Rothfuss- Running

[Trumanator]

Well, I guess I'll take some other's advice and start my own MP game. The idea is for newbs, but one or two somewhat more experienced players would be appreciated, since I could use someone to turn to if I don't know how to do something. I'm going to use Llamaserver, to try and keep it simple.

Settings will be:
Era: MA
Map: Cradle of Dominion,with pre-set start locations.
Mods: CBM 1.4,
Players: 8-10

I would appreciate it if those who have more experience could be flexible in their nation choice, to allow n00bs to hopefully have a better experience. Also, no water nations, as the map only has one water start location.

Me (Trumanator) has C'tis (almost gone)
Stattis- Machaka (almost gone)
Alpine Joe- Bandar Log (almost gone)
Incabulos- Arcosphelae
zzcat- Ashdod (owning, and scary);)
pyg- Pangaea
Juffos- Eriu (owning)
Redeyes- Pythium
Klepto- Ermor
NKlan- Marignon
Burnsaber- Tien Chi (public enemy #1):D
(In case you're wondering, Patrick Rothfuss is my new favorite fantasy author, thus the game name.)

[statttis]

I'd like to try Ulm.

If you have any questions I'd be glad to help. I'm in the middle of hosting my first game on llamaserver and so far things have gone smoothly (well the hosting at least :().

Worthy Heroes is included with CBM 1.4. I read that there are some bugs in 1.4 but I think the fixes are coming soon. You may want to wait until then before putting the game up.

[Alpine Joe]

I am inexperienced and would love to join another game, however I have a special request. Due to messing around with semi-random I deleted Cradle of Dominions. Could somebody post a .zip file of it or something? If so, i would like to be MA ulm.

[Trumanator]

Hmmm, I'd be glad to have your help Stattis, thanks. As for the bugs, it looks like the only substantial ones are some misequipped Bogarus cavalry. Other than that its just typos and the like.

@Alpine Joe- Sorry, but Stattis ninja'ed you w/r to Ulm, sorry. As for Cradle, apparently WinRar doesn't do compression, or at least I can't figure it out. Try PMing llama maybe?

[Alpine Joe]

Okay I'll take Bandar Log instead.

I will ask the maps forum if anyone has Cradle.

[statttis]

If I may make a suggestion, I think that modifying the map to have fixed starting positions might be a good idea. That way nobody gets stuck in a terrible spot and things are guaranteed to be spread out evenly. If you'd prefer random thats fine, it's just that fixed starting spots have worked so well in the game I started that I have to recommend it :)

[Trumanator]

We could use the llamaserver version with fixed starts. I don't have a preference really. Note that you can't DL it from the server, apparently you just start a game with it on the server and that's all thats required. Seeing as there's only one water start on it, what do you think about banning water nations, since whoever picked one wouldn't have any competition?

[Incabulos]

Heh... I was going to ask about water nations. If there can be only one it is probably a good idea to ban water nations.

I would like Shinuyama please

[zzcat]

I'd like to take Ashdod or TC. Thanks.

[Trumanator]

I was thinking about being Shinuyama, but I decided I liked C'tis better.

[Tifone]

Aby4meplzkthnxbay :D

[Juffos]

I would like to try Eriu.

I vote for banning water nations. Being the only one means not having any competition means having huge advantage compared to other nations.

[Redeyes]

I would like to try Pythium

[statttis]

Storytime!
I have some labwork I need to do, so I got up really early, had coffee, and cleared the snow off my car. Then I remembered that it's a holiday and the campus is closed. :doh:

Anyway, I'd like to change my nation choice to Machaka.

[mighty_scoop]

Very good work Trumanator ... hope you will enjoy your first mp game as much as i did.

About the hero mod ... the worthy hero is included in CBM ... but there is another MA exclusive hero mod called Throne of Heroes Throne of Heroes (http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=41607&highlight=Throne+Heroes) ... i really like this ... so if you like cool heroes in your game for every ma race i would suggest this one.

[Klepto]

Hi, I think I qualify as new. I've been in 3 games, lost 2 and doing OK so far in the 3rd. In all 3 I played EA Ermor, could I please try MA Ermor here?

[NKIcan]

I'll sign up if you will have me. In 2 MP games currently, doing alright in both. Marignon if you please.

[Burnsaber]

Hi all. I'm now returning to dominions after my year long military service.

This would be my 6th game,I think. I used to be a medicore player, but my skills have likely become rusty.

If you accept me, I'd like to try out Tien C'hi. All that alchemy stuff seems intresting.

Someone suggested the Throne of Heroes mod. I can play without it, but I'd just like to say that I'm in no way opposed to it.

[pyg]

Hi. I'm ready to get stomped as I've only played single player EA so far, but I'll take Pangaea (seems similar) if it's left and there's room. What are the map settings to be. I'd prefer them more or less default (graphs off maybe?).

Cheers,
pyg

[Tifone]

The new 1.4 version CBM hasn't been tested yet with the Throne of Heroes mod afaik, and even less with the upcoming 1.41 (of course) - I'd keep the things as simple as possible on Trumanator's first game, should compatibility issues appear it may ruin the experience. While I enjoyed Throne of Heroes too, it may be wiser to leave an eventual testing to more experienced players :)

[llamabeast]

I definitely recommend using one of the fixed start versions of Cradle that are on the LlamaServer. They both have 11 land starts. This is a good number for Cradle - it's definitely too big for 8 players (contrary to its own text).

By the way Trumanator, sorry I didn't reply to your PM, and good work on getting a game organised!

[Trumanator]

No problem Llama, and I am going to use one of the ones on the server :D
The game is now full, sorry pyg, you'll have first crack at subbing if we need it. I'll see about setting it up now, start building your pretenders!!

