gammy legs amongst our defenders, I have NO IDEA how that happened http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif).

We even find time to blow raspberries to Man http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif They appear to be masters of defeating PD (PD we can no longer afford) - but our barrel scrapings we are forced to field as armies continue to be too tough for the "warriors" of Man http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif.

[Alneyan]

Digress said:
We even find time to blow raspberries to Man http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif They appear to be masters of defeating PD (PD we can no longer afford) - but our barrel scrapings we are forced to field as armies continue to be too tough for the "warriors" of Man http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif.



Come on, I've killed several of your precious commanders, and lost only token longbowmen in the fight. In my book, that's a victory, plain and square. Admittedly, it's not a very impressive victory, but we've only sent the smallest possible force to kill you good. (Unfortunately, Ulm also went with the minimum force approach.)

I suggest giving up fighting Skaven and just shooting for a Dom-kill. Our inability to finish off those weaklings is getting embarrassing now.

[llamabeast]

I hate you ratlings. I hate you I hate you I hate you. Why will you just not die?!!

[llamabeast]

I postponed hosting for 24 hours for Abysia, just cos I thought it might not be entirely clear that we're back to 24 hour hosting.

Also, everyone remember that I'll happily grant extensions over the holiday period. I'll have to grant one to myself in fact over new year's eve, cos I'm going away for a couple of days.

Also please let me know when you want the game switched to 48 hours. We've done pretty well with how far we've got on 24 hour hosting, but it wouldn't be unreasonable to switch now (although I'm still quite happy with 24 hours myself for the moment).

[llamabeast]

Hmm, seems I underestimated Abysian PD. I just lost 100 penitents to two futile attacks. No matter, the ranks of the penitent are endlessly replenished.

Also there is a ridiculous army of Skaven mages wandering around that I just can't spare the resources to hunt down. My poor old PD don't stand a chance in the hail of fireballs. Grr, die ratlings!

I'm going away for two days now. I've worked out that if I make the next two turns 36 hours each, I should have plenty of time. So I'm doing that.

[llamabeast]

Also, I am intrigued by what's going on in Abysia. The Abysians appear to be making no efforts to stop me - I've met about 10 non-PD troops so far. Is it some kind of a trap?

[Yucky]

I'm visiting my parent's untill ~5th, any chance of waiting for me? If not, I understand.

[Digress]

I have no problem with a delay - you would be best send a PM to llamabeast and the remaining players to have hosting delayed.

[llamabeast]

Unfortunately Yucky posted his message after I left, so he staled - sorry about that. I've now postponed hosting till 12.45pm on the 6th Jan. Hope that's a good time. This turn I won't push forward with my attacks on Abysia, to make up for him staling.

[llamabeast]

Okay, we're back on 24 hours again now.

[Alneyan]

Is there any known problem with Llamaserver? I've sent my turn two or three times already, but no sugar. I'm trying one last time, but it looks like a stale for me.

[Alneyan]

Of course, two minutes after I complained... "This message is just to let you know that I received a 2h file from you, and it seems to be fine." Looks like Llamaserver just got an upgrade, or it's got that much closer to being the world's first strong AI.

[llamabeast]

Yeah, the server reads the forums as a matter of course. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Digress]

The gates of Skavenblight have been breached and our remaining army has been put to flight. Our drooling madrat of a leader has fallen under the flails of Ulm and our greatest hero is no more.

Our ability to tie up even the meagrest portion of Ulm's armies is now gone .... beware the Kingdom of Man, blah, blah, blah.

Whilst it may seem rude to point this out I feel I should. I assume those of you remaining in the game have noticed the globals Ulm has up at the moment - globals that have been up for a while now .... you do realise something should be (have been) done about them.

Well we reap what we sow ... my inability to find an ally willing to stand against Ulm was telling. Thanks for the game - have subbed for someone playing Ulm Reborn so this experience of being beaten up thoroughly has been educational.

[llamabeast]

Muwahaha!

Muwahahaha!

Skavenblight has fallen, and even now our armies stand ready to march into Arga. The armies of Abysia are in disarray. Soon the mighty Kingdom of Ulm will control 5 of the great capital cities of the world.

In our arrogance and foolishness, we feel the time has come to make a great pronouncement: Ulm hereby declares on THE WORLD! Muwahaha!

Obviously I will respect all NAPs currently in operation. So that means I won't actually attack anyone new for quite a while. That means peace for T'ien Ch'i for 4 months, and for Man and Bandar for 6.

Apologies go especially to Man, who has been a marvellous, communicative and steadfast ally. Actually everyone left has been my ally to some extent, and I have appreciated working with them. However, there can be only one God. Stop me if you can!

[Digress]

Squeak, squeak, squeak. (Skaven for we told you so http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smirk.gif).

I hope all of you have your anti-Ulm arsenal in perfect working order - good luck in stopping the juggernaut. My fleabites have proved no more than an annoyance.

PS: Does anyone know how high unrest can go ? - despite my best efforts I can't get it over 500 (pillaging ones own provinces to pay the wages bill is not very effective)

[Alneyan]

I would now like the game to switch to a 48 hours schedule.

I'd like all allied nations to get in touch as soon as possible with me, just so we know what sort of strengths we all have. I don't think we stand much of a chance; I know I've never been a match for Ulm (they know that too), but I don't know about the rest of you.

On another note, I've pretty much *asked* Llamabeast to go all Evil Empire on us; he did not want to go for an allied victory, and I wasn't sold on the idea of gunning him down (more like scratching his back, but hey). Not that it'd have changed my strategy much... I've been upgraded from 'harmless' to 'mostly harmless', and I'm hoping to reach the rank of 'feeble' in the next few turns.

Skaven, rest assured you did help me tremendously by giving me all the sites I needed very, very badly. I'd love to get the textbook on how to use them to win a war now, though. Heck, scratch that: given the impressive fight you've put up, you should become our commander-in-chief or something.

Unrest only goes up to 500 *or* population X 10, whichever is lower, by the way.

[llamabeast]

Okay, turn timer set to 48 hours.

I declared war on turn 57, so I will give orders to attack Man and Bandar on turn 63, and T'ien Ch'i on turn 61. I will not be offended though if you give orders to attack me before then (in which case I will retaliate of course) - there's no point keeping NAPs when there is an Evil Empire about! Of course from Ulm's point of view, we are the one noble beacon of hope left in the world. Man, T'ien Ch'i and Bandar may all be human at least, but we have heard nasty stories of witches and state-sponsored mages. And the darkest rumours even speak that the Bandar may not be human after all...

[Sombre]

I just want to say I am so glad you guys are enjoying my mod nations. I put quite a lot of work into them and I will continue to update them when needed - the payoff is basically when people play with them and enjoy them.

[llamabeast]

Yep, we certainly have been enjoying them Sombre. I really like having them in the game. Skaven have been great fun (largely due to Digress's refusal to die). I'll definitely start another mod nations game in the near future I think.

[Digress]

Playing the Skaven was a blast. I am just sad that I was unable to mass enough of their "toys" to turn back the hordes of Ulm. Ohhh but for more globadiers, more warpfire throwers and more warpfire throwers .... more provinces, gems and troops ... better scripting, better leadership ... then, oh yes then the skaven would still be in the game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

[llamabeast]

I've postponed the hosting by 12 hours for myself. I've been/am in London, and won't get back till very late tonight.

I see from the LlamaServer that the Skaven and Abysia are out/AIed. I guess my Air Queen finally got your ragtag bunch of pests, Digress? What a relief!

[llamabeast]

I've given myself another 8 hours - I didn't really have time to take my turn before work.

Turns out I didn't have such a good time against the Skaven after all, I guess Digress just finally set himself to AI (many thanks by the way Digress for battling on so long). His ratlings fought off my invincible Air Queen (she lives, but 50 turns of killing skeletons made her run off), only to be finally destroyed by an army of penitents, with monstrous losses. But meanwhile a single death mage popped up elsewhere, and liberated another province from me. Cursed ratlings!

[Alneyan]

Phew, Skaven didn't survive our alliance after all! Okay, time to see my rolling thunder... erh... I sure hope you've got bigger armies in the North against Ulm.

[Digress]

Thought I wouldn't survive the turn so set myself to AI (did mean to announce it). Had been reduced to using some of my surviving mages as melee units to hold of province defence long enough for remaining mages to mop them up.

Ummmm ... is it rude to ask what happened to Abysia ? As my income nose dived I kind of killed off my scouts in the north by bringing them back to attack Ulm's weakly defended provinces (without great success). Did someone other than Ulm Reborn profit from their destruction ?


Thanks again to everyone for the game. Thanks especially to llamabeast for setting it up and to Sombre for the various mods that added some real flavour to proceedings. At present I am playing Ulm Reborn in the mid part of a game and am still convinced that as a nation it is well balanced (even though Ulm Reborn just whipped my hairy hide).

Edited to thank Sombre - quite an oversight !!!

[Yucky]

Digress said:Ummmm ... is it rude to ask what happened to Abysia ? As my income nose dived I kind of killed off my scouts in the north by bringing them back to attack Ulm's weakly defended provinces (without great success). Did someone other than Ulm Reborn profit from their destruction?



Hopefully not, my war with Tien Chi left me quite soft for the Ulm invasion, his stealthers crippled all my fortresses. I did manage to kill many barbarians including their wyrm god in my attempts to take them down with me.

Obviously, in hindsight, I should have ended my NAP with Ulm as soon as it was clear he was dominating. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/redface.gif

[Sombre]

What stealth troops was he using?

[Digress]

Concubines ?

That would be my guess .....

[Yucky]

Imperial Consorts, the Tien Chi spies. I had to devote valuable armies to rooting them out even though I had real good PD in those provinces.

[Alneyan]

This is very late, but Ulm hasn't played yet... is it possible to push back hosting by 24 hours? Thanks! (I'll try to send you a mail if I can find your address before I have to leave)

[llamabeast]

Aaargh, seems we had a disastrous Turn 62. I took my turn very carefully, before somehow apparently forgetting to send my turn in, and driving to Wales to see a friend in a pantomime*. Then Alneyan messaged me to ask for a postponement (unreceived, me being in Wales). And for some reason Bandar staled too. So only T'ien Ch'i took his turn!

Anyway, the time has come for war. I had hoped to actually have my armies on your borders, but oh well. Let the battles commence!

I observe, incidentally, that I have a ridiculous number of bards/consorts in my territory causing unrest. Pests!

* - If you don't live in England, pantomimes have a different meaning to in the rest of Europe. They are musical comedy things which follow a curiously fixed pattern, with lots of cross-dressing. I think they're unique to the UK.

[Sombre]

He's behind you!

[llamabeast]

What?

[Sombre]

You're supposed to say 'Oh no he isn't' you clown http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Digress]

We will try again

"He's behind you !"

Or are Welsh pantomimes more sophisticated ?

[llamabeast]

Oh! Oh, I hadn't made the connection with the panto at all! D'oh!

That really was pretty stupid. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/redface.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Okay, here we go:

> He's behind you!

*Walks around in a circle, blatantly missing the (something) following just behind*

[Tyrant]

Could I have a 24 delay please? I'm not going to be able to do my turn tonight and it will host before i can get home tomarrow.

[llamabeast]

Yep, sure.

[llamabeast]

I postponed the turn again for myself (wasn't able to take the turn last night but have taken it now - I've had a completely uncharacteristic bout of insomnia and am still awake (6.15am)), but Alneyan hasn't taken his turn yet, so I'll add yet another 12 hours on, so the turn will be due at 11pm GMT. Been a long turn, this one!

