Betelgeuse 2 - Game Finished! - SA CBM game for Blood Nations

[Starshine_Monarch]

Game Specs:
------

- Single age game

- Map: Shahrivar (http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showpost.php?p=616294&postcount=33) by Sandra, updated by Sombre
- 11 Players (FULL): Blood nations only. Blood nations are defined by having at least one recruitable mage with Blood as a standard pick. This mage may be capital only, such as the case for MA Pan.

- Game Status page here. (http://www.llamaserver.net/gameinfo.cgi?game=Betelgeuse2x)

- Llamaserver starting on 24 hour Quickhost and going up from there as needed.

- Delays given as needed. For those of you that need delays please e-mail me. My address is theamazingfightingpeanut[at]hotmail[dot]com. Also, please notify me when you get a sub, are eliminated, or are going to go AI so that I can update this post.

- Mods:
-- Single Age Complete Mod :click: (http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=34265)
-- CBM 1.6 :click: (http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=43949)
-- Streamers & Standards :click: (http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=39989)

- Settings: Magic sites 45, Renaming on. All else default.

- Victory conditions: On turn 60, all remaining players will take a vote here. Vote here for who you think should be named winner or post with an Abstain if you want the game to continue. Any vote for your own nation will count as an abstain. I'll declare the game finished if we can get a nation with at least half of the remaining players' votes. If we can't get a majority, the game continues and we repeat the process on turn 100. If there are only 2 nations left, whoever gets the other guy to surrender first wins.

- Diplomacy policy: Treaties are not unbreakable, so all you have to trust is the other nation's word. Unlike Libra, I will allow conspiring via forum PM or e-mail as needed.

------

Current Players:

:dagger:1: Methel: EA Lanka
:dagger:2: Alpine Joe: EA Niefelheim
:dagger:3: Pyg: EA Hinnom
:computer:4: Agent Smith: EA Sauromatia
:computer:5: statttis: LA Marignon
:computer:6: Tollund: LA Ulm
:dagger:7: ghoul31: EA Vanhiem
:computer:8: Stagger Lee: LA Bogarus
:computer:9: militarist: LA Gath
:dagger:10: Wrana: EA Helheim
:dagger:11: michai: LA Utgard

Status:
:dagger: : Playing
:skull: : Eliminated
:computer: : Gone AI

[chrispedersen]

tentatively, put me down for la-mictlan

[Alpine Joe]

I'll take niefelheim

[pyg]

Hinnom.

[Agent Smith]

I'll join as Sauromatia, this'll be my first PBEM game then

[statttis]

LA Marignon please.

[chrispedersen]

I keep forgetting some people actually let hinnom in games =)

[ghoul31]

can you give us a list of the nations?

[Tollund]

LA Ulm for me.

[Starshine_Monarch]

Ghoul31:

The list of Blood nations that have not been taken at this point are as follows:

EA

Mictlan
Abysia
Pangaea
Vanheim
Helheim


MA

Abysia
Pangaea
Vanheim
Jotunheim

LA


Abysia
Midgard
Utgard
Gath
Bogarus

[ghoul31]

EA Vanheim

[Stagger Lee]

Never really looked at blood nations before, but after reading the description of the fivefold angel...

Bogarus please!:angel

[militarist]

EA Mictlan

[militarist]

Sorry, change me on on EA hellheim if it's not busy yet. Just didn't notice it's still not taken.

[Starshine_Monarch]

No problem at all. Anyone can feel free to change nations to whatever they want before they send in their pretender, so long as it hasn't already been claimed by someone.

[Wrana]

Helheim, please. I also think about Midgard, but have no experience in them. :( So Helheim is preferred.

[Stagger Lee]

Sorry, but the link for single age mod leads to a page with two mods - singleage by Gandalf and singleagecomplete by Slobby. Which one are we using, and if it is the latter as I suspect, do we have to rename it?

[Starshine_Monarch]

Stagger Lee: You want the Single age Complete by Slobby.

Wrana: Sorry, but militarist switched to Helheim first. I'll put you down for Midgard for now, but if militarist wants to switch to something else, then Helheim is fair game.

[Wrana]

Stagger Lee: You want the Single age Complete by Slobby.

Wrana: Sorry, but militarist switched to Helheim first. I'll put you down for Midgard for now, but if militarist wants to switch to something else, then Helheim is fair game.

I see. I'll try to make Pretenders for both, but it WILL take time. And if he will want to switch again, I think I'll strangle him! :mad::D

[Stagger Lee]

I think I'll strangle him! :mad::D

:nono: No sir, that won't do at all. This is a blood game. :evil:

[Wrana]

I think I'll strangle him! :mad::D

:nono: No sir, that won't do at all. This is a blood game. :evil:

But all his blood won't go to waste! :angel
Surely you can see it wouldn't make sense to waste it, eh? ;)

[Starshine_Monarch]

This is taking quite a bit longer to fill up than I had hoped. Oh well, 10 is still a good number of players. If people want to start ASAP, I'll look for another map and put up the Llamaserver page.

[michai]

I'd like to try Utgard

[Starshine_Monarch]

I will be away for a few days, so this is how this is gonna go down:

Anyone that wishes to start ASAP will post here saying so. If I can get at least half of the current players to say this, when I return, I will close recruiting and will create a game on Llamaserver for however many players we have at that time with an appropriately sized map.

Until then, recruitment is still open, so people that want to play should still post their nation picks. If we hit 18 players before we get a majority vote to start early, then the game begins as normal on GreeceStain.

[Starshine_Monarch]

I've returned, so here's a bump for a response and possibly more players.

[Starshine_Monarch]

Well, judging by how things are coming along, it seems we aren't going to get any more players than what we already have. I'm going to create the game on Llamaserver now for just the 11 we have. The map will be elmokki's "Land of Legends" found here (http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=43144&highlight=land+legends).

Edit: Game has been created and original post has been updated.

[Stagger Lee]

Indies get progressively tougher through the ages, I think anyway. In a single age game, what is default for them?

[Starshine_Monarch]

Default for a single-age game is MA. Since they're only at 5 anyway, they shouldn't be too much of a problem. Us EA guys should probably steer clear of Heavy Cavs all the same though.

[chrispedersen]

Hey Star, all..

Actually you started this game earlier than I expected; do you mind if someone replaces me as Mictlan?

[Starshine_Monarch]

Well, we still don't have all the other pretenders in yet. I don't mind you dropping for someone else, but depending on how long you need, I don't think I'd mind waiting for you either.

[chrispedersen]

I appreciate that Star. Thank you - but you have a game about to start, I would rather your other players didn't have to wait.

[Starshine_Monarch]

That's fine. Thanks for considering playing at least then. I have reduced the game size to 10 players, a perfectly reasonable size for this map, since it really doesn't look like we're going to get any more and I think I'd rather not put up an ad for a sub before the game even starts.

[Wrana]

It seems like your reducing the game size caused it to stop accepting Pretenders... or it did it on its own!
5 minutes ago I got a "game doesn't exist message":shock:

[Starshine_Monarch]

I'm not entirely sure what happened, but the game has indeed been deleted. I'll make another one and see if that works.

Also, apparently I can't count. With chris gone we still have 11 players anyway.

Edit: New game has been created called xBetelgeuse2x (http://www.llamaserver.net/gameinfo.cgi?game=xBetelgeuse2x). Please upload pretenders.

[Wrana]

Thank you, now it works.

[Wrana]

Sorry, on llamaserver's page map link seems to point to Babylon 5 mod instead.

[pyg]

I'm not entirely sure what happened, but the game has indeed been deleted. I'll make another one and see if that works.

Also, apparently I can't count. With chris gone we still have 11 players anyway.

Edit: New game has been created called xBetelgeuse2x (http://www.llamaserver.net/gameinfo.cgi?game=xBetelgeuse2x). Please upload pretenders.

Looks like the game went away again.

[Tollund]

You need to male sure that the filenames used for the map have no spaces in them or the game will just dossappear as it just did.

[Starshine_Monarch]

That can't be what's wrong Tollund, as the file I uploaded has no spaces in the name at all. I'll just have to contact Llamabeast and figure out what's going on.

[Tollund]

Didn't think so, but i've seen a couple of games here that were stymied by that bug.

