Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Sorry about the missed delay. When I got to the event, I quickly found out that my wireless internet just failed to work. No connection to llamaserver, no delay.

Luckily it was only me who staled, I just have to hope that Atlantis was gentle..

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Its a bit overdue, but I would just like to salute Cleveland for his valiant defense against the Atlantian myriads.

Even though he staled a few times at the end, he still did an amazing job of slowing me down and seriously hurting my forces. Many Atlantian warriors still suffer from his insidious use of chemical warfare (foul vapors? I mean really, of all the spells that don't work underwater, this one actually does?)

He even slew my god and drove me from his capital a few times.

Anyway hats off to you sir Cleveland.

On another note, what's the deal with these gorgers? Every recent land battle I've seen has these ogre-gorgers spawning at the edge of the battlefield. It's a bug right? Does anyone else see this?

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

I was also rather confused by this and looked into it. It's a bug given by the Ogre Kingdoms mod.

To make a long story short, the item "Lantern Shield" is now bugged and summmons gorgers instead of lanterns because the Ogre mod overwrote the vanilla "Corpse Candle" spell. This bugged spell is also castable and appears in the conjuration tree just like the normal one (the bugged one summons 5, in te case you have difficulty to make them apart).

Since we are all gentlemen, I'm going to suggest everyone to withdraw from building any lantern shields and not to script the bugged secondary "Corpse Candle" spell. (I have built one lantern shield and I'll throw it away once I get the chance to start Dom 3 once more.)

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Hilarious. Um, I'll change my corpse candle scripting then - i was wondering why we had two of those...

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

doesn't matter now, but I noticed that the bug includes corps candles AND gorgers in one battle...ouch! :)

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

sorry guys, but I have to request a 24hour delay due to RL craziness.

oh, and: DAMN YOU LANDLUBBERS! :)

thanks,
Grijalva

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Extension Granted

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Dear sirs,
We seem to find ourselves in a bit of a quandry. We have recently... acquired... a whole lot of fish meat, and as we do not eat, are at a loss on how to dispose of it. So if anyone is interested in some good eating, please contact us. Of especial interest might be the ancient kraken meat - we hear it is quite the delicacy.

Sincerely,
Son of Puppets
Prophet of Master of Puppets

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Well, you all did a fine job of convincing yourselves of how "dangerous" poor old Atlantis was, when I couldn't even beat Shinuyama much less take his capital.

Now, however, its pretty clear to see who is about to win.

Neckhara has:

The highest research

The highest income

The highest GEM income

artifacts

three capitals (he's about to take Oceania)

he just dealt me a serious defeat in which he killed my god and charmed away my champion: ANZUUUU!!!

So even though I can stop your small raiding forces, Neckhara actually put a real effort into taking the seas and is now damn near unstoppable.


and he also has the most over-the-top death magic of any nation (of course) so get ready for swarms of tartarians backed by all of the sweetest artifacts.

@ Squirrel

Oh, and Glug was "disintegrated" so your only quandary is what to do with Kraken-flavored sand. :-)

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

What? Nehekhara threatening? Ha!

Our vaunted gem income? Mostly F. Seriously. Oh, it burns, it BURNS! (Literally!)

That research lead? Yeah. We had to research fricking Ench 9 to cast Thetis Blessing to stop you from winning. Yeah, we've got a lot of research, but much of it was spent accomplishing silly things.

And as to three capitals, well, it was either let you keep it (and thus have 3 capitals), let Vanheim take it (and thus have 3 capitals), or I took it (and thus had 3 capitals). So someone had to have 3 capitals. On the plus side, I have few neighbors, am at peace with 2 of them, and thus you know exactly where the next capital I can aim for without causing a political incident is. So I am by far the safest owner of 3 capitals in the game, because my options are the most limited.

Any rational player will see your warmongering for what it is - a shameless attempt to reclaim your third capital and make another play for a 4th one.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Wow, I was just making some rather light hearted assertions, but I see that you take my thesis rather seriously...but really, who are you trying to kid?

So you have researched ench 9 AND construction 8, are you trying to strengthen my argument, or did that just slip out? :)

Haha, I guess we should all just take your word for it....




Yes, its true I had capitals, but I never even came close to taking Shinuyama - we were fighting a brutal war though, so I'm sure he was happy for your help- and I certainly never made a "play" for it.

