Re: Masquerades queries
 

For SP games the water nations are a good place to start... unfortunately the AI land nations are very poor with attacking water provinces so eventually you'll want to choose a land nation and maps with very few water provinces.

Also max out supplies for the game settings as this will help the AI from starving its troops.

Re: Masquerades queries
 

A good guide for magic paths on mages is:-

Lvl 1 = Weak
Lvl 2 = Average
Lvl 3 = Strong
Lvl 4 = Powerful
Lvl 5+ = Pretender God

Re: Masquerades queries
 

I like those titles. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Partly bearing in mind a few nations can get 5's on random picks, so it's not exclusive of those with delusions of godhood. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: Masquerades queries
 

Ahhh...so thats where I got them from... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Yours sound better.

Re: Masquerades queries
 

I had noticed that the AI appeared reluctant to pursue once it had driven me off land.
I'd assumed this was because the units available to them via coastal provinces in the map were judged insufficient for the task by the AI and/or they had no amphibious summons/chose not to dedicate their gems to summoning them.
I'm assuming, from NT Jedi's comment, that this isn't quite the whole story and that regardless of their capabilities in assaulting me in the sea they'll choose not to. Is this so?
If so that's quite disconcerting, personally I'd rather get my bearings with the game on a bit more level footing with the opponent. Would there be any way to encourage the AI to be more confident or overcome whatever holds them back?

Just another quick question while I'm blabbing. I'm currently a bit uncertain about the transition from land to sea income and resource wise. The manual didn't seem too clear as to whether coastal forts gathered the excess resources from adjacent sea provinces or not - same for sea forts to land provinces so I'd appreciate if anyone can clear that one up for me. Umm, also I'm under the impression that land provinces produce more resources or income or just generally are better all round. Am I right in this and are sea based nations at a distinct disadvantage therefore?

Re: Masquerades queries
 

Nit: "archmage" definitely sounds higher-level than "master."

The AI is perfectly willing to push into the water. It's not easy to do, though.

I don't think coastal forts gather from sea provinces even if you are an aquatic race. I haven't tested it, though, which is the way you often have to settle questions w/rt this game: test it directly or ask someone woh has. Sea provinces in my experience give much better gold income than land provinces. I think they count as some kind of rich farmland. I'm not sure how good they are for resources or gems.

-Max

Re: Masquerades queries
 

I actually liked your first ones.

-Max

Re: Masquerades queries
 

I was just goofing around. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Semantics is a funny science. Connotation of arbitrary terms is bound to vary from subject to subject. To me, Archmage means that he's above a Mage, and Master is the teacher, so above all others (unless they get all mystically touched and head to 5+ land http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif). Whereas to you, Archmage means he above all other mages, and the master is -just- a teacher (my guess). It's all relevant depending on perspective. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif


As far as the castles go, no there really isn't any resource transfer from land-sea or sea-land. And for a long time I felt I had observed most sea provinces to be high income as well, but now the more I play, I can't see any bonus modifier (income stays relative), so it seems to me that for some reason randomly generated maps tend towards higher pop in sea? For the most part, the MP maps I've been playing on lately, don't do aquatics any big favors on income. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif Though Glory for example seems to like to punish everyone equally on gold income. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Masquerades queries
 

I always considered arch-mages the pinnacle of mage-hood

Re: Masquerades queries
 

Well it is true, they are to be considered extremely powerful no matter how you slice it. To be terribly fair, I probably did what I was trying not to do, I ended up using 2 terms that are for most purposes interchangable. It's actually very hard, because so many people have used the terms in so many ways, to make an easily recognizable hierarchy. Realistically over time, these mystical titles can easily be broken down into 3 categories corresponding to Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master. Unfortunately, when you try to go to 4 ranks and above, you start to have to steal terms from those 3 categories, and shove them inbetween to fill the gaps.

For example, I was going to have the first 2 be Initiate and Novice/Novitiate. I was upset to find that the dictionary considers them to be synonyms. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif