Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

I hear you my friend.
Still, I don't see anything wrong in bringing ppl who are excited at playing to the game.
I'm not a crazy MM lover myself, far from it. With Mari already having a sub and with possible additional subs the late game may return to be exciting. All I say it is give it a chance instead of outright burying it.

I don't think the final outcome is that obvious. Once it becomes obvious I don't plan to waste one more second on the game, I'd concede in a heartbeat. In my best of judgment that is not the case.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

How much off-the-record income would I have to have in order for you to concede, Wraith? Just toss out a number and I'll let you know if I'm there or not.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

150-200 S income.
150 < E income.

I have between 1/2 and 2/3 income in those departments.

I don't think that's the issue though. You are clearly in a leading position now.
We already have a sub for Mari. I am sure that with additional subs the game would resume, would be interesting and your leading position may change.
I was reflecting on this from a philosophical point of view. Where should the line be drawn and a game be stopped?- When most players lose interest?- When the game reached turn 100?- When one players is leading but a small/medium/big margin?

On the one hand the answer is clear cut. The game’s victory conditions.
OtoH, games are meant to be fun. Sometimes the two contradict, like in this case b/c clearly the game is not fun for most of the current players.
I usually fight to the end and the only way I accept defeat is when I’m checkmated. Not the case here – one or more of the subs may try to counter you, I would probably give it a try as well and the outcome of such hypothetical clash is not predetermined.

I’d tell you what, you decide, if you are fed up with this game and wish me to concede I will do that. Out of respect for you and for the other players that prefer to concede.
If, OtoH, you wish to see how it plays out with subs then I’ll be happy oblige :)
Please consider carefully which of the two you really prefer. I’ll comply with your preference.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

We have a willing sub for Ulm - Wokeye.

So now we have 2/3 of the stronger nations with a sub. I'm certain we'll find a sub for Utgard as well and possibly for Midgard. I see plenty of juice left in the game yet I stand by my statement in the earlier post.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

i havent been in the game, so i have no idea now

and...i just try to have some fun...so...really have not much to say:)

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

I will be turning Midgard AI on Saturday night, unless I am informed a sub has been found for them. I will go with current turn orders until then, which are extremely aggressive in summoning and recruiting.

If no sub is found, I will change the orders to pass all my relevant items and gems to Micah, who I consider the winner, and then set Midgard to AI.

Good game all, and lots of fun.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Well, I'd most certainly prefer to get the game done with, and I'm pretty confident I have a solid strategy to take me to a win at this point, but I don't want to cram a concession down anyone's throat either, so if that means I have to play it out I'll do so. I do think swapping out the cast of vets that is leaving the game for a bunch of much greener players changes the tone of the game significantly though (just look how fast Agartha was carved up when Ironhawk subbed out, I think I took over the third of the nation I claimed without a single significant casualty.) But at least that means things will move along a lot faster.

As I've been saying for a while, I've worked too hard at this game to want it to end in anything but a clear victory, so if you're not convinced I'll keep soldiering along.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Micah, I really appreciate your response and thank you for it.

I agree with your assessment and think its probably for the best. The faster the game ends with clear victory the better.

If, as expected, you'd crush us all into submission I'd be very happy for you. It would be a clean, well deserved victory coming, hopefully, after some spectacular battles.

You know I recently had a similar experience in two games I was playing. I thought I had a huge advantage but for some reason that was not enough to get a concession. In one game for example I even went to the length of sending screenshots of my income to my main opponent (one of the best players I have met) to demonstrate my huge advantage, but he chose to fight on until the victory became clear. I think the game lasted 2-3 additional months of ferocious world war. It was hard work for me, but I felt it was right to take it to the end and leave no doubts about what could have been.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Greetings to all Usurpers to the rightful throne of Ulm. The new rulers have come to power with a combination of treachery, positioning and a healthy dose of maniacal laughter.

Looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead. There is much blood to be drunk, after all.

Any who hold existing alliances with Ulm and who wish to maintain them please contact the new management.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

I'll take Midgard.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

PM me with your email and you'll get it :)

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

I can't read through the thread. Could somebody fill me in on the game real quickly.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Soyweiser will sub for Utgard.

Welcome to all the new leaders and best of luck :)

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Seems like there's already no need in what I wrote so I deleted it.
Good luck to all of you in defeating big and scary Bogarus.
;)

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Thanks, and hi other players. I'm the new pretender of Utgard. I'll look into specifics of nap etc later.

Anybody I'm supposed to have a NAP with, or something else, feel free to send me a pm about it.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Can we have the list of current players?

This I figured:
Utgard - Soyweiser
Ulm - Wokeye
Midgard - Psycho
Caelum - Wraithlord
Bogarus - Micah

But, I don't know who plays Mari and Agartha.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Utgard - Soyweiser
Ulm - Wokeye
Midgard - Psycho
Caelum - Wraithlord
Bogarus - Micah
Mari - slayers_ai
Agartha - is probably just staling since it is down to one province and even that would probably change in a turn or two.

I think its just us five now.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Oh and game hosts tomorrow. If anyone needs an extension now is the time to ask.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

I am heading to Seattle for a couple of days and still have not heard back from my PM to Psycho, so I would like some extra time to get things squared away.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Extra time, two days, added.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Welcome to the other new players.

Will the server be set to autohost during normal (non subbing) turns?

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Yes. 96h turnaround.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

The new Counts of Ulm advise that our skies are far too pretty and clear, and will be commissioning an air mage to install magical, menacing rain clouds for our peace of mind. Please do not consider this an act of aggression on our part - it is for our 'serenity' only.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Alright, it's been a few turns since the Great Switchover, and I have been growing more and more confident of my eventual win every turn, especially the past few in which I was able to smash Marignon's armies wholesale...3 turns ago I smashed his main land army of mages and trolls, as well as getting lucky and picking off the aegis-carrying Fallen Angle that stumbled into me. 2 turns ago I killed his teleporting army of harbingers with a seraph commander, as well as his HoF tartarians in different battles. This past turn I killed the last of his harbingers from the army (he had fled) an angel of fury, and a fallen angel...I could have tried for more, but there weren't many to be found.

I haven't suffered any significant losses while doing this. (Full disclosure: A few gem items from Earth Attacks, but not more than my production of new ones each turn, and a couple of starets, one to a pair of black hawks mixed with PD and one to a broken returning script getting killed by a lesser horror. He obviously deserved to die)

Anyhow, the turns are taking hours at this point, and I don't relish the though of spending another 15 turns (At least 45 hours of time) going after VPs in what mostly feels like a SP mopup operation at this point, so I am once again asking for a concession. With an array of vets in the game things were at least interesting, if not much fun. Now the turns are neither. (Nothing personal Slayers, but I believe the last few turns of results have proven that you're a bit outmatched.)

Feel free to say no, of course. I'll keep asking every turn until I feel something has shifted my odds down to where it would be unreasonable to make the request.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

It seems reason is in the eye of the beholder - if you really are unassailable Bogaris, then finish it! :)

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Oh, I will if I have to, I just don't enjoy having to spend hours microing each turn. How long are you spending on yours? Seems like you're playing pretty sloppy judging by the amount of loose blood stones and supply items I see floating around in your armies, those really ought to be on scouts, no?

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Sloppy lol. Some of the item allocations are a result of the previous player, some are carefully placed for maximum strategic slop impact. :) I've got too many (thousand) thralls to be careful about supply items anyway.

I'm spending about an hour per turn. Never really used to 'pool' buttons so much before.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

I'd say that taking armageddon into account even scouts aren't safe gem generators holders.

No one is safe :ahh:

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Hello again all. How's things going? :angel

As you might have noticed things took a bit longer at the hospital than expected. I (and my - what's it called, general practicioner?) thought I was suffering from an intestinal infection. Turns out I was suffering from a severe intestinal infection instead. :sick: I'll spare you the graphic details (No, they ain't pritty) but bottom line is that the infection first had to be brought under control by heavy drugs use, then I had to recover enough to allow surgery to remove a perforated piece of intestine. After which I had to recover again. Was allowed to go home a good two weeks ago, and will start working again (half time to start with) next week.

Thanks to everyone expressing concern and well wishes. As you might have gathered by now I'm not in full flower yet, but recovery goes well, and odds are I won't suffer any lasting ill effects (a small chance I'll have to keep an eye on my diet from now on, but nothing too drastic) or relapses at a later time. I wish I could get odds like those in Vegas... :smirk:

I feel slightly bad the game was left hanging so long by incertainty about my condition, it really wouldn't have been very hard to ask someone to post an update, but, well, what can I say, I just never even thought of it. (Kind souls might argue I had other things on my mind, but still... wouldn't have been too hard.) I hope everyone still in it can still find some fun dragging the game towards its end. :) Before disappearing the MM was starting to drag a bit on the fun parts of the game, but as Micah said, it was still very intresting at least. And all things considered this game has been a blast for me.

Looking towards the future, I was starting to get a bit overloaded on Dominions before my illness, and cerainly don't feel the urge to jump right back in. Probably will spend some time with other games (or other stuff) now, but Dominions, despite its few insignificant faults comes too close to what I'd consider the ideal game for my tastes, so you can all count on me occasionally visiting the forums, and I have absolutely no doubt that at some time you'll see me diving back in again.

In the mean time: Have fun.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Good to hear you're ok! Hope to see you around when you get over the burnout. :)

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Great to hear that you are ok Amhazair :)

I was quite concerned, truth be told, b/c someone mentioned earlier that you are not feeling well (Baalz IIRC) and then there was no update. Glad to hear you are out of it.

As someone who has recently been in the dominions overload zone I'd give you this advise (take or leave as you will): don't let it happen again. Keep dominions on a tight leash or it will eat all your spare time. For me - once I reduced the load I rediscovered the fun in my older hobbies (piano and reading for example). Not to mention being more with family.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

I remain continually astonished that this game is still running :)

Clearly I am skilled in the art of necromancy!

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Ironhawk - Master of Puppets.

Glad to hear you are recovering Amhazair - I'd begun to suspect one of the artifacts players had put a hit on you. :)

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Turn 100!

We also had a double stale this turn, seems like another good reason to let this thing die. Concession, anyone?

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

I attacked a province with a scout in order to route some vampires into death, but instead of retreating they attacked, although there was no undead leader in the province (only the regular pd commander). How come?

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Immortals don't retreat in dominion, might be that.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

It was my dominion, hostile for the vampires.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

My troops are just uber, for some reason.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

hosting delayed by 24h due to Micah's request.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Thanks wraith. Anyone heard from Soy? He staled last turn, has not answered my PM about said stale, and has not submitted a turn even with the extra time.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

2 players gone and Bogarus continuing on their rampage, although Marignon's PD struck a mighty blow this month and caused a truly absurd number of afflictions to one of my tarts, I have a newfound respect for curses.

Are we finding yet another round of subs, or will my once/turn concession request actually work this time around?

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

How did you count two players missing???

Micah, I think you should stop requesting for a concession every turn. There will be no concession.

You want to win the game then do so. It is VP game, not some 400 province open ended game. Besides, your nation is the strongest that is clear but I think you are underestimating the other nations.

BTW, next turn you may see some evidence to the latter statement.

EDIT, got an in game message from Mari - ok it is two players missing alright.
Well, if that's the case then why don't we end our NAP?- Let's duke it out and get this one over with.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Oh, and I think I'll try to find new subs. Out of fairness I have to give it a try before turning their nations to AI.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

I'll sub again, which nations need a sub?

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

The Nation of Ulm hereby dissolves any NAPs it has with other nations - it is now time to claim our rightful throne.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Marignon. I'll ask slayers_ai to bring you up to speed. Please send me your email address so I can put you in control.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Micah, since there is no point in prolonging this game any longer I hereby cancel our NAP. If you like we can wait the three additional turns, though we may as well skip that and allow hostilities to begin immediately. I'll leave the decision to you.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Well, so be it, how long was our NAP for again WL?

I only started "underestimating" Marignon and asking for concessions once I had smashed both of his armies and made significant progress against him.

As I said when I asked the first time, I will stop asking for a concession when I feel I am not growing in power (relative to other nations, at that) turn after turn. I suppose an impending NAP cancellation can count as a valid threat to my win though.

Regardless, I'll be surprised if there was much duking, late game fights tend to resemble scared girls slap fighting since the value of provinces is so much less than the value of now-fragile SCs.

And I would like tg to take Utgard, not Marignon, if he is alright with both, since we had good relations while he was playing the first time.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Oh, I'll take the time, thank you. There's still quite a lot of Marignon to digest, and 2 front wars even when one is just a land-grab are unwise. I'll see you in 3 turns.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Very well. Three turns it is then.

Ultimately the decision which nation to take is tgbob's. I object to him switching to Utgard now - after he has already agreed to take Mari - since I revealed some very sensitive information to him and moreover since he has already received Mari's turn. Having that knowledge and having received Mari's turn gives him an unfair advantage where he to decide he wants to switch sides now.

I am looking for sub to Utgard though and I'm willing to extend hosting to increase the chance of finding one.