Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Hmm, seems like we might not get the next turn until Monday possibly, unless we get the last 2 to submit there turn sometime this afternoon (darn).

And I have the same problem. Most of my provinces I'm surrounded by have heavy cavalry, and that's not fun. So I'm going after the other non-cavalry ones first. Also, there's a province of Ghouls and Soulless that should be easy - for me (Marignon), at least. Thankfully my priests/inquisitors do NOT like undead... unless, of course, they're controlling them. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Darkvines, now I finally saw my first one last week. In an SP game I attacked a province with druids and 2 darkvines. Not knowing what they were, I initially though they were a type of Vine Men. So, I thought they'd be easy. Then watching the battle, I saw how wrong I was. Yikes!

That's what I like about this game, I haven't played a lot, or even completed more than 1 game, and I'm still enjoying finding new things.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

You guys might want to play your cards closer to the chest. If you give everyone details about your nation, that information may be used against you. To get advice, you can send a private message to quantum_mechani or Ironhawk. You can also keep a game journal, which you can share with us later as an after-action report (AAR).

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Turn 3 has run (current turn is turn 4). From now on, I will send all game-related information in mails, as everything seems to be working fine.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Turn 4

Man announced a prophet. Ermor hired the mercenary sage Dagan.

According to the graphs, Machaka conquered a third province to become sole leader in that category. Only Pangaea has not taken a province outside of its capital. All other nations own two provinces each. Marignon and Machaka have found new gem income. Pangaea's army size jumped up to join Machaka and Arcosephale in the top tier of that category.

Another Pretender, Atrineus of Arco, made the Hall of Fame with 2 kills.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Turn 4

Lost the bid for Dagan, for the rest everything is classified.

I think Ermor, Pythium, Machaka and Earoscale are going to be dangerous.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Wow, this could be a bad thing, checking the forums at work. So I guess I was searching for magic sites if I (Marignon) found new gem income. I'm playing an SP game also, so I had forgotten what my orders were for this game. Now I'm looking forward to getting home and seeing what else happened on my turn...

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Sorry for the slow reply. RibbonBlue as Man you have a very strong selection of national units with which to defeat the indies threatening. I will run down them and just make some quick comments, some of which have already been covered in the thread.

Barbarians: Man LOVES barbarians. They have barely any prot and arent particularly fast. Build about 20-30 longbowmen, set them way in the back of the field and Fire Closest. You will tear them to pieces before they even reach your men. Bring a set of spearmen or other chaff and set them to Hold and Attack if you feel you really need it.

Druids: Another indy type that is favorable to Man. Again, just mass up your longbowmen and this time set them to Fire Archers. The woodsman will have to move forward to get into range of your longbows (if they have been placed farthest possible back!) so they wont even fire first. Your longbows will slaughter them in 1-2 volleys and they will flee. Then the blowpipe guys will be in range and the same will happen to them. Darkvines could pose a problem, I dont recall thier prot. Maybe bring some chaff to tie them up while the longbows go to work on them. You might also get some lucky arrow hits on the druids themselves which could cause a rout.

Knight Provs: These are tricky. I will list off a way to defeat them here but it requires a bit of subtlety to get the tactical placements just right so I highly recommend you put off attacking knights until later in the game. Anyway, the trick with Knights would be to bring 1) chaff and 2) knights of your own. Put the chaff up front, set to Attack Cavalry - these guys will all die, but they will use up the Lance attack. Somethign cheap (with shields in this case, since enemy has bows) and use enough of them so that they wont rout if a couple die to arrows in the first 1-2 turns before the knights can kill them. Then have your Longbowmen set way back and on Fire Cavalry. Probably you wont kill any, but you might wound one or two, which can be the deciding factor with a small squad. Then have your knights way back as well with Hold and Attack Cavalry. So they will jump into action once your chaff has eaten the indy lance attacks and Lance the enemy in return.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Cool, thanks alot this really helps. I just slaughtered a mass of barbarians. The knights will fall soon hopefully.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

I would stay away from the knights for now, at least until you have taken care of weaker provinces. If the knight provinces are within your territory, you should be able to take care of them later on, preferably without losing a lot of troops. For now, I would focus on trying to slaughter those weak independents, unable to fight off a storm of arrows (you can win such battles with no losses with a bit of luck, and losses should be low). Then again, I usually leave the task of clearing the knights to my Pretender, so I may not be the best advice in the world.

Turn 5 has run, and I have sent a general mail. As usual, please let me know if you did not get the general mail.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Turn 5

Arcosephale and Marignon announce their prophets. Man hired Ferdinando's Footmen, and Machaka renewed its contract with Fordo Boggit.

Machaka gained a fourth province to keep its lead. Arco and Ermor each conquered a third province. Pangaea now has its second province.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Doh! This is going to make for a long day for me. Again, I made the mistake of checking the forum at work. And see that the only mention of Marignon is my prophet being selected. Wasn't there anything else noticable? No other prophets for Marignon unveiled themselves in Machaka or Ermor or Man, to rally against the false gods that are worshipped there? Didn't the multitude of sacrifices I made to my beloved god get noticed? I mean, that was a LOT of cows to ritually sacrifice. Though it should be okay, I'm making my capital citizens become vegans, so they don't need the meat anyway. So I'll double the sacrifices next turn. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

The goddess herself brings the word to the heathen indies...behold! ...And mercs make good chaff.

