Valhalla's heroes - LA Patala - Immaculate WINNER !!!

[Bullock]

Another fast game for people with some experience (let say 3-4 MP games minimum) there is a lot of noob games actually so it shouldn't be a problem for them.
Also i want a smooth and fast game so mass staler & leaver aren't welcome.

If requested by several players Ermor will be banned.
Same thing to add a water nation.

Players: 7-8 lands 0 water (may be discussed)
Era: LA
Map: Parganos (116L + 19S)
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=39857
Magic site freq: 60
Renaming On
Graph On
Hall of Fame 15
Everything else set as default
Turn length: 30h as long as possible.
Mods: CBM 1.92 / Streamers and standards
Diplo: Everything is allowed.
Victory Condition: Last standing or survivors agree for a winner.

Gamelink: http://www.llamaserver.net/gameinfo.cgi?game=Valhallas_heroes

Please send me a PM or post here before going AI.(unless you have less than 5lands)
Game exploits are forbidden (Bogus orders, Troops blocking, lab filling and the recruitment of 0g Ettin)

First to pick first served.
You can change nation until the game starts.

Players - Nations :

Bullock - Mictlan
Tratorix - Marignon
GFSnl - C'tis
Ossa - Agartha
Torin - Pythium
Mockingbird - Bogarus
Dojango - Midgard
Immaculate - Patala

[Immaculate]

i'd be interested but can turn lengths be twice what you suggested to start? Its not that i usually take that long- you know that- its just that i sometimes work 16-17h days and i will stale if there is a 30h counter when that happens.

EDIT: to be clear i think i can play 30h turns most of the time but i need to be able to not stale on nights where i pick up so much extra overtime.

if that is acceptable i'll take patala.

[tratorix]

I'd like to join as Marignon.

[GFSnl]

Nice, a late age game.

I'll have C'tis please.

[Bullock]

i'd be interested but can turn lengths be twice what you suggested to start? Its not that i usually take that long- you know that- its just that i sometimes work 16-17h days and i will stale if there is a 30h counter when that happens.

EDIT: to be clear i think i can play 30h turns most of the time but i need to be able to not stale on nights where i pick up so much extra overtime.

if that is acceptable i'll take patala.


Mmmmh well i can go to 48h but it's really because it's you :)
But since i'm expecting 30h turn max i will let that in the OP but will set 48h in the game... if it fits you and if none of those who have already joined are against.

Btw i'm pleased to see you all joining.

Cheers

[mockingbird]

I've been wanting to try Bogarus for a while, so count me in, please.

I'd prefer 48 hour turns as well.

[Immaculate]

lots of blood nations

[Ossa]

Agartha please

[Torin]

Pythium please

[Bullock]

I've been wanting to try Bogarus for a while, so count me in, please.

I'd prefer 48 hour turns as well.

Well actually it's a 30h game but set to 48h so immaculate can occasionally get some extra time because of his job. (if he joins the game)

And are you sure you want another communion lover nation ? you seems already kinda bogged with pythium in an other game.

[dojango]

Midgard please

[mockingbird]

I've been wanting to try Bogarus for a while, so count me in, please.

I'd prefer 48 hour turns as well.

Well actually it's a 30h game but set to 48h so immaculate can occasionally get some extra time because of his job. (if he joins the game)

And are you sure you want another communion lover nation ? you seems already kinda bogged with pythium in an other game.

I'm pretty sure I'll be dead in that game before I have to deal with any large communions in this one. :)

I've been eager to play Bogarus for a while; I'm not going to pass up a good chance.

I'm usually really fast with my turns but it's nice to have a bit more slack from time to time.

PS LA = lots of blood nations

[Immaculate]

k- confirming involvement as patala. 'the littliest buddha' will soon rule all of paragos!

[Bullock]

2h to fill a game that's a record :)
i'm setting the game on Llama you can already work on your pretender !

[Bullock]

3 more pretenders and we are good to go.

[tratorix]

Game's started. :)

[GFSnl]

Can we have a restart. I have the worst starting position ever.
I'm at the little island at province 31 surrounded by water.

Guess it's pretty safe though :)

[Bullock]

Rofl when i saw the island.
it"s because you are too dangerous !!

i will reset the game soon. i know there is a map with 8 fixed start i ll try to find it.

Too bad though my starting was v good :(

[Bullock]

There is a new version of the map in the OP.
This new version has some nostart (for instance the island) living seas and enhanced graphics.

Thx to GP,Edi,LLama and the original drawer of the map for their work on it.

[GFSnl]

Thanks,

Everythink is peachy now with C'tis :).

[Immaculate]

darn-i too had a really good position.

[Immaculate]

ARGHHHH!!!! an indie assassin killed my prophet! tough turn 1 break.

[Torin]

Bad luck. Bad indeed. That mdf dodged your smites.
Dont forget that when you are last to play you can play another turn.

[Immaculate]

yup, submitting as we speak.

[Bullock]

A thought for Marignon's god who has already sustain a lot of pain in this game (according to the hall of fame)

[Torin]

Isnt hes pretender died more time than turns played?

[tratorix]

Isnt hes pretender died more time than turns played?

Guy Squawks dies in the same manner he does everything else: well, early and often.

[Bullock]

Wow Ossa ! Just noticed you were barely dead.
I think it's the worth performance i saw from you. What happened?

[Ossa]

Expanding with cave knights doesnt work. Especially against Hydras.

[Bullock]

2 peoples were about to stale so i extended the turn for 24h.

[Torin]

send them a mail via llamaserver

[Bullock]

If GFSnl is about to stale the next turn i will put the game on hold and find a solution or wait some news from him.

[GFSnl]

Sorry,

have been working a lot lately and I just plainly forgot to submit my turn.

[dojango]

hey, my computer died. I'll need a day or so to try and extract Dom 3 from the hard drive, if it's even possibe.

[Bullock]

Ahh too bad. i ve extended for 48h, hopefully you will find a solution.

[Bullock]

Any news ?
I add 24h

[dojango]

HD is unrecoverable; hoping customer service will let me download another copy. I'll just post for replacement so as not to delay the game further.

[Bullock]

HD is unrecoverable; hoping customer service will let me download another copy. I'll just post for replacement so as not to delay the game further.

If you still have your cd key maybe you can ask some1 to upload you the file.

[dojango]

ok, back in business. i'll hget the turn uploaded shortly.

[Immaculate]

i need a 24h extension

[Bullock]

done

[Immaculate]

How is everyone doing?

What happened vis-a-vis the "Eastern Wars"? It seemed like despite Bogarus's research dominance, Midgard was wrapping them up. Then all of a sudden things turned 180 degrees. Did bogarus suddenly research the 'i win' spell?



EDIT: and for the record, i am really enjoying this game. But i am also hating just how much undead chariots c'tis can spit out. its obscene. (but still fun)

[tratorix]

Would appreciate an extension this turn, as I'm going to look for a sub. I'm in too many games at the moment and between that and a new job I'm getting horribly burnt out on this game.

[Bullock]

Game is on hold

[Bullock]

Welcome to Memento who is taking over Marignon.

[Memento]

Hi there.
Let me assure everyone that currently our proud and glorious nation is not interested in battle with anyone and ready to set up a NAP with any neibour we have (specifically Agartha, bogarus, patala and midgard). I feel like this would be interesting game - it is 37 turn, i am playing heavily blood nation, i have like 1 soul contract and 12 blood slave. Huehuehue ;)

[Memento]

Let everyone by assured that despite that little global that we recently cast Marignon is still a nation of peace and love. DEATH TO AGARTHA HERETICS!
Our vampires and demons serve one and only purpose - to bring love and peace to the lands under Agarthian control. They will take a special pleasure in destroying their dark abominations and making this world free of necromancers. Any willing soul can join the holy crusade against darkness!
Burn the heretic!
Kill the mutant!
Destroy the undead!!!

[Ossa]

Suffer not the witch to live...

[GFSnl]

Gentlemen,

it was a pleasure.
With one remaining besieged fort I turn myself A.I.

See you all in next games.