[militarist]

change me to LA Gath.

[Starshine_Monarch]

Done and, as requested, I'll switch Wrana to Helhiem as he originally requested.

Enjoy your strangling Militarist.

[Stagger Lee]

Why don't we open up recruiting again, while this gets figured out?

[Starshine_Monarch]

I think it's probably best to skip the confusion and just use a different map. One that we know works. Game is back up again and is called Betelgeuse2x (http://www.llamaserver.net/gameinfo.cgi?game=Betelgeuse2x). We will be using Shahrivar (http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showpost.php?p=616294&postcount=33) as our map this time.

[Stagger Lee]

There are several versions of that map. One has a preset 60% blood magic site in the NE corner.

May I suggest the Sombre/Burnsabre(I think?) rebalanced for MP version? It eliminates some of the most unbalancing preset sites.

I can find it if you are not sure. A very nice map BTW.

[pyg]

I agree with Stagger Lee. You want this version (http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showpost.php?p=711144) as it replaces Summoning Circle with Riddle Dark in 158. Summoning Circle would be unfair in this game... probably most games.

[Starshine_Monarch]

Edit: Double post. Please ignore this.

[Starshine_Monarch]

Map has been changed to the proper version. Apparently it was already uploaded. You guys only need the image file anyway, so I'm leaving the OP as is. Go ahead and send in your pretenders now. I'm sure we've got things right this time.

[Wrana]

I think it's probably best to skip the confusion and just use a different map. One that we know works. Game is back up again and is called Betelgeuse2x (http://www.llamaserver.net/gameinfo.cgi?game=Betelgeuse2x). We will be using Shahrivar (http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showpost.php?p=616294&postcount=33) as our map this time.

Sorry, but could you find a map with a bit of water in it? I think Vanaheim will agree with me (though many others probably won't)... ;)

[Squirrelloid]

Random wandering commentary:
Shahrivar doesn't have much water, but what water it does have retains the use of sailing. Just check out how few ways there are to cross north south, and where sailing lets you cut around features on that lake. It is more useful than it at first appears. I mean, its not the best map for sailing ever, but what is?

I'd recommend deleting all the pre-set sites from the map. Even the version you're using (if its the same as for landlubber) has a large number of pre-set sites, many of which are rather nice. (ie, 3+ gems, etc...). If you don't, I recommend every player learn how to read a .map file, Edi's DB, and figure out which sites are preset, where they are, and what they do.

[pyg]

Random wandering commentary:
Shahrivar doesn't have much water, but what water it does have retains the use of sailing. Just check out how few ways there are to cross north south, and where sailing lets you cut around features on that lake. It is more useful than it at first appears. I mean, its not the best map for sailing ever, but what is?

I'd recommend deleting all the pre-set sites from the map. Even the version you're using (if its the same as for landlubber) has a large number of pre-set sites, many of which are rather nice. (ie, 3+ gems, etc...). If you don't, I recommend every player learn how to read a .map file, Edi's DB, and figure out which sites are preset, where they are, and what they do.

More random commentary:
The fixed sites quite readable and posted here (http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showpost.php?p=711144). The #setland number is the province and you can look up the #knownfeature here (http://dom3.servegame.com/wiki/Category:Site). Also Shahrivar has a nice graphical representation of these sites. I think it is worth keeping the sites in (the Sombre/Burnsaber version) as they then have strategic value. Shahrivar is a very beautiful map IMO. Shahrivar is not very well balanced geographically. Starting in the north east and central east of the map often results in being the only start in a canyon bordered by mountains/water. Most of the rest of the map is one big plain. In two MP games I've been in playing on this map I've gotten a great start and a lousy start. Land of Legends has great balance geographically (WoG/WoS-ish), but needs fixed starts. The maps are also different sizes. At current subscription the provinces per nation in Shahrivar would be ~16/nation and Land of Legends would be ~11/nation. I would be delighted to play on Shahrivar again.

[rdonj]

Ah. I would have suggested the version I made for Tourmaline (no preset magic sites, no indies, preset starts with an attempt to make the starts as balanced as possible) but my version only has room for 10 players. You could fit an 11th player in the water, but I removed all water starts so it would take some very minor effort to fix that. Unfortunately, you guys don't have a water nation, so that wouldn't quite work for your game.

