Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Oh you were suggesting I fiddle with the actual image file (something I didn't really want to have do and have no capable .rgb image editor at present) but I suppose yes, it might be possible. I was hoping you'd just be able to look at the map and say presto, this is where they should go without image editing. :D

Edit: I actually see 4 great locations for them in each corner of the map without having to actually touch the image file. There are problems with that placement though especially if connected. If not, well you'd just have to bust into the midst of the enemy camp to get at em. Would provide an incentive to destroy the enemy teams.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

I'm requesting another 24h extension while my marketing team confers.

We appreciate your business and apologize for the delay - your Easy-Slay(TM) will be sent as soon as it is ready. Delays are sometimes inevitable and reflect the commitment to quality that embodies the spirit of team Easy-Slay(TM).

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

I support a 24h extension =)

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

I'm really, really hoping we get those extra 24 hrs....

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Just getting in. I've received the delay request.

4 hours left, 1 turn Caelum, still outstanding. I'm putting in the 24 hours, just in case.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

No delay needed. Your forces managed to run away once again. :re:

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Hi all,

Septimius asked me to consult on some map image edits. I can put them together for you guys. But be warned that adding new provinces requires the whole .map to be redone - this means re-connecting all provinces and re-assigning all landtypes. I don't have the time to do the .map edits.

If someone's willing to do the .map edits, specify what you want done with the image file, and I can take care of it.

cleveland

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Redone is probably overstating it. You'd need to increment the current definitions for every province numbered later than at least one new province. So if you knew what the new province numbers were, you'd know which provinces need incrementing and how many they'd need to be incremented.

Then of course you just have to fill in data for the new provinces.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Thanks for volunteering, Squirrelloid.

Just specify what you guys want. A rough jpeg would probably be best.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Thanks for stopping by Cleveland and looking into it. Sounds scary. If it can be done without a lot of extra work on my part, retaining my province connections and everything else, no prob. Cleveland, see my PM. I can provide a .jpeg with the desired sites, and .map and .rgb file as well of course. 4 sites, arranged around the center, in those border mountain graphic areas, will work fine for my purposes. I can connect em up later.

Without those image edits, the corners would be the only logical place for them that wouldn't obstruct things.

I've been toying around with the idea of introducing a single privateer/human played mercenary nation into the game for fun. In this case it'd be Altantis (as that is all that is left that is amphibious), based in the center of the map (the current center magic site).

Basically, a team could hire them in the Deva's Den. This nation for hire by the highest bidder, could loan out their services every turn or do a contract similar to the current in game mercs, 3, 4 or 5 months. I could make their cap off limits to human teams, to assure they stay in the game. A great position for someone who fancies themselves a pirate/freelancer of sorts, and can be played by anyone really. Your only bias is gold! No team communication to deal with, no diplomacy to wrangle. Hire us, and we attack your enemy for ya. :D

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

that would be... fun...

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

My internet is down.. can we get a 36 hour extension pls?

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Request received. Sorry to hear that. Try to stay in touch with me via whatever means you can manage and let me know if the situation changes.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

For game 2, I'm decided against the image edits, to keep things simpler for me, because the locations were irregular and too close to the AI and magic sites, and to implement my freelancer concept (see description in next post).

In addition to the subterranean lake in which R'lyeh's cap will be located, I'm creating 5 other underground lake (sea) provinces located in the 4 corners of the map and the former central magic site which will keep obstructions to the land game to a minimum. These 4 corner lakes will be connected to the central lake via underground streams/tunnels, but not to each other and not to R'lyeh's cap. See image below:

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/8...locationsl.jpg

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Human Freelancer/Privateer nation:

A singe human played nation, in this case, Atlantis. This is great position for someone who fancies themselves as a mercenary for hire/pirate and wants to play without the complications of team communication and diplomacy. The position is impartial and unbias, thus can be played by anyone even game admins if need be. The player who plays can name them what they like, or I can give them a merc sounding aquatic name.

Simple rules:

1. The freelancer nation's thematic path is water and they are located in the cental underwater lake site.
2. The cap is inviolate and cannot be attacked and taken by human players (except to pass through the cap, see below).
3. The freelancers can attack indies but cannot attack the AI or human players unless under contract.
4. Freelancers cap can be located on water related magic sites, gold producing sites, given starting troops, or given Krakens for cap defense just in case.