Greetz

[Immaculate]

thank you in turn GFSnl. I will always remember losing 22 commanders to your trampling chariots. I opened that turn and said to myself, "Well, there's my major mistake for this game right there."

[Bullock]

Thx GFSnl it has been a pleasure, i have been lucky to manage to bring Patala in our war otherwise it was a lose for me.

[Memento]

So Ctis fell to mighty Patala.
The question arises - who's next?

[Immaculate]

I somehow managed to miss that.

Well, first some research. Then decide.

[Immaculate]

i may end up needing an extension; can you add 24h?

[Bullock]

yep done

[Memento]

So patala decided to destroy me after all.
Do you think that Patala will stop after destroying me? i bet this will not happen.
Still you may look how i will fall after Ctis. Then agartha will be destroyed. And then mictlan.
Consider this wisely. Think about the research graph. Think about the global Patala cast. Think about the death income from all that lands under Ctis control. And then think about all that tartarians Patala will be able to land.

But. You can still prevent this grim future. Join me in bazttle against patala and we will destroy the monkeys. Only together can we stop their unholy alliance. Stay aside now - and you will perish.

[Immaculate]

you don't need death income for tarts. you need nature.

[Memento]

I am highly disappointed. While I can undestand why patala attack me - i have bettter research then everybody else, I really do not undestand why agartha attack me... What they gonna get - is beyond my undeswtanding. really unwise decision...
But hey - after i get crushed - wish you luck guys with patala.

[Immaculate]

Well, before you started, agartha and marrignon were locked in a pretty long-lasting life-or-death struggle and i do believe marrignon attacked agartha before they really recovered from their war with pythium. So... while that was with the other marrignon player, they have good reason to maintain hostilities with agartha now.

[Memento]

this is illogical. We just signed an peace treaty. I was not going to attack him. In fact i was trying to make sure that the damage i cause was not too much - since i knew you would attack me - and i would need ally. And in dominion wars to help the stronger side if you are weak is a sure way to extinction. So i was pretty sure that he would support me if you attack me - it is in his own interest after all. Apparently i was wrong.
Well whatever. I knew i was cursed from the beginning - the position in the center is a HUGE disadvantage - and my blood economy was not even started. Anyway i will try to make this game as painful for you as possible.
What was really bad is that Ctis fall down too easily. Chariots against blade wind is no fun. If he would last just 5 more turns it would be much more complicated to take me down.
P.S. reminder to myself - always play wraparound maps...

[Immaculate]

Sorry Memento- no hard feelings; i agree with your assessment of the center position.

[Memento]

i f*cked up this war - really forget about move patrol command

[Immaculate]

oh- was wondering why i faced so little opposition.

I HATE THAT GLOBAL with the devil assassins.

[Immaculate]

Ouch- just ouch marrignon- that really really really hurt!

[dojango]

Those Zmeys are well suited to survive the inferno, as long as they don't pop back underwater we'll see them in 2-8 turns.

[Immaculate]

that wasn't the ouch i was referring to. the zmey loss was bad but something else happened that was much worse. stupid vampires.

[dojango]

yeah, that was a bunch of cap-only mages, too. at least you killed a lot of his vampires, so you won't have to face that again! :D


Seriously, though, that was pretty awesome. wish I had had a chance to play with my vampire defense force in that Mictlan game. They look pretty tricky.

[Bullock]

Yeah i saw the fight too, it was pretty impressive :)

I was happy it wasn't my jaguars facing them !

@dojango: it seems the vamps were fighting on there own dom so they will be back for what i can see.

[Memento]

he killed 1 (one) vampire
and zmeys are not suited well to survive inferno - devils kills zmey in any reasonable amounts

[Immaculate]

one undead non-commander died. Thats weird though- all you had was immortal as far as i could see. Why would anything die?

[Immaculate]

i require an extension.

[Memento]

I am relocating right now - can I please 48 hours extension?

[Bullock]

alright postponed 48h

[Immaculate]

whats going on with memento?

[Bullock]

didn't see he had stalled twice ... i think he need time for his relocation and get internet.

I ll postpone 72h and if he's not back i ll look for a sub.

[Bullock]

Well, considering the current situation i think i ll give another 48h and turn Marignon AI. The position seems "unsubable" now. Is everybody fine with that ?

[Immaculate]

I don't feel that 48 hours will make any difference but i agree with your assessment.

[Bullock]

48h so everybody can express his opinion about turning marignon AI

[Immaculate]

Oh- its totally fine- i didn't mean to sound like i was complaining or anything- just my thoughts on what would end up happening.

[Bullock]

Yeah don't wry lol ;)

I've asked some1 to turn Marignon AI. Should be done shortly.

[mockingbird]

Sorry all, but I need a turn extension please.

Thanks!

[Bullock]

Well the current situation put Patala as leader... from far.

I'm very uncomfortable attacking him because he saved me against the Ctis rush.
But if we continue like this (me turtling and Patala eating everything) we are going straight for a boring game.

So here is what i m proposing.
the 2 average power (Dojango & me) teams up and same things for the current strongest and lower nation (patala & Agartha).
I guess mockin can join Patala & agartha ... Sry dude :p

Does that sound fun for everyone (but mockinbird =p) ?

24 extension granted btw. Tell me if you need more.

[Immaculate]

I don't like that. Mictlan has always been a friend and ally. You should attack mockingbird.

Or use your water access to attack Dojango.

[Immaculate]

I will be away from computer from friday, May 25th, to Tuesday, May 29th. Can we get a super long may-long weekend extension?


And i guess soon you wouldn't need water access to hit dojango... you can do it through former Bogarus lands.

[dojango]

And i guess soon you wouldn't need water access to hit dojango... you can do it through former Bogarus lands.

Yes... but that would be a strategic blunder of epic proportions. If we fought, it would be a bitter struggle... he might even win.... all while Patala is carefully crafting two daggers with "mictlan" and "midgard" written on the hilt. (nagas love them some crafting, i hear).

[Bullock]

Extension granted, i need exactly the same one which is nice :)

[Immaculate]

Turns are still due 16:42 GMT on Monday May 28th?

I thought you were going to move things up somewhat?

Immac.

[Bullock]

my request has bugged it seems...
but im the only victim

[Immaculate]

Well, as i wrote in the PM i sent you, i had to submit whatever was in my drafts folder without finishing the turn.

Bullock, if you are going to attack me, can we treat it as a NAP(3+), not just out of the blue right away? I sort of demilitarized my border with you.

[Immaculate]

also, i need an extension. i am still travelling.

[Bullock]

I think we should discuss about the future of this game.

There is no point continuing this if Patala, Mictlan & prolly Agartha go against Midgard.

I think IRL we would have finished this war this way, but for a game i think it would be more fun to finish as a team game like i proposed few messages ago. (Midgards & Mictlan VS Patala & Agartha)
And maybe finish this to only one survivor if one of the team get the advantage over the other one.

FYI Imma 90% of my army is near Boga borders and i'm not ready either for any kind of attacks (or barely ;)).

I'm fine for a nap3, i can even go to 5turns up to you, since i need it myself.

I'm postponing the current turn for 48h considering Immas request.

[dojango]

Team game is a fancy way of sayin' that we should probably ally together or hand Patala the game. Either way, it's up to you. As far as any NAP between the two of you; remember, with Patala's power curve and lead over us, any delay benefits him vastly more than it benefits you.
I've already launched the dogs of war at Patala, but that's a mere annoyance at this part; I could barely keep Bogarus contained, much less a hyper-power like Patala. Basically, the longer we delay attacking him, the more likely he is to win by burying us under a tide of SCs and EDM summons.

[Immaculate]

I'll take that NAP (5) since you offered it bullock. For exactly the reasons Dojango point out. If you don't want that, i'll take the Nap(3).

[Bullock]

Let's cut the apple in 2 then (french expression translated, not sure it means much to you :p)

Lets go for a nap4, which means we can start hostilities turn 64.

Good luck !

[Immaculate]

to clarify, do you mean order hostilities on turn 64 or do you mean order hostilities on turn 63 and see hostilities on turn 64. I know this has to be completely clear for all parties involved.

Also, ossa, feel free to tear Bullock and Dojango a new one.

[dojango]

to clarify... have we switched to team play/team victory, or are you going to murder Ossa once you've crushed Mictlan and I beneath your snaky belly?

[Immaculate]

Ossa and I share a common goal, to establish a pantheon with his pretender as lord of the dead and underworld and mine as lord of jungles and snakes. Bogarus will soon join the pantheon... as lord of crazy powerful (and lucky) scout prophet thugs with too many kills for a 1st turn prophet thugs for it to even make any sense. Barke- you win most memorable commander award!

SO i guess its team play/victory...?

Also, i don't think crushing anyone will be possible. Mictlan is looking really really scary with those huge 200 and 300 man armies backed by huge demonic monstrosities...

PS: I hate your sishis by the way... also your huge army of undead with thunderstrike. i really liked those SC... and now... now they are dead.... and its all your fault! :eek::hurt::envy:

[mockingbird]

I am against the idea of a team game. Only one can ascend, and alliances should be those of convenience only.

[Immaculate]

Well, mocking, in that case, i propose a alliance (of convenience) to end Midgard.

[Immaculate]

Bullock, please add 24-36 hours to the turn lengths please. They are pretty darn complex for me.

I'm not very confident that things are going to go well for me in the next few turns. You have a lot of high end SCs and your army size, though mostly chaff, is really huge. Midgard on the other hand, is proving to be the king of raiding and counter-raiding and is wittling down my SCs and raiders very quickly indeed (often by frighteningly cheap, disposable units).

Also, Ossa, any chance you are gonna get involved in these wars anytime soon?

[Bullock]

Bullock, please add 24-36 hours to the turn lengths please. They are pretty darn complex for me.

I'm not very confident that things are going to go well for me in the next few turns. You have a lot of high end SCs and your army size, though mostly chaff, is really huge. Midgard on the other hand, is proving to be the king of raiding and counter-raiding and is wittling down my SCs and raiders very quickly indeed (often by frighteningly cheap, disposable units).

Also, Ossa, any chance you are gonna get involved in these wars anytime soon?

Alright, turn are 24h longer.
Concerning our nap you can submit your attack order this turn (63) to act trn 64.

Cheers

[Immaculate]

Ouch!

I can only hope that Ossa jumps in this turn!

[Bullock]

Yeah indeed we could use a hand.

[Immaculate]

NO WAY! I lost like 700g income last turn... Ossa needs to jump in with his ally.


And you need to send me my $$$... also gems... and souls... and hugs... (http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/frontsquare/e574_baby_cthulhu.jpg)

[dojango]

yeah, I think Ossa his re-evaluating his position; with Patala there is only the dubious honor of sacrificing his strength for Patala's gain, with only a trip to tartarus as a reward; with the coalition of the willing there is a good chance of emerging from the war as the strongest player, and a much better shot at godhood.

[Immaculate]

so we are definitely not playing a team game then?
this hasn't been clear in the past.

[Immaculate]

What will you do now that it looks like i will be the next to fall?

Will you fight one-another or will you declare a shared victory?

[Bullock]

What will you do now that it looks like i will be the next to fall?

lol ... I hope you have a good network of spies to see how bad he s lying. :)

[Immaculate]

Really?

Aegis. Boots of Planes. Grendelkin.

Seriously though, when i die (assuming i do and maybe you think i won't)... what will you do?

[Immaculate]

Well, seems like Ossa just swung things back in our favor...

nicely done with the zmeywaffe Agartha.


And stop hogging all the globals already Bullock. its bad form.

[Bullock]

Well i guess this "is the cherry on the cake", im not sure everybody will get that :)

I think if Dojango is ok to concede the victory to Imma we can end this slaughter !

[Immaculate]

Finally! These turns are like 4-5 hours each.

I am really interested in some informal and brief AARs.

Especially what Dojango's response was to seeing a few more reinforcements in that town with the adepts of the silver order last turn. I lost that battle but i think it was probably a bit of a surprise... right?