Here is a question for the more advanced folks on this game-I find myself alchemizing gems to make just enough gold to get that last unit. But I'm hearing arguments that you should hoard gems and just forego the purchase. What is the thought in regards to this? What I did was alchemize 8 pearls to fire gems which I then sold for gold so I could afford a mystic. Am I making a big mistake or is this a shrewd move?

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Ok, this could be a newbie question, but I didn't know you could alchemize astral to anything else (like fire or earth) so you could then alchemize those to gold if you want. How do you do that? Is it specific to a certain race/item, or am I just missing something on the Alchemy interface?

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Any mag in a lab gets the alchemy command.
There should be two-way and one-way arrows on the alchemy interface. Click on either side or use short cuts to alchemise.

All gems can be turned into or made from astral gems using a 2-to-1 ration. Earth gems can be alchemised into 10 gold and fire gems into 15.

The master alchemist pretender with its 100% alchemy bonus gets 30 gold for fire and 20 for earth. There is also a standard alchemist which you can find sometimes, but he only gets a 50% bonus.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Yes. Look at the alchemy interface. To convert astral to fire gems click on the fire gem with an arrow point TOWARD it. That will burn two pearls and create one fire gem. Then click the fire gem with the arrow pointing away (towards the gold) to get about 15 gold or so. I don't remember the amount of gold off hand.

You loose a lot on the exchange but I figure it's an issue of priorities.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Only Blood slaves can't be alchemized. Astral pearls are like an exchange currency. Two of another gem kind can be alchemized for one Astral pearl, and two Astral pearls can be alchemized for one gem.

I tend to hoard my gems, but I suppose the best course depends on the situation. You know what spells your research is targeting, so you should have an idea of what the future demand will be. Early expansion is generally considered very important. If the Mystic is primarily for research at the moment, you might consider the danger of having a spell available but being unable to cast it because of a gem shortage.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Alchemising gems into gold early on can be a solution, if you *need* that money (if it allows you to build a Mystic for example, or if you need just one more gold coin to build a fort on this turn, and so on). I would probably not use the gems to buy a regular army, unless the situation was truly awful.

On the other hand, fire gems are not necessarily important in the game, as they are of limited use to most nations. Earth gems are likely more useful, and they give less when alchemised to gold, so you will probably not want to alchemise those. I would also stay away from alchemising astral pearls to fire pearls to get more gold, as astral pearls will be of use to all the nations. Even if you are no Astral nation, astral pearls can be converted in gems you need, like Death or Nature.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Thanks! I have learned yet another thing about Dom2. Here I was only doing the one way (fire or earth to gold, and everything else to pearl), not getting the part that it works the other way as well. This clears up a lot of things.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Turn 5

Made some agreements and deals.

I don't like the dom2 messaging interface, there is no way to see what messages you send or to who you send them when typing. I'm afraid I might send a message to the wrong person and reveal my secret alliance with Ermor.

Hector Stark(15 knights) is available for purchase at a 220 gold starting bid. Or 412 gold if you are Pangea.

Gynther Blukraft could be stolen from Aeroscale.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Oh, thanks for reminding me I should give a list of all players and their mails. It should be made available tonight or tomorrow morning (GMT). It would be much better to handle messaging by mails: it allows for easy reference, and is much faster... plus, good luck for correcting typos in a Dom 2 message. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

No kidding! The email list would be quite handy.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

As long as you don't post them in a way that they might get into some spam list...
Somehow every Email I have ended up flooded with Junk Mail, even those I took special care not to give out anywhere.
My current account is the only one I have left that is free of Junk Mail so far.
As for the latest turn, it seems to have gone pretty well.
The only thing Im worried about is that others seem to do way better than I do (as far as the statistics go atleast).

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

The roster with mails will be sent in a mail, as posting mails is a risky move.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

"Secret alliance with Ermor" is he trying to double trick us and say he has an allaince when he really doesnt? does he really have an allance? who knows?!!

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

I do! I am mister know-it-all, you know. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Just so everyone knows, my computer got infected with a nasty virus, I think I managed to overcome it (Yay for Norton + Task Manager!) but just in case I suddenly vanish, you'll know what happened.
That was a tough one to handle!
I had to AdAware it for all of its friends, I had to update my Norton Antivirus, I had to manually delete several files via cmd and I had to kill several proccesses so that I will be able to delete the master virus file.
If I was a bit smarter It would have probably taken only an hour, maybe half an hour, but it took my almost six :\.
So if your homepage is suddenly a spyware searchpage, your google results are sqewed (Lavasoft's AdAware replaced with Yavasoft's adaware) and your desktop suddenly changes, you'll know you got what I did, and that it can be defeated with Norton Antivirus.
Hooray for Norton!
*No, this is not a commercial for Norton*

EDIT: Interesting, even reinstalling the Google Toolbar after the virus was removed didnt fix it...
Maybe its something in the registery that the Google Toolbar doesnt delete when uninstalled...
Well, I hope this doesnt mean the virus is still here, and I can live without Google Toolbar...

