Smote Mightily - Noob to Intermediate - In Progress (7/7)

[Smeghead]

Couldn't find a game, so I'm making my own.
Newbies to intermediate welcome.


Map: Land of Etherial Sqirrels(no lake start)
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showpost.php?p=798212

Players: 7
Mods: CBM 1.94
Era: Mid age
Hosting: Llamaserver
Turns: 24h until and including turn 20, then 48h turns. We can increase as needed.

Settings:
Renaming ON
All other settings default (please mention any settings you consider necessary)

Disallowed exploits:
Copying Bogus orders and overfilling enemy lab to prevent his own forge.
Probing armies with scouts/commanders must be done in such a way so as not to block movement.
Being a douche.

Diplomacy and trade: Non-binding. If you break an agreement you own the consequences, including being the subject of much rumor mongering and possibly personal angst.


Please do not abandon the game. If you do leave the game, please notify me so I can find a sub.
Please do not use a password(can be awkward if we need a sub, although I will have a Master password).
Please do not join if you are likely to be short of time and will likely stale repeatedly.
Please notify me(personal message and forum) if you need a turn delay.

Most importantly, welcome and have fun :)

Players: 7/7

Smeghead - Jotunheim
Ossa - Ctis
starcryst - Caelum
Pymous - Machaka
Zookeeper - Abysia
Skymoon - Shinayuma
Psycho chick - Ermor

Game link:
http://www.llamaserver.net/gameinfo.cgi?game=Smote_Mightily

[Ossa]

Something that I never got working to midgame:
Ctis

[starcryst]

Caelum

[Pymous]

Hello,
I'd like to join as Machaka

[Ragnarok-X]

Would like Agartha, Intermediate.

[Smeghead]

Hey Ragnarok-X, you aren't a newbie or intermediate .. more like a battle-hardened elite veteran, judging by how long you've been playing :)

[Ragnarok-X]

eh lol. While i like the sound of that, i dont feel like a battle hardened veteran. Ive started dom3 mp about 9 months ago, formerly i registered for SE IV.
No offense, have fun !

[Smeghead]

Ok, Ragnarok-X, you are in if you still want to play.

[Ragnarok-X]

Agartha, thanks.

If someone objects to me playing, NO PROBLEM !

[Zookeeper]

I'd like to play with Abysia

[skymoon]

I'm in. MA Shinuyama.

[Psycho chick]

Hi smeghead, I want play as ma eriu. thanks

[Smeghead]

Hi, Psycho chick, I was looking at Eriu myself just yesterday.
Interesting choice.
Are you really Psycho?
Are you really a chick?


Hey guys, we are all set to go :)
Let me get the game up on Llamaserver.
I hope I do this right :)

[Smeghead]

Oh, I can't see the map "Victoria" as a starting map option.

We'll go with "Glory of the Gods (multiplayer)" if there are no objections, downloadable from Llamaserver.

[Smeghead]

Ok, the game's up.
Please note the game map is now "Glory of the Gods (multiplayer)" downloadable from Llamaserver; the "Victoria" map was not an option on Llamaserver without uploading it ... just want to keep it simple at this stage.

[Smeghead]

Please note: your email header should read "Smote_Mightily", when you submit pretenders.

[Ragnarok-X]

Just for the record, is the map wrap ?
Ill design my pretender but i can only upload it tomorrow fyi.

[starcryst]

Ok, the game's up.
Please note the game map is now "Glory of the Gods (multiplayer)" downloadable from Llamaserver; the "Victoria" map was not an option on Llamaserver without uploading it ... just want to keep it simple at this stage.

Don't know about you, but I'm not seeing a download link for Glory of the Gods. All the other maps have download links, but not that one. Anyone else have this problem?

[Ragnarok-X]

Thats because the map is stock dom 3 map, its in the games folder by default.

[Smeghead]

Ragnarok-X, the map is not wrap.

If uploading your pretender is more convenient for you tomorrow, that's fine. Still waiting on a few players.

Ah, sorry for misleading you, starcryst.
When I was setting up the game the map "Glory of the Gods (multiplayer)" was listed as an option.
I assumed the list I saw was a list of downloadable maps on the server.

[Psycho chick]

Hi, Psycho chick, I was looking at Eriu myself just yesterday.
Interesting choice.
Are you really Psycho?
Are you really a chick?


Hey guys, we are all set to go :)
Let me get the game up on Llamaserver.
I hope I do this right :)

:D
I'm a little psycho but not reaaly chick.
Smeghead, can I change to MA ermor? I already upload the pretender.:re:

[Smeghead]

OK, Psycho chick, Ermor is fine ... I think.
I notice in other games that Ermor is sometimes banned and I don't know why they would be bannned.

[Smeghead]

So, whom are we missing?
Ragnarok-X says he'll upload his pretender tomorrow; that leaves Ossa.

[Psycho chick]

OK, Psycho chick, Ermor is fine ... I think.
I notice in other games that Ermor is sometimes banned and I don't know why they would be bannned.

No worry buddy. Which be banned is LA Ermor but not EA/MA Ermor.

[Smeghead]

Ah, LA Ermor sounds eeeevil.

Ossa, you there?
You still interested in playing?

I am new to this and have no idea how long we wait for Ossa to show before we advertise for a new player.

[skymoon]

Ossa uploaed. Now wait ragnarok x.

[Ragnarok-X]

Just for the record, we are using a map with 230 + 50 provinces for 8 players ? That is 28, 25 without water per player.
Did anyone even think this through ?
No offense, but 25 is way, way off.
10, a max of 15 is a more reasonable approach.

Land of Legends (135+20) or even better Land of Etheral Squirrels (103+13) would be better imho.

[Smeghead]

I'm OK with a map change if that's what people want.

Who agrees to a map change to Land of Etheral Squirrels (103+13)?

[starcryst]

I'm OK with a map change if that's what people want.

Who agrees to a map change to Land of Etheral Squirrels (103+13)?

Agree.

[Pymous]

Agree too (but I can't find a link to download this map, removed from this forum)

[Ragnarok-X]

this one should do, i guess ?

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showpost.php?p=798212



by the way. I noticed all but Ossa and myself are really new on shrapnel. I think i might be too intermediate for the game. Im out. Dont want to spoil your fun.

good hunt !

[Zookeeper]

I agree as well

[Smeghead]

So Raganarok-X is out.

What now?

Delete the game, set up a new one with the suggested map, "Land of Ethereal Squirrels(no lake start)", and recruit a new player, then submit our pretenders again?

I'll do that after a few hours and send a message to each of the players, unless someone has a better plan.

[starcryst]

So Raganarok-X is out.

What now?

Delete the game, set up a new one with the suggested map, "Land of Ethereal Squirrels(no lake start)", and recruit a new player, then submit our pretenders again?

I'll do that after a few hours and send a message to each of the players, unless someone has a better plan.

Yeah - go ahead and do this. Might want to edit the initial post to highlight / reiterate that this is a NewB friendly game.

[Pymous]

Yes just rename and ask for one more player

[Smeghead]

Well, I sent an email to everyone.

Hopefully this is not a huge inconvenience for people.

I'll just go ahead and delete the game on Llamaserver, change this topic to read: "7/8 Recruiting" and change the map in the opening post.

[starcryst]

Well, I sent an email to everyone.

Hopefully this is not a huge inconvenience for people.

I'll just go ahead and delete the game on Llamaserver, change this topic to read: "7/8 Recruiting" and change the map in the opening post.

It's not a problem. It's your first time organizing a game and you told everyone that in the OP, so anyone that's not tolerant of learning pains shouldn't have signed up for the game.

It's all good! :)

[Smeghead]

Thanks, starcryst :)

I feel like an idiot, messing people around like this.
We will need to re-submit pretenders when we find someone to take Ragnarok-X's place.

[starcryst]

Thanks, starcryst :)

I feel like an idiot, messing people around like this.
We will need to re-submit pretenders when we find someone to take Ragnarok-X's place.

No worries! Just send me a couple hundred gold a turn in the game and we'll call it even, k? :D

[Ragnarok-X]

Im sorry for the trouble.
But with a different map and a more balanced player base it will be far more enjoyable experience. Sorry for putting you through this !

[Smeghead]

I just played a dozen turns of a test game on Ethereal Squirrels.
Man, we start literally just a few provinces from each other, maybe four in each direction.
We might need to rethink pretender design as the map seems very suited to rush strategies rather than long-term.

[starcryst]

I just played a dozen turns of a test game on Ethereal Squirrels.
Man, we start literally just a few provinces from each other, maybe four in each direction.
We might need to rethink pretender design as the map seems very suited to rush strategies rather than long-term.

Seems to me that being four provinces apart is pretty typical. I'm just three provinces away from my nearest neighbor in another game and we're not playing rush strats. One thing you could do is increase the level independents to 6 or 7 to block rush strats if you want to.

[Smeghead]

Well, I played through an old tutorial that had a lot more room; maybe 7-8 provinces between players and thought that might have been standard.

http://lparchive.org/Dominions-3/

The lack of room on Squirrels feels a tad claustrophobic to me.

[Ragnarok-X]

You can always change it to a bigger map. But 4 provinces apart is pretty normal regarding MP. If there are more provinces, you basicly only conquer indoes for the first 2 years. It takes away a lot of tension in midgame and the importance of proper expansion.
While you may like the sound of unlimited expansion, it gets very boring very fast, because there is no interaction and beating Indi AI aint so fun after all.

[Smeghead]

I'm leaving the map open at this stage until we get a few suggestions.
I'd prefer something larger than Ethereal Squirrels for 8 players.

[Pymous]

The map is fine for me. Too big is boring and no fun like said Ragnarok.

[Psycho chick]

Smeghead, Please change me to Ermor in first page.

[Smeghead]

Ok, Psycho chick, done.

How would people feel if we compromise on map size and go with Primea(147 land and 9 sea).

[Psycho chick]

Ok, Psycho chick, done.

How would people feel if we compromise on map size and go with Primea(147 land and 9 sea).

This map is ok for 7-12 players. BTW, should we start or keep waiting next one?

[Smeghead]

Well, I was hoping for some extra feedback from people on map and map size preferences before proceeding.

But it seems this game thread has been Gotterdammerung'ed.

[Psycho chick]

I notice there are two versions Primea. The Primea_SR is better, with semi-random starts.

[Smeghead]

I notice there are two versions Primea. The Primea_SR is better, with semi-random starts.

If we go with 8 players and play the Primea_SR map with 10 fix land starts, wouldn't that mean that some players will end up next to vacant start positions and more territory to expand into?

If we go with the other Primea random map, then in theory our start positions should be spread more evenly when the AI creates the game... right?

Or, I notice there is a fixed start position 7 player Ethereal Squirrels map.
[edit]Argh, just noticed there are no links for this map version on Llamaserver.
We could just go with a 7 player, random start, Land of Ethereal Squirrels and the players we have now.

[Psycho chick]

Sounds good. :)

[Zookeeper]

Yeah, go for it

[Pymous]

It's ok for me

[Smeghead]

Ok, I'm closing recruiting at seven players and creating another game for Etherial Squirrels map.

[Smeghead]

I notice that turns are not due in at Llamaserver until Monday.

So, weekends don't count towards the 24 hour time limit then?
I tried looking around but couldn't find anything in the FAQ.

[Ragnarok-X]

Sure thing. Llama doesnt count weekended, it just counts hours.
If the turn aint due til monday, then the hosting intervall was set like this earlier.

[Ragnarok-X]

Being in IRC, i was just told this is the reason:

[20:50:42] Calawank: Rag, go tell those Smote Mightly guys that the llamaserver automatically sets all first turns to 48 hours. And then after that it's 24hours
[20:50:57] Calawank: that's why the deadline is monday

[Smeghead]

Ah, ok, thanks Ragnarok-X.

[skymoon]

Where are you...Ossa

[Smeghead]

I'm curious about communication options between players outside of the in-game messaging which requires a one turn delay(this could be a problem).

There is the PM option here on the Shrapnel forums and of course this forum.
Is there a chat server people use to arrange ceasefires, NAPs etc?

[skymoon]

I'm curious about communication options between players outside of the in-game messaging which requires a one turn delay(this could be a problem).

There is the PM option here on the Shrapnel forums and of course this forum.
Is there a chat server people use to arrange ceasefires, NAPs etc?

I always use pm in diploma discussing.

BTW, Shinuyama and Ctis already sign a NAP-3.

[Smeghead]

Ok, good to know skymoon ... thnx.

Everybody has been online and quiet ... what are you all cooking up ... giant stew?

[Pymous]

I am looking at some phoenix having fun with burning poor humans.

[Pymous]

Maybe it's not needed (depends when this turn will finish) but so you know I won't be back to home before 23nd November around 1:00 GMT to finish turn 10 (it's actually turn 9)

[Smeghead]

Ok, Pymous, I'll keep an eye on timing for turn 10, thnx.

[Zookeeper]

Hey everyone, I won't be able to finish my next turn until Sunday afternoon, so i would appreciate a pause if possible.

[Smeghead]

Ok, Zookeeper, I've delayed hosting(by too long I think, accidentally).
Please play turn as soon as possible.

Btw, it's probably best if people notify of hosting delay requests by PM; I nearly missed your forum post, Zookeeper.