Also, why so many slaves Bullock? Is that just to soak arrows?

[dojango]

Finally! These turns are like 4-5 hours each.

I am really interested in some informal and brief AARs.

Especially what Dojango's response was to seeing a few more reinforcements in that town with the adepts of the silver order last turn. I lost that battle but i think it was probably a bit of a surprise... right?

Also, why so many slaves Bullock? Is that just to soak arrows?

If Bullock doesn't think he can take on Immaculate, then yeah, I'm willing to concede. My pretender can set aside her mantle and power and go back to loan-sharking.

My only regret is that I didn't cut off that province's retreat... bagging two Zmeys, a rudra, and an elemental queen would have been quite a coup. And well worth the losses.

But yeah, if the game is finished, I'm always up for some post-game commentary.

[Bullock]

They might become useful as screen with good buff.

Also good to put around low B mages who are going to cast life for life or claw of koxitos (something like that). Btw it s free chaff or barely, so why not having a lot.

[Bullock]

I think with agartha helping, and so reducing our thin chances to win to none, and considering the time it takes for each turns its not worth it, and even if we win this it will take 50 more turns to take over dojango or maybe ossa... and i'm not having that fun with Mictlan.

Btw you did, Imma, a very good game i think you deserve the victory if everybody is fine with that.

[Immaculate]

Finally! These turns are like 4-5 hours each.

I am really interested in some informal and brief AARs.

Especially what Dojango's response was to seeing a few more reinforcements in that town with the adepts of the silver order last turn. I lost that battle but i think it was probably a bit of a surprise... right?

Also, why so many slaves Bullock? Is that just to soak arrows?

If Bullock doesn't think he can take on Immaculate, then yeah, I'm willing to concede. My pretender can set aside her mantle and power and go back to loan-sharking.

My only regret is that I didn't cut off that province's retreat... bagging two Zmeys, a rudra, and an elemental queen would have been quite a coup. And well worth the losses.

But yeah, if the game is finished, I'm always up for some post-game commentary.


Yeah, thats why i sent my golem to go estabish a retreat for the team- just in case....

It was three zmeys :P

I was so worried about the rudra and its low hitpoints that i didn't use it much- but after i saw it in action there, i really should have deployed it more. with three shields its defense was something really stupid in the high 30s or something.

[Immaculate]

My pretender was a lord of snakes or something like that… the rainbow that can turn into a big black snake. I took f4, w3, e4, n4 and turmoil 1, production 3, heat 3, luck 3, and magic 1.

I started out in the south-eastern corner near to the lake. I liked that because the lake would let me establish a nice backyard to collect some income from.

My first research goal was thaum 3 for panic which in play-testing complemented the awe of the naga warriors really well. In the early game I leaned on the naga warriors a lot, using the nagini to lead them, bless them and to drop panics.

I established borders with C’tis quickly who had grown very quickly using his lord of gates pretender and terror spam (C’tis get this very early – I hadn’t known that). He seemed really tough and I let him claim some provinces that otherwise I would have fought him for. He built a temple and later a fort on my border and he must have been preaching or have really high dominion (he did I think have awe on his pretender) ‘cause I had to send like 4 priests just to hold the line with my own dominion and keep my luck scales.

I then made contact with Pythium and soon learned they were winning an early war with Agartha. I talked to both and Pythium was really demanding and I thought hostile whereas Agartha was much more approachable and outright nice and since I am a human and susceptible to influence by ‘niceness’, I decided to ally with Agartha against Pythium (it could have gone the other way too and I would have used my amphibiousness to project power without endangering my own backyard but… well… diplomacy and all that). Pythium made some mistakes with unit placement and his hydras so I attacked his patrolling forces on his capital every turn with a scout set to hold and retreat. He ended up poisoning a lot of his infantry that way. He never really did learn to avoid this so I kept doing it. Then I attaked with lots of nagas and panic spam and took his capital. Meanwhile I had been skirmishing with him in the field and managed to secure the coast of my lake to prevent any potential attacks upon that source of income from a potentially hostile agartha later on. I needn’t have worried.

