MP: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running

[megawidget]

I'd like score graphs on, if only to keep track of my own incompetence!

Since I'm not yet decided on Yomi (looks like they might suck only slightly less in CBM compared to vanilla), I could play as Atlantis if it looks like the maps you're choosing from have too many water provinces for just R'lyeh. Otherwise I'm also considering Mictlanka, just to try my hand at blood magic -- something I haven't played around with yet.

[Legendary League]

Originally Posted by megawidget

I'd like score graphs on, if only to keep track of my own incompetence!

Since I'm not yet decided on Yomi (looks like they might suck only slightly less in CBM compared to vanilla), I could play as Atlantis if it looks like the maps you're choosing from have too many water provinces for just R'lyeh. Otherwise I'm also considering Mictlanka, just to try my hand at blood magic -- something I haven't played around with yet.

Ah blood magic.

Both Lanka and Mictlan were effectively nerfed this CBM with the removal of SDR (they rely on hordes of cheap B1 hunters with SDRs to accumulate masses of slaves). LA, in my opinion, is a better age to try out blood (also much fiercer competition: Ulm, Bogarus, Abysia, Marignon, Midgard, Utgard, and Mictlan [Patala to an extent] all compete for the same summons). Though Mictlanka are still definitely really good (blood is just...an awesome tree to get into. Especially when combined with Astral. How many send horrors do you need to cast till you send out a Doom horror, you think? )

[megawidget]

Originally Posted by Legendary League

Both Lanka and Mictlan were effectively nerfed this CBM with the removal of SDR (they rely on hordes of cheap B1 hunters with SDRs to accumulate masses of slaves). LA, in my opinion, is a better age to try out blood (also much fiercer competition: Ulm, Bogarus, Abysia, Marignon, Midgard, Utgard, and Mictlan [Patala to an extent] all compete for the same summons). Though Mictlanka are still definitely really good (blood is just...an awesome tree to get into. Especially when combined with Astral. How many send horrors do you need to cast till you send out a Doom horror, you think? )

I've read that blood magic is incredibly powerful. But yes, I've noticed that they effectively got nerfed in CBM. On the upside though sabbaths no longer use blood slaves, so that might make up for it. Slightly.
If we go with Cradle of Dominion, I think I'm going to go for Mictlan instead of Yomi and see how I do -- it'll be a bit tight I guess at 11.7 land provinces per land player, but probably quite manageable. If we go with Glory of the Gods MP though, I think I should be Atlantis to make sure R'lyeh doesn't hoard all the water.

[Legendary League]

Originally Posted by megawidget

I've read that blood magic is incredibly powerful. But yes, I've noticed that they effectively got nerfed in CBM. On the upside though sabbaths no longer use blood slaves, so that might make up for it. Slightly.

Doesn't really matter too much. Blood really needed the nerfbat, have to say. When someone with absolutely no blood access (MA Ulm, for example) can blood hunt and empower someone to start up a moderate blood economy (to get blood stones), something's broken. Still an amazingly powerful school though. Claws of Inferno/Cocytos is amazing against SCs, and combining horror marking with send/call horrors (or the occasional Hellpower suicide sabbaths) can be extremely difficult to deal with.

That being said, blood does have counters. Wishing armageddons hurts blood economies really badly, for example, and unrest raising remotes/thug raiding also hurts them. Spies too, for that matter. It's also so micro intensive, esp. Mictlan (who need to constantly blood sac to maintain dominion).

But yeah, try it out. Blood summons are awesome (get em before I do, because the 'heim's also have blood hunting potential through Vanjarls [got buffed so they have 50% chance for B2, so they're better hunters without SDR].

[megawidget]

Testing them out in SP.

Egad, CBM's changes make mages do truly idiotic things. I just had my solitary mictlan priest cast sabbath master and sabbath slave after the scripting expired.
That... didn't go too well.

It's still better than Agartha inflicting battle fright on all of own troops after the enemy routs. :

[momfreeek]

I'll go with Agartha if they're still free

[jimbojones1971]

I am happy with either the defaults, or the multipliers - either way produces different outcomes, which can be good.

I've played with score graphs on and off. On, they let you see when someone is pulling ahead. Off, they add some surprise to the game (and reward scouting and diplomacy). So I'm happy with either.

[Lung Drago]

So far I think it is leaning towards Glory of the Gods MP version. It has much more interesting water provinces and if it is succedeed by an Atlantis pick, we have a counterpart against R'lyeh in our nation line up. We don't want unchallenged super powered Rlyeh, do we?
As far as score graphs are concerned, I'll wait for more input. I cannot make up my mind

[parone]

i guess i could take a water power. i'll get killed, but it might make it more challenging for the ry'leh player

[megawidget]

Originally Posted by parone

i guess i could take a water power. i'll get killed, but it might make it more challenging for the ry'leh player

Er, well, if we play a map with more water I called dibs on Atlantis.