I will be using standard settings, except for magic sites at 60. For scheduling I was thinking 24hr quickhost for the first ~20 turns, and then moving it to a 48 hr with or without QH. With the small number of people it won't be a problem to have extensions, but if you're going to be absent for more than a couple days I would ask that you find a sub, make sure to contact pyg first.
Thanks.

[Tifone]

I'll gladly change my spot with pyg! I'm getting a little busy with exams, sorry - well at least pyg will appreciate! :) I'll gladly sub eventually in the future if someone disappears.

Did you see how easy it was to gather players for your first game Trumanator? ;) Hope everything goes fine! Have fun :cool:

[Klepto]

Pretender sent. Good luck everyone, I'm really looking forward to this.

[Trumanator]

Yeah, email your pretender .2h files to "pretenders@llamaserver.net" Make sure to have "Rothfuss" in the subject line.

[Incabulos]

will do when I get home tonight. Pacific Coaster here (well Reno NV) so all I get from the Pac Coast is the time zone :/

[Trumanator]

Cool, I'm PST as well! :D Tacoma Washington.

[pyg]

Wow, Trumanator your game filled in less than 24 hours... sounds like some newbies want to play. Maybe I will suggest a parallel EA version in another thread. Tifone if you really do want to bow out I would gladly take your place as Pangaea, but it doesn't look like I'm going to have a problem finding a game!

pyg

[Trumanator]

I'll leave you two to sort it out. I am a little surprised at the speed with which it filled, I guess there's a bunch of newbies who got it over christmas or something. :?

[zzcat]

QM said CBM 1.41 will be released very soon. Shouldn't we delay the game until it's availiable?
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showpost.php?p=668253&postcount=65

[Trumanator]

Well if it is really going to come out very soon then we could do it. If anything, I would like to wait at least until Tifone and pyg get their deal sorted out, so if QM releases it in the meantime we could use it.

[Tifone]

CBM 1.41 released, and as I said I think pyg can freely play, I'll make the sub if you need but later eventually, when the game gets at 48hrs :)

[Klepto]

CBM 1.41 releasedLink. (http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=42022)

I assume this means I'll have to re-send my pretender?

[Tifone]

I don't think there have been great changes from the 1.3, he 1.4 and the 1.41 on pretenders - so the one you sent would almost surely work even if you've done it with the 1.3 in theory. But if you want to be sure having done everything fine, yep it would be better for you to remake the pretender with the new mod and resend it :)

[pyg]

Since this is a newbie game maybe others won't think these are bad questions.

1) How does magic site frequency change the game. The default is 40 and this game is 60. Does this mean site searching is even more important? Does it benefit diversity more?

2) What are the strategic implications of the CBM mod? I have only played a couple of SP games with it and I think I prefer it but I can't quite wrap my head around what it means. I read something interesting on this forum about its effect on scale preference, but I can't seem to find the post.

Cheers,
pyg

[Redeyes]

Since this is a newbie game maybe others won't think these are bad questions.

1) How does magic site frequency change the game. The default is 40 and this game is 60. Does this mean site searching is even more important? Does it benefit diversity more?Sure, but only because magical diversity is always good.
50% more sites means that you can get luck and get twice as many as in your last game, or less than the one before. It's luck of the draw really.

Blood nations gain the greatest benefit from increasing site frequency as it effectively means "more slaves!", while they have great control over their source of slaves, and need slaves for near everything they do

[Trumanator]

Okay, I changed the settings to use 1.41. I doubt you need to resubmit pretenders, but if it makes you feel better/safer go ahead.

[Trumanator]

FYI, the game starts as soon as all 11 pretenders are in, and we have 10 sent. Be sure to check your emails for the turn files.

[Tifone]

@ pyg

If I can help you - to start, possibly others will provide more precise answers ;)

1) It means that site searching will provide you more sites - thus more gems - thus more possibilities of forging items, summoning creatures, casting global enchantments and rituals, more mages casting big spells in combat. You're up for a more magic oriented - maybe more "spectacular" :D - game of the ones you're used to, I'd say.

2) CBM makes a lot of little tweaks! It makes some spells which were lately not much efficient, more useful, and the same for some items, units, globals, and even pretender gods. Some overpowered units are made a bit less cost-efficient, though (i.e. the Cyclops pretender, which was not only a mighty SC but even powerful for double blesses and magic, now he's still strong and a Earth powerhouse but not much more) . The mod comes with a very useful readme, read it to understand how it works! :cool:
The scales are tweaked, notably the heroes are better so the Luck scales is more useful, but I remember there were other tweaks too but they really don't come to my mind now :o

Have fun!

[Trumanator]

The purpose of the CBM mod as I understand it is to provide more variety and to make alternative strategies more viable.

[Incabulos]

I changed to arcos, just uploaded a pretender

[Trumanator]

Okay cool

[Trumanator]

Hmmm, there seems to be some weird bug with llamaserver or something. The game recieved our last pretender (Incabulos) and then just disappeared, its not in the waiting section or the running section :confused:

[Incabulos]

Yeah I got the confirmation email. I clicked on the game after sending my pretender and got to a page that said something like "Hey this is not a real game; are you messing with my urls?" or something to that effect.

[Trumanator]

That's the same thing I got when I refreshed the page. I've PMed llama, so hopefully we'll get an explanation. In any case, the default setting for the first turn is a 48hr quickhost, so I wouldn't worry too much about staling right away. Just be sure to check your email periodically for the trn file

[Trumanator]

Okay I am officialy worried now. If llama doesn't respond to my PM soon, I am going to remake the game and have everyone resubmit their pretenders. Sorry, I don't quite get what the problem is. :confused:

[llamabeast]

Fear not! I've mostly just been asleep since you PMed me. Something went a little wrong when the game started up, but I can guess what it is. I'll fix it a little later on in the day (perhaps at lunchtime - I really should start work now).

[zzcat]

Fear not! I've mostly just been asleep since you PMed me. Something went a little wrong when the game started up, but I can guess what it is. I'll fix it a little later on in the day (perhaps at lunchtime - I really should start work now).