Around this time I learned about how the world’s politics were shaping up and saw that dojango and Mockingbird were at war. I felt bad for Dojango and assumed Mocking would make quick work of him (based on a previous game were Mocking proved himself a world-class player (in my opinion)) but I was wrong. Meanwhile I also learned that Bullock who I had played with before and who had usually treated me well, was at war with big bad c’tis who was quickly running away with the game, especially on the army graph from his tomb chariot summoning. I figured he had to be stopped or would win the game and so when Mictlan offered me some fire gems (I do believe), I went for it.

Around this time I also got a couple heroes, the first was a big ape with n1b1 that I set to blood hunt and who effectively blood-hunted the entire game and the second was a really nice big naga with f3s3 and one more path that I don’t remember- nature? She ended up being really useful until she got blinded much later and made me start loving immolation (the short range fire spell- I think that’s its name).

Anyway, my early offensive against C’tis went very badly indeed and I lost about 3000g worth of gurus to trample. So I had to learn to counter his trampling chariots. This took me awhile and I tried several things. Banish DOES NOT work (for patala). Bladewind does ☺. So I massed archers and bladewind casters and went to town and in several really really epic battles that I really enjoyed was able to push him back. I also learned to deploy elephants against chariots… and later ethereal elephants… that was very enjoyable as well. Finally Mictlan and I managed to wrestle the momentum form C’tis and force him back.

Then I talked to Bullock and asked him what he wanted to do. And I asked him straight up if he was going to attack me. He said no. I asked if he wanted to ally. He said yes. So I felt it was safe to attack Marrignon with my good buddy Agartha. The Agartha/Marrignon war was an interesting one. With the old Marrignon player, Agartha was steem-rolling- Marrignon just not having an answer to the question, “How much skelly-spam can you take?” Somehow the new Marrignon player did develop an answer (was it vampires?) and they sort of stalemated.

So I decided to break that stalemate because Marrignon was starting to scare me considerably. Especially the amount of blood they were using. I decided to respond in kind and using a trick I learned from Corinthian, summoned Asparas and Gift of Reasoned them. So they got B1. And started to hunt. I had also empowered a A2S2 summon (forget the name- donkey head with wings) to B2 and used him to summon Dakini. Dakini also did some blood hunting. So I slowly started to develop a bit of a blood economy- never as big as Mictlan or Marrignon… but useful none-the-less.

I hit Marrignon who proceeded to shut me down completely with vampires, fog warriors and darkness. It was emasculating in the entirety of its dominance. I learned that you can turn gift of heavens with fog warriors… which surprised me and basically cost me that battle. If I had known I would have used… well… well… something else anyway. I fought one more battle against the fog warriored, darkness vampires and used flaming arrows and tons of archers and windguide and that worked okay, even in the dark. OH yeah, and I used lots and lots and lots of communion solar rays… and that worked really well too... i think its got precision 100? His devil raiders did a pretty good job and I countered with my windigos (the whole reason I took water instead of blood on my pretender- I was actually fielding windigos against c’tis but they hadn’t fully matured back then yet). Windigos usually had boots of flying so they were my raiders and counter raiders.

Then Marrignon staled the turn before I took his capital province which really was lucky for me and then next turn I took his capital province. That attack on the province next to his capital was really what I considered an ‘all in’ move. If I lost I would have had nothing to fall back on- and I would have lost so many of my gurus just like I did against C’tis… but I rolled the dice and tried it out. Turns out he staled. But that was a very nerve-wracking turn submission.

Agartha was fighting Marrignon too but I am not sure what he faced exactly. I think he had to wait to break a NAP so for one or two turns I faced him alone (please confirm/deny?). Afterwards though we split up his territory a bit.

Turns out Marry had a blood summon site. So… then patala had a blood summoning site and I summoned mandala, vampires and dakini and even one cast of davala with it.

