FastBlitz - Running

[Graeme Dice]

This game is going to be set up to progress nearly as quickly as possible to a conclusion. As such, it is using very non-standard conditions.

Game Conditions:
Conceptual Balance mod v. 1.6
36 hour timer enforced.
Middle Era
Small Random Map
9 starting provinces
Independent strength 1
75% special site frequency
300% money, 300% supplies, 300% resources
15 Hall of Fame entries
Random events common
Score graphs off
Easy research
Renaming Allowed

No victory conditions, but the game will end whenever the leading alliance has defeated all opposition.

Diplomacy is open and expected to involve as much stabbing in the back as people feel like. This game will hopefully move extremely quickly. You'll only be two or three provinces away from somebody else's capital, and are invited to take somebody out as quickly as possible. Prevent micro by finishing the game quickly. :) Ideally, we'll have about five-ten players. Reserve your place now!

Current Players:
Graeme Dice - C'Tis
Squirreloid - Ashdod
Two-Bits - R'Lyeh
AdmiralZhao - Abysia
Folket - Bandar Log

Playing if we hear from him:
Paparapapa - Shinuyama

[Squirrelloid]

With those settings, how can i not play... as Ashdod! =p

[paparapapa]

Sounds like a cool setup. I'll play as Ulm please :)

[paparapapa]

Actually scratch that, I'd like to try out Shinuyama

[Graeme Dice]

I have one more player lined up who hasn't signed up here yet, so if we get a fifth and final player we should be able to start shortly.

[archaeolept]

hey, it's graeme. haven't seen you around in years :)

good luck w/ your game - sounds fun. I'm on hiatus...

[TwoBits]

Crap, no time to think. Put me down for R'lyeh. Maybe good with this set-up?

[Meglobob]

I am in too many games at the mo to join but good to see you back Graeme.

[Graeme Dice]

Good to be back.

[Deathjester]

I can't join another game due to time constraints, but this sounds like fun and I would like to try. I hope there will be another - or I might arrange one myself as games finish.

[Graeme Dice]

I'll be starting the game on Llamaserver on monday.

[TwoBits]

Will there be just 4 players, or are we still looking for more?

[Graeme Dice]

I'd certainly like more players if anybody else is interested in playing.

[Graeme Dice]

If everybody is happy with just a quick 40 province four person game, then I can get it started tonight. Otherwise we're still looking for recruits.

[AdmiralZhao]

I'll sign up as Abysia.

And as Ashdod's ancient foe, I'd have to say that they are way overpowered, especially in a small and quick game.

[Graeme Dice]

Five players is enough for me to be happy with the size of the game, so I'll create the map and get everything started on Llamaserver today.

[Squirrelloid]

I'll have my pretender in sometime today.

[Graeme Dice]

We're only waiting on paparapapa before we can get started.

[TwoBits]

We might need a slightly larger map. I tried loading up a couple of test games on that map with 5 nations (BTW, I needed to edit the name of the .map file, deleting the first two underscores, to do so, FYI), and I always started with less than 9 provinces. I think there's just not enough room, and some factions get shorted if they start too close to competitors.

[Graeme Dice]

I think you may be right. I checked and it usually seems to give people only 5 provinces.

[Graeme Dice]

We're still just waiting on paparapapa.

[TwoBits]

Are we going to go with a new map? Have you heard anything from paparapapa? Maybe we need to hunt for another player before we get started?

[Graeme Dice]

I did create a new map which is now in the first post, and I haven't heard anything from him. We're probably going to need a new player.

[Graeme Dice]

There has to be somebody out there who's interested in games with crazy, rush promoting strategies.

If we can get this one off the ground, then I'll see about setting up another one where the game starts out in the endgame. Every province is already castled and searched, all research has been completed, every province is owned by somebody. Should be an interesting way to play.

[TwoBits]

Hm, I'm surprised too. Granted, this setup doesn't work well with many nations (those that depend on capital only sacreds, or have lame non-cap mages, etc.). But nations with strong recruit-anywhere mages (Caelum or Jotunheim, for example), or nations with bad-*** units that can now be recruited in terrifying masses (Vanheim's Skinshifters, or heck, any of the elephant nations, etc.) could do well with the big 300% income/production boost.

Anyhow, if we can only get 4, maybe we should change to a smaller, land-only map, in which case I would be willing to switch from R'lyeh to Shinuyama (since paparapapa has disappeared).

[Folket]

I could join as Bandar Log.

[Graeme Dice]

Okay, that makes five players. We're good to go once everybody gets their pretenders in.