I tried to resent my pretender a minute ago, and the reply mail says "Game 'Rothfuss' doesn't exist!". Is there anyway to update the pretender before the game starts? Thanks!

[llamabeast]

Okay! Game started, then I saw zzcat's post, so I found his 2h file and restarted the game (I thought it was mean to make someone play with a suboptimal pretender).

So, please ignore your first "Game started" e-mails, and use the trn files from the second ones.

Incidentally, the disappearance of the game was caused by a glitch in the new CBM 1.41 mod. It's a glitch that only affects servers, so your versions of the mod are fine, and I've done the fix on mine. Phew!

[Burnsaber]

The Holiest of nations, Tien C'hi, has found itself in need of fire and/or nature gems. We will trade 1:1 to astral, water, air and earth gems. We are also prepared to pay in gold, according to following guidelines.

Understandably, such transaction cannot be performed before filling out the proper documents and paperwork beforehand. Thus we can agree on a spefic turn when the transaction shall take place.

6 nature gems: 130 gold pieces

6 fire gems: 130 gold pieces

6 fire & 6 nature: 280 gold pieces

Contact me by PM.

[Trumanator]

Thanks llama!

[Trumanator]

Hmmm, has Incabulos dissapeared?? Still waiting on him and no reply to my PM. I would hate for someone to stale on the first turn, but I'm not gonna postpone unless he specifically contacts me.

For future reference, if someone stales I will try to contact them by PM, and if they don't respond and/or continue to stale I'm going to try to find a sub on the short notice, and failing that, set them to AI.

If you don't think you can continue, or that you will be gone for an extended period of time, make sure to let me know and we can both work on finding a sub. Tifone gets first wack, but if he declines then we'll both start looking. In case we both find one, I will defer to the player's choice.

[pyg]

For future reference, if someone stales I will try to contact them by PM, and if they don't respond and/or continue to stale I'm going to try to find a sub on the short notice, and failing that, set them to AI.



Sounds like good policy.

[Incabulos]

I submitted my first turn didn't I? hmm hang on.

Yeah Bandar hasn't submitted, that is Alpine Joe. His last forum activity was yesterday at around 8 pm PST.

[Trumanator]

Argh, my bad. Sorry Incab :embarassed:

[pyg]

Wow, this game is moving fast and I'm learning a lot. The game
started faster than I expected and I submitted a pretender that
was not well tested. Already, I have some serious regrets about my
choice of scales. I'm playing with turmoil and luck and this is
really hurting me economically.

I noticed Ashdod and Machaka have 7 and 8 provinces already. How do
you do that? And how is Arco doing all that research. I'm using my
pretender to do a significant amount of research and I'm already a
distant third.

Beware however, I intend to begin a campaign of destruction involving
Flying Cows and Screaming Naked Women that will make all of you
tremble... or at least instill a vague unease.

[statttis]

I noticed Ashdod and Machaka have 7 and 8 provinces already. How do you do that?

An awake combat pretender and good troops will do that. Fear the spiders! :)

[zzcat]

I took turmoil and luck too. Till now there is only one event with mere 150 gold. It's really disappointing...I think even in CBM it's not worthy to choice luck scale.

[NKIcan]

Fast expansion is well and good...if you can keep it up and hold on to what you get! Im not worried yet, slow and steady wins the race :)

[Trumanator]

Pffft... once C'tis has another castle or two that research lead will disappear into the mists of time. And then wait till I hit const 4, 7 gem Skull Mentors FTW!!

[Redeyes]

I took turmoil and luck too. Till now there is only one event with mere 150 gold. It's really disappointing...I think even in CBM it's not worthy to choice luck scale.
I had pretty good results in other games combining Order and luck. The net difference in amount of events gained is about 22% less, no biggie, but you get 53% more gold with order 3 than 3 turmoil.

[Incabulos]

but that also costs you 240 points instead of 0.

Turmoil pays for luck. Otherwise you have to pay for both from somewhere else.

[pyg]

I choose turmoil/luck scales because of the Pan's Maenad spawning. With order-3 games I get very few Maenads in my dominion. Anyway, this game I can't even afford the Pans to get the Maenads. My early strategy is to race to Alt-7 and employ hordes of well buffed chaff. I took an awake rainbow sage to do primarily [in order] research, site searching, and forging.

Also sort of key to my early strategy is to get a Pan early on that has Death magic (+25% chance) to summon Carrion Centaurs to reanimate more chaff. My first one did not.

In test games with Magic Sites 60 I often found neato indy mages adjacent to my capital and am relying on them somewhat for diversity. Are there any Amazons in MA? I don't think I've seen any yet.

Last turn Luck netted me 250g and increased pd +15 in my capital. I also had an unrest event.

[Trumanator]

Yeah, luck is inherently a crapshoot. In a test game I was doing trying out Baalz' EA Caelum strategy I had a vamp count appear in my capital within the first 6 turns. This was with Luck 3!

[Incabulos]

heh guess I forgot to submit my last turn after doing it. Durrr.

[statttis]

This is the second game in a row where my expansion pretender runs into a giant pile of double bless troops. Straight to the hall of fame!
:doh::doh::doh::doh::doh::doh:

The good news is I've discovered a dozen air gems and I'm looking to trade them. I need fire, earth, nature, or death gems. Contact me by PM to make a deal.

[Trumanator]

Where is Ashdod anyway? I can't find a single friggin' scout province! Not that C'tis dominion is helpful at keeping said scouts alive. <_<

[Incabulos]

Ashdod sits North of the East wastelands at around 84

[Trumanator]

TY :D Too bad thats across the map from me. OTOH, maybe thats a good thing...

[Klepto]

Ermor sends messengers to the four corners of the world...

