Re: Predictions
 

Seems like RamsHead has it more or less nailed down with the exception of Niefelhiem winning. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Seriously, high level evocation or not, I'm kinda doubting anyone can stand up to Helhiem. I haven't fought anything but their PD so far, but from what everyone says about them (in the main board about them being overpowered, not here), things are grim. I just have to find out how much 10 thunderstrikes can do to their forces.

Re: All quiet on the western front!
 

Ha ha.
Though in all seriousness, eventually Helheim or Tien Chi will turn their attention to the east, at which time the eastern nations might have to form the Alliance of the East to protect ourselves.
Only time will tell.

Re: All quiet on the western front!
 

The war between Arcosephale and Mictlan simmers rather than rages. The scholars have amassed a mighty army and march to reclaim much of the land conquered by Jaguar Warrior raiders. As yet, we have not been able to field an army to challenge the might of this host, and have been fighting a staged pullback. A large mass of archers pepper our lightly armored troops, while the heavily armored ant men engage and occupy us long enough that the heavy chariots may molest our flank. Our raiders continue to harass the border, and Arcosephale fears either splitting their army or moving it far from their capital. The vile Oeneads continue to occasionally seduce a commander, but there are now many slave commanders, pressed into service from the scholar’s own lands which provide cover for our glorious priests. We fight a holding pattern as our high priests whisper of a top secret “plan B”. As neither the giants nor the man-hawks have shown aggression yet, we may pull our reserve troops forward to step up the raids.

We are the strongest...
 

Caelum marches deeper into our territory bringing a second raiding force, and a third appears ready to advance soon.

Tien Chi has suddenly appeared at our borders with an aerial force and our friend Ulm has lost one of his valuable fortresses. Our seers sadly explain the lines of land and show us Tien Chi's gem income... probably 80 gems a turn considering it is more then double ours. The mood is dark in our planning room.

Luckily our public relations advisor showed us the front page of Sky Che daily where it declares "Hellheim the worlds biggest threat and greatest power threatens all... including you!" in huge letters. This did brighten our spirits as it is nice to be #1 on the throne. We asked to read the rest of article hoping to further brighten our mood, but there was nothing more. Just a big flashy headline…

At least we managed to liberate our capital and tomorrow is another day. We wish our friend Ulm luck and apologize that we can not be of greater assistance to them in their time of need. The mighty and ancient eagle kings of Caelum are proving to be a potent and deadly force.

ps [It's awesome great seeing all the comments. And would love to hear more about what is happening in the land of East or underneath the great sea of the south. What are the mighty augurs of Emor up to, how is the druidic council and what events transpire beneath the southern sea?]

Re: We are the strongest...
 

Well, it is not really Tien Chi's or Caelum's fault that during the last 3 of our war neither Helheim not Ulm have fought a single real battle with either me or my ally, as far as I can tell. Instead both Ulm and Helheim have prefered to surrender their provinces without a fight.

In all 3 turns of war the only more or less serious battle I had was with Ulm which happened this turn, and even that was quite disappointing, since most of his troops apparently sneaked away.


Tien Chi generals think that all this is a clever and devious plan by Helheim Empire to appear less powerful than they really are. The main question that is being discussed by the nobles of Tien Chi in the evening saloons is how far Helheim is willing to go in their bid to appear as an underdog? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif


P.S. Seriously I am not sure why in 3 turns of this great war neither of our adversaries offered any resistance. I can't believe that small Vanheim could possibly tie down the great military of Helheim Empire. The fact that the above military conquered the capital of Vanheim last turn while losing only one heldroit is the further testament that something is not right there.

I am sure Helheim is up to something. I wish I knew for sure what they are planning. But I think I can make a good guess that... <censored>

Re: We are the strongest...
 

Not much. My huge research is more because of my playstyle than any misteryous plot, and is probably not spread very well.
Furthermore, looking at the graphs will show you my gem income is abysmal, which is why no matter how hard I reserach, I'm screwed.

Once Tien Chi or Helheim (:P) come to assimilate me, you'll hear of some of the struggles of the mighty empire of Ermor.

Re: We are the strongest...
 

Times are bleak for our people. Our helherdings used to feel so tough and strong. Then these pegasus knights show up and show us what a true bless is made of.

Hounds bite at our feet. Eagle kings raze our lands.

At least we were scary once... that counts for something right?

Some thoughts on our war so far
 

Hmm, indeed this has been a strange war so far. Neither Helheim not Ulm have not offered any resistance so far. Both just keep losing provinces without any fight. Ulm already hardly has any land left, but they have 390 troops stuffed in their castle, no doubt laminating the fate of their empire.


As for Helheim - I haven't seen a single heldrot yet, other than 2 riders that attacked me when Helheim have declared war on me. Where are all these sacred hordes Vanheim and Agartha have been speaking about?



Frankly we are genuinely puzzled by now.

I can think of only three possible explanations for this strange course of events.

1. Either Helheim spend last 5 turns carefully positioning dozens of small raiding squads with sacred heldrots and valkirias over most of the uncastled territory of my or Caelum's Empire, preparing massive operation "Market Garden", (and if it is true, the operation is about to begin any time now), hoping to take back all the land he has lost and much more in one turn, while paralyzing enemy's economy.

2. It is possible that whatever strategic plans Helheium may originally had for this war when they started it were thrown in disarray when Caelum has decided to enter this war. So Helheim had to spend a lot of time adjusting these plans, reshuffling troops and preparing his defenses against Caelum's advance. I've been watching steady movement of Caelum's Mammoths/Eagle Kings army for a while now. I can say that this army is tough like nails and is difficult even for the Helheim's troops to handle.


3. Or Helheim was awfully unprepared for the war when they have started it by attacking me 5 turns ago.

Naturally when I saw glamour raiders destroying my temples next to my capital, 9 or 10 provinces away from the Helheim's border(!), I assumed that there are many similar squads in the area between, preparing to attack my territory, or moving in position to do it. But if those 2 squads were indeed all forces that Helheim had available when they started this war, than I think it was big strategic blunder on their part.


Since I know for sure that Maltrease is a very strong player, I am inclined to believe in explanation number 1 or number 2, or some combination of those.


All of the above is just my guesswork of course.

Re: Some thoughts on our war so far
 

I'm under the impression that the turn timer will be off during the Thanksgiving holiday. If it's not, then I might be screwed. Hopefully, I can find some unsecured wireless for my Dom3 machine so I can see what's going on!

Re: Some thoughts on our war so far
 

As we have stated honestly throughout (although it has been sweetly fun when it was viewed as deception) our small raid on Tien Chi was only to distract and hope to buy Ulm some time.

We feared the power of and variety of magic available to Tien Chi (particularly in the hands of such a skill player). So we desired to aid ULM in his fight. We sent two small raiding parties to Tien Chi to distract and hopefully buy Ulm some time. We were planning to send more but Vanheims assualt had us redirect them.

We had previously had good relations with Caellium even so far as an unofficial friendship and peace and were utterly unprepared for their joining forces with Tien Chi. We have not committed our forces simply because our expensive and skilled troops would be slaughtered by mass thunder strikes from his powerful eagle kings.

Our generals made a grave miscalculation in assuming Caelium would remain neutral in our conflicts. We have been trying to come up with means to counter Caelium and had some ideas... but they would be annihilated by Tien Chi's blessed hounds and large forces of blessed Pegasus knights.


We are certainly not dead yet and have a large and powerful force of hidden glamoured troops but we simply do not have the ability to effectively confront our adversaries with them.

I know it easy to take an apathetic view of wars in distant lands. We were counting on this effect when we awoke Tien Chi's wrath and vastly underestimated the results he would achieve in his call to arms (mainly Caelum).

However, if any of you Eastern nations want a shot at winning this game we need your aid. Unless we can fight back the power of Sky Che will quickly consume us and rapidly consume us and move eastward. Despite our desire to "look less powerful" the graphs don't lie. Hordes of powerful sacred demons, pegasus knights and mages are coming... whats in your wallet?

We NEED access to counter measures that currently are not available to us. If you want to see this game continue we need your aid now. Please drop me a PM if you are willing to help.

Does the East Care?
 

So I am curious, does any nation in the east even care that this war is going on, or are all of you content with your little skirmishes and cold war buildup?

Re: Does the East Care?
 

Atlantis cares not for the affairs of surface dwellers. Even the mightiest mountain will eventually be no more than a grain of sand in the ocean.

Re: Some thoughts on our war so far
 

Maybe they are lamenting the fate of their empire. Or laminating their castle walls to make them slippery against would-be wall climbers.

Re: Some thoughts on our war so far
 

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

(I should pay more attention to spellchecker http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif)

Re: Some thoughts on our war so far
 

Indeed, the ballance of power is shifting in the world. Once it seemed Helheim was destined to sweep the west, now the powerful Caelum/Tien Chi alliance looks to be encountering little resistance. We regret we have no choice but to disolve our non-aggression pact with the Caelum empire. While our armies are otherwise occupied and we have no plans for an immediate invasion, it seems the Caelum empire's star is rising, and with their friendly relations with Tien Chi it seems likely that Mictlan territories may be the only choice for expansion once there are no more juicy Helheim territories to assimalate. Future hostilities seem inevitable,the bloody empire will not sit idle as an overwhelming force is built. Take note eagle kings, your eastern border is no longer secure,

Re: Some thoughts on our war so far
 

We are encountering no resistance because Helhiem is preparing traps for us. It seems that if you have no intention of attacking then you have nothing to gain by declaring war. I ask you to reconsider. I am at war with Helhiem because of their genocidal tendencies. Think of how you would fare if you were their neighbor. In any case, I do not want a conflict between us. On the other hand, I have little doubt that other nations would happily liberate some of your lands with the assistance of the Eagle Kings should you prove too aggressive to continue living peacefully.

