EpikBattel - Started

[Agema]

The telecommunications company have got the phone line working, and say the broadband should be ready Saturday - but it might not be. So I'd appreciate a delay from the first turn processed Saturday until Monday as well.

In general terms, I think a 48-hr turn might be better, as it allows more ability to communicate and co-ordinate with a teammate, but I can handle the 30-hr turnaround fine.

[Zeldor]

I am fine with extending turn time for weekends.

[FrozenFalcon]

I think we'll wait till more wars get started for the 48 hour turn. As for the extended turn time on weekends, that's ok for me.

[Acenoid]

HI!

Iam at work atm and might not be home ion time - Can we delay hosting by 3-4 hours?

Thanks!

[Acenoid]

boooh now i hurried to be here in time, sent my mail and it's not arriving on the llama server http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Acenoid]

so now it happened though sent at 16:33 (17:33 GMT+1) my turn was not processed iam not amused http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Well tough luck i guess...:(

[Zeldor]

I have started a new MP game for semi-newbies. It will use Conceptual Balance Mods with Worthy Heroes. Map will be Alexander. There are still a bout 5-7 places free. Linkie. (http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=578499&page=0&view=collap sed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1)

[FrozenFalcon]

Strange, I could swear that the server had received all turns when I checked the staling data. Oh well.

R'lyeh indeed has many stales now. I wouldn't like to do a rehost because of one player (and I even cannot do that). I've been trying to watch the turn postings and postponing the hosting if needed, and I'll try to do it now more often.

[Zeldor]

FrozenFalcon:

I think he has just that stale [though strange one] after he got that nation from previous player.

[FrozenFalcon]

I does not matter who caused those stales; What I meant was that R'lyeh really cannot afford more stales.

[Acenoid]

It took over 10 hrs for my email to arrive at the llamaserver i guess there is / was a email provider problem on my side.

[Niarg]

I'm away for this weekend so can we delay hosting until tuesday please.

[Zeldor]

Niarg: Do at least taht turn before weekend http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[FrozenFalcon]

Ok, the game will be postponed after the resolving of this turn (32).

[Acenoid]

Iam not able to access internet from Home until 16th again.

I realize it is very annoying to wait all the time for someone. So sorry for the hassle.

[FrozenFalcon]

Then I believe we have to postpone few days after this turn again.

[otthegreat]

Wow this is unfortunate. I'll be gone so unable to send in turns due from Feb. 19 - 22. With our current schedule I think this would only be two turns but with all of the recent delays I understand any reluctance to allow another one. Should I find a sub?

[DonCorazon]

I don't mind a delay

[Zeldor]

Heh, and I need a break 29th february till 3rd March, but I think I have mentioned it some time ago already.

[FrozenFalcon]

You also mentioned that you'd get a sub http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Well, you don't have to, since I delayed the game for 5 days and all these other delays around here.

[Zeldor]

FrozenFalcon:

I am trying to get one, but no one is willing as for now http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Acenoid]

Iam really sorry for the hassle unfortunately I know no one else who has a legit copy of dom3... >(

[otthegreat]

Someone offered to sub but with this as a team game I'd prefer a delay. I'm having tons of fun so I'm kind of being greedy too. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

So could I get a final answer: is a delay okay or not?

[FrozenFalcon]

Yeah, since I've made it a theme to allow delays, then we'll delay the game if needed.

[Niarg]

Can I request a delay until monday evening for this turn. I'm really sorry for keep requesting delays but I'll be ok next week.

[DonCorazon]

I really don't mind delays - much preferable than people disappearing or going AI. As long as we don't delay so long that the other players start disappearing and going AI....

[Zeldor]

It is just we got many delays in one time, but game is going to last few months at least, so no problem.

[otthegreat]

Thank you FrozenFalcon. Hopefully February is just a busy month and the game will pick up again soon.

[Zeldor]

What's with C'tis? We should have hosting today. What changed? There was no request of postponing hosting by 10 days, we had postpone for Acenoid, who plays R'lyeh.

[Niarg]

Thanks for waiting, I should be ok this week.

[FrozenFalcon]

Seems that I forgot to postpone the hosting in time. I'm sorry about this; if needed, I will ask llamabeast for redoing the turn. Game is now postponed.

[Zeldor]

Better make smth about Pythium that conquered the island http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Gregstrom]

Well, it was there, all empty and in need of an occupying army. And I always wanted a pet sphinx. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Zeldor]

It didn't look empty http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif But pet sphinx is always cool http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif I got not so nice pets though http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Gregstrom]

There were only 6 people there! And 4 of those were made of stone, anyway. Oh, and a bunch of knights on holiday. They all wanted to make friends though.

[Zeldor]

With CBM that would be much more interesting - hundreds of soldiers of east and west http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[DonCorazon]

Eriu's - tonight we dine in hell!
(Ermor knows what I mean...)

[Zeldor]

Why next postpone? Did we switch to 100 hours per turn or what?

[Torin]

i dont mind. thats better to have people stalling

[FrozenFalcon]

Interwall is still 30 hours; I paniced when Marignon staled and postponed the game n+1 hours so he cannot possibly stale again.

[otthegreat]

Don't worry about it FrozenFalcon. I'm back everyone! Did you miss me? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[FrozenFalcon]

Well you should have posted your turn about 2 days before now, but I'm happy that you're not requesting rehosting. I'm sorry about my mistake, but.. no more hassling! Awesome! I cannot describe my feelings at the moment. No rehosting!


(The contents of this post may have been affected by the alcohol amount I have drunk but it should be true nevertheless. No needless rehosting! I do not have to fix my mistakes! Yay!)

[Gregstrom]

As things seem to be hotting up a little (my, Machaka, what a big army you have...), could we go to a 48 hour host please. I've sent this turn in, so it wouldn't need to begin until next turn.

[Zeldor]

Gregstrom:

What did you do to half of your army? :|

[Gregstrom]

They're on holiday. After all that fighting, they deserved a couple of months of R&R.

[FrozenFalcon]

If no one disagrees, I will change the interwall to 48h.

[Gregstrom]

General Servilius looked up from his paperwork as a figure entered his tent. "You have a report for me, Amrod?" The commander saluted and spoke. "Yes, sir. Despite the recently improved patrol regime, two assassins broke through. One murdered Commander Riego, but not quietly enough. We heard Riego cry out, and the assassin was killed before he could leave the scene of the crime. Another assassin attacked Lord Virbius."

Servilius laughed. "I take it your assistance wasn't needed there". "Correct, sir," Amrod replied. "We have a new prize for the winner of the next melee tournament, too. Oh - one other suspicious character was found and dispatched before he could attempt anything. It's worthy of note that the Machakans aren't using their own men to attempt any of these killings - presumably some of them have a little common sense."

[FrozenFalcon]

There was nothing suspicious about my monkey.