[Stagger Lee]

:bump:

Pretenders?

[Stagger Lee]

Yay! Only one more pretender to go. Gath is missing. Let's see, who's Gath? militarist is ... Oh my! - Wrana, you didn't? :shock:

[Wrana]

Yay! Only one more pretender to go. Gath is missing. Let's see, who's Gath? militarist is ... Oh my! - Wrana, you didn't? :shock:
Not yet. :)

[Alpine Joe]

I downloaded both the map linked from the OP and from llamaserver. I put both in the mods folder, but when I try to fire up the turn, it says I am missing sharivar_som.tga. Any suggestions? Perhaps someone could link to the map we are using for me?

edit: nevermind. I just renamed the TGA file, apparently it was missing the underscore.

[militarist]

may I have a list of players locations? I have only half of them marked on my map, don't know why and where are my nneigbours.

[Stagger Lee]

may I have a list of players locations? I have only half of them marked on my map, don't know why and where are my nneigbours.

I'm out in left field here. :wave:

[Stagger Lee]

Are we really gonna have 2 stales on turn 2? :(

[militarist]

I still need a players locations. I don't know where to go for the closest handshake. We are not in equally informed positions :)

[Stagger Lee]

I still need a players locations. I don't know where to go for the closest handshake. We are not in equally informed positions :)

OK, nobody else seems to want to tackle this, so I will try.

I really don't know what you are asking here. I suppose if you know how to read a map file (I have never tried) you would know where the fixed starts are (I don't). Even if you knew that, you would not know who was where until you ran into them. There are crown icons on the map. Those mean nothing. If we were playing with victory points, they would mean something. I heard somewhere (I can't remember where) that llamaserver puts them in regardless.

I am still new to this, so if anyone wants to correct me, feel free. I hope this helps. :)

[militarist]

Thanks for answer, but it would be cool to know for sure that crowns doesn't mean locations of some of players (and they look exactly like that).

[Trumanator]

If there's a crown on your cap, chances are the rest of them are. Obviously you can look to see if that matches up as you find other people's caps.

[Stagger Lee]

There's no crown on my cap

[Starshine_Monarch]

I already answered this in a PM. We are using a version of the map with no fixed starts. Your neighbors could be pretty much anywhere, so just start taking indys and see where it gets you. A crown does not mean a starting location, it means a Victory Point (though I have no clue what they're doing there since I turned VPs off for this game). Information-wise, militarist, nobody else really knows where their neighbors are either. We're all still even.

[militarist]

Air gems are needed in exchange of other gems.

[militarist]

Gods of Betelguese!

Gath is experiencing hard times. Dog pile of 2 Vanheim and Helheim are burning of our homes, and Utgard ignores our proposals for NAP and stacking forces on our border. Niefelhem gave a passage to Helheim to sack and pillage our nation.

Are there any heroes still alive in this world? We ask for help, and to join us in this unfair war on the right side.

P.S. Good news,for those who will decide to share with our nation hard time of war: capital of Vanheim will be taken this turn, so, we we are not going to give up, and our armies are good enough.

Write me private messages and let's coordinate affords against these low-morel bastards which are so frightened , that can make war only by pile against one nation.

[militarist]

Hello, all. Thank you for game. Going to set nation to ai.The start was perfect, but then 2 times made mistake and sent half of army, and lost key battles, time and troops, and then my bad luck started :).
Thank you, Vanheim for fighting till end. You was on the edge all the time with your capiatal.
Thank you Helheim. You used Helheim extactly for the purpose, very thematic war. All the way I thought I will manage to finish Vans ad return with my army and clear my rear..and for me it was hard to imagine that this operation, during which you have lost a lot of possibilities in expansion to independents will bring anything to you.. But luck ad weather were on your side, so I failed to beat both nations at the same time, and no other neighbour decided to join on my side and I wannt to clear my mind from this game.

It was cool. If no objections, I'm setting nation to AI. There is just nothing to do there.

[militarist]

Went AI!

[Wrana]

It was cool. If no objections, I'm setting nation to AI. There is just nothing to do there.
Strangulation performed as proposed. :)
Though it wasn't as bloodless as I hoped, still, most of Gath blood was saved for further use. :cool:
By the way, I wouldn't say it was very nice to attack our Van brothers and then cry for help when thing didn't turn your way... ;)
Sorry to all who had to hear such whinings - apparently, I forgot to clamp his mouth! :evil:

I hope, I would be able to post now - unless my provider goes underwater again!

[Wrana]

A giant pig statue?? Is it Hinnom god? And they want us to worship it?!:mad:

[Alpine Joe]

Probably no way this happens, but any chance we can get a 6-hour delay on this turn?

[Wrana]

And where had our Monarch gone? ;)
Also, who will provide admining now?

[Starshine_Monarch]

I'm still adminning the game, Methel has just taken over playing duties for me.

Alpine Joe, once again I apologize for missing your delay request. In hopes that short delays like that won't need to happen again, I'm going to change to 48 hour hosting.

For those of you that need delays please e-mail me. My address is theamazingfightingpeanut[at]hotmail[dot]com. I'm almost certain I mentioned this in the opening post and if not, it will be updated. Not one person has e-mailed me asking for a delay. If I haven't been clear about this before, I don't know how to make it any clearer now.

[Alpine Joe]

no problem starshine, thanks for your help.

[pyg]

I think I've won this game. There is a lot of staling happening so I'm guessing people don't want to play on. I'm happy to keep going if anyone feels differently... this time with a target. Bow before the BygPhatPyg! :)

[Starshine_Monarch]

I'm inclined to agree with you Pyg, considering the position you were in when I left. However, I'd like to let this go for another turn or two and wait for a response from other players. Marignon has been forcefully set to AI. (10 stales, at least 5 of those consecutive...)

Utgard and Niefel have staled twice in a row now. If they stale again, I'll PM them as a reminder and then force them to AI on the 4th consecutive stale.

This has taught me a lesson though. *shakes finger at pyg* No more Hinnom for you! :P

Assuming everyone agrees to surrender to Hinnom, then I hope everyone's had a good time playing this game. Thanks for playing.

[ghoul31]

I'd like to keep playing. I haven't seen Hinom yet.

[Stagger Lee]

While we would gladly bow before BigPhatPyg, we would at this point pretty much bow before a turnip. Yes, we have fallen, and we can't get up. But we can go down, into the depths. From there we will annoy Hinnom until those whose votes carry more weight say otherwise. :p

[Alpine Joe]

Despite the two recent stales, I have been pretty into this game, and have built up a pretty impressive arsenal. Unfortunately i am not next to Hinnom, making stopping his rampage quite difficult. At this point he is just rolling players. I am inclined to give pyg the victory, but I really would have a loved a chance for a showdown. Still, Hinnom is too big at this point to have any realistic chance of being defeated.

Congrats Pyg, i'm sure you played well, although I am still firmly under the opinion that Hinnom is grossly broken.

[Wrana]

I'm inclined to agree with you Pyg, considering the position you were in when I left. However, I'd like to let this go for another turn or two and wait for a response from other players. Marignon has been forcefully set to AI. (10 stales, at least 5 of those consecutive...)

Utgard and Niefel have staled twice in a row now. If they stale again, I'll PM them as a reminder and then force them to AI on the 4th consecutive stale.


In case of such massive staling, it's understandable to end the game. We had some hope, but in case of both Marignon and Niefelheim as AIs this will degenerate quickly. I would make a pair of turns as we still have some resources...
As for Hinnom, Monarch, I'd see it as LA Ermor of EA - an obvious threat for everyone which must be dealt with sooner rather than later.

[Stagger Lee]

Update on Bogarus (and tips for the uninitiated)

The conjuration spell "Send Vodyanoy" can be cast on a friendly province to gain a nice water mage.

The conjuration spell "Send Bukavic" can be cast on a friendly province to eat said nice water mage.

:doh:

[Wrana]

Any status update?

[pyg]

Any status update?

Play on and kindly ignore those concentric circles on your gluteus.

[Wrana]

Play on and kindly ignore those concentric circles on your gluteus.