Here these, the divine words of our Lord Vesper, He Who Walks In Shadow. The so called God of the unholy heretics of Machaka has fallen in battle to the Sacred Host of the 25 Virgins. Now is the time to strike at the spider worshipping heathens, join with Ermor in this struggle that your people may share in the spoils of war!

[Trumanator]

Poor spiders... Shadow Vestals are bad news. I will listen to further reports with great interst, mostly because of my abysmal scouting capabilities. :(

[zzcat]

Tormoil+wasteland, it's why my income is so low even with 20+ provinces:(

[Klepto]

Poor spiders? I'm dead last on most graphs and just had half my army squished by a god. All good fun though :)

[Trumanator]

Well if you've got an S9 bless on those vestals then what you've got are etherial, high damage, hard to banish sacreds who have 2 guarenteed lives. S9 gives you banish resist, plus an extra life on your 5hp vestals. I'm stuck with ****ty serpents who are allergic to any kind of projectile, plus a dragony summon who costs like 35 pearls. That screws the bless route... Oh well, I can make the battlefield a nightmare for my enemies, so it all evens out. :D

[Klepto]

Yes, S9 works very well with Shadow Vestals :)

[zzcat]

Eriu has some heroes with 100+ kill. It's awesome for a non-giant nation in year 1! How can he get it so early? Full-geared thugs or thunder strike?

[Redeyes]

Awake master druid earth 9 nature 6 quick alteration research to 3 and using Sidhe lords and Tuatha Lords in pairs, he doesn't have enough research for Thunder Strike yet.

His expansion began when he hit 200 research, i.e mistform which makes you virtually immune to independents.

[NKIcan]

maybe my scouting just sucks but thus far I havent ran into anyone really. Just one other nation. Hmmm wonder where you all are hiding? :P

[Trumanator]

Oh we'll find you. :evil:

[Trumanator]

The animals of the forest, who think themselves a nation, have without provocation attacked the peace loving lizards of C'tis. Though they pity the poor, wretched, unthinking beasts, the Marshmasters and Lizard Kings will spare none. As with all rabid abominations, death is the only choice. Consider them destroyed.

[Incabulos]

The animals of the forest, who think themselves a nation, have without provocation attacked the peace loving lizards of C'tis. Though they pity the poor, wretched, unthinking beasts, the Marshmasters and Lizard Kings will spare none. As with all rabid abominations, death is the only choice. Consider them destroyed.



But satyrs are so frolicky!

[pyg]

Death to the stinking lizards! Well, maybe not right away...

[NKIcan]

Marignon, the just and true, feels that both of those folks are abominations and should be left to themselves. Steer clear of this war folks!

[Trumanator]

The just and true are also apparently rednecks. Steer clear of them "folks".

[pyg]

Wow, good first blood Trumanator. Your skull necklace wielding assassin brutalized my indy commander. The battle at Locmar was closer. The flying cows and mighty centaurs did all right in my view. How are your Elite Warriors doing?

Although the stinking lizards have won the first round do not think this is the last of Pangaea.

[Trumanator]

FYI, 2 dryads casting barkskin does not equal hordes of well buffed chaff. :D As for my elite warriors dying... which is more expensive, 30 EW or 10-12 Minotaurs. I bet you weren't expecting the archers though :D And wait till my Marshmasters arrive to play with your guys. You've got so few mages its laughable.

[pyg]

As for my elite warriors dying... which is more expensive, 30 EW or 10-12 Minotaurs. I bet you weren't expecting the archers though :D And wait till my Marshmasters arrive to play with your guys. You've got so few mages its laughable.

Well I still say your lizards just don't have style... at least compared to a big *ss kicking cow! Do you know where I can buy pills to get more mages?

[statttis]

Anybody know how to kill shadow vestals? They have too much MR to banish, they're immune to my spider poison, and I don't have any magic weapons.

[pyg]

Anybody know how to kill shadow vestals? They have too much MR to banish, they're immune to my spider poison, and I don't have any magic weapons.

Doesn't Flaming Arrows make your arrows magic damage? You can cast that and you have the archers. Enchant-5 in CBM though...

[Trumanator]

Archer spam, to try and fill the air with arrows? Not much you can do w/o magic weapons. Spider warriors have bane blades don't they? Could also try assasinating the leaders. Summon fire drakes for the breath weapon?

[NKIcan]

Star Fires I believe, or that one astral spell that sets undead on fire without an MR check. That'll totally crush em

[Trumanator]

Solar Rays. Definitely would work.

[zzcat]

Shadow vestal has shield. so archers may not be very effective vs them. IMO your best bet is gathering your mages and using elemental evocation to destory them as quickly as possible. Essentially Your normal troop can't do any damage so buy chaff instead of elite units to hold the line. MA Ermor is somewhat imbalance vs many nations. Even if you can deal with shadow vessels, you may still be swarmed by their free undead horsemen if you can't get AoE spells quickly.:(

[Trumanator]

Well the rationale behind archer swarm was to try and get the greatest concentration of fire on them. They only have like 5 hp, so all it takes is one hit to get through the etherial and shield. 75% of 20 arrows is a lot more than 75% of 3 attacks.

[zzcat]

Even if a square is filled by SVs(so the size point is 6) and a missile can always hit the square accurately, there is only 4.5% chance to hit anyone( (size 6 + attacker DRN vs 2+shield parry 4*2 + defender DRN)*25%). Considering twist fate, the damage is almost negligible. With flame arrow, the chance to hit will be increased to 30% so missile fire will be much more effective. If Machaka has reached Enc-4, maybe he can outnumber those ethereal maiden with cheap archers.

IMO an easier way is mass death mage and spamming dust to dust. Killing 3 twist-fated SVs with 2 casting is quite acceptable(Solar ray has better range but Machaka doesn't have any astral mage). You may need 10+ death mages and sevaral priests to make sure you can kill them fast enough if your enemy mixes SVs and undead horsemen. But Machaka has 3 forts so I think it's not too hard for him...