[Folket]

I will upload my pretender tonight. Anyone can send me the link to llamaserver?

[Graeme Dice]

It's at http://www.llamaserver.net/

[Folket]

I have sent my pretender now.

[Folket]

When do we start?

[TwoBits]

I don't see the game on Llamaserver anymore :confused:

[Graeme Dice]

It's not there, and I have no idea why.

[llamabeast]

Games unfortunately just disappear when there is a problem with starting. My best guess is that there is a space in one of the map filenames - the LlamaServer is supposed to prevent the upload of such maps, but for some reason that seems buggy. I shall try to look into it tonight.

[Graeme Dice]

There's not supposed to be a space in the map name. I did change the map file and the might not have been done properly on my end. Thanks for the help.

[Graeme Dice]

Any word? I can remake the game if that's easier.

[Graeme Dice]

I've remade the game as FastBlitz2. Upload your pretenders! :)

[Graeme Dice]

The game has started. Good luck everyone!

[TwoBits]

Ugh, that is not the ideal starting spot. Oh well, we'll see how it goes ;)

[AdmiralZhao]

This has been a fun game so far, good idea Graeme. I really like how we've moved straight into the action.

In other news, Abysia offers peace to all our current neighbors. Regardless of your past transgressions (or badly botched attempted transgressions), we are willing to agree to non-agress you.

[Folket]

Last updated at 22:05 GMT on Monday November 9th
Current time: 22:04 GMT

Does not seem correct.

[Graeme Dice]

I'm not sure I understand what your statement means?

[Squirrelloid]

timestamp from llamaserver. Current time and time the server last updated. He's commenting that the server last updated 1 minute in the future...

[Graeme Dice]

Gotcha

[AdmiralZhao]

Could we have an extension for this turn/next turn? I'm going to be traveling for Thanksgiving and will have only spotty internet access.

[Squirrelloid]

Could we have an extension for this turn/next turn? I'm going to be traveling for Thanksgiving and will have only spotty internet access.

Only if you promise to actually attack me already. =P

[Graeme Dice]

Yep. I'll extend the interval to 100 hours for this weekend.

[AdmiralZhao]

The weather outlook for Ryleh for the next few months: scattered firestorms, with a 100% chance of pain. :)

[Squirrelloid]

Well, I'm out first. I suppose that isn't too surprising as the only nation that didn't get a corner.

Also, Ashdod really suffers under 300% gold/resources - i just couldn't build enough units to deal with Abysia's cheaper but still quite good troops. No way I can beat 10:1 odds against them. So yes, I could have a handful more sacreds than usual - but not enough more to matter. (If I were fighting BL only, sure, but Abysian troops are good enough to overwhelm me in quantity - ouch).

Should have remembered Namad's after-action description of his problems with Ashdod in NvV3 which ran at a mere 150% gold/res, due entirely to not having enough oomph with a magic/sacred based fighting force against the much larger than normal armies he was contending against.

[TwoBits]

The weather outlook for Ryleh for the next few months: scattered firestorms, with a 100% chance of pain. :)

Ouch. :hurt: I haven't looked at the turn yet, but I can guess what happened. So I suppose I should have seen it coming :doh: My Starspawn definitely need some asbestos underpants.

Yeah, Squirrelloid (sorry to see you go!) has an interesting point to make. And I thought Abysia would be at some disadvantage too, what with their cap only mages and sacreds.

But with the game parameters being what they are, the Admiral can crank out ridiculous hordes of superb troops (now all heading my way :shock: ), who I don't believe suffer from supply problems (again, something I didn't think would be an issue, but some of those R'lyeh mega-armies were having that problem - maybe not any more though :( ).

Oh, and the research boost seems to have allowed him access to some nasty Fire spells fairly quickly. I just hope R'lyeh can research up some counters before it's too late. And with all the troops and mages floating around, I think SCs and thugs will be somewhat marginalized (not enough gems to summon and equip enough to kill all those units fast enough). Again, something Squirrelloid and I noticed with Ashdod in NvV3, and that was only at 150% settings.

And yes, I'm most definitely writing this as a warning to
Graeme Dice and Folket - don't let the world end in Fire! :eek: :D

[Folket]

Time to return to 100 hour schedule.

[AdmiralZhao]

Yes, these game settings do change the usual balance of power, and reduce Ashdod from impossibly overpowered to just overpowered. Even with BL's help, it was a close thing, and I was only able to win against his large sacred army by throwing in all my capital only mages, a dozen or two F3 mages, and then getting very, very lucky with the army scripting. And if he had ever reached Earthquake, or had started spitting out fire resistant Adons with 30+ armor & regen & reinvig, it would have been all over for me.
Anyway, good game Squirreloid. Sorry if I'm too anti-Ashdod, I've started next to them one to many times. :)

As to the rest of the map, yes, Abysia is enjoying it's moment in the sun. At least we are in the North. I expect things to change though once we start seeing more battlefield enchantments by the other players. You can stick a fork in me once the first Mass Enslave comes out. :) Like our mages, our nation is powerful but tends to die young. Personally, my money is on C'tis, but we will see.

[Squirrelloid]

Hardly a close thing, you had me all on your own. BL made it faster, it didn't make it any more sure.

As far as outfitted SCs - well, lets just say it was a few turns away at best to get even one.

I'd say Ashdod is underpowered at these settings, honestly. They simply can't build enough units to matter against any nation with good infantry. (This doesn't include BL, whom i could possibly have handled if Abysia had left me alone, but it most certainly includes Abysia and nations like Shinuyama and Man). Actually, these settings would really make MA Man shine, since their armies are awesome, its their magic which is awful.

[AdmiralZhao]

Ughh. That communion master picked the wrong day to forget to bring his gems along...

[TwoBits]

Crap crap crap. Did my turn, and then forgot to submit it to Llamaserver :( I'm afraid to even look at the new turn yet (although the Admiral's words give me some small hope) :p

[Graeme Dice]

Blinded, berserking, regenerating lava warriors who can still hit hard enough to kill a soul vortexed, 19 hitpoint per turn regenerating mother of serpents are my new nemesis. That plus mages who cast mass protection unscripted when fighting Abysia. Oh and mages who cast serpent's blessing because they are worried that that slayer is going to make it through an elite warrior lizard bodyguard and might poison somebody. :)

Rain is your friend when fighting Abysia, now if only I had had somebody to cast rigor mortis and relief that battle might have been even more onesided.

[AdmiralZhao]

Hah, you are not the only one was disappointed by this turn. When I opened up the battle replay and saw 4 astral mages instead of 5 in the back row, I knew they were all doomed. One day I'll learn to check my turns and make sure everyone is moving where they should. And have enough gems. Poor Abysians. Their best mages are inbred and senile, and cannot even put together a simple communion.

[Folket]

I was quite surprised when you cast mass protection but I think it served you well in the battle.

[AdmiralZhao]

Humanbred to act as a meatshield: 10 Gold
Flamestorm to nuke a block of Mindflayers: 2 Fire Gems
AI deciding to cast Inner Furnace, causing 350 indie archers to cook each other to death: Priceless

[Folket]

The inner furnace bug is pretty amazing.

[TwoBits]

OK, that bug kind of sucks, but after watching nearly my entire army get barbecued by a never ending 'vomit' of Flame Storms (the child in me hopes you blew your F gem stash, but the realist in me doubts it) in a single round, I'm strangely lacking in sympathy ;)

[AdmiralZhao]

Sorry about this, but could I get a 12 hour delay in hosting?

[Graeme Dice]

I just delayed it by 12 hours.

[Graeme Dice]

Do we want to keep to the same schedule during the holidays?

[TwoBits]

I'm going to be out of town from the 23rd-26th, so we may need liberal delays this time of year.

[AdmiralZhao]

Sounds fine to me.

Also, congrats to Ryleh. I knew that was coming eventually, but was vaguely hoping it would take you longer. Abyisa's day in the sun is over; a new star rises in the north.

[AdmiralZhao]

Ok, I have successfully moved an army from the top left corner of the map to the bottom right corner of the map. That means I win, right?

[TwoBits]

Only if you can capture the fortress there ;)

[TwoBits]

OK, that's my last turn until after the 26th. Happy Holidays :)

[Graeme Dice]

Ok. Since I think that everybody is back from the holidays, I've set the turn timer back to 48 hours. Let the carnage continue!

[TwoBits]

Hey you guys. Real Life is hitting me hard these days after the holidays (just too much to do), and I just don't have the time to do my turns with my full attention. Especially with things so interesting now. Will there be any problems with me hunting us a sub?

Sorry about this :(

[Graeme Dice]

No, that would great if you can find us a sub. Both sides are doing quite well at this point, so I'd hate to see the game fall apart just when things are entering the final phase.

[TwoBits]

Thanks for the understanding. I'll keep bumping the sub-thread. Does anyone have anyone in mind who might like the position? To try out the interesting set-up? I definitely think R'lyeh has a strong hand in this game too.

Thanks

[TwoBits]

OK, no takers for R'lyeh yet :( I'll try to do another turn tonight, just to keep the game moving. Meanwhile, I'll keep looking for that elusive substitute.

[the Vanishag]

I only have one thing to say: <a href="http://www.cthulhulives.org/musical/Prayer%20Sample.mp3">ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!</a>

Game on!

[Maerlande]

I sent a PM to offer to sub Ryleh to twobits, but no answer. Anyone know if he's still around?

[Graeme Dice]

Thanks. but the Vanishag has already taken over the position.

[Maerlande]

Okay great. Good to know you have a sub.

[Graeme Dice]

Well, C'Tis has just about been wiped out. It's far more difficult than I thought to deal with a nation with as much astral power as Bandar Log, and I was never able to achieve a critical mass of tartarians to actually turn the tide of battle back in my favour. An event I never noticed destroyed the lab in Isurian after it was besieged, and effectively stalled my ability to continue pushing out of the province.

So I congratulate Abysia and Bandar Log for doing a really good job of leveraging the strengths of your nations. Fire magic is really good when you can back it up with as many flame immune troops as Abysia gets in these settings.

[Folket]

Seems like I have a lack of time this weekend. I would like to get the hosting delayed 24 hours.

[Graeme Dice]

I've extended the deadline by 24 hours.

[Folket]

Could we start with a 72 hour host schedule? It is a drag to script 30+ mages in 10+ provinces.

[Graeme Dice]

I've extended the turn timer to 72 hours and will leave it there for now as long as I don't get any complaints.

[Folket]

Thanks

[Graeme Dice]

Now that I've been knocked out completely, would somebody else like to take over admin duties? I'd be happy to continue, unless you guys want a current player to do it.

[Graeme Dice]

Added 24h to the turn timer by Folket's request.

[AdmiralZhao]

I don't suppose there is any interest in declaring Bandar Log the victor? They seem to have a commanding position, and more energy than either of their opponents. :)

[Folket]

I do not know about more energy then my opponents. Seems like it is mostly me that demand turn timer increases.

But I do feel my position is very strong. I can't see the Vanishag having a shot at victory if you feel the game is over.

In general I do not like end games so I welcome an end.

[Folket]

guess I have not looked at the staling data before. Seems like the Vanishag missed 4 out of the five last turns. I sent him/her a message asking to leave a comment.

It was a fine game. Thanks everyone.

[Graeme Dice]

Good game guys. Hope you enjoyed it, cause I know I did.

[Folket]

The game plays very differently with so much money/resources. Ordinary units become much more important but you reach end game so much earlier.

[AdmiralZhao]

Congrats on your win Folket, you definitely earned it. We never really managed to deal with your Nature's Bounty, and paid the price in facing an unending stream of monkey warriors and mages. GG.

[Graeme Dice]

Let me know when I should shut down the game.

Any interest in a similar setup, perhaps in a different age?

[TwoBits]

I'm surprised R'lyeh and it's limitless hordes of Starspawn didn't do better in these settings. But I can see how Nature's Bounty could be truly brutal with 300% gold (in high dominion, you'd be pushing close to 600%?). Might want to think about modding out NB for Fastblitz 3 ;) If I had more time, I'd be inclined to participate.

[AdmiralZhao]

Yeah, Ryleh and I never banded together to take it down. I always kept thinking Ryleh would, what with being the astral king, but no. :) I believe Nature's Bounty gives a max of 3x income, so yes, they were pulling down a total of 9x normal income. I'm not sure I would mod it out though; we could have taken it down if we had cooperated more, and I don't know that it is any worse than any of the other big end game globals. In the other high resource game I am playing I'm waiting to see who casts Nature's Bounty first, and exactly how much stompage they receive.

[Folket]

I had a stable income of 20-25k so I think gift of natures bounty helped quite a lot.

[Folket]

Has anyone heard anything from the Vanishag? I would like to have his input before we write off this game.

Is it possible to extract his email from the llamaserver?

[AdmiralZhao]

He has staled for like 5 of the last 6 turns, so I think he is probably ok with it. :)

[the Vanishag]

Yeah, sorry about that. I've been busy preparing to move and to start a new job.

I think I could have done more w/ R'lyeh, but this was my 1st late-game experience and I think I misplayed a lot of things. This was a valuable learning experience for me, and I apologize for my recent flakiness.

Well played, everyone, and especial congratulations to Folket for the win.