Who is speaking of concentric circles... ;)
Though if Niefelheim will continue to stale, you can probably beat us others. Quite easy to do when you can march an SC a turn from your capital starting from year 2 (or even autumn of year 1 if you are content with less effective version). :p
By the way, did you find any use for Hinnom troops?

[rdonj]

Huh? Troops? What are those :P

[Wrana]

Huh? Troops? What are those :P

Yes, I thought so, too. So I decided to ask an actual Hinnom player on the verge of winning a game - not that that's so difficult with Hinnom... :smirk:

[13lackGu4rd]

actually Hinnom's standard troops, and PD for that matter, are top notch... yes they have those Melqarts, Baals and Rephaite Warriors, but it doesn't mean they can't field effective national armies as well... oh yeah and Demonic armies too of course :P

[pyg]

By the way, did you find any use for Hinnom troops?

I'm a big fan of the Chariot, IMO one of the best tramplers in the game. CBM makes Haste an easy target as well. With a screen, this combination can be pretty rough on anything size 4 or smaller and is available very early. I have yet to use Horites effectively and the popkill/unrest of the Rephaite Warriors make them difficult to recruit even if you do have a nice bless.

[Methel]

Hinnom is making an all out attack on me(lanka) now, and you'll all be next! So I'm asking for any contributions to the "Stop Hinnom from taking over the world" found. Mostly needed are blood,cash, fire resist items, gems, items of any kind really.

[rdonj]

Hinnom is making an all out attack on me(lanka) now, and you'll all be next! So I'm asking for any contributions to the "Stop Hinnom from taking over the world" found. Mostly needed are blood,cash, fire resist items, gems, items of any kind really.

So mostly needed is everything, then? :)

[Methel]

Yeah :P but now you know what I need more than the other things ;) Now if only I had a blood mage with water or fire...

[Wrana]

actually Hinnom's standard troops, and PD for that matter, are top notch... yes they have those Melqarts, Baals and Rephaite Warriors, but it doesn't mean they can't field effective national armies as well... oh yeah and Demonic armies too of course :P

I'd say they are good, but costly. Plus supplies. Meaning that as soon as they can make an SC a turn, they generally switch to this. And they can do so quite soon - the only thing really needed is Const4 and some gems. Then Alt2-3, Conj3 - all reachable by year 2. Of course, EN bless is also needed - but it's useful for any giant nation and most others as well.
To Pyg: I think their chariots slow - of course, Haste helps with this, but.

[Wrana]

Thanks for casus belli, Vanaheim. You could live longer... :evil:

[ghoul31]

Well how else can I get to Hinnom? You are blocking me in

[Wrana]

Well how else can I get to Hinnom? You are blocking me in

You'll see very soon. And you won't be blocked anymore. :cool:

[pyg]

OK, once again I say we end this game. I'm feeling burned out and only Wrana is playing consistently/well anymore. If Wrana wants to keep going I will happily oblige though.

[ghoul31]

I was going to help wrana, but he just wants to waste all his time fighting me, so yea lets end this

[Methel]

OK, once again I say we end this game. I'm feeling burned out and only Wrana is playing consistently/well anymore. If Wrana wants to keep going I will happily oblige though.

Humf! I just bloodied your nose did I not? Though yeah, mostly dead and with infighting too and Nief only semi active.. it's pretty much over.

[Wrana]

[QUOTE=pyg;741905]
Humf! I just bloodied your nose did I not?

And died to dom-kill next. :(
Though I should send more slaves earlier, of course. Sorry.
I'd say it depends on Niefelheim mostly. I can try some more tricks, and despite some scripting mistakes I made I would probably kill off Vanheim traitors in a few turns.
Still, Hinnom resources are now too large for me to curb it alone (and he makes very strong Dominion push utilizing these exactly) while Niefelheim didn't respond to any messages in a long time (I think at least a game year).
I hereby ask Monarch to write Niefelheim player one last time. It may be part of his strategy (as I need to fight Hinnom anyway), though I think this will lead him to a defeat. If he won't respond, then I think that, sadly, Hinnom wins in about a year of game-time and so my be declared winner now.
A pig statue ruling the world - not bad! ;)

[Alpine Joe]

Wrana if you really want to continue I will join with you to fight hinnom, but even together and with all my considerable resources, Hinnom outguns us so badly I think it is pointless. I really don't see any scenario in this game where anyone but Hinnom wins, so I say we just give Pyg a well-deserved win and leave it at that. Deal?

[Wrana]

Wrana if you really want to continue I will join with you to fight hinnom, but even together and with all my considerable resources, Hinnom outguns us so badly I think it is pointless. I really don't see any scenario in this game where anyone but Hinnom wins, so I say we just give Pyg a well-deserved win and leave it at that. Deal?

OK. Actually, I also is somewhat burned out as well as Pyg says he is. It could be more interesting... Well, I know that I have an unfortunate tendency to turtle up. :(
As for resources - I was more concerned with Hinnom Dominion push (which also killed Lanka). Though his SC-a-turn ability is quite scary by itself.
Well, another question, Alpine Joe - did you have The Chalice? ;)

[Starshine_Monarch]

Very well then. I shall declare this game over with Hinnom as the winner. Congratulations pyg!

[pyg]

In lieu of an AAR I'm going to whine and say that once again this game was won due to luck and good diplomacy not brilliant playing. I had such a great starting position I managed to fence of 27 provinces by turn 12, even conceding one to Sauromatia in order to keep up good relations. I managed to keep a NAP with both my neighbors Lanka and Sauro until I reached a critical research point. I then dissolved my NAP with Sauro about the same time he started a war with his neighbor Bogarus. After enveloping both of them in a fairly painless war the game seemed over to me. Interestingly enough I did no research in Blood except for the last couple of turns when most others schools were complete. Melqarts have a +3 blood sacrifice boost which was their alternate duty when not kicking butt. Anyway, although I love Sharivar (and this time it loved me :)) I thing the moral of my story is that playing on balanced maps with fixed starts is more than a good idea.

[Wrana]

In lieu of an AAR I'm going to whine and say that once again this game was won due to luck and good diplomacy not brilliant playing. I had such a great starting position I managed to fence of 27 provinces by turn 12, even conceding one to Sauromatia in order to keep up good relations. I managed to keep a NAP with both my neighbors Lanka and Sauro until I reached a critical research point. I then dissolved my NAP with Sauro about the same time he started a war with his neighbor Bogarus. After enveloping both of them in a fairly painless war the game seemed over to me. Interestingly enough I did no research in Blood except for the last couple of turns when most others schools were complete. Melqarts have a +3 blood sacrifice boost which was their alternate duty when not kicking butt. Anyway, although I love Sharivar (and this time it loved me :)) I thing the moral of my story is that playing on balanced maps with fixed starts is more than a good idea.
Diplomacy is a great determiner of who wins, yes. And you make a textbook case here. I, for myself, probably waited too long to start moving against Utgard and/or Vanaheim. The latter I could kill off right after I finished Gath, though I preferred not to attack them first. :) Another thing which almost maddened me was a lack of Air sites - and those I've finally found were both in farmlands! Though those were good - freakish luck! :confused:
Thanks for pointing out Melqarts sacrifice bonus - that's another reason to consider Hinnom an LA Ermor of EA! This also makes an argument for higher Dominion for games where Hinnom is present. I, at least, could sacrifice, while Lanka could do nothing.

[Alpine Joe]

Wrana if you really want to continue I will join with you to fight hinnom, but even together and with all my considerable resources, Hinnom outguns us so badly I think it is pointless. I really don't see any scenario in this game where anyone but Hinnom wins, so I say we just give Pyg a well-deserved win and leave it at that. Deal?

OK. Actually, I also is somewhat burned out as well as Pyg says he is. It could be more interesting... Well, I know that I have an unfortunate tendency to turtle up. :(
As for resources - I was more concerned with Hinnom Dominion push (which also killed Lanka). Though his SC-a-turn ability is quite scary by itself.
Well, another question, Alpine Joe - did you have The Chalice? ;)


Yes, I had a good portion of the artifacts, including the chalice, scepter, aegis and the big armors. I also had quite the crop of various tartarians, so given time, i would have scooped up the rest of the artifacts as well.