Re: Chicken and egg
 

Confucious say, ad hominem only apply to argument, not simple statement that R'lyeh talk too much for his own good.

Re: Chicken and egg
 

I think that R'lyeh, Abysia, and the rest have gone about their response to a large nation in an illogical way. You need to attack the weakest neighbor as soon as possible, to even be competitive at the next level. When you attack the strongest, you waste energy better spent ensuring that you even make it to the next round of players. And later your magic can make up for the difference. Basically you waste your miliary when you could instead be using them to conquer the weak and get an advantage for your own nation.

Here are some nations that I thought had early success in aggression, and that has paid off so far and will in the end:

1) Ulm - they went right for the throat of their first enemy. Personally I think ulmishmen are meant to take down giants, but ever since then he's been playing a very tough match against three nations that wanted his land, but he's losing because of:

2) Tien Chi - they went right after Ulm when Ulm had nearly conquered Fomoria and hit their capital in a lightning attack. Ever since then, have been solidifying their control and it looks tough for Ulm now.

3) Sauromatia - I hit Tir na n'Og with everything I had because he appeared to have a slow start. That seems to have paid off. Kailasa is much tougher, as they skyrocketed to eminence once they defeated the very tough rush of Caelum.

4) C'tis - apparently attacked Marverni, and then went on to fight against two nations - they destroyed the military of R'lyeh, and it looks like they're poised to engulf Marverni. They might even get into the sea before me with that research they've got going, and take out R'lyeh. We'll be seeing you in the finals unless R'lyeh goes back to help its friend Marverni instead of rattling its turtle shells at Sauromatia.

5) Helheim - is still annexing Arcoscephale for another turn or three, I suppose mainly because it's difficult for the entire Helheim army of 50 guys to siege a single castle. Next stop Lanka?

and lastly, Atlantis and Caelum. Caelum went for the throat right away, and you have to respect that. Now these two nations are fighting for their lives over there now, looking for the advantage to see who is going to triumph. Good luck to you both!

Re: Chicken and egg
 

This would sound like wisdom but assuming we adopt this idea- wouldn't that make the entire south easier to invade from a 3rd party from the north, having been ravaged by war?

I think you are underplaying how much larger you are than our collective nations. None of us wants to be picked off one by one by a much larger nation and would rather see the balance of power evened out a bit.

Re: Chicken and egg
 

But you see that's exactly what they're doing. They will make me destroy them when I would just as soon lie back and research some cool stuff I wanted to try in the middle and endgame.

Re: Chicken and egg
 

The question, you see, is whether you will destroy us. Just wait 'till I get Teleport and some decent battle magic. Even just some semi-decent battle magic would be fine. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/stupid.gif

Re: Chicken and egg
 

This is R'lyeh's last chance to repent and seek its fortune elsewhere, for it will find nothing but death and destruction if it breathes toward Sauromatia with malice in its gills.

I return to you the head of your Aboleth and those of its attendant cephaloconcubi free of charge.

Stravinsky is dead! We bring freedom and democracy to the people of Kailasa.

Re: Chicken and egg
 

Aiya. That turn didn't quite go off as planned. I was really hoping that my siege-breaking army would hold for one more round so I could pop off the last two earthquakes I had ready. Considering how injured your troops were from the first two, that should have been enough to cause you to rout with no adjacent province to escape to.

Re: Chicken and egg
 

So we exchanged 150 troops for your god and your capital, and two irreplacable mages... not bad!

Re: Chicken and egg
 

Claier will do the translation

Please, can you waste your armies in petty wars ? (I'm afraid of opposition)
Please, can you come at me one on one ? (I'm afraid of getting attacked)
Please, can you deplete your defenses against me so I can invade your back ? (I prefer to attack weak people so I grow stronger while the people that are strong don't get any stronger)
Please, can you let me grow even stronger while no one acts ?

Claire says, where are those ideas good for Claire ? Nowhere. Even suggesting those idea shows how little you thing of your opponents. Claire will not get willingly backstabbed by these "suggestion" that doom the world to your rule. Anyway, as far as Claire knows, the inaction of your early neighbours gave you a big enough advantage already. Claire means that you did take 3 nations without anyone interfering !

Sure, Claire will be going against large odds. She will probably lose. But Claire prefers to have a small chance of success and maybe hasten her death, but doing the right thing, rather than dying a cowardly death cowering in fear waiting for your armies to come pick Claire's territory.

Re: Chicken and egg
 

Sauromatia no longer hears you, Claire.

Prepare yourself for annihilation.