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Turn 6

I Check out the situation. Give some orders. Will take more decisions in the morning.

Find an enemy capital two provinces away from mine. Each person should be capable of conquering about 19 independent provinces before running out of room. So don't get nervous and start an early war causing both sides to lose the game.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Turn 6

Machaka gained a fifth province. Pangaea captured two provinces, for a total of four. Arcosephale also has four provinces now. Man, Ermor, and Marignon have three. Pythium and Jotunheim have two.

Pythium found a gem site. Machaka's research lags behind the rest.

Jotunheim hired Hector's Heavy Horsemen.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Im sure you can see the logic here. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif
I see Im not faring so well, but its just the beginning of the game, so I'll wait before I declare myself dead http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

I agree with the assessment of not starting a war too soon. With so many indies, there is PLENTY of work to do before picking a fight with my neighbors.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Are we still waiting on someone for the next turn? I'm hoping we can get a few turns done this weekend (time permitting for everyone).

Mostly because I'm traveling next week (was selected at the last minute for a business trip), and I'm still trying to get a laptop so I can still submit my turns.

My company provided me a laptop, but it's BARELY able to play Dom2. It's a P2 366Mhz. I had to turn off all graphics and do a few command line switches just to get it semi-playable (though it has crashed several times for no reason). Hopefully I can get a faster laptop over the weekend. Worst case scenario, I'll give my orders to Alneyan to run the 2 turns that I may miss.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

No turns for Man yet, but next turn should run in a couple of hours (because of the deadline).

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

I sent my turn..

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Okay, is it just me or are all of these provinces pretty sparse? Given what I've conquered so far, I'm barely able to afford a mage! If my army wasn't so spunky and able, we'd have lost our shorts a long time ago. And what do we have to show for it? Handfulls of dust. Dust I say! How on earth did that last province even support the troops defending it?

Sheesh...

Can I research "frugal economy" or "thriftiness" or something?

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Turn 7

The province count is as follows: 6 for Machaka, 5 for Arcosephale, 4 for Ermor and Pangaea, and 3 for Pythium, Man, and Jotunheim. Ermor and Pangaea found gems. Man hired Dagan the Sage.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Turn 7

I give more orders. I find two more players. My scouts haven't observed anything useful yet.

I notice Machaka and Marignon had a decrease in dominion. Possible contact with a high dominion Ermor?

Aeroscale is real low in dominion.

Machaka is biggest in income, army size and provinces. Lowest in research though.

Hector Stark died.

Urgeks beast brothers is for hire. Bunch of foul spawns under the command of an elephant commander. They're cheap, but not too good.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Yes i got dagan woot.!!

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

The last turn was a bit unpleasent, but atleast I learned the importance of correct troop placement http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif
Anyway, things are still going as planned, or atleast close to that.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Turn 8

Vespur had a nasty accident, back to the lab for him/her. I made a mistake, gave it a militia escort http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif.

Not much to report for the rest.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Wow this game is going really fast. We are doing about a turn a day. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

I agree, and I love it. Now I can see why MP is better than SP, and to get into 2 or 3 games at a time to keep the interest in the game up.

Can't wait for the next turn to start - found a magic site called "casino", hoping to win some gold... though we all know the house always wins. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Wow a Casino! Ive never even seen those.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Turn 8

The province count is as follows: 7 for Machaka; 6 for Arcosephale; 5 for Pangaea; 4 for Pythium, Ermor, and Marignon; and 3 for Man and Jotunheim. Marignon and Machaka found gems.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif He is pulling your chain. There ain't no such thing as a Casino site! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Ahh, okay, it seemed a bit out of place for a fantasy map.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Turn 9

The province tally is: Machaka 8, Arcosephale 6, Marignon 6, Pythium 5, Ermor 5, Pangaea 5, Jotunheim 4, and Man 3. Ermor has a second fort. Pythium and Ermor found gems. Ermor's army size is now a close second to Machaka's.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Turn 9

A strange whisper is going through the forests of pangea.

Someone supposed to keep a friendly distance from my dominion shows up with an army at my borders http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif. I'll be watching.

I've been checking out the scales in provinces under enemy dominions to learn more about the dominion choices of that player.

Ermors army and gems are starting to rocket up. Ermor also build/found the first castle.
Machaka is leading in provinces and income, but way below in research.
Earoscale is doing good too, but that low dominion could screw them up if they are neighbouring Ermor.

Dagan could be stolen from man.

Black beards pirates are for offer. Bunch of heavily armoured guys, can't remember if the leader had sailing ability.

Casino site might be real. I guess the developers might be adding new content from dominions 3 in dominions 2.

I encountered an independent air 2 and air six mage loaded with magic items, accompagnied by phantom warriors in a single player game a while back. Never saw that before.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Sorry, yes, I was joking about the casino magic site. I've been thinking about going to one over the holidays, and I thought it would make an interesting magic site. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Keep you hand closer or someone will shake you down http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif.