Re: Turn 39
 

Ah, the fun of fighting Ermor.

Here it is, only Turn 39 and look what has already happened:
1. Ermor invaded and mostly killed Ulm very early. He has maybe 300 troops still in Ulm territory.
2. I have been at war for about 15 turns and killed about 600 undead troops so far.
3. So Ermor invades with yet another 500 troops. See attached jpeg file for the latest invading army.
4. My spies and scrying can still see another 500 or so troops in Ermor home territory.

Something should be done about this unbalance. Though I am not sure how to solve this problem. Obviously the final Zen mods were not correct with respect to Ermor. Perhaps the Ermor Capitol can be modified to produce only 5 death gems instead of 10 gems. And is this even enough? I don't really know, for I have never played a death Ermor theme myself.

Maybe I should go read the other forum and see what has been posted about this problem. But probably not, for I am really getting burned out on Dominions plus reading the forum takes time. I have been fighting Ermor for months now in various games and I am sick and tired of it. I guess since I have now played all 17 nations in MP, it must be about time to finally put the D2 disc up and retire from MP.

I must admit that I have played Dominions for as long as any other game except perhaps for HoMM3 and SC.


Oh, by the way. I lost this latest battle, though I did kill 262 of the 484 undead troops.

Re: Turn 39
 

yah, I saw that battle. The key w/ ermor is what it has always been: diplomacy, and a combined attack. Its very difficult to stand up against undead ermor by one's lonesome; especially for a nation like jotunheim w/ large and expensive troops. (though I do like gygias for wither bones, once you have that researched)

difficult research games also give a big boost to ermor.

but I don't think I've ever found ermor especially unbalanced in the games I've played, other than those w/ norfleet ;p - it just seems like Boron had very favorable circumstances here: started isolated, built up dominion, immediately attacked a very weak anti-ermor nation (BF Ulm) upon meeting; then became involved w/ another weak anti-ermor nation, the jots.

unhappily, I am not situated to deal w/ ermor at all. OTOH, i do have a very nice new lizardskin rug.

Re: Turn 39
 

I played Ashen Empire for the first time on SP, and it shocked me to see how different it plays... almost a completely different game. It's like a football game where you get several hundred trained pigs instead of a regular team. The AI has absolutely no clue how to play against the theme, though an occasional army of priests gave me short trouble. I can easily see how these games which are modified to slow the pace would give them an advantage. Though it would have been interesting to see how it would have gone down, I'm glad there are no death themes in the Council of Wyrms. The reason I don't like it is because it creates a metagaming nightmare; if you start next to them without a counter, you are screwed.

Don't give up, Panther! You can always join games without a Death theme (the Artifact game should be beginning shortly...)

Re: Turn 40
 

Turn 40 is out.

Deadline is Thursday, Dec. 15 at 9:00 pm EST.

Southeast Vampire Rebels Retake Homeland
 

[img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img]

News Flash!!!!!

The Ulm United Front Defense Army (U.U.F.D.A.) (aka the Southeast Vampire Rebels) have retaken the capitol city of their sacred homeland from the stinky Ermorean undead smear. There would be cheers in the street, but the Smear's leaders trashed the city, and unrest is over 300!!!!

BOOOOOOO Ermor! BOOOOOOO!!!

[img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img]

Re: Southeast Vampire Rebels Retake Homeland
 

Way to go UUFDA!!

Now we just need the others next to Ermor to take a chunk out of him... <hint> Machaka <hint>

holiday hosting schedule
 

I will be out of town for the upcoming holiday. Has a hosting delay been considered yet? Myself, I would be able to take a turn for Tuesday Dec 20, but after that I'm out of town for the rest of the year. Myself, I would like it if we can just put this game on hold until January 1, and wanted to see what other players' plans/thoughts are on this.

Re: holiday hosting schedule
 

I am happy to take the year off after Tuesday's turn.

Oh... Turn 42 is out, and its deadline is Tuesday.

