Re: Small Talk
 

I'm working my nerve up to do it.

Unfortunantly, his SC pretender is sitting almost on my border, so I shan't get very far without some mercs.

Which Ryleh keeps buying.

Re: Small Talk
 

I've been having some trouble with my home (read gaming) Internet connection today, before leaving for work. We'll see if I cannot resolve it tomorrow, or if it has fixed itself. Not asking for any particular action right now, just an FYI I will follow up on.

Re: Small Talk
 

Was I able to send in turn 12? It appears not, from that stale turn message. Pity. Turn 13 sent.

Re: Small Talk
 

I'm not bidding on Heavy Horsemen this turn http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: Small Talk
 

If any of you guys fancy another game, SmokyBat is now waiting for players. Planning to use the Cradle of Dominion map, which is a lovely map IMHO. 12-14 players hopefully.

Re: Small Talk
 

No response received. I think it's either replacement or AI time for Shinuyama.

Re: Small Talk
 

Yeah. I noticed.

I just blew an extra 50 gold on them. You did that on purpose, didn't you?

Re: Small Talk
 

Okay, I will take Shinuyama's turn this evening, then advertise for a replacement when I get a chance.

Re: Small Talk
 

Wow! Abysia and Atlantis are big!

Lots to do for Shinuyama... think I might carry on playing this for a bit if people don't mind. I reckon the multiple turns of staling (6 perhaps?) probably cancel out the fact I've played a few more games.

Re: Small Talk
 

I don't mind. Loren, did you get my PM?

Re: Small Talk
 

Llama, you don't mind if I take that one province, on my border, do you? I was in the middle of negotiating for it when he started staling, or I probably would have taken advantage of his staling some time ago.

Re: Small Talk
 

Grr! Shinuyama is under new management, and will no longer be pushed around! Every province is critical to our small empire. Besides, we feel the current boundary is a very natural one, with the sea lying between us. We would however be interested in proposing a non-aggression pact, so that we may each focus our attentions elsewhere.

In other news, Shinuyama is proud to report a considerable turnaround in the war with Abysia. Three (admittedly small) Abysian armies were annihilated to a man, and their mighty pretender was (astonishingly) brought down by a swarm of o-bakemono.

Re: Small Talk
 

Dear llamabeast, you need to revive the Shinuyama guide thread. Admittedly, I suck with Shinuyama, but I thought such a feat was impossible. How did you pull it off? Or did you just have six turns of income to spend on hordes of low-resource o-bakemono?

Re: Small Talk
 

Speactacular strategic planning combined with an advanced tactical paradigm mainly, I'd say http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Small Talk
 

I should've known someone would be taking control sooner or later. Those huge armies out of nowhere were too much for my little almost scouting armies...I guess the real war starts now, since it was just taking empty provinces so far...

Anyway, i thought my fear+awe E9 F4 ciclops pretender would do much better against those o-bakemono...he routed much too early http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Well done llamabeast!

Re: Small Talk
 

Even if I don't win, I'll be happy with this game. Each turn is another trip to the candy store. Not a single province around my capital is without a site. How else would I have 300 resources? Some of them are of the common, 20 gold copper mine variety. But I've never had so many. Are you sure the site frequency is standard, llamabeast? Then again, I am surrounded by mountain-forests instead of the usual farmlands with their penalty to site frequency. Is the bonus from forests and mountains cumulative?

Re: Small Talk
 

I think something's gone wrong with the current turn (it says I staled when I'm sure I didn't, and I have an idea why as I messed the server up slightly). Hang on a minute while I look into it...

Re: Small Talk
 

Did we fall into a time warp or something?

My last turn did not execute (actually, a bit of good luck as a barbarian horde showed up in the province my army was passing through!) and we are now 4 turns ahead.

Re: Small Talk
 

Yep. Nobody panic! I've worked out what went wrong. It's my fault. I was messing with things because of some problems I had earlier with Chinchilla. The Golden Rule I am learning from running this server - don't mess with things! You'll always do it wrong then everything will go pear-shaped.

Give me a few minutes to find your 2h files from the e-mail backup (it lost them in the time-warp unfortunately) and I will rehost the turn.

Re: Small Talk
 

Good--it's not willing to take my current turn, it says it's turn 20 but it wants 17.

Re: Small Talk
 

Whew, fixed. That was messy. I had to go through the back-up inbox (I get all the the LlamaServer e-mails to forward to a gmail account, and now I'm glad of it!). The LlamaServer gets loads of e-mails in a day now, it's quite hard to find all the ones for a particular game. Anyway, all done now.

Re: Small Talk
 

Llamabeast, consider Thunderbird or something to back up your emails (leave copy or something), I use the filters to stuff all "Jaguar" games into a single folder.

Re: Small Talk
 

I seem to be the only chatty one, but here's a little report.

I spent 580 gold trying to buy mercenaries away from R'lyeh, and yet they still got ALL the mercs. I even cannibalized all my fire and earth gems. Fortunately, they don't seem to be nearby. I say fortunately, because I'm invading their virtually undefended provinces.

Before cannibalizing all those gems, though, I forged four Dwarven Hammers for 48 gems.

Re: Small Talk
 

The game sent a message this turn saying that Man had cheated. Unfortunately it seems to do this from time to time - I think it happens when someone cancels units they had queued on a previous turn or something.

Anyway, although I'm certain Loren's trustworthy, just to be sure I took the considerable liberty of checking Man's turn, taking great care not to look at anything but the treasury section at the top and covering the rest of the screen (sorry for even doing that Loren). I can confirm Man definitely didn't cheat.

Re: Small Talk
 

I meant to say before - me too! Your pretender was very well-designed and solid, I was staggered he got killed.

Re: Small Talk
 

I had several strange things happen, all my scouting reports are as if the canceled turn 20 had executed (I *DID* submit one before the rollback)--I see the provinces they were ordered to move to, I do *NOT* see the provinces they were currently in.

I'm thinking that perhaps the game also figured my expenses based on that canceled turn--they would have been slightly lower. I don't have the info around to confirm or deny this idea. Does anyone know how this might be checked?


Incidentally, my hero in Glimmering Fields was not an attack on whoever's province it was. That was some sort of random event I have never seen other than as LA Ermor. There's no note in my turn report about his arrival, just about him taking the province.

Re: Small Talk
 

Ooh, Loren - I know why you're getting all this weird behaviour (although it doesn't explain the cheating report at all) - make sure to delete all 2h files in your Jaguar folder. Then look again, and it should be back to normal.

Surprisingly the 2h files contain information about the state of play. Being as you had your erroneous "turn 20" 2h in the folder (which is actually also a turn 17), it will have thrown things.

Re: Small Talk
 

There aren't any extra files in there. It's behaving properly now anyway.

Re: Small Talk
 

The war between me and R'lyeh is going swimmingly.

My forces have been forced to go back upstream, but all is well. I couldn't be having more fun if a magic fish granted me three wishes.

R'lyeh has made his counterattack, reclaiming 67 & 75 Barra and Bhamot (though I may never have had either. He's got a mind-numbing amount of Illithids, and will probably take back 80, 85 next turn. I expect my measly forces will have to abandon the siege of the Crystal Fortress (85), but I hardly expected to take down a 1000 strength fortress with 40 something troops... I've pulled back my forces to friendly territory further inland, so I can defend fewer targets.

Lets see... what else isn't classified?
The war started with me making a _failed_ attempt at buying all R'lyeh's mercs away. Fortunately, they weren't nearby. At the same time, I invaded with a small force that probably consisted of twenty light infantry and some kind of independent archer.

This force took out amazingly undefended provinces, and allowed me to claim 80 and 75. Barra and Abi. At least one other force was involved, and prevented the Crystal Fortress from producing any reinforcements. All in all, a low investment for quite a bit of havoc. Somewhere around 450 gold for the one force, and perhaps I should have been a bit more careful about letting it die off, considering my miserly ways.

...
And now, I accidentally quit without saving. Damn you, window mode. Well, at least its only the orders lost, not battle results like in other games.

Re: Small Talk
 

This little war is starting to become fun for me too http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Though i wouldn't call number of Illithids i have mind numbing, specially as they're not much help against golems - which according to my scouts are on the way in more significant numbers. And the Crystal Fortress was found by Astral Probing the same turn you decided to attack http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

I got a feeling you're downplaying your strength so you can lure my advance army into a trap http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

No worries though, soon i will have castles in all provinces of my small sea and then i can start out pumping out units in more reasonable numbers.

I was kind of surprised you decided to attack me instead of another of your neighbours, as MA Agartha can't really fight on equal terms with R'lyeh underwater... Unless you believe differently http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Small Talk
 

I had several reasons, some of them even logical. But chief among them is an instinctual animosity towards R'lyeh- not you- just R'lyeh. And a desire to boost my ridiculous gem income even higher by searching the wastes. Though perhaps my income isn't that great so much as I started searching early, even so far as getting my combat pretender to do the same.

But see, this Outrider game hasn't started yet, but me and Jazzepi (r'lyeh) are eying each other already. It's a character flaw- I just have t kill you all.

I also need to consider instituting scout blocking techniques early on- but thats something for a future game.

If I see an easy kill- I doubt it- I'll go for it, but really, I just want to go down to that shoreline, and take those provinces i mentioned. I'm not aiming to take you out, but take that land. That, and beat some Illithid ***.

Re: Small Talk
 

Things have been going rather slow with the Bandar. I only have a few independent provinces left but I have been debating on whether to pick a fight with Ermor, or wait until my Non-Aggression treaty with Abysia is up. However, the faith in the true god is spreading quickly and strongly, thanks to the temples I built in like every province of my territory, and the Armies of Bandar Log are stronger than ever now that we have access to crossbows, even as short and lightly armored as those hairy-footed little hoburgs are. Think of a small, but very dense mass of 40-80 crossbow bolts heading right in the direction of your legion of Lava Warrirors or Principes. I am also working up a legion of human Longbows that I found, so I don't have to pay twice as much for the Bandar variety that has lower precision, albeit nicer armor.

Oh, and I finally got my new computer. Cost me like $250 more than I wanted, but I think it was worth it. 19" Widescreen LCD monitor, 2048MB of RAM, 380GB of Hard Drive Space, a 2.5GHz AMD processor and graphics powered by Nvidia. The only thing that could make it better is a big comfy office chair and a nice printer. Of course, my dad still need to see if he can get a wireless router so I can have internet up in my room too.

Re: Small Talk
 

The battle between me and R'lyeh is vastly amusing.

He tried to assassinate one of my lowly Earth Readers. I handily drove him off with a mere two infantry bodyguards.

I wasn't certain if I could win the battle between me and R'lyeh coming up, but I stacked the odds in my favor. A few mistakes were made on my side, but I came out on top.

I burnt through a LOT of earth gems- and I'm not certain what exactly I got from it. I'm still uncertain what Woodsmen blowpipes do with their paralyzing poison.

The Illithids were rendered somewhat ineffective due to me massively outnumbering them, with my mundane forces, and having a large number of mindless magic beings - aka claymen. Nobody lost any commanders, unfortunately. But they lost 79 mundane units and nine magical. I lost 28 regular units out of 140, and 17 magical beings out of 50. All my magical losses were claymen, which while not damaging, are cheap at one gem apiece.

I'll be rewatching that replay, and trying to press my advantage. But I'll keep some of my secrets to myself. Mostly, I'm fine tuning my buff scripts by figuring exactly how it affects things. I'd be happy to discuss this further, but right now I'll get to the point.

BOOYAH! Star Child assassin - codename envoy? Thanks for the fishsticks, buddy. Your army? Double booyah!

Re: Small Talk
 

I think I owe Shinyuma a friendly handshake. Although he may have appreciated my message this turn.

Just not the messengers.

Re: Small Talk
 

I thought we had a non-aggression pact, Pythium? You have shown yourself to be an oathbreaker of a most despicable kind. To the remaining free and non-doomed nations of the world - you would do well not to trust Pythium.

Fair point about the human rights abuses though. But it would have been much better to give the agreed 3 month warning.

Re: Small Talk
 

I didn't know we had a non-aggression pact. I had not read my statement as a non-aggression pact. The 'Okay' was meant as a recognition of the statement that you would attack me if invaded.

In hindsight, my response was ambiguous enough that I can see how you interpreted it as an NAP, and I apologize for that.

Furthermore, if you wish you can post the full series of pms between the two of us involving that, as I feel that might help demonstrate how the confusion may have arisen.

I can in all honesty say that I did not consider my response to be considered as you considered it. Had I known that you understood it as an acceptance of your offer, I would have treated it as such.

If you wish, I will withdraw my forces for three months.

I would, however, like an apology for the insults.

Re: Small Talk
 

Fair enough, that was an unfortunate misunderstanding. I suggest we consider it simply as an in-game misunderstanding. Shinuyama will consider Pythium as evil oath-breakers. Pythium will consider Shinuyama to be easily confused human rights abusers, who imagine pacts that never existed and would do better under Pythian rule. Don't worry about waiting, the PM exchange was as you say ambiguous and I put my certainty that we had an NAP down to Shinuyaman easily-confusedness.

I never meant to insult you in the first place (I was careful to call you Pythium). Obviously Shinuyama thinks Pythium's despicable. llamabeast feels only a general friendliness towards sum1won - many apologies if you felt I was getting at you personally. Not intended (nor would I do that kind of thing). No hard feelings on my part at all.

