Scenario: Orania Nasty Edition

[Peter Ebbesen]

As I really like the general Orania War setup, and especially the map, but despair because the AI nearly always loses to me in the magical site race, I have decided to write a new scenario based solidly on the old one but with each nation given certain initial advantages in the forms of sites or extra leaders, sometimes in line with their default theme, sometimes giving a unique boost for the hell of it. Independents have also been set to 9. In general, it seems that the AI performs better vs. humans at higher independent settings - possibly because rapid expansion as a human the first dozen turns is a bit harder.

I am now up to Version 0.6, which can be downloaded from my site.

Download Orania Nasty Edition v0.6 here

As every nation is now rather more powerful initially, the question arises whether it is well balanced. While I am happy to announce that the AI seems to utilize its new sites quite efficiently, the most likely answer on the topic of balance at this time is probably a resounding NO.

All 17 nations have had their initial conditions changed, and there is no way in hell I have enough time to comprehensively test balance - I am too busy playing the scenario for fun

As such, I will value all constructive criticism and change suggestions that may be made based on examining, or better yet, playing, the scenario - even "YOU DID WHAT!?!" Posts. (1)

/Peter


(1) Erhm. Just to forestall one of the obvious ones: The Ermorian Wraith Lord named "Beyond Reproach" does not throw the game. It has a weakness most uncommon to Wraith Lords - the use of astral magic.

[ February 27, 2004, 11:10: Message edited by: Peter Ebbesen ]

[Wauthan]

It's plenty fun. You obviously put a lot of thought into it. The AI is a lot more challenging this way.

[licker]

No time to check it out for myself right now (though I will eventually...), but do the changes to initial conditions also mean the player(s) also gets that initial boost? I'm assuming the answer is yes, which is fine, though a more 'handicaped' Version might appeal as well. OF course if you make the nations intentionally imbalanced you have the handicap built in, but only if you want to play specific nations. Not a problem, just an observation

[Gandalf Parker]

Is this a MOD or a MAP?

[Peter Ebbesen]

Originally posted by licker:
No time to check it out for myself right now (though I will eventually...), but do the changes to initial conditions also mean the player(s) also gets that initial boost? I'm assuming the answer is yes,

And you assume correctly. A major question is whether the initial boost is, on average, more helpful to the player than the AI or vice versa. Time will tell.

...It depends a lot on which nation you play, really, as I have taken great pains to diversify the site-advantages of the individual nations. Some nations have guaranteed great bonuses to a school of magic, others have access to automatic summoning-sites using mages, while others have nearly impregnable secondary fortresses during the early game or strategically located resources. Some have good starting leaders, some have not, &etc.

which is fine, though a more 'handicaped' Version might appeal as well. OF course if you make the nations intentionally imbalanced you have the handicap built in, but only if you want to play specific nations. Not a problem, just an observation

And a good one. However, as I intended this as a stock scenario that can be profitably played in SP as any nation, I do not intentionally handicap any nations. (Well, it could be played in MP as well, but the imbalances in initial sites might make it too uncomfortable in the "players whining about unfair advantage" Category)

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker

Is this a MOD or a MAP?

MAP - no rules are changed.

It is a scenario based on the Orania map with all the information contained in the map file and no new graphics.

[ February 27, 2004, 17:18: Message edited by: Peter Ebbesen ]

[Peter Ebbesen]

Ouch. Just tried a game as Marignon with 16 impossible AIs. Everything went well until I went for Ashen Ermor's throat around round 25. Massed friars and inquisitors backed up by crossbowmen and knights of the chalice mopped up all before me with nary a casualty...

...Until I ran into Ashen Ermor's main army. Which apart from the usual hundreds of fodder featured about 10 Dusk Elders and Spectators, all of them with plenty of death gems, who cast multiple shadow bLasts straight into my formation.

Seing 35 knights of the chalice (and 20-30 crossbowmen, but who cares about them) destroyed in the first two rounds of combat, THAT HURTs!

This is great fun.

[Pocus]

I like to read the script of others (a part of it, I dont want my fun too much spoiled):

#commander "Witch"
#comname "Baba"
#addtroops 10 "Hama Dryad"


u sure addtroops is a valid command?

[Peter Ebbesen]

Originally posted by Pocus:

u sure addtroops is a valid command?

No, it is not - it should be units. Good catch, fixed in next release.

[ February 29, 2004, 21:43: Message edited by: Peter Ebbesen ]

[Peter Ebbesen]

Version 0.7 is now up for download here

Changes from 0.6:

Increased features from 50 to 60

Abysia
* Zarkal the Warlock exchanged for a Telestic Animate to prevent the AI from moving the commander away stopping devil summoning (silly AI)

Arcoscephale
* Dupond and Dupont are now Watchers rather than members of the silver order to prevent the AI from moving the commander away stopping draconian summoning (silly AI)

Jotunheim
* Now starts with the Summon Winter Wolves spell

Man
* Baba the Witch exchanged for a Hama Dryad to prevent the AI from moving the commander away stopping Lamia summoning (silly AI)
* Man now correctly starts with 10 Hama Dryads in the Bewitched Forest (#91)

[Wauthan]

Your work is greatly appreciated Mr Ebbesen. I copied some of your mapfile and put it into other maps with good result. Seems you've come up with a very good concept.