YOU, on the other hand, now have three capitals AND :

Artifacts

Ench 9

The highest research lead by FAR

the highest GEM income

A powerful land army and a large border with three other nations.

Any rational player can see that you just want everyone to look the other way while you build up your forces for a quick dash to Vanheim, Arco, Shinuyama or my own capital.

In fact, its quite easy to see that you are the most dangerous nation to have 3 caps and I don't need to call it shameless to make that point. :)

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Ench 9 was obvious from having cast Thetis's Blessing. Everyone knew that already.

Similarly, my large F income is obvious because of the Pillar of Fire global.

I mean, its not like i've been making any statements that aren't independently verifiable.

My research lead isn't that big when you figure a lot of that lead was spent on crap like Ench 9. I mean, I'm not *that* far ahead of, say, you.

I should also note that you demonstrably have Conj 8, which I do not. Heck, you may well have Conj 9. Speaking of guilty consciences, your quip about tarts might be revealing of your own motives, eh?

And making a quick dash for the capital of nations I have standing treaties with? Ha! Nothing quick about that. I, sir, am a man... err... well-embalmed corpse of my word.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Too true, these are all more or less verifiable facts.

I justed wanted to list them in one place to make the situation very clear.

You can downplay ench-9 all you want, but being the first to artifacts and being able to get the best is a game-changer. Which is why you don't mention that in your retorts.

Also you're research lead isn't getting any smaller, not for most nations.

I have no death magic and as everyone probably knows, my pretender doesn't have ANY magic, so no, I can't pursue a tartarian strat.

Anyway, I think we've laid the facts pretty bare. True gentlemen can decide for themselves what the best course of action is.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Someone else is already to artifacts as well. Its not like I'm the only one. I don't know who it is, but I am quite capable of noticing when stuff is already forged, and that I didn't make it.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Ha, that would be funny if it was me.

Sadly, no...

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

I have ROTC basically all weekend (31-32), so if it would be possible to make sure I don't stale that would be great.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Sure, I'll keep an eye on the game.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Brettonia has a serious staling problem. Is it time to look for a substitute?

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

I'll try to contact Alpine Joe first. If I don't get a response saturday, I'll start the search for a sub.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

I'm in the game and still ready to play. The hosting just happens to occur during my sleeping time, and while I have the turn ready, I always wait to send it in because I am in the middle of war....I honestly have every turn completed, then wake up and realize I never sent it in. On the same note, would it be possible to slightly increase the hosting interval?

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Sure, we are up for one hosting interval change anyway. Moved the hosting to 60h

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Shinuyama hereby declares all of it's NAP's void. Do not think of this as delaration of war, more like a.. increase of possibilities on different political status with the relations between our nations.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

We assume you intend to honor the termination terms of the NAP, if nothing else?

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

woe to Atlantis! Glug took another one of his disastrous naps at the worst time.

Of course it probably didn't matter much, Nekhara's power was already too great for the the underwater empire, but now there is very little stopping their forces from marching directing to the gates of Atlantis!

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Correct.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

A warning to the gents of Tophats:

The undead armies are only a few turns away from breaking the gates of the Coral City!

Oh Glug! you may not be around to see the end of your empire!

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

I take it that means you aren't going to come out and fight? If you wish to die like a rat, so be it.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Now, that's now way for a gentleman to converse :)

I know your intention with that remark was to draw me out, but in the highest of gentlemanly fashions I accept your challenge, be you prepared or not.

Pretenders of Tophats: a major decision will take place this turn, whether the Undead Legions will achieve the mantle of godhood by conquering Atlantis within the next three (give or take) months. The only thing you can do is attack the hated undead with everything you have and hope to wrest another capital from him.

BTW: my troops are starving in Atlantis, so I have little choice. Though it may seem folly to announce my attack to Nekhara, I'm sure he will prepare for it either way.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

My apologies, I was under the misapprehension you were going to cower. But I see now you intend to die like a gentleman. I must therefore salute your courage. May you make such an end as to be worthy of song.

(ok, i can't promise we'll sing of it later. No lungs, makes it kind of hard. Maybe an epic poetry recitation).

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

I believe that's game over.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Sorry, gents, it wasn't my intention to throw the game...just to go out in a blaze of glory. Of course that's roughly the opposite of what happened. Unless someone's already besieging one of Nekhara's occupied capitals it doesn't look good...

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

It's of no matter. I appreciate the "blaze of glory" mentality.

However, it seems that Sir Squirrel has this game in a bag. At least I don't have anything I could send to his caps in time. We can play the next 2 turns to see how it goes, but I wouldn't be against letting Nehekhara win by concensus before that.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

My dear Vanheim:
I hope that wasn't an Attack Commanders order on those vampires, because copying bogus's orders is not gentlemanly behavior.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

No, I would never stoop to anything like that.

You can even check if you like with -ddd (which I would advise doing before accusing someone).

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

*pops monocle*

What a scandal!

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

I'm honestly not sure what -ddd does or how I'd interpret it.

They did a splendid job of ignoring all the other units and going right after the commanders, you have to admit that was kind of bizarre. But as you are a gentleman, I will take your word on the matter.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

It adds extra debug information to the combat replay, one of those being the orders given to each squad (as a number). I don't have the game in front of me at the moment, but you can spot a cheater that way if you were motivated enough. You'd have to create a test game to see what the numbers for the standard orders are. The "Attack Commander" command would show up as a different number.

I believe I had the vampires in question on attack rearmost. I'm guessing the troops (or at least some of them) were on guard commander? I didn't check the turn too carefully before I had to leave this AM.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Could I get an extension of like 6h? My computer access is going to be funky tomorrow.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

8h extension granted.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

My apologies.... I just now noticed that victory requires control of 4 capitals for three turns.

I didn't mean to short-change anybody earlier.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

I would like to claim victory. I meet the 4 capitals for 3 turns requirement next turn, and am in no danger of losing a capital this turn. Indeed, only one of my 4 is sieged, and its walls are unbroken, so no storming is possible. Thus I will still have 4 capitals next turn.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Details of claim for victory:
My own capital.
++Unsieged

Agartha's capital - Shinuyama can confirm I've had it ever since I took it from ghoul31.
++Sieged starting this turn by Burnsaber, 700+/800 wall strength remaining. Burnsaber can confirm he is unable to storm this turn.

Oceania's capital - for like the last 20 turns or so. Vanheim can confirm I still have it, Atlantis can confirm I took it from them a long time ago. Shinuyama can probably confirm I've had it a long time too.
++Unsieged

Atlantis's capital - Owned since last turn (can be confirmed by Atlantis and Vanheim, at least), making next turn the 3rd turn.
++Unsieged

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Drat, I acted a bit too late. Well played, Squirrelloid.

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Yeah. Congratulations to Sir Squirreloid for his victory. I'll end the game the tomorrow, unless I hear any objections in the next 24h.

My short AAR:

My early expansion went well enough, but I couldn't find a indy scout province to save my life. So my scouting was really lacking. When I conquered a independent province and then noticed that it actually was a province bordering Vanheim cap, I took a quick look at graphs and came into the conclusion that I was dealing with an inexperienced player. I went into "SMASH NOOB!" mode and my armies got blasted by turbo-researched thunderstrikes (oops!). I took his cap twice and started some raiding action, but I eventually noticed that I really couldn't muster a force that would be able to storm his cap without horrible losses.

It also didn't help that Arco, my ally. Was proving pretty much useless in the war effort. He was likely just waiting for me to get exhausted from the war with Van and then do a backstab galore. I decided against this obvious losing mode, made peace with Van and started looking somewhere else to expand. I read about clevelands pleas to help in the UW war effort and decided to go for it. I wanted to test how effective the N1 breathing manuals really are at giving UW access so I made some and attacked atlantis.

It was a pretty ugly war for me. Shuras proved quite ineffective because MA Atlantis gets a H3 priest in the 20+ pd and Shuras had AP like 4 with underwater item breathing penalties, meaning that they got banished pretty easily (I had no S for ammies). I was also extremely pissed about having to equip my Ghost Samurais with underwater *breathing* items (they don't breathe! It makes no sense! GAAAH!). My armies got overwhelmed pretty quickly and since my raiding was completely dependent upon Shuras, I was quickly forced to go defensive.

I was able to hold my important territory until Nehekhara came in for the save and I managed to get my lost territory back. Then "Sea of Ice" came up and my route of expansion was blocked. I was now sandwiched between Nehekhara and Van, both of which could crush my exhausted nation like a bug if they wished so. It was a lose-lose for me, so I just sat on my *** and summoned stuff so that I would go out with a bang when either Van or Nehekhara would decide to cancel their NAP with me.

When I finally canceled our NAP Nehekhara, it was too late. There was no way I could do anything in time.

Well played Squirreloid. Thanks to everyone for this good game, we really got some good RP going in here, although the "Sirs" sort of died out in the end, but that was to be excepted based on my previous experiences.

Also, a suprise!

.


.


.


.

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/6770/redsquirrel.jpg

Lolz!

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

Quick AAR:
Started next to ghoul31's Agartha, which means I could expect to face lots of H3 banishing action, oh boy. Of course, I could make an army almost capable of wiping his forces out in 2 turns, and he had to stop researching entirely to beat me off - so i traded lots of material for research tempo and eventually overwhelmed him.

Having finally consolidated my position in the north, I noticed Vanheim whacking Arco and Atlantis beating up on Shinuyama. Given Atlantis's commanding position, I decided killing Atlantis was probably my best bet, especially since my troops were mostly poor amphibians and thus i only needed breathing gear for my commanders. (And I agree with burnsaber, it feels silly providing breathing gear for commanders who aren't breathing).

So I organized an impromptu alliance with other concerned powers to thwart Atlantis, by getting them to pool enough w for me to cast Thetis's Blessing. For safety, i also made some breathing items for critical commanders - a precaution that proved invaluable when after I beat Atlantis around abit he cast Sea of Ice - inconveniently overwriting Thetis.

My initial foray UW was successful because of massive skelly spam, which allowed me to overcome poor amphibian penalties by dint of numbers, and they allowed me to use Rigor Mortis since they were immune while Atlantis's forces were not. Rigor Mortis was definitely key in some major victories.

Because I was making abundant use of Army of Gold anyway, after Sea of Ice and the loss of my skellyspammers, I started massing indies because they didn't suffer penalties and AoG made up for their biggest shortcoming - poor protection. (To that end I also focused on the lightly armored indies). This let me quickly build up quite a large army relatively quickly. I had to stop using Rigor Mortis because I was using living troops.

Two other things contributed to my ability to totally dominate Atlantis. I had an A2 Tomb King with 2 boosters for A4 that could cast Fog Warriors, and my pretender (S6 Son of the Sun) w/ 2 boosters who could cast Master Enslave (who had a void eye + eventually a rune smasher). These pinch hit against Atlantis's army in major engagements, including the battle at Atlantis's capital at the end.

Other helpful things:
-the charm hat was worth its weight in gems for stealing away critical units and creating distractions. (Ultimately, it even stole a QoW).
-the northern fort had the underwater academy site, which gave me some W3 mages for Shark Attack
-Wavebreakers for auto-cast friendly currents (Atlantis, why weren't you using them?)
-Atlantis not mage dueling my S1 Tomb Kings. Seriously, that could have sucked.

Thanks for the graphic Burn, that's awesome!

Re: Tophats - The Gentleman's Game
 

yeah, this was my first game playing an underwater nation, so I learned a lot.


Basically I was at war the entire game (also a first for me); being in the middle I had to quickly knock out one of the two ocean powers, Ryleh, before they both ganged up on me. This was nicely accomplished by my pretender with Ryleh's ghost king conveniently getting killed by indies just as I started my attack.

You all know roughly what happened with Cleveland's oceania, after I ambushed and destroyed his initial army it took a long time too finish him off, largely because of 1mapmove underwater and this map being "polar." He made me pay for that victory too.

Shimunyama was the only power who directly tried to help Oceania, and yes, I was very pleased with how that war was going. Had I planned differently I may have been able to make an attempt at his cap, but it was difficult with Cleveland still giving me trouble.

When Thetis's blessing came up I really lost the initiative, first staling, and then not prioritizing, my defense against Nekhara, who was clearly the biggest threat to me being amphibious and a game leader in some respects.

There were definitely some things that I should have done against the undead hordes, but I really despaired after my first encounter with his master-enslaving pretender. I lost something like 15 battlemages and a big army on that one, plus -may be another battle - he charmed Anzu, the HoF escaped slave prince who had won the Champion's trident and in early in the same battle disintegrated Glug!

Things went downhill quickly from there, and it was at that time that I started clamoring for other nations to attack Nekhara, to no avail though.

That was a great game guys, I really enjoyed it through and through!


Squirrelloid, great job, you taught me some hard lessons!