Pasha

Re: holiday hosting schedule
 

Time to announce a new battle hymn for Ermor:
March of the Dead (from Gothminister) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif.

Re: holiday hosting schedule
 

I can live with waiting til the new year.

Turn 43
 

Turn 43 is out.

Deadline is Sunday, JANUARY 1, 2006 at 9:00 pm. (We're taking a holiday break.)

Pasha

Happy New Year
 

We're starting this game up again.

Turn deadline is Sunday, Jan 1 at 9:00 pm EST.

Turn 44
 

Turn 44 is out.

Deadline is Tuesday, Jan 3.

Re: Turn 45
 

Turn 45 is out.

Deadline is Thursday, Jan. 5

Re: Turn 46
 

Turn 46 is out.

Deadline is Sunday.

Re: Turn 47
 

Turn 47 is out

Deadline is Tuesday, Jan. 10.

Re: Turn 48
 

Turn 48 is out.

Deadline is Thursday, Jan. 12 at 9:00 pm EST.

Re: Turn 49
 

Turn 49 is out.

Deadline is Sunday, January 15, 2006 at 9:00 pm EST.

Re: Turn 50
 

Turn 50 is out.

Deadline is Tuesday, January 17 at 9:00 pm EST.

Re: Turn 50
 

their roots mired in blood, slowly a dark wood moves.

Re: Turn 51
 

Turn 51 is out!

Deadline is Thursday.

Southeast Vampire Rebels Win Again! Booooo Ermor!
 

[img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img]

News Flash!!!!! <Beep-bah-Beep-Beep! Beep-Beep-bah-Beep-Beep!>

This story just in from the sacred homeland of the Ulm United Front Defense Army (U.U.F.D.A.) (aka the Southeast Vampire Rebels), who are fighting bravely to regain their lands from the stinky Ermorean undead smear following an unprovoked invasion by said smear.

U.U.F.D.A. has retaken another sacred castle from the Evil Emorians lead by the Dastardly Boron.

[img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Envy.gif[/img] http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Envy.gif[/img] http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Envy.gif[/img] BOOOOOOO Ermor! BOOOOOOO Boron!!! BOOOOOOOOOO!!! [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Envy.gif[/img] http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Envy.gif[/img] http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Envy.gif[/img]

Lord Pasha and the Southeast Vampire Rebels wish to thank their benefactor (who will remain unnamed) who has been funneling cash and resources to the Freedom Fighters! Thank you! Thank you!

The bad news is that the Dastardly Boron and his smear has raped and ruined every province he rudely swiped from the Noble Ulmish Lords. It will take months and months to fully recover and quell all the unrest!

[img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Envy.gif[/img] http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Envy.gif[/img] http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Envy.gif[/img] BOOOOOOO Ermor! BOOOOOOO Boron!!! BOOOOOOOOOO!!! [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Envy.gif[/img] http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Envy.gif[/img] http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Envy.gif[/img]

<Beep-bah-Beep-Beep! Beep-Beep-bah-Beep-Beep!>

[img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img]

Re: Southeast Vampire Rebels Win Again! Booooo Er
 

Playing a blessed Ermor is not so useful i found out. A blessed Ermor is just extremely unflexible, especially with CB.
Ermor is dying now but it has been a very fun game nontheless http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif. Hopefully i will be able to get revenge in a future game, i can't remember any longtermgame i played with Arch where he has not won http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif. This sentence was not meant as a rant but as a compliment for you Arch http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Southeast Vampire Rebels Win Again! Booooo Er
 

Booooooooo, Ermor!!!!!!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Southeast Vampire Rebels Win Again! Booooo Er
 

I suppose this is the first time I have ever seen a triple 9 + 4 bless effect. I didn't even know such a thing was possible! Only death Ermor could attempt such a thing.

It is really just too bad that Boron went AE Ermor, or I probably would have allied with him to try and stop Arch from winning yet another MP game. But allying with Ermor is just plain wrong, for the 10 dominion combined with lots of area (plus many temples) causes the destruction of any nearby territories.

Of course, attacking Boron is also a losing cause, truly a can't win position for the big cat in this one.

However, the player who really got the shaft in this game is Cainehill. He has been stuck in the frozen tundra the entire game with no hope of ever breaking out. It is amazing to me that he is still alive. I suppose he is not dead only cause I declared war on Ermor. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Anyway, I see a lot of games that are highly dependant on starting position, like in this game. But that is the luck of the draw!

By the way (for everybody's amusement), I have attached a .jpg file which was the result from scrying in the Ermor capitol. See for yourself if Boron is dead or not!

Re: Southeast Vampire Rebels Win Again! Booooo Er
 

If Ermor is having so much trouble, then I advise that they evacuate the Ulmish Holy Land and lick their wounds in their own backyard. My vampires need more space for flying around.

Re: Southeast Vampire Rebels Win Again! Booooo Er
 

Shafted? Why, I got all the women, all the wine, all the booze. How could I be shafted? Oh, wait - my advisor tells me that we have no wine (against religion), no women - also against the Priestess's religion, and he only said we had _blues_, not booze. Bah! New advisor!

But, no - I'm alive in part because some players, over the past few years, have learned that I'm loyal/faithful sometimes to the point of stupidity, which has earned me some loyal friends / allies - at least, in non-blitz games. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif ( Blitzes, depending on starting positions, all beasts, er, bets / friends, are off. )

Of course, I'm also alive 'cause I spanked Tien Chi a couple times - I'm more Guderian than Rommel, I'm better on defense than attack. Sucks to be on defense, but hey! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

True enough. Unless it's too obnoxious, I only really hate starting pos when it's a blitz game, since .... First, you don't have time to do really serious diplomacy without slowing the game to a crippling halt (as per Stormbinder and Cohen, leading me to declare war against them on turn 2, just to avoid 30 minute turns on turn 10). Second, a regular game, who cares if you're really getting thrashed? If it only takes 5 minutes on turn 50, okay. But a blitz, all too often someone's turns take 4 minutes while some others take 30.

Blitz games, the random positions can really suck. Long term games, well, you can get screwed too, but it only takes a couple minutes a day.

This is, however, why I'm starting to like the thought of pre-ordained starting positions more and more, to make for more balanced MP games. (FFA or teams - we had a great team game blitz Sunday, 3 nations against 4 - us of the Triad got smashed, but with better starting positions it would've really been interesting. Team blitz games are great fun. ( As long as Boron and I aren't on the same team http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif )

Re: Southeast Vampire Rebels Win Again! Booooo Er
 

yah, i like map-mod scenario-ish pre-set starting positions. It allows one to add a bit of spice to the start if one wants, as well.

Re: Southeast Vampire Rebels Win Again! Booooo Er
 

Hey that are just normal undeads http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif. I think 1 black sorceror equals 100 ermor undeads. Has been a while that i played ashen empire and if it is a while the memories will get corrupted http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif. Trying to rely on longdead cavalry (i spent 70% of my deathgems on arch bishops!) was in retrospective a bad idea http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif.
Or rather as you say taking ermor was probably the really bad idea.
But having hindered 3 other players from winning is a fun success nontheless for me http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif. Because i tend to have a Micromanagementphobia in Dominions. That's why i hoard because this way i have the chance to win by quantity.
Already in starcraft i always relied on Macro and hated Micro. But since i can't hoard with CB i changed my playstyle. Now i try to annoy as many nations as possible because i don't play for winning but for the joy to take down as many other players with me while losing as i can.
So i often play Ragnarok-like in longterm games with CB now and enjoy it.
I hope you don't mind. But hey Dominions is a wargame and i am bringing the war to my neighbors so i do you all a favour by keeping the game exciting from earlygame on http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Southeast Vampire Rebels Win Again! Booooo Er
 

Pardon me for asking, but I have never played undead Ermor before. Exactly how do you get those sacred cavalry anyway? Do they simply show up for free among the normal cavalry?

And yes, the wars have been fun. Though they were not at first when it looked like you were going to blitz me so fast. But, as you say, having an army size of 300 it not as scary from Ermor as it is with any other nation. When I finally won the first big battle, it was truly sweet!

One thing you did for me was to keep my empire fairly small, which translates into quick turns. And easy turns are a very nice thing for me right now with all that is going on in my life!

Re: Southeast Vampire Rebels Win Again! Booooo Er
 

Those sacred cavalry just show up at any castle in Ashen Empire. They are quite nice, but far from invincible. I enjoyed the Wights more when I played my one AE game (it wasn't that much fun... AI doesn't build enough priests... and you just throw giant piles of garbage everywhere and you win)

Re: Southeast Vampire Rebels Win Again! Booooo Er
 

As Morkilus says you get the knights of the sepulchre as freespawns when you have a castle (and a temple i believe).
But it is problematic.
First AE kills population really quick. So you are most likely not getting much income from indy provinces, you have to get that later from other nations by outrunning your dominion.
Second there is the commander problem, it is huge with Ermor.
They pop up too rarely as freespawns. And to get the bless effect you need to use priests, imho its best to use an archbishop with lvl 4 for battlefield wide bless. But he costs 20 Deathgems.

I was summoning many archbishops though, they reanimate those normal longdead horsemen.

Ermor is just one dimensional, and my build even more ;(.

Turn 52 out
 

Hi All:

Turn 52 is out.

Deadline is Sunday, January 22 at 9:00 pm.

Pasha

Re: Turn 54
 

Turn 54 is out.

Deadline is Thursday, Jan. 26 at 9:00 pm EST.

Re: Turn 55
 

Turn 55 is out.

Deadline is Sunday, January 29, 2006 at 9:00 p.m. EST.

Re: Turn 56
 

Turn 56 is out.

Deadline is Tuesday, January 31, 2006 at 9:00 pm EST.

Re: Turn 57
 

Turn 57 is out.

Deadline is Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006 at 9:00 p.m. EST.

Re: Turn 58
 

Turn 58 is out.

Deadline is Sunday, Feb. 5.

Re: Turn 59
 

Turn 59 is out.

Deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 9:00 p.m. EST.

Re: Turn 60
 

Turn 60 is out.

Deadline is Thursday.

Re: Turn 61
 

Turn 61 is out.

Deadline is Sunday.

Re: Turn 61
 

I did not receive the turn file.

Re: Turn 61
 

Ok. I will send again.

Re: Turn 62
 

Turn 62 is out.

Deadline is Tuesday.

Re: Turn 62
 

wow - that was some crazy battle between ermor and the jots - I've never seen so many undead cavalry in any battle ever.

Re: Turn 62
 

Saw the battle too. Was somewhat fun http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif. Unfortunately i lost half of my undeads and now Machaka is attacking with a large army against which i can't defend probably.

Re: Turn 62
 

newt urn

That battle between machaka and ermor has to be the closest grand battle I have ever seen - a few vine ogres fewer or a lucky enfilade and the machak mage corps would have been destroyed.

bravo!

edit: oh wait, lol, ermor actually prevailed ;p

++edit: am I seeing an alternate reality battle replay? It definitely ends w/ ermor routing, and the machak mage corp intact... but the province is occupied by ermor

Re: Turn 62
 

AWESOME BATTLE!! That is the biggest I've ever seen, I'd love to know the numbers involved, on both sides. A very entertaining 10-15 minutes for me (I would pause it periodically to see the damage areas affected).

And you're right arch, the province is now owned by Ermor, that's interesting. <shrug>

But truly a fun romp to watch! I'm glad I didn't miss it (though as I slowly get absorbed by you, I won't be around for much longer).

Re: Turn 62
 

yah sorry about that http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/redface.gif

usually incongruent battle results are the result of the players and the server running different patches... perhaps the server doesn't have the latest? or us...

a battle so close to call even the game can't agree http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: Turn 62
 

I can't explain what happened to the battle, but I'd say that the computer took a LONG LONG time to host the turn.