[Zookeeper]

Ok, thanks Smeghead. I'm back now i will submit my turn in a bit and i'll send a PM next time ;)

[Psycho chick]

Ermor sign NAP-3 with Ctis.
Ermor sign NAP-3 with Caulem.

[starcryst]

Caelum signs NAP-3 with Ctis, Ermor, Abysia and Shinayuma

[Smeghead]

Caelum signs NAP-3 with Ctis, Ermor, Abysia and Shinayuma

Hey, wait a minute.
That leaves myself and Machaka that you are likely to go to war with.
That's just rude.

[starcryst]

Caelum signs NAP-3 with Ctis, Ermor, Abysia and Shinayuma

Hey, wait a minute.
That leaves myself and Machaka that you are likely to go to war with.
That's just rude.

Heh, I offered you a NAP and you declined. I don't want to have anything to do with your smelly giants. :angel

[Pymous]

You have some smelly mammoths too :)

[skymoon]

OMG, machaka only left 5 provinces. Who will get the first blood?

[Pymous]

THEY SHALL NOT PASS!
But If I fall, The entire world will fall under Caelum and Ctis domination!
Wake up free people and fight them while there is still hope!

[skymoon]

WOW, Ctis have crazy 6 forts now. :shock:
MUST be some luck event.:D:D

[Smeghead]

WOW, Ctis have crazy 6 forts now. :shock:
MUST be some luck event.:D:D

Well, not having many troops does have its advantages.
All that money saved on upkeep.

That must be an effective SC build, Ctis.
So, is your pretender crippled or cursed yet? :angel

[Psycho chick]

Check the HOF, Ctis's pretender must be pheonix.

[Smeghead]

Check the HOF, Ctis's pretender must be pheonix.


That's odd.
When I start up a test game as Ctis ME, there's no option for a pheonx pretender.

[starcryst]

Check the HOF, Ctis's pretender must be pheonix.

I've seen it - it is a Phoenix, or else he's got some illusion I don't know about that makes him LOOK like a Phoenix...

[Smeghead]

My bad.
I was expecting to see a fiery bird; instead, the phoenix is depicted as a crane type wading bird.

I'll have to investigate possible phoenix builds.
C'tis expansion in this game with the phoenix has been impressive.

[Smeghead]

Wow!
I tried a test game with Abysia and the phoenix pretender with some death magic.
The phoenix is awesome; it just keeps winning, even against barbarian hordes.
Although, after 4 battles, its got a limp, is diseased and never healing wounds :)
Still, for a quick expansion the phoenix is great.

[Smeghead]

Are you still playing, Zookeeper?
It looked like Abysia went stale last turn.

[Psycho chick]

Yes he was. Do we need a sub?

[Smeghead]

Well, if there is no response from Abysia this turn, I'll try and turn him over to AI.
From the look of things there's very little of Abysia left, anyway.

[Smeghead]

It appears Zookeeper has escaped.
I want to set Abysia to AI controlled.
To do that, I need to reset Abysia's contact email address to someone who will be resent the turn and who can then change the position to AI control, then send turn in.
I can ask the game to send me Abysia's turn and do it myself, but I then get to see Abysia's position and neighbors; or, I can send Abysia's turn to a trusted third party.
However I am new to Domionions 3 multiplayer and really don't have any idea whom to send it to.
Llama has requested that people do not send these problems to him all the time, as he will go mad.
Anyone outside the game want to volunteer to change Abysia to AI control?

Or, we can wait a few turns and Abysia will be finished anyway.

[himselfbh]

Just walk through...You need some third party help?
:jam:

[Smeghead]

Just walk through...You need some third party help?
:jam:

Hi himselfbh,

Well, if you'd like to receive Abysia's turn, set it to AI controlled and send it in, that would be appreciated.

[Smeghead]

Guess himselfbh can't hear me over all those excellent guitar riffs.

[Smeghead]

Hi all,

himselfbh has generously offered to change Abysia to AI controlled.
I am therefore resending turn 18.
There's no need to re-submit your turns; this is just to get a copy of the turn to himselfbh.

Thanks, himselfbh.

[himselfbh]

I haven't receive any turn file yet.

[Pymous]

I think he is talking about turn 19

[Smeghead]

I changed Abysia's email contact to the one himselfbh gave me and resent turn 18, so that himselfbh could change Abysia to AI.
Did people get turn 18?
Just ignore it.
It was necessary to resend to get a copy of the turn to himselfbh.

A whole lot of trouble could be saved if people notified the game admin or turned their game over to AI before quitting.

[himselfbh]

Finished. Enjoy your game, bye.

[Smeghead]

Thanks again, himselfbh.

[skymoon]

Shinuyama signs NAP-3 with Ermor and cancel the NAP with Ctis from trun 19.
Already sent message in game.

[Ossa]

skymoon, a NAP-3 normally means you wait 3 turns before attacking. It's not:
Turn 1: Announce end of treaty
Turn 2: Wait
Turn 3: Attack

That would be 2 turns warning, so a NAP-2.

[YellowCactus]

Diplomacy and trade: Non-binding. If you break an agreement you own the consequences, including being the subject of much rumor mongering and possibly personal angst.

Have a nice day...

[skymoon]

skymoon, a NAP-3 normally means you wait 3 turns before attacking. It's not:
Turn 1: Announce end of treaty
Turn 2: Wait
Turn 3: Attack

That would be 2 turns warning, so a NAP-2.

Sorry Ossa. :sick:
I moved my army at turn 21. Just because some different understandings about the NAP-end steps.
However, you lost nothing but 1 empty province. I think it's ok.

In fact, many people use the steps when they cancel NAP with me:
Turn 1: Announce end of treaty
Turn 2: Wait
Turn 3: Attack

[Smeghead]

We seem to ge going along OK at 24hrs per turn.
Do people want me to extend the turn time limit?

[Psycho chick]

I feel 24hrs is still ok now.
Should we change to 48hrs after turn 40?

[Smeghead]

Well, I advertised the game as 48 hour turns after turn 20.
So, it's only fair that we extend the time limit to 48 hour turns if anyone wants it.

[Smeghead]

Guys, you know what really hurts?
A gazillion Thunder Strikes, delivered by a gazillion Caelum Seraphs :O

[skymoon]

1. Indy Air mage cast thunder ward;
2. Thug with ring of tamed lighting or copper plate;

[Smeghead]

Caelum staled last turn.

Hmmm .... Deri cast Kindly Ones, a global enchantment unleashing three very powerful creatures targeting blood mages; they killed off my best mages last turn.
So much for our NAP, eh skymoon? ;)

[Smeghead]

Looks like it's Ermor and Shinayuma versus the rest of us.

[Smeghead]

That Kindly Ones spell seems very overpowered.
I had a mage all dressed up with artifacts to cast a global spell this turn .. and now he's dead, along with all his artifacts.
How do the Kindly Ones know where to kill the most powerful mages?

[skymoon]

http://dom3.servegame.com/wiki/The_Kindly_Ones
some information about assassinate criteria.

Personally, I think it's random.

[Smeghead]

Well, that Kindly Ones spell is a gamebreaker for blood magic, imo.

They are unbeatable; a Skratti and a summoned Water Elemental were no match.
Neither was the Lvl 6 nature Gygja, all alone, dead in one hit.

And they do seem to seek out the powerful mages; I have dozens of blood mages and they went straight to the strongest.
And the combat is one-on-one; there is no benefit from garrison troops.

[skymoon]

There is a problem of Kindly Ones. It also effect commander on HOF, including the caster's.

[skymoon]

Jotun, are you plan to stale?
Come on....Kindly Ones is only Lv6 GE. It's easy to handle.

[Smeghead]

Jotun, are you plan to stale?
Come on....Kindly Ones is only Lv6 GE. It's easy to handle.

If it is so easy to handle, then why did you bother casting it?
Kindly Ones is overpowered and breaks the game for blood magic.
And it does go after the best mages.

Jotunheim is now AI controlled.

[Smeghead]

If anyone wants my password to take over game administration, I'll pass it on.
I'll check back later.

P.S. Haha, skymoon declares our NAP cancelled AFTER casting Kindly Onres, knowing that only I used blood magic.

[Admiral_Aorta]

lmao at the concept of kindly ones being overpowered. "oh no a few of my mages might die, how terrible and gamebreaking"

[Pymous]

The great Machaka empire has been crushed.
I concede.
Burn in hell False gods!

(congratulations, was fun)

[Psycho chick]

Should we end the game?
2 AIs, 1 close to be defeated, 3 left.

Currently, there is a conditional NAP between Ermor(me) and Shinuyama. It will become invalid after the fluck of Ctis. Obviously, Shinuyama is too strong to Ermor. I tried to form some relationship with Jotun, but he lost the mind to fight.

I feel that is unlikely to beat Shinuyama. I suggest Shinuyama win the game.

[starcryst]

I agree. Good game all and gratz on the win for Shinuyama.

[Pymous]

Congrats SHinuyama, you are too far ahead :)

[skymoon]

Thanks everyone, it's GG.
Smeghead, please end the game.