[Trumanator]

Yeah, magic is almost always the better way. Flaming arrows is Ench 5 in CBM though.

[statttis]

Well, I think I'm in big trouble. My research is nowhere near ench-5 or evoc-5 (for AOE evocations). I already tried using Dust to Dust, but the problem is that the spell has poor precision. About half of the castings miss, and the shadow vestals tend to spread out so I only hit 1 or 2. With 6 mages casting Dust to Dust I killed something like 3 vestals.

Fire drakes might do some damage, if I can research and summon some before I lose my capital. It probably won't matter though, Ermor already has 2 big armies of vestals and more are probably on the way. Looks like an early exit for me :(

[Trumanator]

Don't give up!

[Redeyes]

The legions of Longdead Horsemen you are bound to see soon will likely be an even bigger problem ;)

If you aren't up against a fire or death bless, high protection troops work great (shadow vestals only deal 14 damage) and Machaka has it both for its units and commanders to thug with and a nature+earth to buff.

[statttis]

I've actually faced quite a few longdead horses already. They don't scare me much, because I can at least kill them.

Unfortunately the vestals do indeed have a death bless, or I could hold the line with buffed up Bane Spiders and thug out my Sorcerers with Stoneskin and magic swords. Instead I have to recruit a bunch of chaff and hope my magic can kill them.

[statttis]

My capital is under siege, there's another army of vestals taking all my land, and now Eriu has decided to kick me while I'm down. Game over :(. I'll stick around for a few more turns and try to do some damage, then distribute my stuff to the nations who didn't attack me.

Any nations (except Ermor and Eriu ;)) who want something may make a request. I have hammers, fever fetishes, all gems but water, and I can forge level 2 items. First come first serve, those who don't speak up get the leftovers.

[Juffos]

Nononono, you got all that wrong, I am just denying Ermor some of your provinces, you know what they do to living people, rise them as undead to serve in their armies... you do not want such fate for your people. They will have a much happier life in my hands :)

[Klepto]

The honoured dead of the spider people will go onto greater glory in death than they ever could have achieved in life. By sacrificing their mortal lives to our holy Shadow Vestals they gain a place in history alongside their Ermorian saviours. Surely such an end would be welcomed by any sane man or beast.

[Trumanator]

I noticed Ashdod and Machaka have 7 and 8 provinces already. How do you do that?

An awake combat pretender and good troops will do that. Fear the spiders! :)

Oh how the might have fallen! Once among the leaders of civilization, the noble spider warriors of Machaka are crushed beneath the hobnailed sandals of Ermorian legionares and the ghostly tread of Shadow vestals. Let the civilized world remember their deeds and not let them fade from posterity. They will be avenged.

[Trumanator]

hmmm, I obviously have far too much time on my hands. Besides this game, I am starting another, and am a likely participant in 2 more. Its possible that I will heartily regret this. :p

[Trumanator]

Well that turn was silly. I lost one province to knights, one to barbarians, and another to some pangaean sneaky army or something.

[Juffos]

Eriu would like to remind every other nation out there that Ashdod is reigning quite supreme. Should they be let grow unattended, the world sure will be thrown into flames.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=41391

[Trumanator]

I would help if I wasn't at the complete opposite side of the world.

[NKIcan]

I too have yet to even see that nation. Im sure that you will have no problems engaging him though! Have fun!

[Incabulos]

Ashdod is in a good position geographically.

Basically he is isolated with no broad borders exposed to anyone and only single province points of entry into his empire.

One of those points is through me, one down pythium way in the extreme south. There is a northern access point but it is on the East side of the map and I am not sure if anyone is there. His eastern flank is clear and his domain to the edge of the map.

Of course all those wastelands might not help with income now but they sure will help with gems later.

[Trumanator]

Yeah cradle is pretty good for defense. At least Eriu can air drop thugs.

[zzcat]

Eriu would like to remind every other nation out there that Ashdod is reigning quite supreme. Should they be let grow unattended, the world sure will be thrown into flames.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=41391

Ashdod has been nerfed badly in CBM and we never hit our neighbor when they are down like Eriu did. Now Eriu has 50% more income than Ashdod. If Machaka is destroyed, he will get even more lands and 2 forts for free! I think his propose is quite obviously and everyone should know who is their real enemy:)

[Juffos]

Are you trying to imply that Eriu is stronger than Ashdod? You aren't fooling anyone :)

[zzcat]

Just to remind all nations that Eriu have 6 forts now and they are expanding rapidly. Their income is twice more than most nations:D

[Juffos]

But we don't have any of the almost undefeatable sacreds of Ashdod, or their recruitable supercombatant chassises, or the late game power of combined astral and death magic, or national summons :)

I am just a candle burning from both ends.

[pyg]

Wow real combat against humans... and I lost. Good on you Trumanator you even took out a castle on its last turn of construction. I did of course get some cheap shots in. I recommend you look into investing in a little more PD.

[Trumanator]

I would if C'tis PD was worth anything below 20

[llamabeast]

If people have been having trouble sending in the current turn ("Wrong turn number" error), it should now work fine.

[statttis]

This is the end of Machaka.

I control no provinces and the fortification at my capital is broken. I'll be sending out the requested stuff, and donating some fever fetishes to my conquerors, in hopes that they put them on their best mages ;)

It was fun while it lasted :up:

[Klepto]

Thanks statttis. I knew you would be stretched after having taken so many provinces, but getting your pretender alone in the opening fight was luck. When Eriu joined in there was nothing you could do. I'm sure you'll have your chance for revenge some other game :)

[Trumanator]

You should send everything to me since I'm your teammate in Wombat ;) Way to hang in there though, it was good to have you.

[statttis]

Victory! The people of Machaka stand strong against the evil Ermorian undead. Not a single shadow vestal or horseman made it through the gates of the city, and the spiders parade proudly around our capital. Though this victory was meaningless and temporary, the sorcerers will empty the national gold reserves to celebrate, throwing the best party 2 gold can buy :D

[NKIcan]

lol yay meaningless empty victories that only serve to slow your opponent down! Keep it up :D

[Trumanator]

Post .trn file!!

[Juffos]

And so Ashdod begins its unstoppable expansion. The game is lost by everyone unless we unite to counter their might.

[Trumanator]

Well i have more important things to contend with, like Pan raiding and getting all up in my grill. Not to mention the massive armies TC has sent in. At least they don't have Recuperation :)

[NKIcan]

again, Im in no position to do anything about Ashdod since I have yet to even SEE them. By all means though, pick up the banner and sally forth against them.

[Redeyes]

The Pythian has joined the war against Ashdod, magical aid in the form of mgaical gems or just gold is welcome.
We are the Vanguard of the world, if Pythium falls Ashdod will have enough resources to overrun everything.

[pyg]

Ahh, nothing quite like the smell of MarshMasters roasting over an open Flambeau ;-)

[Burnsaber]

Well i have more important things to contend with, like Pan raiding and getting all up in my grill. Not to mention the massive armies TC has sent in. At least they don't have Recuperation :)

Well, no. But our healers are very able men. :D. Looks like you got the wrong neighbours. If I had been playing Eriu, for example, I'd have avoided you like Plague.

[Trumanator]

Yeah, Pan is basically built to either be C'tis worst enemy or its greatest ally. I wouldn't put that much trust in your healers though, they're only (40). If you were Arco I'dve been more worried. As it is... I think I can hole up in my forts till your guys start dying. City Guards are Siege defense bonus! :D

[zzcat]

I have to deal with some RL issues tomorrow. Can we delay next turn for 12 hours? Thanks!

[Incabulos]

no no! you need to stale so we all have a chance:nana:

[Redeyes]

Let's give him his delay so he won't fold in one turn when my suprise is coming ;)

[Trumanator]

Postponed 12 hours, as per zzcat's request.

[Incabulos]

he already submitted, he wants next turn delayed not this turn


I have to deal with some RL issues tomorrow. Can we delay next turn for 12 hours? Thanks!

[Trumanator]

Aach! I will do so once the turn hosts.

[Incabulos]

so you can't undelay once you set a delay? bummer

[statttis]

"Note that postponements by negative amounts of time can be used to bring hosting forward."

;)

[Trumanator]

well quickhost should make it go anyway AFAIK. I'll just make sure to delay the next turn when it comes in.

[Incabulos]

Hah! I forgot Marignon could cross the sea. :doh:

Edit:
oh no that's not it... even worse I didn't realise there was a direct connection between those provinces hahah!

[Alpine Joe]

Well it looks like Bandar Log is on its last legs here. The combination of a rash of bad luck early game, poor strategic planning by yours truly, and a well-planned double team by marignon and pythium will put an end to the monkey people. I'll fight on for the next few turns, but enemies are already knocking on the gate of my capital. If anyone has requests for gems (and i am biased towards Ashdod, provided he uses them to eliminate pythium) let me know.
Well played everyone, and damn redeyes, this is the second time you've ended me. I'll be more wary next time we meet.

[Trumanator]

Well if Marignon would be so kind as to end TC and Pangaea I would be happy to donate my gems to him. :) As a matter of fact, the offer is open to anyone who does so.

Edit: I have also delayed this turn by 12 hours for zzcat.

[NKIcan]

Arco decided to attack me and then is suprised I was able to attack back...
But its cool.

As for the gem offer, I have yet to see TC (though I do see Pangea from time to time) but if you give me the gems today, I'll gladly take care of them at SOME point :P

[Trumanator]

FYI check the first post for a general state of the game. :D

[Incabulos]

Arco decided to attack me and then is suprised I was able to attack back...
But its cool.

As for the gem offer, I have yet to see TC (though I do see Pangea from time to time) but if you give me the gems today, I'll gladly take care of them at SOME point :P

Yeah heh I thought I could only reach you because I owned that water province :D.

Welcome to our fine island.

[Redeyes]

Well played everyone, and damn redeyes, this is the second time you've ended me. I'll be more wary next time we meet.All is fair in war and love, in Yang we might be better set up to be allies.

Marignon has been no kinder to me than to you, with the destruction of my elephant-hunting army lying in his hands.

[zzcat]

Thanks Incabulos and Trumanator! I come back earlier than I thought:)

[Redeyes]

Can you help explain how I lost the battle in Nidzh, Alpine Joe? :shock:
It ends when the 9 enemy survivors route of the field... but the report says I lost and I have all my troops and commanders in adjacent provinces as if they had fled the field?

I don't get it, something's wrong :doh:

[Trumanator]

Apparently there's an occasional bug with the report and the battle replay, or so I've heard. Hopefully this will be a onetime thing.

[Trumanator]

Its pretty much over for me now. I just lost 9 mages to a goddamn knight attack. About all I can do now is piss off TC's besieging army by attacking them every turn with my lich, and wait for them to get diseased.
Once they take my cap I'm just going to set myself to AI.

With me gone, the game is going to need another admin, someone who is going to be checking this page often. Any takers?

[Trumanator]

I have set myself to AI. You guys really need a new admin now, since the end of my involvement will probably lead to me checking the thread less often. Either post or PM me.

[Trumanator]

Burnsaber has kindly offered to take over admin duties. Direct all requests for delays and such to him.

Please keep posting in this thread though, I want to have an idea of whats going on!

[Incabulos]

bah I thought I stopped all my troops from moving, apparently forgot a couple of commanders. Flushed a pair of boots of quickness and a acid bolt rod down the toilet.