[Xietor]

try a glass of wine or 2, coupled with sex Llamabeast. Works wonders for getting a good night's sleep!

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

[llamabeast]

Hmm, one of those suggestions is easier to implement than the other...

I actually had an audition tonight for an improvised comedy group I really wanted to get into. I think I psyched myself up for it a bit too much, I've been getting increasingly tense all week. Anyway, I didn't get in (which is okay, good for my PhD since it would be time consuming, and to be fair there were other people there who were better), but it seems like all the adrenaline or something has left me a little confused. I don't normally get very stressy, nor have problems sleeping. I think there's something peculiarly psychologically unpleasant about auditions. Very judgmental things.

Glass of wine though - good idea. I don't know why I didn't think of it earlier. Though now I think I may as well just stay up and go into the office. I'm teaching maths in a few hours - I'm not sure that's going to go very well!

[Sombre]

llamabeast said:
Hmm, one of those suggestions is easier to implement than the other...



Yeah, where's the poor guy going to find wine in the middle of the night?

[llamabeast]

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

[Digress]

I always found teaching undergraduates in the morning was eased by a large serving of alcohol some hours beforehand. Seminars at 8 am on a Friday were always particularly improved by a staying up late enough so that the hangover didn't really kick in until lunch time (after giving a tutorial and taking a lab class). It really prepares you for getting some research work done in the afternoon http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif .... before heading to the pub at six http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Alneyan]

Okay, thanks for delaying the hosting last time. I did my turn well ahead of schedule for once (that must be why I forgot to take my turn in another game at the same time), but I forgot my SMTP was still down. didn't bother to check for my mail, and then dropped off the Internet for a few days, and wiggled in to get my turn by the deadline.

I've ditched my SMTP now and decided to spend a bit of time to get something up and running. Of course, as it turned out, that only took a couple minutes (testing included), and a much simpler setup based on a simple SSH tunnel (I was using a full-blown SMTP server to relay my mails to another relay... bleh).

Anyway. Man is currently trying to dig in and wait for Ulm to start suffering. My armies don't stand a chance in a fair fight, my attempt at building a thug was ludicrous and I'm not willing to send in my one SC Ulm knows of into battle, and my battle magic is untried yet. We'll see how it turns out soon enough, I guess... I've got a credible threat sitting next to my capital at the moment.

I'd like some Death gems if possible to keep casting Leprosy on those Ulmish armies. If you spot big, fat armies just begging to be diseased, let me know. I've got some gems I can't really use, so please tell me if you could use some (I'm not disclosing the contents of my gem stockpile, as Ulm doesn't have that particular information... they'll figure it out soon enough, anyway).

I shudder to think that as bad as my military looks now, it's never been in a better shape. Ah, if only I had an extra 500 turns for my Growth scale to blossom, and Ulm's Death to kill them all... Let's hope I can be a nuisance anyhow.

[llamabeast]

Hmm, an interesting turn this last one. A number of minor defeats - Bandar ingeniously killed my Golem SC with a magic duel, and T'ien Ch'i managed to annihilate one of my large armies that was about to march into his land. It may have been a Pyrrhic victory though, since most of his army was killed too. The one really frustrating thing about that battle: I forgot to script Divine Bless! All those sacreds, all those H3 casters, and no blessing - aaaagh! Also my air queen managed to kill a Bandar army, but came terrifyingly close to being killed herself - I was really scared for a while.

Still no major conflicts with Man - I expect them to come this turn. Man - prepare for your soldiers to wither under a hail of banefire crossbow bolts.

Meanwhile my income is gradually collapsing under the weight of endless spies. However, the SC factory is getting up to speed. Can the free nations cause enough chaos to bring me down before they are crushed under the weight of elemental royalty?

Incidentally, someone _really_ should dispel my Forge. Do you know how powerful it is? Insanely powerful. Banefire crossbows are only 1 gem!

[llamabeast]

Aieee! I lost my Air Queen to an Enslave Mind by Bandar! And on the same turn I lost a Fire King to some stupid indies! I guess I misjudged my scripting - despite having prot 24, having reached 50 fatigue through spellcasting he seemed to die super-easily to lances, no fewer than 4 times in quick succession (due to Phoenix Pyre)! I have to say I'm still quite taken aback by that.

Man is somehow holding my vast army outside his capital, despite me Crumbling his walls. I guess he must have an insanely large army on the inside. In the meantime my army are rapidly dying of disease...

[Alneyan]

I'd like an extension for this turn, say 24 hours.

Bleh, Leprosy isn't working very quickly... and my last casting was less than stellar. Ah, well, time is on my side... well, it *is* on our side if they can win the war in the north. Glad to know your SCs are going down, though.

In the interest of the pursuit of knowledge, your Gargoyle seems to have an useless item (it has a mere +9 to MR, despite having three MR items... if memory serves, the Cap and the Robe don't stack, as they're next to each other), and Crumble didn't work, as you weren't sieing in the first place. The three siege spells are notoriously bugged, though, so I'm not sure if I'd use them (I've given up hoping for Iron Walls to work myself).

[llamabeast]

24 hour extension is fine, I'll do it now.

The thing about items not stacking in adjacent slots only applies if they are _exactly_ the same item. So two frost brands will only give 50% CR (unless you have 4 arms and space them appropriately). But my gargoyle has +4 to MR from the amulet, +3 from the robe and +2 from the hat - all correct. However, the gargoyle design is in fact silly. I made him so I could give him the stone sword without fear of him getting himself (since he's already stone). Then I promptly forgot that and gave him all the MR items I could to protect him from the sword. Not very clever. Still, I think he's a dangerous chap.

Are you sure Crumble didn't work? Check the remaining strength of your fort. I suspect it's low - I think it was reduced to zero by the spell, then brought back up again since you have more defenders than I have siegers. I hadn't anticipated that, since my army's so large.

If you want to kill my armies you'd better whip out Burden of Time! That will make the Leprosy hurt.

[Tyrant]

Neither Air Queens nor Golems eat bananas and are therefore helpless against the might of Bandar Log! SCs are for smacking newbs and and intimidating the feint of heart, you are gunna have to send a real army to finish me off.

[Digress]

There appears there might be an issue with Ulm Reborn and the new patch v3.14 (there certainly is an issue on my Windows machine).

Posting here in case llamabeast hasn't got my PM - so read your PM llamabeast, before the game hosts. The Grey Seers predict disaster (or at least annoyance) if game hosts but do not have time to test prediction before bedtime.

The Seers also predict that Sombre and llamabeast will have solved all, or at least come up with a relatively painless work around, in the near future. All bow before the greatness of the seers of Skavenblight.

I return also to blow rasperries at Man as it is now something of a reflex whenever I look at this thread http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif
I do note that you are still in the game whilst I am present only in a rather insubstantial manner, being completely defeated and all. So kudos to you Alneyan http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Edited to demonstrate that Engish is probably my first language and clarity, but not spelling or grammar. Off to get second industrial strength nightcap. Cheers all.

[llamabeast]

Thanks Digress, I will look into it.

I've postponed hosting by 7 hours to let me and Alneyan get our turns in.

[Alneyan]

Turn's in. Sorry, my weekday schedule was pretty messed up this week.

I shall not comment on my turn, but it seems the bulk of the Ulm hammer is striking in the north. I'll helpfully point out that I'm an idiot for assuming all MR items were +4, but I stand by my point about Crumble: it did no damage whatsoever to my defenders, and I'm pretty sure Ulm has the stronger army (then again, my Tower Guards do balance the scales in my favor)... Either way, you should get a message along the lines of 'the defenders are repairing the walls faster than we can damage them', if I'm indeed winning the strength contest.

Unless it has been fixed since the early days of Dom 3, Crumble just doesn't work unless you're sieging the castle already (back then, Iron Walls and its cousin spell didn't work at all). In any event, you're not getting into my castle unless I allow you to do so... Nature doesn't have great summons, but Animal Horde means I'm siege-proof. Go away and bother someone else.

[Alneyan]

What can I say, except 'bleh'? I've taken a couple random Ulmish provinces, lost a couple random Manx provinces, diseased some more 170 random troops, and our respective armies are doing a great job at avoiding any actual battle at all costs. Ulm's skirmishers left my capital and decided to siege some random fort instead, while my skirmishers are trying to siege Skaven's capital... mmh, it's a place of bad luck, I think.

I've still got the Gargoyle on my back, and Ulm still has the Forge up and running, and I still don't think I can actually go on the offensive against the Ulmish hordes. I do not have any clever idea to turn the tables, so I'm looking up for the cavalry to charge in and win the day. You got that, T'ien Ch'i?

Actually, I think I've got a pretty good idea... A random event just gave me a Skull Talisman, which shall be the cornerstone of my counterstrike. Beware!

[llamabeast]

Largely my feelings too. In the South it was a turn of stalemate. Lots of irritations for both of us, nicking each other's provinces without any actual battles. I actually would have stayed at your capital for a big fight, but from your last post I got the impression you were going to sit tight forever until all my troops died of disease, so I decided to capture a neighbouring fort for a bit of good quality Chalice time. However, if you are up for a fight, then we shall have one this turn - I can't get inside your fort before you attack me.

In Bandar nothing happened. My SCs claimed a couple more provinces. Considering Tyrant's comment about SCs above I wonder whether my original plan to attack Man and TC mainly with armies, and Bandar mainly with SCs was a good one.

Finally in T'ien Ch'i there was a little more drama. I saw TC's large army coming towards one of my forts and plonked my Fire King down in his path. Alas, I misjudged again... despite a high MR (22, 21 in TC's dominion) he was quickly paralyzed and repeatedly killed. Ugh, two Fire Kings down out of two, and that really is a horrible amount of elemental royalty I've lost now. However TC continues to lose land to an annoying army of mine that's circling his capital, while my Massive Force approaches from the South. Unfortunately my Massive Force is also now diseased - who did that then, eh? Disease everywhere. All my armies are diseased now, it's quite annoying.

Also the spy situation has become ridiculous (see the attachment). Spies go home!

[Alneyan]

Well, I'm moody, so I wouldn't infer too much from my messages. That, and it's not as if I had any clever Grand Strategy to take you down. (At least I can actually survive on my own now... that's much more than I could've said twenty turns ago)

Oh, and I almost forgot: can I have another 24 hours extension, just in case? I can take my turn in time, but I might have to concert with T'ien Ch'i before making a Big Mistake. (Of course, you wouldn't know about those problems, being the obligatory heartless, vilainous Evil Empire that you are)

On an unrelated note, please, pretty please, take down Bandar and T'ien Ch'i before Man. I think you owe me the right of going down last. (I love raspberries, Skaven, so keep them coming... especially as they turned out to be Air gems last time)

[Alneyan]

I'm sorry to be such a bother, but could you add an extra 24 hours to the clock? I expect to get my turn by 0100 at the latest (I'll be out most of the day, and I won't have time to finish it off), but it might take me until 1200 or so.

Sorry about that... the next two weeks should go a lot smoother.

[llamabeast]

Okay, done!

[llamabeast]

I staled! Noooooo!

Oh wow, that is inexcusable - really sorry everyone (although it may be good news for you, I haven't looked yet). I got confused by about one hour - I was just this minute about to take my turn when the next one popped into my inbox.

Anyway, are we back to 48 hours for this turn? I should be good with that.

[llamabeast]

Oh my goodness, this war is looking a lot less one-sided than I thought. Bandar has killed my beloved genie, and Man has 700+ troops! 700!

[Tyrant]

So what's up with the genie? My battle report shows his brain exploding, but the message says you won and i still see the genie on the map?!? Is he dead or no?

[Alneyan]

Shame you missed your turn, llamabeast... it could hurt you some, though I have no idea what are the odds at the moment. I know I'd hate it if our victory only came about because of that missed turn.

Perhaps we should just drop the deadline while the war unfolds, just as a safety measure? I'd expect all of us to be reasonable folks playing as soon as possible (well, I unexpectedly turned social butterfly along the way, but learned my lesson), and I know I actually feel worse about dragging my feet when there's no deadline.

Not much to report on the Manx front... I've decided against challenging Ulm's army as my simulations weren't favorable for such a minor province. I've also had the delightful surprise of losing another province due to nasty indies, which should prevent one of Ulm's small armies from crossing into my lands. Even if they do cross, that province is now utterly worthless, so they're more than welcome to it.

Bandar Log actually claimed they were a third-rate power... wonders what that makes me?

[llamabeast]

I don't know what was going on with the genie (I still had him), so to be as fair as possible I reforged the lamp (it is very cheap for me so it doesn't disadvantage me much).

We can drop the deadline if people want, but I know from personal experience that I play much more promptly with a deadline.

Wow, another painful turn for Ulm, but still I think the screws are tightening for the other nations. This turn I lost a further two elemental royalty (I cannot believe I lost my air queen to your stupid sprites Alneyan), which hurts a lot. Nevertheless Man lost a good bit more territory. I got one little province from Bandar (all my SCs being dead http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif ), and the Army of Fate is marching gradually towards T'ien Ch'is capital. Will they get there before they all die of plague?

[llamabeast]

Actually the best thing this turn was dispelling Man's globals. Hopefully that will stem the tide of Vine Ogres. I'm not sure yet where all the air gems have been going.

[Alneyan]

I'd like an extra 24 hours, possibly more, mostly so I can get some data from the northern war. There's still that whole 'I can't win the war alone' going on, much to my annoyance.

In unrelated news, Skavenblight falls. Again. This time, I'm the one storming the castle, and it's been a glorious victory. No other information from me, as I'm drunk with people, and I'd either fail to make sense, or give away valuable information.

Still, I can't help but think we've actually got a fighting chance... or at least, we've done some good fighting. I like my sprites (they were intended for use against an eventual Skaven SC, then deployed against Abysia, but hey, what's good for the goose...).

[llamabeast]

Okay, postponed.

Sprites turn out to be deadly. I always thought they were useless.

[Tyrant]

llamabeast said:
Okay, postponed.

Sprites turn out to be deadly. I always thought they were useless.



Anything with sleep attacks is good vs SCs.

That's very sporting of you to kill off the genie. I have seen this sort of thing before and just don't know what to make of it. It seems like an extremely intricate sort of bug.

[llamabeast]

Many apologies for staling. Annoying I'd done most of my turn, but hadn't gotten around to sending it in. I meant to postpone the hosting, but got flustered and forgot. I've got a bit of an insane week - I'm organising a bit charity comedy night this Saturday and it's all getting a little hectic!

[llamabeast]

I've just spent 4 hours clearing my inbox (and it was clear two days ago). Aaargh! Why would anyone ever organise anything?

I would like to request a 24 hour extension.

Granted.

Why thankyou!

Apologies for slowing the game.

I am scared of Bandar's siddha.

[Tyrant]

Kinda late i know, but any chance for a 24 hr delay?

[llamabeast]

Done!

[Tyrant]

Thanks, sorry to ask for delays with such a small position, but i have no net at home right now and i have to use work/friend to transfer turns and yesterday i forgot to take the turn with me and did not want to make another trip.

Screwyness with Mr. Djinn again- battle showed him routing, but really we routed. Perhaps he befuddles us with mirages?

[llamabeast]

Indeed, I also meant to comment on Mr. Djinn. Very bizarre, I'm not really sure what to do about him. It was quite conceivable that he might win the battle, so presumably there is some small inconsistency which made the whole battle happen slightly differently, which happened to lead to me winning rather than losing. It's annoying we can't watch it properly though.

[llamabeast]

T'ien Ch'i's mighty army has been annihilated, crushed between the hammer of the Seraph and the anvil of Ulm's mightiest army. Bandar's capital is captured and their forces all but destroyed, with gargoyles flying across their lands. Man's unbreakable walls are finally beginning to fall to a colossal flock of almost 700 hawks, accompanied by a vast horde of penitents, almost 200 skeletal horsemen and a sentient Siege Golem.

I believe Ulm is victorious!

Any objections?

[AlgaeNymph]

llamabeast said:
I believe Ulm is victorious!

Any objections?

None from me.

[Tyrant]

All hail the new masters of New Ulm! Well played as usual Llama. Sorry i did not put up a more entertaining fight at the end there. I've moved and i do not have net access yet so i've been transfering the turns on my thumb drive at work and i got the host schedule mixed up over the weekend.

Thanks for hosting!

[Xietor]

Gratz Llamabeast!

[Sombre]

Ulm Reborn sure ain't weak.

Anything you'd suggest adding to them? I'm going to update them for 3.14 soon but so far I'm not really sure what I'll change.

[llamabeast]

Sombre - after all my time with them I'm sure I can muster some thoughts. I'll try to post on the Ulm Reborn thread soonish.

It's true that they're not weak, they've won a couple of mod nation games now haven't they?

In this case though I think the victory was largely a diplomatic one. My wars were:

With Man against Tomb Kings
With Man against Skaven
With T'ien Ch'i against Abysia

and finally against everyone.

In the war against the Tomb Kings his army had already headed off to Man, so I was able to capture his capital with little resistance, then it was a mopping up operation. Against Skaven I already had a considerable advantage from having two capitals and lots of territory, and having Man as an ally clinched the victory (although Digress was a vicious opponent). Abysia caved in essentially without a fight - I think he had used all his troops against T'ien Ch'i. In any case I got an obscene amount of land for no losses.

Only the final war didn't have numbers in my favour, but the odds were, with hindsight, overwhelmingly on my side. With the Forge up I was pumping out two clams and a ring of wizardry (12 pearls!) every turn with no effort, plus no end of other goodies.

So while Ulm Reborn were pretty good (the penitents are invaluable), I don't think they're unbalanced. More that I was very lucky in how the diplomacy fell out.

[Sombre]

Let me know in the Ulm Reborn mod thread and I'll update with a new version soon after based on feedback. I think I'll give them a couple of new spells, maybe make the hoch-hammers a bit more interesting somehow.

[Alneyan]

I'm not sure if it actually mattered, but I'd like to apologize for missing the endgame. Some personal issues roared their ugly heads again, and I'm afraid playing Dominions just wasn't on the cards then. I've learned my lesson, though, and I'll keep out of MP Dominions.

Sorry everyone for disappearing overnight... and congrats llamabeast for your win, and hosting the game.

[llamabeast]

Oh no, no need to keep out of MP! If you occasionally miss a few turns it is not a huge deal. Besides, all you missed in this game was, IIRC, 2-3 turns of me summoning insane numbers of hawks to break your castle, because I *believed* they had 1.25 siege each. Turns out that because they're animals that have 0.25 each, so they're useless http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif .

Hope you enjoyed the game anyway, I had great fun. You were actually tucked in a very unfortunate position Alneyan, so I hope it wasn't too frustrating.

[Alneyan]

Just to clarify, I'd have missed a full month of play had the game not ended a wee bit earlier; that's the sort of disappearence that doesn't sit well with MP play.

My position was fairly tight, but I should count myself lucky to have survived so long. I'm pretty sure Arga Dis could have trashed me, if their army had kept moving towards my capital, and you could have mopped me up around that stage too. Even Skaven could have eaten me for breakfast (just look at the pitiful army I sent their way, which was pretty much the best I could do). Alas, buying time only goes so far...