Re: Rampant stales
 

The stats page is always correct in a sense that it does exactly what it is told to do. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif "Missed a turn" only happened when we stopped the timer and nobody told the status script. I have, however, checked the game files in both cases to confirm the real stales for those four nations.

Re: Rampant stales
 

"I bring news from the armies of the south-- by the God, what happened here?"
The sentry squad was led, of all things, by a mystic. The hermits weren't lookers at the best of times, but this one seemed to have aged twenty years in a day.
"Battle. Big one. I'll take you to the command tent."
The mystic swung aboard the chariot and pointed the way. They rattled past rows of bodies, Ermorian and Arcoscephalian, past healers' tents and the sounds of moaning and priestesses' chants, past captains haranguing ragged ranks of troops towards the Ermorian fortress looming in the distance. Even mages were addressing troops -- with a start, he realised what casualties amongst the officers must have been like.
"What happened there?" The messenger gestured at a particularly dense pile of charred corpses and half-melted chariots.
"That was where their false god made his stand. Victory is wonderful, isn't it?"

--

Thanks for playing, Amhazair! You were a great opponent, with an amazing knack for turning the situation around every time I thought I had you down for the count. Even this showdown was extraordinarily close (no thanks to my mages, who didn't cast some of the spells they were scripted to!).

I'm glad to hear you had fun, and I look forward to playing against you again. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

P.S. Did you see what happened to your bane? I was too busy watching that huge melee in the middle of the field to notice his death -- did he get taken down in melee, Soul Slain, or what?

Re: Rampant stales
 

Oh, okay. I guess it's time to get in touch with the players, then...

Re: Rampant stales
 

That big water elemental ate him up. 4x Crush + Weapons of Sharpness = ouchie.

Re: Rampant stales
 

Now that was a bit of unhoped-for serendipity! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

By the way, what happened to the new turn?

Re: Rampant stales
 

I turned off the timer because only three players had their turns in at that time. Plus, the following:

<font class="small">Code:</font><hr /><pre>2007-07-28 14:09 early_kailasa.2h
2007-07-22 16:25 early_oceania.2h
2007-08-05 19:17 early_ulm.2h
2007-08-13 22:46 early_vanheim.2h</pre><hr />
Those are the last times that those nations uploaded turns to the server. 5 weeks for Kailasa, 6 weeks for oceania, 4 weeks for Ulm, 3 weeks for Vanheim. I think the game is pretty much dead if they don't continue playing. That's quite unfortunate, especially for you who has clear chances to win the game, but do you really want to beat a dead horse for that win? I think I have some chance at winning, too, given the situation and Micah's excellent subbing in my absence, but I have no trouble to declare you the winner and move on. Would be easier than to find subs for over half of the players still in the game. What do you think?

P.S.: In case we hear back from those players I'm all set for continuing the game. If you are one of those nations that has been stalling and came back, please say hello!
P.P.S.: I think what killed the game was the turn timer. I think I will stick to 48 hours for my games from now on.

Re: Rampant stales
 

Honestly, it wouldn't feel like a real victory (though Amhazair did put up a hell of a fight!) -- I was kind of looking forward to matching wits with the rest of the players in the game! I'd rather find subs, although if we can't, I suppose I don't mind being declared winner. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

We can always set Ulm AI, if we have to. That would just leave us with 3 places to fill -- not insurmountable.

And no, I don't think the timer was the problem -- 72h is not that much longer than 48, and I wouldn't have time to play anything faster than 72. I think the pauses (partly brought on by my RL travelling) that were the issue, exacerbated by distraction (in Teraswaerto's case).

Re: Rampant stales
 

Hi all, This is Beefeater1980 from the Quartertothree forums. Mind Elemental suggested that I step into the pointy boots of one of the pretenders here and I'm happy to join whichever of Ulm or Vanheim's going (pretty new to the game so I'd rather not take a race I've not played before such as Kailasa or Oceania).

By the way, nice avatar Mind Elemental - love that series. I prefer Oberstein though, as he's far and away the most impressive of the Space Prussians.

Welcome!
 

Howdy! I'd suggest Vanheim rather than Ulm -- it's in a far, far better position (as far as I can tell, Ulm's neighbours are feasting on what's left of its lands).

And thanks! You get major kudos for being the first person to recognise the avatar. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Oh, Oberstein might be shrewder, but he's not quite so inspirational... far more of a 'power behind the throne' type, whereas Reinhard is something of a jack of all trades. Come to think of it, I do have a somewhat nicer Reinhard icon lying around somewhere. I'll have to dust it off...

Re: Welcome!
 

Hi and welcome, feel free to take Vanheim, it doesn't seem like the original player will be back. Ulm is almost dead, anyway, and he didn't enjoy the game. I'll turn him AI in case he hasn't done so already himself. Only two more vacant spots!