[Gregstrom]

That phrase is just begging to be taken out of context http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

You should have seen what it was trying to do to the Hydra in question, anyway. 'Suspicious' was the only polite word that could be used to describe it.

[FrozenFalcon]

Arcoscephale is the only one that has not posted his turn and there's about an hour left before hosting; I'll give him few extra hours since he already has a high stale count. Of course, no one should be favored but this is a policy I've been trying to follow every time I see a situation like this. And if the 2 hours are not enough, he'll stale the turn.

Edit: seems that he made his turn right after I made the postpone.

[Gregstrom]

Someone's made an awful lot of artifacts. Well done to Mictlan, perhaps?

[Zeldor]

To be honest, I suspect you. I was focusing on Charm and Enslave Mind and missed all good uniques http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Gregstrom]

I suspect the monkeys. FrozenFalcon says that marketa was innocent, but can we trust him?

[FrozenFalcon]

Since we have the score graphs allowed, you can all check my research. It's a miracle that I can make anything more complex than the rocks and stick my markata use as their weapons, let alone magic artifacts.

[otthegreat]

I know you guys all saw this but I had to bring it up. I almost fell out of my seat when I read "who knows what terrible weapons and devices Spanky, the Eighth Dwarf..." I just can't be intimidated by a message like this. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[DonCorazon]

I had quite the opposite reaction. Spanky, the Eighth Dwarf sounds like he should be working for Ron Jeremy and quite capable of developing horrific devices. Eriu infantry will now be wearing iron clad chastity belts.

[Gregstrom]

Mmm, chafing...

[DonCorazon]

Good point.

...we will need to add the patented Eriu "Cool Breeze" enchantment.

[FrozenFalcon]

I have absolutely no idea if we should have a weekend break again but if Arcoscephale won't post his turn when I check it tonight I'll postpone the game for n+1 hours, because after this turn, Zeldor cannot send his turn before some other day, can't really remember. Anyway, postpone will happen.

[Networkingguru]

Well, I am out guys. Eriu should have my capital next turn, as the armies of Ermor are beat. I have set to computer controlled, good luck to all.

[Gregstrom]

I saw that fight. That was an awful lot of skeletal horsemen that got shattered.

[DonCorazon]

NGG, Nice playing with you -
Sorry this probably hasn't been as fun as it could have been because I initiated an early war that has stunted both of our developments. I confused MA Ermor with LA Ermor, so thought your death domain and hordes of undead would mean my doom if I did not try to stop you early.

[Networkingguru]

DonCorazon said:
NGG, Nice playing with you -
Sorry this probably hasn't been as fun as it could have been because I initiated an early war that has stunted both of our developments. I confused MA Ermor with LA Ermor, so thought your death domain and hordes of undead would mean my doom if I did not try to stop you early.



Thanks Don. No worries, it's all good. I've got to learn to prepare for the early rush, even in big games like this.

Good luck all.

[DonCorazon]

One question for NGG: how did you you end up with a Sidhe Lord fighting for you? The traitorous swine is still running loose!

[Zeldor]

I am back, but I think I will look for a permament sub for Mictlan. NGG, maybe you are interested? You would have border with Don again http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

I am in China now and I want to limit my games and I find that one to be really boring, to be honest. Even with some fights in perspective soon I just feel that particular game is rather stagnant.

[DonCorazon]

Boring!? Well spice it up with some flare...Come on Z - you wanted the huge map...now you are going to leave us all here?

When are you back from China? Or are you there for good? I was in Beijing once - great food, very cheap.

Cheers, DC

[DonCorazon]

Zeldor, make sure to tell your sub to fear Eriu and your army at 54 to just keep passing through the caves - nothing to see in Ermor.

[Gregstrom]

No Ermor to see, for that matter.

[Agema]

Hi,

I've got a potential problem with my home internet. It was acting up badly last night, and I don't know it will be fixed by this evening.

If the worst does happen, with 24h I can do my turn this evening, then transfer the file to my work computer and email it from there tomorrow.

[Gregstrom]

Lord Virbius was waved into General Servilius' tent by an awed guardsman. He saluted as the General rose to greet him. "You wished to see me, General?" he said. "Yes," Servilius replied, "I was hoping for a report on how our troops performed during the recent clash of swords with Machaka."

"Well, General," Virbius grinned, "our troops certainly earned their overwhelming victory. The skirmishers were effective in their role, although they suffered the expected high casualties. Our archers performed as we expected, although the Amazon squad taking the brunt of the enemy fire did experience significant losses before their morale broke. The enemy archers suffered rather worse punishment, naturally. Machakan Hoplites in formation resist archery almost as well as a legionary testudo, it has to be said."

"I have nothing but praise for our line troops, who are capable of taking on many times their number of hoplites. The Guard annihilated all who stood in their way, naturally, and the only reason so many of the enemy survived is that they can run like wild hares."

"Magical support was excellent, although the misfires that took out some fine legionaries are regretted to say the least. Adnachiel is very literally a blessing upon us, and his converts will fight on an equal basis with any of our men. None dared touch him on the battlefield, as you well might expect."

"Yes," Servilius agreed "And I'm juat as glad that Angel of Vengeance went off to do his own thing. He made me nervous. I always felt as if something... other... was watcing me when he was nearby". He shook himself, and changed the subject. What should we do about the deicide among our ranks, Virbius?"

As the Emerald Lord drew breath to answer, a sudden breeze blew through the tent carrying with it the scent of spring flowers. Both men paled, as a vast Presence sent its attention in their direction momentarily.

"It would appear that decision has been made for us. He will be ennobled and returned to duty."

[Gregstrom]

Oh. It need hardly be said that I'm interested in trading for Earth gems.

[Torin]

Ott the great(marignon) is obviusly braindead as he declares war on me (machaka) when Phytium is controlling the central island and has 1 victory point so is about to get his 2nd (winning the game).
If you want to play to lose so do it. Ill try to win.

[FrozenFalcon]

I thought we agreed on 3, and according to the score graph, so it is. If you tried to bluff, I'm sorry http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[otthegreat]

Yes, the victory condition seems to be three victory points. Also I believe it takes quite some time to accumulate even one victory point. Perhaps if Machaka wasn't piddling around with C'tis and Arco something could be done about the island.

[Gregstrom]

Oh, Machaka are doing something alright. It appears to involve Tartarians and the Chalice - probably Gift of Reason too.

[Zeldor]

Marignon attacking Machaka? Taht would be the most stupid action MP games have seen for ages.

gregstorm:

If you can offer good price I can sell everything http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Torin]

I dont have the chalice. but I want to buy it.
Ithought it was 2 VP. mm still he needs only one now.

[Gregstrom]

No, I have only one VP from the graphs. I need two more, and there are still about 7 months before I can get another.