[Redeyes]

Such are the perils of being the last to submit a turn.
Still seems your empire has grown by a couple percent in the last month, I doubt your plans were damaged overly ;)

[Incabulos]

I like my little island.. :P

Wish I had noticed at the beginning of the game that I could cross over the water because of the two ports... durrr.. Now I am hemmed in by two naps and mary-gone. Oh and a lack of those things called umm... soldiers.

We still have an elephant, he has multiple afflictions and is currently enjoying retired life by the sea at Incabulos's rest home for Downtrodded Tramplers. We think he somehow got hold of a flagellant with his trunk and mercilessly beat himself over the back until he reached his current state.

In other news the Sleeper's last words were heard to be "Curse you! You interrupted such a nice dream..what you want me to do with this? Where are you sending me?...ow my eye! ow my spleen... ow my throat.. ow my chest.... ow ow ow ow" *THUD*

[Burnsaber]

I went ahead and changed the hosting interval to 36 hours. Were getting into the mid-game and turns start to take more time, so you should have more time to do them.
If people seem to strongly object, I'll change it back.

[Incabulos]

seems like everyone but eriu got their turn in much earlier than even 24 hours let alone 36 hours. 36 hrs seems like a long turn time to me but then ragain my empire is TINY.

[Redeyes]

I sort of agree and at 36 hours you only get more time to take your turn every other day pretty much ;)
I'm in favor of a quicker schedule, seeing as my turns still are reasonably short

[Burnsaber]

seems like everyone but eriu got their turn in much earlier than even 24 hours let alone 36 hours. 36 hrs seems like a long turn time to me but then ragain my empire is TINY.

I sort of agree and at 36 hours you only get more time to take your turn every other day pretty much ;)
I'm in favor of a quicker schedule, seeing as my turns still are reasonably short

Well, turns might be short now, but they'll get increasingly more time consuming as the game progresses. Instead of someone eventually staling due to the 24h scheducle, I decided it would be wise to just change now. It will also helo those of us who are in many games.

The game is postponed over the weekend as Eriu player is out of town.

Also, T'ien C'hi would like to declare that we are very intrested in trading for Air boosters and Fire boosters. We have gems of all types and are able to forge many items due to our mages being very crosspathy.

[zzcat]

Also, T'ien C'hi would like to declare that we are very intrested in trading for Air boosters and Fire boosters. We have gems of all types and are able to forge many items due to our mages being very crosspathy.

Ashdod want to trade for air boosters too. Please PM me if anyone has interest in it:)

[Juffos]

Ashdod made their move towards world domination and struck the nation of Eriu with teleporting artifact-fitted Adonim. They are leading the gem production and research graphs and will soon lead in provinces too.

Like I previously said, unless this threat is met by a united front, the world will burn in hellish flames.

Short: the goddamn Ashdod is trying to run away with the game and are you going to let him do so?

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=41391

[Incabulos]

The nation of Arcoscephale hereby gives notice that we are dissolving our NAP with Ashdod and hostilities may commence 3 turns hence.

[zzcat]

Hmm... It's really strange for me that Arcoscephale should turn to me when Gift of Nature's Bounty has been risen. If we left Eriu undisturbed with 4500+ income per turn, we are all doomed. IMO a crusade against Eriu is most reasonable choice for all nations who border Eriu. But see what happens? We are fighting each other and weakening ourselves when Eriu becomes stronger and stronger???

With the NAP cancelled. I think we can attack each other at turn 42? So let's prepare for a big war:D

The nation of Arcoscephale hereby gives notice that we are dissolving our NAP with Ashdod and hostilities may commence 3 turns hence.

[Juffos]

Yes, I am going to annihilate you all with my endless supply of slingers. Too bad I lack the artifacts, recruitable supercombatants, research, magical diversity and late game power of Ashdod.

Ashdod trying to convince the world of Eriu's dangerousness... :)

[Incabulos]

Hmm... It's really strange for me that Arcoscephale should turn to me when Gift of Nature's Bounty has been risen. If we left Eriu undisturbed with 4500+ income per turn, we are all doomed. IMO a crusade against Eriu is most reasonable choice for all nations who border Eriu. But see what happens? We are fighting each other and weakening ourselves when Eriu becomes stronger and stronger???

With the NAP cancelled. I think we can attack each other at turn 42? So let's prepare for a big war:D

The nation of Arcoscephale hereby gives notice that we are dissolving our NAP with Ashdod and hostilities may commence 3 turns hence.

turn 41 by my count since I posted before submitting the previous turn, should have sent an in game message to make the timing clear but the whole NAP is still quite a new concept to me.

and since I have watched your research spike, your gem income go through the roof and seen your sc/thugs in action I am pretty sure you are the greater threat.

If you think it should be tuurn 32 that is fine by me too. Just let me know here.

[zzcat]

I have little MP experience too so I don't know if there is any common rule to judge the case:(

Anyway, it's not a big matter, turn 41 is OK with me.


turn 41 by my count since I posted before submitting the previous turn, should have sent an in game message to make the timing clear but the whole NAP is still quite a new concept to me.

and since I have watched your research spike, your gem income go through the roof and seen your sc/thugs in action I am pretty sure you are the greater threat.

If you think it should be tuurn 32 that is fine by me too. Just let me know here.

[NKIcan]

Just to let you know: Pythium has attacked without warning and broke the NAP without notice that we had with it.

I think he really overestimates what he can do, given the makeup of his forces. Still, let all be aware not to make deals with him.

If any opponent of Pythiums would like some support, let me know and I'll send you a ton o' gems and items that I have in excess.

[Redeyes]

There was no nap ^
In fact, you could call me... at war with everyone.
Pythium the Napless, who has no naps.

[Burnsaber]

Okay guys, I'm going to my sister's wedding and once this turn is hosted, the game will be on hold until monday.

[Incabulos]

weddings...huzzah... get drunk and say something highly inappropriate about the couple on my behalf :D

[Trumanator]

"I love weddings, drinks all around!"