The player can set up shop in the Deva's Den and can offer a list of services they are willing to provide to interested teams, requests can be made via PM to preserve anonymity.

Example services:

a. Province intel (scouting report) - 30 gold
b. Forge a water gem based item - 40 gold and up
c. site search (water only) - 75 gold
d. Stealth preach a target (for 3 turns?) 100 gold
e. Assasination attempt - 125 gold
f. Attack a single province or any province of a single nation AI or human:
- small attack (20 sacreds) - 150 gold
- medium attack (40 sacreds) - 300 gold
- kill them all! (60 sacreds) - 600 gold
g. Attack a team (any available provinces)
- 5 turn contract - 800 gold
- 10 turn contract - 1,600 gold
h. Toll passage (one way, granted to any army to move through the central cap for one turn) - 2,500 gold

These services help to offset the cost of recruiting troops and keep their prices competitive with in-game mercs. The above is just an example of what can be offered.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

After my experience with overlords, I tend to think that the Freelancers are too complicated to really work. Also, based on my experiences with *this game*, having teams is complication enough for *anyone*! Do we really need any additional roles not supported by the rules?

It's never easy to say goodbye.

rdonj, who's been the director of research, development and brutality engineering since the inception of team Easy-Slay(TM), is leaving the easy-slay(TM) family for, we all hope, greener pastures. Let's all give him a big hand. We couldn't have made it this far without him. We've got this watch for him, and a gift basket full of the severed heads of our many enemies.

Industry veteran Frank Trollman, who is both the root and flower of despair, has agreed to take an interim appointment as research director and inspirational madman.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Well, I am sorry to hear of the loss of rdonj (I believe rdonj is dropping games to concentrate more on real world things), must remember that myself sometime. Even though currently my enemy, a fine player and adversary.

DrP, I never thought of teams as complicated, either you've got a team game or you've got free for all type game. The idea behind the privateer nation is quite simple: A single non-alligned or neutral nation (who can attack indies and can attack human players if payed or in self defense (something I forgot to mention). Hope I haven't overcomplicated things trying to make the inclusion of R'lyeh as simple, uncomplicated, and easy as possible for me and everyone else. Want to wrap up this planning as quickly as possible and shelve it.

I've come up with some other names to replac Haleheim, representing earth, fire, and steel. Had lots of fun coming up with them too:

Children of Crom *
Combustible Champions
Glowing Gladiators
Hot-Blooded Heroes *
Infernal Instigators
Fiery Foes
Madcap Men-at-arms
Nether(world) Knights *
Piping Paladins
Sizzling Soldiers
Subterranean Soldiers
Subterrenean Sentinels
Underground Upholders
Volcanic Vanquishers
Warriors of Wrath
White-hot Warmongers *
Wild Warlords

* = my personal favorites. :D

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Just in case chrispedersen doesn't need the delay I need it too.

The mercenary nations sounds like fun ... I guess if I get the chance Id play it but with the current suggestions it's much to cheap.
I mean 300 gold for 40 sacreds? A team can afford 6 such attacks on turn 1 and 40 sacreds attacking your cap on turn 2 are not exactly fun.
Maybe I understand this wrong, but the mercenaries should be more expensive than using your own forces, but more easily deployed.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Thanks for the fine send-off DrP :D.

Yeah, that is exactly right septimius. Like I've said elsewhere dominions has been taking a lot of time I need for other things. NaV in particular has been taking somewhere around 4 hours a day of my time :). That's the biggest thing team games take from you... time. Communicating with allies, plotting, figuring out how you're going to accomplish x objective in y time. I guess they're also complicated in the same sense, the organization of multiple different player's turns. And planning for how you're going to defend yourself against 12 different nations simultaneously :).

Anyway, enemies of the Devas, don't rejoice too much over my departure. Frank Trollman is a fine player, and the Devas have many more tricks up their sleeves. Under the Trollman's guidance, I have no doubt that the latest in Easy-Slay(TM) technology will hit the markets in no time and be a smashing success.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

You know, this thread is boring. Where's the drama? The passion?

rdonj is leaving, and here's his replacement.

:bored:

Won't somebody question his motives? His integrity?

:yawn:

Oh well.



Really, I'm sorry to see you go rdonj. We never actually got to square off (lucky for me). I'm sorry about that up there, but I saw your sub hunt thread for that other game - WOW!

Welcome Mr. Trollman. My wife has baked a nice pie. If you would just raise the gate and lower the drawbridge, so my messenger can bring it inside...

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

The 36 hour delay has been implemented, current nav.cfg reads 100 hours.

My above thanks goes to rdonj for participating. I of course extend it to everyone who has played, including Maerlande, Ghoul, Ling, Hoplo, Frozen, etc.

Illuminated, yeah I think the mercenary nation is a nice idea. It is not completely necessary, but would be a nice spin. Those were only suggestions of course. Whoever plays it is free to charge whatever they want for their services. The only service that I will likely require they provide is the toll passage, I suggest it be expensive to approximate what one would need to spend on assembling an army large enough to beat the magic site guardians which WILL be there if there is no Atlantian freelancer present.

Aside from 3 or 4 rules simple rules, I intend to keep it as simple as possible. They will certainly not be an overlord type nation, will not be made overly powerful, and cannot win or lose the game. Think of them as a tool a team can use. A more versatile and powerful version of an in-game merc.

You'll know "for whom the bell tolls", when you see that Atlantian banner approaching your provinces on land, or when you see a gurgling and bubbling in that underground lake in your backyard. It tolls for thee. :D

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Heh, yes, my sub thread has gone completely insane. By the way, fine job you're doing stagger lee. You have brought about an unexpected surge in effectiveness of the blessed ones and are a real credit to your team.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

att didn't show. nother appointment for tomorrow. Sorry but may I have another 12 hours?

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Thanks, but I'm still really just moving around the fun stuff Immaculate left for me. :)

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Ok, putting 12 more hours on the clock. If worse comes to worst, maybe Squirrel or another team member can submit the turns.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

children of the crom?

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Sorry to see you go rdonj! Not the least because Frank scares the hell out of me = ). But seriously, thanks for the great game, and being a heckuva opponent.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

As well he should :D

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Okay, the turn just hosted "early", causing me to stale.

Now, in the past, we've done a rollback when this happened under the promise not to look at turns?

I haven't looked at my turn - so, I want to do a rollback so I don't stale. Staleing on this turn could (and I haven't looked, so I don't know) possibly end the game, I think, so this is something of a big deal....

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Actually, scratch that. Since Sauromatia and I *both staled*, this is unlikely to have prematurely ended the game :).

Nonetheless - what do people want to do?

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Yeah, I just noticed the same thing.

Given Dr. P and I both staled, unless someone else is doing something really nasty to me (and I haven't looked), I'm ok taking the stale if he is, but this is really getting silly.

Chris could say if there's any compelling reason for me to not want a stale so I don't have to look at the turn.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Children of Crom would be my vote for the name. It'd be a good match for Supplicants of Set.

I would also vote (although unless this starts in like 6 months I wouldn't be able to play) for option 1 on the lineup. A lineup with Ashdod plus 3 weak nations is better than one with 1 UW nation and wacky map contortions to fit it in.

I also think the mercenary idea is really cool, and I would love to play that if I thought there was a prayer of schedules working out.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

I don't really think we can let this stale stand. The 3 stales are Sauromatia (yeah!), Niefelheim (boo!) and Caelum (double boo!).

I haven't looked at the turn, but it's 10 vs 4, and 2 of the 4 staleing vs. the scariest of the 10? It could be worse for us, but really...

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

I'm for a rollback. Haven't looked at my turn either but I know it's not going to be good. Might be not much better if I play but I could at least do the messages... Will go with the stale if the majority is against that.
I'm sorry for squeezing out the deadline to the max the last turns but it's simply like that - when I have important stuff to do and time to do the dominions turn (I always check before going to sleep but I often can't check during the day) the next day I'll do the other stuff first. Quite simply I need a reliable deadline. Doing a 5-min the most important stuff turn is no option in this game situation as I then don't have a deadline to do the real turn.
I personally don't mind too much but it's bad for my team, so the next stale that happens whether that's caused by me or the timer I'll have to quit.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

OK game is rolled back. Ignore that last turn file and use the one from before that.

Or do I need to resend the turns from before that one just to be sure?

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

So I can get all those S2 mages back from chrispedersen?... and that Melqart?