The rest you know I think but basically the battle with Midgard was responding to his initial shishi drop on turn 1 of the war…. Very bad for me until I recovered using a combination of enslave mind communions and mindhunts. For the whole war (and right up to the present) some of my forces were tied up sieging marrignon so I was dependent on new reinforcements and on raiders. A LOT (over 200+) of my forces were also blind from using a firebird against Marrignon undead (it didn’t seem to do much to them to be honest). I summoned a fairie queen but she wasn’t much help- even with healing every turn by the present I think I still have over 100 blind archers and infantrymen (and my naga hero).

Anyway, so raids and counterraids. The shishis gave me a lot of trouble and so too did a priest he got from the ‘beneath something sands’ spell (can’t remember the name) that he had outfitted nicely. The point I most enjoyed with the battle between our two big armies where I was able to use fog warriors and I do believe mists of deception (or was it massflight?) to gain an advantage. The other one was were I think he thought he was going to take one province with a huge veteran army returning from campaign in Bogarus lands to take a province with one zmey and a few adepts of silver order… But reinforcements called called in from every corner and I was able to defend with a rudra, a queen of elemental air, two more zmeys… yah…. I cost him lots and lots before I lost a zmey, an unscripted new adept and finally ran… that was one of my favorite uses of defensive movement trap ever. OH, I almost forgot. The third thing I did was teleport a naga, blind, to his water province most south-eastern on the map. Then next turn I reinforced with three giant kraken and built a laboratory. Then summoned more kraken while the ones I had ‘teleported’ over begun to take first his water provinces then micltans. That was scary though teleporting blind- I had forgotten about arcane window (but would remember about it lots later).


Against mictlan I left my border provinces mostly undefended until the turn he was supposed to attack me, expecting multiple attacks on a wide front against what he would have to suppose would be some defended and some undefended areas. Most of my forces were blind, fighting Midgard or still being hired and on their way to the front so I had to do with what I could. I let him take most of the far western provinces north of my fort, knowing there was nothing I could do, for now, to stop him. For one I left a little trap that involved lots of PD, fog warriors and earthquake spam. It had the desired effect. He lost all his slaves and ran. For the other I took a page from Marrignon’s play and posted my vampires, my mandala and a queen of elemental air (man was that lots of alchemy to get the air gems for that) and combined darkness, fog warriors and mists of deception (not sure about that last one) with a sudden surge in PD and vampires to win a very important battle.

I also learned that Mictlan loves its some send horror spam so I returned the favor but generally thought it a waste of astral boosters and blood slaves.


So yeah, that’s Valhala’s heroes from my point of view.

[Immaculate]

Double post sorry.

[dojango]

I went with a great enchantress. I hadn't fully internalized that Zmeys are kind of like hammers used to be; you either have them or you will be at a disadvantage throughout the game. So I only had F2 on her. Anyrate, I used skinshifters and ponymans to expand, ran into Marignon and Bogarus as my neighbors. Decided to attack Bogarus first because I was jealous of his lormasters and Adepts of the X Orders. Never got my economy rolling, though, so I was always lacking troops and mages. Maybe shoulda attacked Marignon first. Almost had Bogarus down, but his Rusalka knocked out some crucial commanders when I was storming the capital, and so he survived... was gonna try and domkill him, but the greater war intervened.

Shishis might be good zmey-counters, but they're no substitute for raiding... they got trapped behind your lines and killed before I could evac them. There was never really any contest; I killed a few of your SCs through their logical counters, but I was drowning under them by then.

[Bullock]

Alright then, the victory goes to Immaculate then !

Congratz Imma! And thanks to the others for this nice game.

[Torin]

Congratulations for the victory.

i made a DAR of this game here

http://www.puntadelanza.net/Foro/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=13557

I supposed that none here knew and could read it. Its in spanish tough.

It was short however since i lost quickly

[Immaculate]

nice write-up torin. I enjoyed the read. Seems ossa had things well in hand by the time i jumped in... i had not realized he was already pushing you back so much.

[dojango]

Yeah, that was a pretty quick war. I fought a Pythium-Agartha war (as Pythium) in another game, and basically hydras are an expensive trap... Use comitanse, they will cut down cave drakes by the dozen. Hydras have good niche uses (killing knights, tramplers) but for the most part comitanse can do it faster, better, cheaper.