Make sure to watch Wedding Crashers before you go, so many good tips...

[Juffos]

Marignon has staled thrice a row.

[Redeyes]

Yeah, just noticed (I have mostly been out of net-access the last few days).
I don't think anyone would want to take over the position, being stuck in between me and T'ien Ch'i and being behind on every graph, setting him to AI is better than nothing.

[Burnsaber]

I've send NKIcan a PM about the situation, but it seems that he hasn't logged on the forums for over a week. Perhaps his internet is busted or something?

Well, if he doesn't reply by Friday, I'll ask Llamabeast to switch him to AI.

[Burnsaber]

I have PM'd Llamabeast, but he is out of town for the weekend, so I'm not sure that if he's able to help immediately.

[Klepto]

My apologies for missing the last couple of turns, I've had problems with my ISP. Everything seems to be working again and I'm back to desperately trying to keep Eriu from destroying me :)

[Juffos]

Pft. I am trying to keep Ashdod from destroying me.

[Burnsaber]

Okay, I've now set the game to host on on Friday. That should enough for all to give their turns in at this post-server crash world.

I'll probably let the game interval be at 48 hours. My turns have started to involve quite a bit micro now.

[Redeyes]

It's me you're waiting for, I'll try to post a turn when I get home tonight.

[Redeyes]

I must admit to laughing at the arena winner :rofl:

[Redeyes]

I'm going to be off for easter after this turn, I would like the game delayed a week when I'll be able to take my next turn.

Usually I play from my laptop when away from home but it got too hot and the motherboard broke, so I'm sol until I get back home.

[Burnsaber]

I'm going to be off for easter after this turn, I would like the game delayed a week when I'll be able to take my next turn.

Usually I play from my laptop when away from home but it got too hot and the motherboard broke, so I'm sol until I get back home.

Done


Hosting postponed for Rothfuss by 150 hours. The game will now host at 23:35 GMT on Monday April 13th

[zzcat]

Haha，GoH，Arcane nexus，Burden of time. It seems everyone would like to have a showdown after all......

I would say I'm really shocked by TC. I never thought you could have so many death gems and so many powerful death mages(demilich?):p

[zzcat]

I'll have a business travel this Friday, and I'll be very very busy during the following 3 weeks. Please find a sub for me, thanks. It's a great pity to give up the game when I have a good chance to crash you all:D:D:D

[Burnsaber]

zzcar, if your friend does not PM me in the next 24 hours, I'll try to find a sub on my own.

The game is on hold until sub is found. If none is found, Pythium will be probably declared as winner.

[zzcat]

zzcar, if your friend does not PM me in the next 24 hours, I'll try to find a sub on my own.

The game is on hold until sub is found. If none is found, Pythium will be probably declared as winner.

Thanks. He hasn't replied my PM till now:(. Please do what you want to find the sub. I have all turn files after turn 53 in my mailbox, please PM me if the new ruler of Ashdod need them...

[Redeyes]

The game is on hold until sub is found. If none is found, Pythium will be probably declared as winner.
What, on merit of the army of yours I 'destroyed' a couple of turns ago or the 'Ashdod' one I took out back in the thirties;) ?

I will actually be fairly glad too see the game done, between spending every turn casting some dozen offensive rituals and having enough gems to outfit multiple Seraphs every turn, my turns take longer to finish than what is comfortable

[Burnsaber]

Okay. 3 days have passed, no sub, and I'm ready to call quits on this game. (if ashdod goes AI, so will I, and ermor probably has nothing to stop Pythium).

I'd like to hear confirmation from everyone thought before I remove the game.

[Redeyes]

Go ahead by me, though I think Zzcat is out of town and Klepto hasn't logged into his account for ten days.
("Last Activity: 04-10-09 12:02 PM (http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/member.php?u=10418)")

I'll have a business travel this Friday, and I'll be very very busy during the following 3 weeks.

As I touched on earlier, I'm happy to have more free time ;)

[zzcat]

OK with me. I can still access internet but I don't have enough time to manage such an endgame. If I had known it earlier, I should wish 2 armageddons per turn for 4-5 turns, then we'll have much fewer things to do now:)

[Redeyes]

Yeah, Armageddon is always a fun way to go out when you lose, with some luck it can even take out more of the other guys' stuff.

Bandar Log was lucky enough to get both the Steel Oven and Ultimate Gateway, naturally I took him out quickly. Since then I have been producing three and a half clams a turn, last turn, for instance, I made 261 astral pearls, 40 reflected in my gem graph ;)

[Burnsaber]

Alright, Klepto hasn't anwsered the e-mail I sent him in these 3 days. It's time to put this game to sleep. Thanks to all for playing!

Congratulations Redeyes. Steel Oven is pretty.. extreme. Ultimate Gateway too? I thought that I was lucky with my sites (Crystal/Azure Mages & Magus & 20 conjuration bonus site)

[Redeyes]

Yeah, I don't expect to get them together again, I had them from about turn 30.

I had some other fun stuff, like 3 enchantment cost-reduction sites, recruitable Minotaurs - who turned out to be really great against Ashdod Giants/Undead and Ghandarvas - and Adepts of the Iron Order later on.

It was a bit flattering when you were attributed all those Ghost Rider spells I was using (were they really that unexpected?), I had 12 liches with Skull Staff & Skull Face running around when the game ended ;)

[Trumanator]

Congrats Redeyes! And if you think getting those two sites is great, try getting both the ultimate gateway and bottomless lake in the same province, for a 70% conj discount! :O I've got that in a game, and let me tell you, if I can survive I'm thinking it could prove crucial.

[Redeyes]

Hilarious that you would mention that because:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff228/Njorhg/Bottomlesslakeultimategateway.jpg

Did you peek on my turn files? ;)

I just double-checked (if I had missed something) but no, they don't stack, only Ultimate Gateway applies.

[Trumanator]

Well that sucks....