Re: PBEM game: The first step (Open)
 

Got it! I've reviewed my starting position, given orders, sacrificed a few goats (and a chicken), and ended my turn. Time to submit it for review... (I hope that single chicken sacrifice gets me something good!)

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Open)
 

Was it a virgin chicken? That makes a difference, I hear.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Open)
 

Doh! I only had 1 chicken and 3 roosters, so I doubt it. Maybe should've sacrificed a rooster instead - more testoserone, so it might have produced a mightier outcome?

Ok, that might be reaching a little. Will have to try something different next time.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Looks like I screwed up: I used a wrong Pretender file for Arcoscephale. Do not worry however, as I can correct that fairly easily; starting positions will be different, however, but nothing else will change.

No turn for Arcoscephale (obviously) or Machaka: those two nations should submit their turn file using the new turn files I will send them in a few minutes, though it is not needed. I hope this mail problem will be solved soon, one way or another: it will be very annoying otherwise. Cyberg Moses: if you still don't get this turn, please let me know, and I will ready a FTP for your turn files.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Okay. That's better. The turn came in just fine.

As far as guessing my pretender? Well, it was goofed up because I got the test file which had a Statue with high astral. Obviously, this is no longer the case...

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

I'm afraid that I still haven't recieved anything. Sorry about the trouble.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

URL to the file forwarded in private.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Will we recieve the next turn as soon as everyone finished, or just tomorrow (Thursday, in case the clock goes crazy) at 18:00 GMT?

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Turns always run as soon as possible; only the deadlynes stay at 1800 GMT.

I didn't get Machaka's turn: have you received the URL for the file in a private message, or perhaps even the file(s) in your mailbox? (I can hope for the latter solution, but I doubt that)

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Right, I got everything working, and the turn is on its way to you. Sorry again about the trouble.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

I didn't get anything on any of my mails. Not sure what's wrong though; perhaps you could try getting a mail on Fastmail, as mails going from the same domain should work much better? I don't know for sure if it will help however.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

You should also forward your orders to me in private, so that I can play a turn in your stead, and run next turn. I am not sure when exactly standard emailing will work, so I guess we had better find another way in the meantime.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Are you holding off on sending out a turn? Just checking in case you sent one in the last day or two and I didn't receive it.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

I am, as the problem with Machaka has yet to be solved: I had a tough time sending in the turn, and I didn't get their turn file. We are ready to go as soon as I get his turn though (or his instructions).

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Perhaps a gmail account might help.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Power to Gmail!!!

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Grrr... I seem to have missed the .co in your address. Hopefully, this should go through.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

It worked fine. I am sending the URL of the new file to you, in case my own mail doesn't work.

The next turn has run, so if you don't get the mail, please post here as usual. Gmail should do the trick to have an easier time sending mails, or you could even upload turn files somewhere.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Oh, looks like your scouts may have ended up in other provinces too. If such is the case, you might wish to consider using the "top-notch intelligence" method to know how well a province is defended.

To do so, use a commander to attack a province, put this commander as back to the left as possible, and give orders to Retreat. That way, the commander will retreat on turn one, and should be out of range of any attack... except fliers, and possibly a couple of spells independents might have. In all other cases, your commander will retreat to a friendly province, and you will be able to replay the "battle", allowing you to see all the troops in that province, how many there are, if there are annoying mages, and so on.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Finally turn 2.

Not much to do.

Noticed Machaka bought some hobbit mercenaries.
Gynther Blukraft is buyable, bunch of heavily armoured guys with flails, nice but too expensive for me. Mercenaries cost extra for pangea.

Looked at scoregraphs to get an idea of what others are doing.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Did I win yet?? Oh, I guess it's too soon to tell. That, and the fact that I'm currently at work and can't run my turn (hopefully the non-virgin chicken I sacrificed doesn't come back to bite me in the end).

Woohoo, turn 2 here we go.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Turn 2

Ermor announced Tagg Klatu the Censor as its prophet.

Pangaea announced Satyrica the Black Harpy as its prophet.

On the graphs, the Research rankings probably give a good indication of the amount of magical power (i.e., total number of path levels) of the Pretenders. The order is Ermor, Pangaea, Pythium, Machaka, Marignon, Jotunheim/Man (tie), and Arcosephale (at zero). Arco must have chosen something else for its Pretender to do.

On the other graphs, Arco is first in income, Ermor is first in gems and dominion, and Machaka is first in army size.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Argh! I'm surrounded by wastelands!

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Time to start searching for fire and earth gems! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Yeah, I'll have my Astral and water mystics get right on that!

:p

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

I hope that we can play these early turns relatively quickly. Later, things will get complicated, but there's no in-game reason at the moment to wait until the 48-hour deadline.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

He cranks out the turns as soon as the last person gets it in. The deadline is just to avoid stale turns and whatnot.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Yes, I understand that. I was speaking to the players, who I hope will not sit on their turns for the full 48 hours.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Yes, I'm hoping we get a few turns done this weekend, if at all possible, just to get this started. Though I have yet to submit my 2nd turn (still at work, argh!!) But in a few hours, it will be completed.

Now wouldn't it be an interesting twist for a game to be started by all players, but at turn 15 or so the host "switched" the players/races up, so for the rest of the game each would be in charge of a different race/pretender than they created? An interesting little twist, wouldn't you think, makes for a "different" approach to starting out, research and scouting-wise.

Just thinking out loud...

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

I am missing turns for Arcoscephale, Marignon and Machaka. Status mails will be sent once all mail-related problems are solved; until then, I will post on this thread instead.

To Machaka: you might wish to use my dominions2@yahoo.fr too, as that one will let you know when your mail is delivered (it will send a mail with a subject "Yahoo - Message d'absence" and a body of "Your mail has been received"). Using another mail account should do the trick too, or forwarding me a copy of your instructions in private, or a combination of the above.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

speaking of delinquent turns...my turn is now sent

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Ditto for me, just sent mine.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

I sent mine a while ago.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Mine is in as well.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Turn 3 has just been sent.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

This ought to give me a chance to see the superior-scout tip in action. =P
Just have to wait until everyone submits their turn...

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Just sent in my turn 3.

Interesting start, some witch cursed my units for stealing gems from her?? I didn't get an email the prior turn, but checking my treasury, I see 5 nature gems. Hmm.... how to put those to use.

And on this rather large map, how is it that I'm only 2 provinces away from one of these false pretenders I'm hearing about (me being the 1 true god)? Argh!!

Questions on diplomacy (since it doesn't apply to SP games. Is it always prefered/recommended early in the game to allow everybody to ramp up? Is it frowned upon too early? Just curious (not that my neighbor "deserves" an alliance with me, but just curious).

- Shmonk

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Players are put on the map fairly randomly, but it isn't really big: there are only 145 provinces, for 8 players (I think), and it is a warp-around map, so you are likely to start with someone very closeby. The maximum distance between your capital and someone's else should be under ten provinces; eight is the maximum I think.

The witch thing was a random event: those happen randomly (duh), though the game can affect them - a nation with a Death scale is more likely to get plagues for example. So you didn't actually do anything, but the dice gave you this event (a good one too, unless the curse happens to target your important commanders).

Ah, diplomacy. There is no hard rule here, but you will usually agree to be neutral with your fellow players... except if you want to attack them early on, of course. Expansion tends to focus on beating the independents as soon as possible, but you might consider province trades after that. Doing too well could result in an early war, but it seems unlikely: having more provinces on turn 15 does not mean much, and if you do have more provinces, you should have the upper hand in a war.

A nation like Ermor (the death themes at least) has also trouble with its Dominion, since nobody wants to see their population dying off (and Ermor will likely have very poor scales). It can be worked around however, especially if the Ermorian player is willing to keep Dominion under control. If this player starts casting Utterdark and spreads Dominion like mad, it will be another matter altogether. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Turn 3

According to the graphs, Ermor, Marignon, and Machaka each gained a province. Arco jumped close to Machaka in army size by winning the bid for mercenaries. Pangaea now leads in research, with Pythium a close second.

The Hall of Fame shows two Pretenders with kills -- Gran of Machaka and Fortu of Marignon. The Ermorian Prophet Tagg Klatu also made the list.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

By looking at the change in research you can see which players sent their pretenders out conquering indies (since that nation's reasearch flat-lined it means the pretender isnt researching).
Interesting how Ermor and Marignon have the upper hand as far as conquest goes, as they are each others arch-nemesis (as far as the story goes at least, though Marignon should have the upper hand as far as combat goes as well http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif ).
Cant wait to see some real action (and probably my pretender banished form this world as well http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif ).

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Ermor is probably summoning a dusk elder.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Great my luck is just going great. The independts around me are all Milita/longbowmen/heavy infantry/crossbowmen/knights.
Theres also a druid province and barbarian province.
All my provinces have knights. I saw one province that had milita+longbowmen, I go to conqure it with my army. 4 Knight commanders and 3 knights!!!. The druid province I am attacking will probaly contain darkvines. My luck is just going great!!!

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Five turns (out of eight) are in.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Good point about Ermor.
Though if he only plans to research with his summon, a spectator would be more efficient as they can summon themselves (just like dusk elders) but they (spectators) offer more RP/DeathGems.
Now give me my turn!
I have a big test on monday and I don't want any turn on my head while Im doing it =P.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Speaking of Marignon and Ermor, I am curious about the real world history that inspired them. I know that Ermor represents the Roman Empire, and Pythium represents the Byzantine Empire (the Eastern half of the Roman empire that survived Rome's fall). I have heard that Marignon is supposed to be medieval Spain, and some of the names do sound Spanish. However, other names sound more French (like Marignon itself) or Italian. Perhaps Marignon represents all of medieval Christendom.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

I would say Marignon is southern France/northern Spain, with the Holy See (Marignon has a Cardinal, like Pythium if memory serves). The part of France I am thinking of is the lands of the Cathars, as it would be fairly close to Marignon, I believe. Add the Inquisition, maybe even the Reconquista, shake a lot, and you have Marignon. That's how I see them at any rate.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Any tips on killing Knights+Lowbowmen+milita/heavy infantry/light infantry, as man. My last atempt to expand was at a "20 or so milita/lowbowmen" that also had 3 knights+4 knight commanders. Right now my expansion efforts are going to get crushed since I am pretty much surounded by that stuff.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Make some knights and longbows of your own.

Perhaps use lots of longbows on the barbarians. Barbarians got low protection and morale.

Buy some good mercenaries if you want to expand early.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Everybody is in except Machaka and Arcoscephale.

Your best bet is to go after the Barbarians or the Woodsmen for now I guess, backed by longbowmen. They should be able to make them rout fairly quickly. You may also want to pull your infantry to the back of your army, or even keep them with the longbowmen: a small squad is more likely to rout.

I am not sure what else to do with mundane troops, but then I do poorly with national troops. A row of spearmen (long spears preferably) may do the trick to halt the charge of the knights, backed by a few of the damage-dealing troops of Man (Axemen or Tower Guards). Alternatively, it might be possible to do something with Tangle Vines to keep the Knights entangled, and some firepower support: the Crones can cast Lightning Bolt at Evocation 2, a killer spell as it bypasses armour.

Re: PBEM game: The first step (Running)
 

Tangle vines, I did not think of that. Right now, I am trying to kill the druids. But knowing my luck I bet there are lik 9 darkvines in that province.