I don't think attacking Machaka is any worse than attacking me, actually. There's a bit of a gap between the top 3 nations and the others, and the best way to bring down any one of Machaka, Mictlan and Pythium is a dogpile. Since Machaka alresdy has C'tis and Arco on their backs, joining in is not tactically unsound.

Leaving Machaka to conquer C'tis/Arco and attacking Pythium without any backup might be considered an inferior strategic choice.

[otthegreat]

Despite what some people seem to think, I am very interested in winning this game. I do what I think will acomplish that best. Its not my fault if some people are confused by my strategy - although Gregstrom clearly understands more than most.

[Zeldor]

Oh man, that Enchanted Forest sucks. I expected better units in bigger quantities. And now I will have to run with mages and gather that single units from every province. I cannot believe I have wasted so many gems on that.

[otthegreat]

Um... sorry guys but I'll be gone again for a few days. Lets see, from 02:00 GMT Wed. to 17:00 GMT Saturday. I think thats only one turn and I shouldn't be gone again until August or later. Would a delay be okay?

[FrozenFalcon]

I believe it's ok. I myself have to break the game in week starting 31th March; it is possible that I can post turns then but it would require for me to install Dominions to a public computer so...

[Zeldor]

FrozenFalcon:

Copy dominions folder into your usb stick, you do not need to install it.

[FrozenFalcon]

Zeldor:

It would probably work; the only problem is that the computers in the place I'm going are so ancient that there actually is a doubt if they contain USB ports. Yes, they're that old. Very well, I can take my cd with me as a backup plan, I would have 3 games running at the time so it would be very good if I was able to play my turns. Hopefully we can avoid the break.

[Zeldor]

Just remember to turn animated backgrounds off on old computers http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Zeldor]

To be specific:

Yes, I can sell/borrow Chalice.

If you want to borrow it will cost x [you make the offer] for ever turn + huge deposit of either gems or uniques.

If you want to buy I except only other uniques, unless you can offer really big amount of gems.

[Bananadine]

Looks like three people are about to miss their turns? Dang!

[Gregstrom]

And you at war with one of them, too. Dang!

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish a virulent and noxious pox on the Dom3 Random Number Generator. Unto the seventh generation.

And of course to thank Machaka for the unexpected gifts. The mages of Pythium would like to know if they appreciated the Gifts we called down in return.

[Zeldor]

Hmm... what global were you trying to put on?

And R'lyeh staled way too many times, it looks lik we may be forced to look for a sub, again :/ 7 stales now, 2 in a row now...

[otthegreat]

Well, I don't want to cause too much trouble but is there anything we can do about that last turn? Three people staling is too many. I know I was under the impression that the game would be delayed. Are there complications with redoing a turn?

[Gregstrom]

Well, there would be an impact on my and Machaka's turns I suspect.

[Bananadine]

And also the time stream would be ruptured and if thing's don't work out JUST SO then your grandparents will have failed to meet and you won't exist anymore. (but if you were in the Hall of Fame somebody can cast that one spell nad bring you back as a mummy)

[Bananadine]

I'm embarassed about the typos in my joke post!

[Zeldor]

I've made a post that we may need a perm sub for R'lyeh. I think we should postponed hosting of that turn by 24-48 hours to resolve all issues. If 3 players just disappear that games does not make sense.

[FrozenFalcon]

I postponed the game last minute (literally). I give Zeldor time to look for another R'lyeh substitute (is the nation cursed or something?).

[otthegreat]

Bananadine said:
And also the time stream would be ruptured and if thing's don't work out JUST SO then your grandparents will have failed to meet and you won't exist anymore. (but if you were in the Hall of Fame somebody can cast that one spell nad bring you back as a mummy)


I'd like to think I'm famous http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif, and maybe it would be nice to be a mummy. I think you'd be immortal.

And R'leyh does have something to do with a cursed star, right? Maybe the curse of R'leyh has something to do with memory loss.

[Gregstrom]

Bananadine said:
And also the time stream would be ruptured and if thing's don't work out JUST SO then your grandparents will have failed to meet and you won't exist anymore. (but if you were in the Hall of Fame somebody can cast that one spell nad bring you back as a mummy)



Even more horrifying - if the fabric of causality has been ruptured you might get brought back as your own mummy!

(warning - this joke may not work if you aren't English)

[FrozenFalcon]

Since I forgot to postpone the game in time, R'lyeh staled again. From now on, moderation will play the nation, hopefully with lower stale rates than the others http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Zeldor]

If you wanted llamabeast can always move the turn back and only R'lyeh would have to send a new turn.

[moderation]

Hello, this is R'lyeh here. We are announcing that we have had a revolution from despotism to feudalism (it's a big improvement)! Our previous general has been impeached for going AWOL to frolic with Forest Nymphs in the forest for over three months.

We would also announce our interest in resetting all our diplomatic relations to Neutral and redrawing borders to their pre-frolicking stage. The new R'lyeh: Less frolicking, more... anthropomorphic squids!

On a more serious note, if llamabeast could move the turn back, that would be very helpful as three stale turns in a row has made a rather large mess of things.

[FrozenFalcon]

Llamabeast has been contacted. I'll (try to) postpone the game till we have a reply from him.

[FrozenFalcon]

Behold, the game has been rollbacked. Moderation, go to www.llamaserver.net (http://www.llamaserver.net) and request turn resend for EpikBattel.

[Zeldor]

I have strange feeling that some people decided to cheat and change their turn...

[moderation]

Turn 49 updated. Thanks to FrozenFalcon and Llamabeast for fixing this and everyone else for their patience with our government's transition.

[Gregstrom]

DAMN that RNG! Happily, nothing else about my turn seems to have changed.

[Agema]

I'm processing the turn most recently out. After that, Archaeolept will be subbing for me until the beginning of April. He can give his contact details to you for the transition.

[Agema]

Oi! Please can you arrange changing the turn to Archaeolept as requested? I don't have time to do this turn.

Secondly, I did take a quick look: some seriously weird stuff happened with the turn. I had two commanders appear from nowhere (a cardaces with A4 in a province I never owned? A clockwork horror commander?)

[Zeldor]

I have Internet after all http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

My turn is strange too - though only movement order from what I see. Maybe we should repeat it?

[Zeldor]

Oh, one Vine Man commander. Weird. Also some spells were not cast.

P.S. Vime Man has hide order though he is not stealthy :|

[llamabeast]

Step 1 for getting rid of weirdness: Delete any 2h files in your game directory. This is important.

If it's still seriously weird let me know. There is nothing I can easily do, but if it's a major issue I may be able to think of something.

[archaeolept]

yeah, i'll be taking over for a week, as long as llama is kind enough to send me the turns http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[FrozenFalcon]

About subs: a private message to me would be nice because I need the email address to change the one sending turns. I need Archaeolept's email address if he's going to sub Arcos.

[Bananadine]

I saw some weirdness too, but I assumed it was because I had made a .2h file with the old .trn file, and then taken in a new .trn file alongside the now-obsolete .2h file.

I deleted the .2h file, as Llamabeast suggests, and everything was fine after that.

[archaeolept]

pm sent

[archaeolept]

hi, is it possible to get hosting delayed on this?

I finally received notice that the email address had been changed to mine; but had not yet received a turn file.

So I get back from work, and there is a notice (from this morning) that there is only 12 hrs left...now 2 hrs.

so I got the turn resent from llama, but i cannot open as it says i do not have the correct map file (worldofgeometry2.tga). I have the map from the WoG thread; there is no map link posted in the first post as is customary (and reasonable), and I could not find anything in the first few pages... and time is ticking down, and I have yet to even see this nation...

[archaeolept]

ok, really, wth? I finally found a link to the map on page 5, and it's the version i already have, not the one the game is asking for:

Nagot gick Fel

Can't find map image: worldofgeometry2.tga

Edit: Llama was kind enough to send me the proper tga, and is extending hosting by 3 hrs, so i should be fine to at least get in a plausible submission.

above and beyond, llama http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

edit2: ooh hexes; nature's perfect form. ;p

[Zeldor]

archaeolept:

It was renamed map because some people [well, for example me] were playing on the older version of that map in KingOfTheIsle game.

[DonCorazon]

Pythium,
Our Eriu need a vacation after so many years of battling the undead hordes of Ermor. As you might have guessed from your recent discovery of some stray Sidhe, we'd like to visit the island you have held for so long. Sadly, your troops attacked us while we simply sought to take a peek of the good life. Therefore, all good things must come to an end, and so ends peace between Pythium and Eriu.

Sharpen your blades for the last ride of the Sidhe approaches. /threads/images/Graemlins/icon23.gif

[Gregstrom]

Eriu:

We're sure we can make it their last ride.

[FrozenFalcon]

Sorry that I could not delay the game; it seems that I was sleeping the whole time from the moment the delay was asked to the moment the game was hosted. It seems that nobody staled, though.

Private messages are better than thread messages, since I usually just browse through the new thread messages but I cannot miss the private ones (allthough this was not the case this time).

[DonCorazon]

Gregstrom said:
Eriu:

We're sure we can make it their last ride.



Me too

[otthegreat]

If the Sidhe ride to their deaths, so too shall the Inqisitors. Pythium beware for our God in his fiery wisdom demands your people's blood!

[Gregstrom]

I hope that's not intended to be a breach of our NAP terms. The people of Pythium would take great offence at that.

[otthegreat]

Oh definately not. Basically I mean that you have five turns before I will consider our NAP over. Our god may be angry but he's punctual. I think you have to wait five turns to crush Eriu also.

Edit: I'm with DonCorazon. You can't be afraid of me. Lets get to fightin' http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[DonCorazon]

The Sidhe are willing to wait for the NAP to expire if the mighty Pythium fears a few crippled elves. But we are eager to meet our doom and hope that Pythium will waive the waiting period to get into hell. /threads/images/Graemlins/Poison.gif

[moderation]

Exactly what type of NAP terms are people using? I am wondering if there is a standard version here or if everyone rolls their own.

[Gregstrom]

Eriu have acted dishonourably, and their invasion force shall be crushed. Pythium keep to the treaties we sign, even when it is to our detriment. We expect no less of those we sign those treaties with.

War shall begin in five months.

[DonCorazon]

Common sense NAP - one of these days I will write up what I mean but I have never had an issue and always comply with my NAPs. Basically no attacks, no harmful spells, no assassinations, but can spy and scout (no instilling unrest though). I think it is mostly common sense. For gray issues, like border temples, (which I don't consider a violation), just work it out.

[DonCorazon]

Dishonorably? We were sneaking through Pythium lands - we did not mean to be caught and would not otherwise have attacked you without advanced notice per the terms of our NAP. Even now, we have said we will hold off for the 5 turns, if that is your wish. Truth be told, we wish to die sooner rather than prolong our long suffering in this aptly named game Epik Battel.

[DonCorazon]

To be clear, we commanded our troops to "Sneak" not "Attack". We'll even move out if you want this accidentally captured province back.

We are but a fly to the mighty Pythium. Nevertheless, we shall honorably wait by the river for our time to die in 5 turns.

[Gregstrom]

Sneaking through a province with a stealth penalty as large as the one you accumulated was pretty much begging to be discovered. And our province was captured by that army.

I regard sneaking scouts around as no violation. A full army is another matter, as it's likely to be discovered and the discovery results in a meaningful conflict.

Pythium will accept that the commander in question was disobeying orders in seeking to invade our territory, and will take no further action against him or Eriu (at this moment) if he manages to leave sovereign Pythian lands alive.

[DonCorazon]

Well they have glamour and we made it through a lot of other provinces without and incidents. I was not about to try and calculate the stealth penalty to figure at what point stealth movement is likely to be discovered. Personally I don't consider any stealthy movements, be it troops or scouts, to be a violation.

Anyway, we'll move out to preserve any question of our honor (assuming turn doesn't host in next few hours since I don't have access) and consider the NAP terminated.

[moderation]

I have a feeling that everyone's idea of what common sense is is often a bit different, so maybe it's better to spell things out to avoid acrimony. Of course this can be laborious. Maybe there'll be a better solution like pre-written NAPs one of these days.

[Zeldor]

Gregstorm:

I think that your NAP understanding is a bit naive. Even if you had NAP20 or NAP100 with everyone you have broken it conquering the island. With VP game and only 1 VP generating province, conquering it means declaring war to everyone else. So there is no NAP between you and Eriu/Marignon for a long long time.

[Gregstrom]

Of course, the same can be said for your casting of Arcane Nexus.

I don't entirely agree, though. Taking the Isle can certainly be viewed as an NAP-breaker, but I'd still expect anyone holding an NAP with me to give notice that they considered it to have been ended.

On another note:
Why, Eriu, what big armies you've got...

[Zeldor]

Gregstorm:

Well, it can of course be. Though yeah, notice is nice, but in that situation not making one is not really dishonourable act.

[DonCorazon]

So whats up, I got home late from work and the turn already hosted so I didn't get a chance to move out the troops. But I was assailed by a million mind hunts and Bubba the earth elemental.

So are we letting the NAP wind down or not. I don't care either way but I certainly am not going to just sit around and get blasted with Pythium's foul sorcery for 5 turns.

I may have accidentally taken your province (they did make it through ~ 7-8 provinces w/o being caught) but you are now blasting me intentionally with magic.

Thanks for admiring my army size. I get that alot. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Zeldor]

And that Arcane Nexus does not work as expected, really pathetic gem income, you people are not forging enough stuff!

DonCorazon:

That's funny. Gregstorm tells about honor etc and does things like that? Are you sure it is the same person? Can you really suggest that Pythium is played by character so evil that he says one thing and does different? Maybe you are doing tricks to us and you were mind hunted by Marignon? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[DonCorazon]

Hey, a lot of clever people play this game and I wouldn't be surprised if some opportunistic, truly evil nation zapped me and framed Pythium.

Nahhh...it was Pythium.

[Gregstrom]

Gregstrom said:
Eriu have acted dishonourably, and their invasion force shall be crushed.





Gregstrom said:
Pythium will accept that the commander in question was disobeying orders in seeking to invade our territory, and will take no further action against him or Eriu (at this moment) if he manages to leave sovereign Pythian lands alive.



That isn't really a case of saying one thing and doing another.

I'd like to ask one thing of Eriu. A sneaking commander doesn't by default change from Hide orders to Defend orders just because another sneaking commander gets found and attacked. It seems a bit odd, therefore, that a scouting party I sent in to Hills of the Great Sphynx should be attacked by 16 commanders and their 222 minions who were sneaking and undiscovered last turn. We can only presume that they were intending to stay there.

[DonCorazon]

I just didn't have time to re-submit my turn with new orders.

When I originally submitted the turn, I assumed you would just want to fight right away and did not order my troops to leave. It wasn't until the discussion today that I learned of the need / desire to move them out. In fact, I think I said "Anyway, we'll move out to preserve any question of our honor (assuming turn doesn't host in next few hours since I don't have access)".

What that meant was I was at work and had to go out to dinner and did not know if I would get home in time to re-submit the turn. I didn't make it.

Anyway, this isn't worth the time to debate. I will move out next turn.

[Zeldor]

Sneaking or not, mind hunt goes first, before movement. And it targets stealthy units as far as I know.

[Gregstrom]

Moving out is completely up to you - I hadn't expressed a preference either way, except to concede that if they left my territory I wouldn't take this further until the NAP's notice period had expired.

I'm afraid that as the discussion was taking place at 10-11 pm local time I may not have been explicitly clear.

My position is that the NAP comes down in 5 turns, and I will not be launching any attacks on foreign territory until then. Hostile forces in my territory (and occupying a Pythian province seems pretty hostile to me) will be attacked until they leave.

[DonCorazon]

I agree with your position, Gregstrom.

Sadly for a few Erius whose heads exploded I was unable to move them out in the last turn due to real world commitments. Clearly it is better for Erius health to move out and minimize the head splattering for the time being.

As you saw from my other thread, this is a valuable lesson in Mind Hunting, not soon to be forgotten. This has been a very strange game to begin with given the long drawn out war with Ermor. I now envy Networking Guru, it is better to die quickly than endure a prolonged suffering!

Which is why I encourage you to attack Eriu soon so we can move on to new frontiers.

[DonCorazon]

Let Eriu's fate be a lesson to you (likely I was the only one who needed the lesson, but nevertheless):
Aryndel Oakstaff was a fierce warrior, who was 2nd in the hall of fame and feared among those who knew him. He led a huge army of the toughest, meanest Sidhe - veterans of the Ermorian wars, blessed in the ways of Stars and Fire. Yet no blade can stand against the psychic powers of Pythium. His unit was lying low in the reeds, near the river, deep within enemy territory, ready for the last ride of the Sidhe when suddenly his head cracked open like an http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/egg.gif . His fierce warriors panicked for they had no commander, but there was no where to run, for they were hiding in enemy territory. The last ride of the Sidhe would never be. And just like Kaiser Soze, they were gone....

[Zeldor]

I guess you shouldn't let so many spies walk in your lands http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[DonCorazon]

That was probably the worst thing that has ever happened to me in Dom 3 (even worse than watching the Niefels get slaughtered in Capuchin).

I really loved those Sidhe...(sob, sob, grabs beer)

[Zeldor]

I knew that you liked my Golems in Urapara after all http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[DonCorazon]

yeah there was that one golem that slaughtered about 200 of ulm's black calvary before one got a lucky hit. that was just humorous.

in this case i didn't even get to see the sidhe fight. just a message that the commander was mentally attacked and killed.

and where is his army now?

pooof!

my whole strategy was to build a huge force of sacred sidhe.

classic.

[Zeldor]

DonCorazon:

Yeah, he suddenly appeared in the capitol and had to teleport back to action http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

And here... you just shouldn't send army as valuable with just one commander. Especially so vulnerable. You would want like 25MR probably too so chance of getting mind hunted is really small.

[DonCorazon]

Yep, definitely. There were many other commanders in his province but they all had the order to move out. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

I have never really focused on magic resistance, b/c it is more of an issue in the end game, which I am just now getting to in my MP games (i never play SP for very far). Will make MR a priority from here on out.

[Gregstrom]

And definitely spread squads across multiple commanders.

It is tough for Eriu, but getting a few Lead Shields or Amulets of MR is a big boost against casual Mind Hunts.

[Zeldor]

I still think that astral magic is really overpowered and some nations too [like Pythium and Ermor in MA are clearly much more powerful than everything else and some others like Man really suck]. Good thing is that more and more games are using CBM, but even that cannot change overall imbalance.

I still hope that game won't finish within 11 turns or it will be a real shame.

[Gregstrom]

I don't know if I completely agree about Astral. It's powerful for sure in the late game, but even then it lacks good (non-national) summons and battlefield evocations. It does top off other paths nicely, though, and it's easy to use to your benefit. I might even go so far as to say that an Astral nation needs access to other paths to be strong. Pythium might be a noticeably weaker if the Arch Theurg randoms were AS instead of FAWS, for example.

[Gregstrom]

Sorry to double-post, but... Arco should have a sub in place atm. In 2 other games, the subbing is having issues, and it might be the same in this one. Would it be reasonable to ask for a 24h extension on turn generation to give Arco the chance to get the turn in? According to Agema's sub thread, he should be back from his break about now and the extension might let him get the turn in. Given that Arco seem to be at war with Machaka, it seems unreasonable to cause Agema problems because his sub isn't betting a turn in.

[FrozenFalcon]

Since Arco is war with my ally, it would be good that he staled few turns...

I'm kidding http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Game postponed for 24 hours.

About changing back to Agema: please send a pm to me, I do not read this thread very intensely. This same goes for all important business (postponing too).

[archaeolept]

sorry, what issues? please be specific if you wish to accuse me. thanks http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

the turn doesn't host for 6 more hrs. and I am not at war with machaka.

please do not create an extension. Instead, everyone crush pythium

edit: the game has been postponed due to a baseless accusation against me? I mean, seriously - i have not staled, nor was the turn about to host. Gregstrom is fabricating this for his own reasons, obviously.

please set the timer back as scheduled. my turn will be in on time, and only rl'yeh, who is constantly staling, won't have his in.

[moderation]

ryleh has not staled since i've taken over. however i do usually do my turn and then go back later to make sure there are no mistakes before i submit it. when is the next turn hosting?

[archaeolept]

Next turn due: 05:00 GMT on Tuesday April 1st


sorry about that moderation. I guess I submit fairly late, and always before you.

I'm ok w/ tuesday... i'll just put off finishing the turn until tomorrow.


oh, and hey - you guys reallly need to take down the pyth a notch http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[FrozenFalcon]

I have no idea about the reason of this postpone but it was requested and I did it; not that it should matter, if you can post your turns. Negative postpone can be made but I see no reason for it; just post your turns as soon as possible.

[Gregstrom]

The request was made because I admin another game where there has been a problem with Agema's sub. As I didn't know whether the subs were the same, I thought it better to be safe than let Agema's game suffer. No offence was intended to anyone, and I apologise for any distress I may have caused.

[Agema]

Hi, I'm back now, ready to lead the Arcoscephale forces to greater glory, etc.

Many thanks to Archaeolept for looking after things during my absence.

[FrozenFalcon]

Welcome back. I've changed your email for Arcos now; PM me if you encounter any problems.

[FrozenFalcon]

I have to postpone the game a bit; I can't post turns this week so We'll postpone 36 hours.

(Allthough I can run the game, I cannot download files (a firewall))

[Gregstrom]

I begin to see why people regard Arcane Nexus as unbalanced.

[Zeldor]

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

[Gregstrom]

I tried it out in SP. The tidal wave of Astral Pearls it gave me was quite unsettling. AIs don't cast as much as humans AFAIK, and I was getting 30/turn even then.

[Zeldor]

Yeah, but you need really high astral mage + a huge stockpile of astral pearls. And people here are casting much less than I expected. I hoped for about 2x more gems per turn.

[Gregstrom]

You'll excuse me if I don't sympathise. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Zeldor]

Could I get a rollback so I could just upload a turn? That turns now are pretty important and maybe last ones in the game... my Internet went down and it never took them so long to repair it :/

[moderation]

I'm coming down with an illness and not sure I will be able to keep up with my turns. If there are no objections, I would ask if people would mind going to 72 hosting for a few turns.

If that doesn't work, I'll look for a short term sub, if anyone has a recommendations for a competent R'yleh sub.

[FrozenFalcon]

Illness? Damn it. Is the nation really cursed or something?
72 hours would be ok for me, any objections? We can hopefully move back to 48 when you're healed.

As for the rollback, Marignon seemed to stale too, so I'll ask llamaserver about rollback.

[llamabeast]

Generally I never do rollbacks unless there's been a fault with the server. They're quite faffy at my end, often result in confusion, and it kind of sets a bad precedent (if I did it every time someone missed a turn due to bad luck it would probably be several times a day). In fact there was some controversy about a rollback in BAG last week, which I eventually declined to do (sensibly, honestly - it was a right mess), so I sort of feel obliged for consistency to do the same here.

On the other hand if it will really ruin the whole game and everyone thinks a rollback is in order, let me know and I will do it.

[FrozenFalcon]

I think we can do without one; other opinions?

[Zeldor]

Well, I can survive. Though it is a bit painful. But hmm.. I guess everyone could be fair enough not to take my global spot. Dispeling is fine though.

P.S. I wonder if that enslaved Dark Knight one purple player has keeps its orders after GoRing http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Gregstrom]

Nope - when you Enslave Mind the Bogus crew lose their orders.

[otthegreat]

Sorry about the stale, I completely forgot the deadline, and I'm fine without a roll back (more money I guess).

[Zeldor]

That was an really one bloody turn. Hope for manking is not lost!

[Gregstrom]

Well, hope for Mictlan at least. Pythium's part of mankind is looking rather hurt. And you stole my nice hammer too. Humph.

[Zeldor]

But you got a new water site at the island in exchange!

[Gregstrom]

Ooh, I got given a water gem. Huzzah.

Well done on a nicely structured attack. I shall have to work on revenge.

[otthegreat]

Wow, Pythium that Seraph is scary. Hmm... how to kill him?

[Gregstrom]

It has been rumoured that they suffocate under the corpses of the slain. Although it may take an awful lot of corpses. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Zeldor]

Magic duel is good http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif There are many things that can kill practically every SC, no matter how strong he is. Charming and enslaving is not bad either http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[DonCorazon]

otthegreat said:
Wow, Pythium that Seraph is scary. Hmm... how to kill him?



Please Pythium, just win and put us out of our misery...

[Agema]

I think it's more Mictlan about to put everyone out of their misery...

[Zeldor]

I don't have Well of Misery, so cannot make world free of it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Pythium is the one with ugly artifacts, 2VPs, Seraph, Arch Angels, big bunch of tartarians...

[DonCorazon]

Well no matter who has the power it still will take a while to generate 3 VPs for anyone but Pythium. Having just lost an army to a ridiculously powerful Seraph, Eriu has no point to even be in this game other than to provide XP to the SCs that roam the world.

So I am pulling for Pythium (even though I will still try to take them down in the spirit of the game). But if Mictlan takes over the isle, it just means another ~30 turns of this.

Once players get so far ahead in artifacts and unique summons and gem income, there is no catching up. No hope! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Niarg]

Zeldor said:
I don't have Well of Misery, so cannot make world free of it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif



I was under the impression that the well of misery fed off the suffering of others, making them feel better.

In which case, why the hell haven't you cast well of misery? I demand that you cast it ASAP. Can't you see how much income you'd get from it with all of us suffering?

[Zeldor]

Niarg:

I think that's because there are no free slots http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

DonCorazon:

I have no Seraphs, so not reason to be afraid of me...

[DonCorazon]

My only fear of you Zeldor is that you will take the island and prolong the game. I guess you cannot understand my psyche: while I am going through the motions of playing to win (eg attacking Pythium) because that is my responsibility for having joined the game, in my heart I'd like Pythium to win so we can move onto a new game. Epik battel is living up to its name - EPik.


This was Ermor's curse and last laugh on Eriu - I would have rather gone out a long time ago like them then play on as a 2-bit crippled power with no chance of ever winning a battle.

Die Pythium! Long live Pythium! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Zeldor]

Well, Bandar Log controls the island now. Pythium got big losses but still managed to keep a lot of SCs, mages etc. And nothing to research, so mages can do other nasty things and he can still get the island, he just needs one more VP.

[FrozenFalcon]

No one needs to make a Monkey Island joke.

[DonCorazon]

Bandar only controls because the Seraph has yet to land....

[Niarg]

Any screenshots of the seraph, I'm really intrigued by it now.

PM me the stats if you think it would be too much information to post openly.

[Gregstrom]

Try the Dom3 database - it's in the sig on any of Edi's posts. That has full Seraph stats.

And as Zeldor says, it's vulnerable to the standard range of SC kill spells. More so than Tartarians in many cases
(I don't know where you got this idea that lots of my SCs and mages survived. Not the combat replays, that's for sure).

I lost the island mainly due to my quaint belief that stacking multiple Air Domes was too close to an exploit for my taste. It did afford me some satisfaction that even after sucking down ~200 gems worth of attack spells (650 casualties from Flames From the Sky castings alone!), I fought off twice my my numbers in Machakan troops.

I only took the Isle in the first place because I was in a trailing third position overall and didn't see any great chance of capturing it if another player took it. I'm quite happy to have got to more or less second place in the graphs after that.


I think that the game would have been a bit more interesting with a 2 VP win condition. I'd likely have been pushed off the Isle 12 turns ago, and wouldn't now be in a position where there's likely to be ~40 turns of game to go before a VP win can be completed.

[moderation]

Does anyone know of someone honest who can act as a temporary sub for me for 1-2 weeks? I would really appreciate this. Thanks in advance.

[Zeldor]

Gregstorm:

But you didn't even put 1 of a kind.

Fires from the Sky killed a bit less, I think. They do 15AN damage and I don't think it sums up from several castings. But yeah, it should have killed like 60-80% of your mages, but no harm to angels, tartarians, etc. And you still have a lot of mages that you can teleport http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

And no, Tartarians are much much easier to kill than Seraph [Seraphs biggest vulnerability is Magic Duel though].

[Gregstrom]

I didn't have enough domes, true.

Damage from Flames From the Sky does stack, like any artillery spell damage. And 4 getting through is more like a 90% kill rate, on average. I'm a little annoyed that the Astral dome stopped only one of the 20+ spells that came in, to be honest. Not really a 50% stop rate.

Tarts aren't too much easier to kill than Seraphs, I think. There are nice anti-undead spells for dealing with them, but their extra hp over Seraphs makes a difference against the regular stuff. Save or die spells wouldn't be an effective option against the ones Machaka have been fielding, for example.

[Zeldor]

But you didn't have the astral dome turn before, so you cast it. And it got into randomiser and I guess it was cast as one of the last spells.

And seraphs is strong because of self-buffs, awe, flying and couple other thins. HP is not so really important factor for SC as long it is not very low of course.

[Gregstrom]

I can't entirely agree over HP. Any SC worth the name has enough MR to avoid save or die spells. Irresistible damage is one of the more reliable ways to kill them, and Tarts have an advantage there in that they can take more than 2 hits from Life for a Life, and some can stand up to a Gifts from Heaven.

[Zeldor]

There is never enough MR to save from save or die spells. Never. Lost 29MR Water Queen recently to disintegrate that had like 0,0001% chance of getting through.

[Gregstrom]

I completely agree that you're never safe with MR. But MR is comparatively easy to boost to the level where it's more practical to use Life for a Life/Gifts from Heaven/etc. to kill an SC.

[Agema]

There aren't any guarantees with MR, but if your MR is 25+, you're either extremely unlucky to lose them, or your opponents may be forced to spend phenomenal amounts of gems - and presumably fewer than it took to cook the SC up in the first place.

I am a little surprised that the central island didn't have had all domes available, even the fire dome just to toast some of the mages.

[Zeldor]

Magic gems? You mostly use paralyse, soul slay, disintegrate etc. They do not take gems http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif You or me could have a teleporting mages group able to kill every possible SC before he can move. Just a group of astral mages with penetration gear.

And Dominions has strange random number generator. Rather not the best one, neither really accurate. At least it looks like that. So sometimes quite odd rolls happen.

[JZ]

Oceania declares war on Rlyeh/Mictlan for leading very boring diplomacy.

[Zeldor]

Nah, we declare war on you! Prepare to die!

[JZ]

And even boring declaration of war http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Zeldor]

You are not better. No wars at all for 61 turns http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif But yeah, we need some action. Maybe I should wish for armageddons? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[FrozenFalcon]

I'm starting to get tired of this. I indeed have the island, but my upkeep is greater than income (thank you, C'tis). I'm probably not the only one that wants this game to end; I'm not asking for everyone to give up, but would it be ok if I just turned myself to AI? Mictlan has ridiculously large army, but Pythium has 2 victory points. I don't care anymore who of them wins, and I don't think I want to wage war against anyone now. I think that 6 teams in a map of this size was a bad idea; the game is too stale since there are very few hostile neighbours.

If there's an overwhelming request from the players that I should stay to defend the island from inevitable capture then I can post my turns.. I just cannot actually recapture anything, I cannot build new troops, and most of all, I really don't want to continue.

Bandar Log

[Niarg]

Wahey, I actually had an effect on the game.

I would agree that 6 nations is too few and that there are now 3-4 nations too weak to really affect the outcome but too strong to actually be killed off (due to teams) but if 4 of us went ai it would really affect the enjoyment for the rest of the players.

[Zeldor]

FrozenFalcon:

You should at least wait until you get that 1 VP, AI would just send that army in almost random direction.

How many people are interested in continuing the game at all? I certainly do not want to let Pythium win. I could maybe agree on that 20-30 turns ago when I was extremely bored. But I couldn't find a sub so I continued.

Niarg:
"The province is free from hostile military units. The army is besieging a Fortified City."

[Bananadine]

I've been fighting since crazy old R'lyeh first attacked me I don't know how long ago, so I'm still entertained, no matter how pointless it may be for the one monkey on the one giant's shoulder to knock the other monkey off the other giant's shoulder, or how futile it may be for Abysians to try to wage war underwater. Plus interesting stuff is happening at the portal near me.

[DonCorazon]

I'd like to retire or go AI, probably wouldn't even have much impact if I did.

[otthegreat]

Me too. Since DonC is my teammate I'd be in bad shape if he goes AI. I've thrown all I have against Pythium but its not enough. I've learned a lot and had fun but I'm ready to move on, especially since it looks like the game could continue for a while.

[DonCorazon]

I'd only go AI with my partner's and the rest of the game players blessing. I am not the type to abandon a game. But this one does look like it will take forever...

If nothing else, maybe Eriu and Marignon both go AI - the RPGers can characterize it as our alliance broke up and smarter leaders, at least in the case of Eriu, took over. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Gregstrom]

To be honest I'm getting to the point where I don't see a quick end in sight either. How about electing a winner? Then we could move on to new games.

[Zeldor]

We would need consensu though and it may be hard to acchieve.

[Niarg]

How about whoever holds the isle to get the 4th victory point wins or whoever can hold the isle for three consecutive turns? It would shorten the game considerably but still enable everybody to get a chance to take the isle.

[DonCorazon]

I will vote for whatever proposal ends the game the quickest! If we are electing a winner I would look at the graphs and make a determination based on that.

But the voice of Eriu is like that of Botsawana in the Epikbattel UN - not much influence.

[Gregstrom]

There's an interesting idea... Everyone gets the biggest army they can together and attacks the isle simultaneously. Whoever is left holding the Isle at the start of the following turn can win.

[Zeldor]

Gregstorm:

That would be like lottery. At least to some degree. But attacks would be rather random, so you may get screwed if you have 2nd battle and you lost all gems and some fresh guy attacks you with a lot of gems. But beside from that, assuming everyone gets sucked from gems then the one with most SCs wins. That limits competition a bit. At least we would see really lots of tartarians in action http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Oh, as we didn't decide anything yet I have requested a postpone till Friday. I am going on a trip in the mourning [10PM here now] here : Huashan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huashan)

[Agema]

I've a better idea.

Let's take the top 8* players, and have a Quarter - Semi - Final competition at the central island.

Give everyone points equal to their rank on army size and research graphs (as they're the only thing that really count for power purposes) with other stats as a decider in case of ties. Then pit 8v1 (a), 7v2(b), 6v3(c), 5v4(d).

Then winner of (a) plays winner of (d), and (b) versus (c). Then those two winners fight it out.

That will take 7 turns, plus 6 1-turn gaps for the winner of the round to be clear off the central isle**, that will wrap everything up in not too many turns once we're in position. It also 'benefits' the top players, and I think that's fair. Players are allowed to reinforce their armies between rounds as much as they can.

* Particularly as 3 players are miles ahead of the rest, we could just cut the competition down to the top 4 players, save time.

** We can also think of carrying out the heats on other ground where possible to save time if feasible, if the armies can get to the target/central isle for the next round.

[Zeldor]

Agema:

So you do not consider yourself in top4 then? From your score graphs it would be Mictlan, Pythium, Machaka, Marignon.

[Gregstrom]

Well, I could go for that.

[Zeldor]

You also forget about big difference between attacking and defending. Also there are things like remote spells that can devastate every army. Also it would probably take around 10-20 turns for every player to move their armies to provinces neighbouring isle [and some gateway would have to be shared]. I don't think that whole thing would be possible to do in less than 20-30 turns total. And that would weaken Machaka, as they are not astral nation and they wouldn't be able to teleport additionally recruited troops in that time.

[Agema]

I didn't check whether I was in the top 4 and it isn't of vast interest to me. From my point of view, I'm not doing much more in this game than filling in the numbers and the time until someone else wins it, and I suspect that's how everyone who isn't Mictlan, Machaka and Pythium feels. If I had to spend lots of time on my turns, I'd have long since let a sub take over permanently or gone AI.

I would propose remote spells not be used - purely battlefield fighting only. When the two nations fight their round, they both move into the central isle at the same time, thereby making the defender fairly random I think.And in terms of Machaka, last time I fought them they didn't have a shortage of astral mages Indy astral maybe, but astral nonetheless.

Alternatively, other neutral ground - in fact ground with the Dom of none of the participants would be ideal.

[Zeldor]

So any conclusions? I got back, going to restaurant soon though. Exhausting trip http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

If anyone wants some photos PM me an e-mail.

[Gregstrom]

Whatever closes this game in the idiest fashion is fine with me. A few big battles in provinces where everyone can watch sounds pretty good.

[Zeldor]

There are few problems with that:

1. Whoever gets in the province gets to defend. It may decide about everything.
2. How can you do the elimination? I can lost like 60% troops and win semi-final to face someone that lost for example 5%.
3. What about dominion in target province? Magic and temperature scales matter.
4. We didn't hear comments from Machaka and Marignon, 2 nations that would make top4.
5. There is still that issue of gathering national forces to fight. Is there any preparation allowed or just forces near the island or other solution.
6. All other players would need to stale during the fight so there are no accusations about anonymous spells.

[otthegreat]

From what I have seen, there are too many variables for a tournament to make sense. The only other options that I can see are to end the game now (1st: Mictlan; 2nd: Pythium; 3rd?: Machaka) or to keep playing.

I'm ready to end the game now, but I'll go with whatever the community decides.

[Gregstrom]

Victor by democratic vote is okay by me, although I'd like to suggest that those who want to be considered for this post their most recent .trn file in order that the merits of their position can be examined.

[Zeldor]

C'tis attacked Arcoscephale in one place, interesting http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Just watching my battle at island - vine men are much much stronger than I expected.

[Bananadine]

Maybe we could at least wait until the next victory point is awarded, before we warp the game's rules. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Zeldor]

Do you plan any hostile actions against my Peace Corps located there? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Bananadine]

Abysia has its hands full. However we do have powerful neighbors...

[Bananadine]

Although, do we still have an NAP? Did we ever? I can't even remember. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Zeldor]

Hmm... I think that yep, I have NAP both with you and Pythium. Signed ages ago.

[Bananadine]

Hmm, well. It seems that these pacts do not mean too much by this point. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Zeldor]

I think they do. But of course they do not cover Island + all provinces neighbouring the island.

[Zeldor]

Bananadine:

Fire Storm needs gems to work http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Oh, and your pretender seems to be missing some rather important body parts...

[Bananadine]

He forget them at home is all.

[Gregstrom]

Well, this is my first time in the late game and I'm certainly learning the hard way.

[Zeldor]

Oh, what happened? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif You have the most powerful race of MA, I see nothing really bad in stats http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Your Seraph is still alive too.

[Gregstrom]

But down an Ark. I wonder how that happened?

And the stats don't give the fine detail that matters, anyway. Research is meaningless now, the army graph is compressed, and so on.

Suffice it to say that I was careless in the setup for a bettle and I lost some units I shouldn't have. All my own fault, and I'll know better next game.

In other news, shall we vote for a winner of the game? I am tempted by a megegame, but won't have time to play it if we're carrying this on for another 25 turns or whatever.

My vote's for Zeldor.

[Zeldor]

I know where is the Ark. to be honest I was rather scared of a vision of a group of very high MR SCs teleporting with it on the island.

OH, and why you didn't build a fort on island?

[Gregstrom]

See Twan in King of the Isle. I thought it would be a bit rude, really. Plus, without a castle you can always use mages as researchers but still act to defend the province. If you're patrolling with normal forces and someone sends in a sneaking force with stealth mages, you could suffer badly if your mages don't poke their noses out of their books until there's a dirty great army laying siege to the castle.

[otthegreat]

Gregstrom said:

In other news, shall we vote for a winner of the game? I am tempted by a megegame, but won't have time to play it if we're carrying this on for another 25 turns or whatever.

My vote's for Zeldor.



Do you mean Kingmaker? If so I suggest you sign up now as they're already taking the first alternates. Hopefully we have this game finished by the time the megagame starts. If not I'll be tempted to go AI myself.

[Gregstrom]

Ooh, I'd better put mys3elf up. At least I won't have to make a list of ten nations now.

[moderation]

Hmm, how many people are planning to stay in the game?