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Is everyone resubmitting a new turn, or just those of us who staled?

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Just getting in. Hmm, you know I would have been happy without the rollback, but apparently Gandalf says he did it. Hope no one I attacked looked at the turn, I for one, prefer not to waste my time having to redo my orders. I like to get it done, get my turn in, get on with other things. I can't speak any more about the server, everyone already knows that waiting till the last moment can be problematic. Generally, only allow those people who staled need to resubmit (without looking at the new turns). Lets get it done.

DrP, it is actually only around 9 against the Deva's four. TC and Van are AI, and Yomi will be out of the game shortly.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Bellac, thanks for your input. Seemed everyone but you, me, and Squirrel were against Ulm and Ashdod in the first lineup. That is the reason why I went with option 2. The old heads aka/wise veterans (DrP and Chris) were ardently opposed. The merc idea was actually brought to the surface again, by the addition of R'lyeh and figuring a way to work them in.

Chris, Crom is the god referred to in the Conan stories. Ulm is apparently based somewhat on Germany and of course there's that whole barbarian thing going on there (just ask the Romans :D). Never could hold onto Germania in a lasting way. What's your preference by the way?

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Everyone who says they staled send in THAT turn now.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Sent, in theory.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Very good. Waiting on Caelum and Neifel now, to submit the .2h's they were gonna send in for last turn. No peeking at the new turn. No one else submit anything. Lets get it over with and move on.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

I know who crom is "by crom" he muttered.
I like puns.. so I was making a pun on children of the corn...
hmm...

What happened to *cause* the stale by the way? And I sure hope its only drp and squirrel and caelum ....

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

I figured that might be a possiblity as well. Children of the Crom, indeed! ;)

By the gods man! I don't need puns, I need opinions. :)

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Ok.. you're studly and will father beautiful children.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Putting on my team captain hat...

if the server processed early (ie not a player fault) I'm all in favor of a redo. Fair is fair.

However, for our team grudge was only able to get in about 6 orders before he had to leave for his rugby tournament. Since my internet connectivity is spotty I had asked Squirrelloid to check and finish his turn.

As squirrel was one of the ones that had staled, I'd pretty much have to say that if we're not living with the existing turn I'd have to say squirrel has to be allowed to finish both turns he was to work on.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

I have not touched grudge's turn yet - someone let me know if i'm allowed...

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

It appears to be a server action.
So the stales now have a reasonable time to turn in their turns so we can process and move on.

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Seeing no response from anyone, I've gone ahead and caused the arco turn to be done properly. (Grudge doesn't seem to have done much before he had to take off, so it was basically a stale as it was).

If anyone feels this is really inappropriate, gandalf can use the old 2h file. But i can't stress enough how much like a stale arco's turn was. (And, having no knowledge of what's coming, its not like giving arco a real turn is in any way unfair, especially since I would have done something with it anyway if the game hadn't hosted early).

Re: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI, Running.
 

Gandalf did the rollback because it was a server error and some of you felt you were not content to let things lie. That is fine and fair.

Regarding Squirrel and Chris' request regarding Arco, I gave instructions to Gandalf to make sure only the stalers submitted to prevent as much cheating as possible on the rollback and of course to speed things up. That has generally been our policy, as you all know. Allowing Arco to submit and no one else (other than the stalers) generally violates this policy. It would be unfair and inconsistent to allow it.

But I understand the situation with the Arco turn. Grudge had indicated that he was going away for the weekend and the turn came on rather unexpectantly. Thus it could be argued he was also affected by the server error. Therefore, I am going to allow the Arco exception this time, provided there are no objections. If there are, then it will not be allowed. Hope that is clear and fair.

So that is the situation. If I see any objections about Arco, the Arco resubmission will be disallowed.

Lets get moving one way or the other please. I will check back in at around noon EST Friday, to see if those turns are in (Neifel and Caelum) and to see if there are any posts objecting to the Arco submission.

Note: We may also still have the option (depending upon what Gandalf has done with the files and what he says) to just let sleeping dogs lie, i.e. use the turns we have (if anyone didn't get a turn, they can be re-sent, DrP mentioned Ulm didn't get a turn for some reason) and just move on. But Gandalf must give the OK, and there must be NO objections or complaints from anyone. (My personal preference :D).