Re: Small Talk
 

Hostilities with R'lyeh continue unabated. A messenger has been sent to R'lyeh with an offer of truce much less insulting than my first. I'm open to negotiations, but am prepared for the alternative of war.

I'd like to also mention to Man that the presence of all those troops on my border is far from comforting. And I'll state that I do believe in defense in depth. Certainly, my position is exposed and vulnerable, but war with me would gain you less than you would think. My battles with R'lyeh have been fought where I haven't had the advantage of my dominion, and my golem cult.

I will say that I'd understand if they simply happened to gather there, given the 'compactness' of this map, there's hardly anywhere that doesn't border someone. However, the unexplained and unmentioned presence of such a group of units all in one place certainly bodes ill for peace, to put it mildly. Especially with the lack of a NAP between our two nations. The wait for next turn will be a tense one.

Re: Small Talk
 

Nothing to worry about--I moved them to my capital several hours ago.

They just took #81 last turn. There are only two routes from there to back home in my capital and I routed them the other route from what they took on the way in to pick up the independents I had recruited there. I didn't think of the fact that it was a border province I was routing them through.

Re: Small Talk
 

Good to hear then, I'm comforted. For your future information, though, those troops are automatically revealed in adjacent provinces. I got a free look at your rather impressive army, no scouts necessary. If secrecy's an issue, you may want to keep that in mind. If you hope to intimidate, keep that in mind. If you figure enough scouts are in your territory that it doesn't matter, never mind.

Re: Small Talk
 

To Agartha:
After reviewing results of recent battles, it should come not as a surprise to you that your offer of truce is refused.
Until you come up with a substantially more profitable offer, we shall continue the war that you started.

Re: Small Talk
 

I know troops in a border province can be seen. What happened is that I didn't think about it being a border province at all.

Re: Small Talk
 

I did think I got a bit to aggressive in that last push, but I was curious to see how my golems would fair without significant support. The answer seems obvious in hindsight. Regretfully so. As I said, I'm willing to negotiate.

I'm determined to make some gains in territory, but I am willing to make concessions in other areas. If you're interested in negotiating bribes-concessions, PM me. If it requires the sacrifice of territory, simply message me in-game that the war is ongoing, or something to the sort.

If you're interested in a very temporary truce while negotiations happen and/or fail, I can provide that to, and reduce the siege of your fort to a mere shaman.

I see your assassins have become more deadly. Ironically, it was only the lowly shaman that survived.

AIM Lazper12

Re: Small Talk
 

Aargh! Abysia, I thought we just agreed an NAP? Seems I'm not having much luck with NAPs in this game. At least your trogs learnt their lesson (those who managed to scamper off).

PS sum1won - no hard feelings about our earlier exchange?

Re: Small Talk
 

No hard feelings.

I have to say that I am looking forwards to combating that bakmeno army, though.

Abysia, what does he mean by an NAP? As a nation whose help you had requested, I'd like to know what you meant by asking for the help while negotiating an NAP?

Re: Small Talk
 

Actually to be fair Abysia would not have received my response when they ordered the attack. But they had already sent me a message the previous turn, offering a 3-turn NAP. Very confusing!

So Pythium, you're coming to help the mightiest land nation of all against the Shinuyaman underdog eh? Shocking.

(I would do the same http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif )

Re: Small Talk
 

Darn, i must apologize to Pythium and Shinuyama for that diplomacy hell we've been through in the last turns, it's all my fault. I got a substitute for the last few turns and he signed that NAP with Shinuyama.
I'll set things right now via PM.
I'm sorry again http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: Small Talk
 

Oof, looks like Bandar missed the hosting by about 5 minutes. Unlucky!

Re: Small Talk
 

There is chaos in the Shinuyaman capital! Disgusted by the weakness of their nation, the bakemono have risen up, deposing the emperor, killing his advisers and burning all diplomatic records! A new, militaristic and mildly incompetent leader has arisen in his place!

--

Since I'm about to go on holiday for a week and a half, and Shinuyama is in no state to be taken on by anyone else, I've set myself to AI. I was hoping for an epic showdown with Pythium this turn, but he ran away! It should happen next turn instead - let me know what happens. But apart from moving that army around there's very little I can do anyway.

I think I at least succeeded in being a thorn in the side of Abysia, and hopefully I will also set back Pythium somewhat. But Shinuyama's fate is now quite inevitable.

Abysia - disregard the NAP now, and attack! The bakemono won't hold to it any more.

Thanks guys, good game.

Re: Small Talk
 

Currently, me and R'lyeh are in a mexican standoff, to see who's willing to make the first move. Either that, or we're in an arms race.