Niefelheim speaks...
 

Mictian - My army in Silvania, is there because of the disturbingly large army you had in Tesifon. Obviously we now know it was simply patrolling your lands as it as moved away. The army in Silvania will stay a month, the province is to be patrolled in preperation for a quaint little ritual we call the, 'Skratti hunt', the girls of the province talk about nothing else all year long...

Atlantis - Nielfelheim welcomes our new neighbour to this peaceful part of the world. However, Black Grave is our little pond, preperations have been made to conquer this, do not interfere. You are welcome to Emerald lake and Antediluvia.

Ermor - We hear what you say, I hope you are telling the truth...for your sake...

Marverni - Peace be with you.

Epic struggle to the south/southwest - No comment, only silence on this war. It is none of our concern. Do not involve Niefelheim.

Re: Niefelheim speaks...
 

Just wait untill this turn hosts :X (the one that still has ~92 hours remaining)

Re: An Appeal to Caelum from Ulm
 

From the archives of Celestial Empire Tien Chi, Spring of the Year of the Burning Goddess:

"Apparently Ulm's idea of fighting with honor to the end consists of giving up their entire large kingdom without a fight, while stuffing 450+ soldiers within the walls of their capital, outnumbering our soldiers once again. Fortunately the capital province is rich in supplies, so there is no danger of starvation for our troops, even if we wouldn't brought additional supply items last turn. Imperial troops are ready for the long siege, although we are sure it won't be necessary - preparations are being made to bring this siege to swift conclusion. The local peasants are celebrating the arrival of imperial troops. As one of the village majors told to commander of our scouts when they have entered his village meeting, as usual, no resistance: "Men who do not try to protect their own land, should never lay claim to it in the first place." Upon hearing this story our Imperial Historian noticed that although such a view is naturally barbaric, it has merit nevertheless."

Re: MP Game, Early Era, Random Nations, Victory Po
 

The server will be going down for a few hours this weekend, while I repartition the windows drive and reinstall Win98. I'll also implement the turn emails at the same time, as they require a server shutdown to get the new --postexec commands to work. Expect a delay from a few hours to a day before the server comes back up.

I will also be starting another set of games next week. Look for the announcements coming soon.

Re: MP Game, Early Era, Random Nations, Victory Po
 

Anything interesting going on?

Re: MP Game, Early Era, Random Nations, Victory Po
 

The calm before the storm I think.

Re: MP Game, Early Era, Random Nations, Victory Po
 

Not really calm. Ulm had his last hurrah... to limited effect. Now Caellum and Tien Chi are consuming my lands. Soon they will head eastward. So I suppose it is calm... if you are in those safe Eastern Lands looking at the lighting and dark clouds in the distance.

Re: MP Game, Early Era, Random Nations, Victory Po
 

Yes, the Ulm is no more. They fought a good battle at the end, killing almost half of my army. Large portion of those who died were diseased (I've put them in front of my army and gave them kamikaze orders). But still casualties were heavier than I expected.

Tien Chi Empire will build a monument on the field of battle to honor the barbarian nation that lived and died on these lands.


By the way Maltrease, what happened to your army that was apparently scripted to retreat from the fort that was conquered by Caelum this turn? Did it survive? From your and mine duel last week it seems that the mechanics of retreat from the besieged castle may have changed in Dom3. IIRC in Dom2 any defenders that would retreat from the storm of the castle would perish. Is this indeed no longer the case, as we suspected?

Re: MP Game, Early Era, Random Nations, Victory Po
 

Caelum is definately not consuming Ulmish lands. We took 1 province at the beginning of the war in an attempt to sneak attack Helhiem and then offered it back.

Re: MP Game, Early Era, Random Nations, Victory Po
 

Just wanted to let you know that from 11.12 to 12.12 I will not be able to play my turns.
I'll probably be able to sneak in a turn 10.12 night, but won't be able to make another until probably 13.12 night.
If you feel like waiting for me, go ahead. If you are mean then just ignore my stale turns and try not to abuse them agaisnt me http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Too late...
 

Drat! Just missed getting my turn in, before you took the server down.

Hope I have not missed my turn.

Any idea when they are back up? Been down 12+ hrs now AFAIK.

Re: Too late...
 

Same here :X
Atleast I think I missed the last turn :X

Re: Too late...
 

The giant's 'Skratti hunt' was apparently a cover for a large scale invasion of Mictlan land. As we sat in the peace tent drawing up terms with the scholars, war drums were heard to the east...the giants were on the move. Initial reports were of two medium sized giant armies spilling Mictlan blood, I was sent to investigate. No rest for our well-blooded veteran toops, I set a hard march straight from the peace tent into a fresh war.

Our conscripted militias were no match for the powerful Jotun Hirdmen, particularly as they were supported by large groups of Amazon bow-women. As I arrived on the scene the giants had yet to take a single casualty. They were in for a surprise now however, as our Jaguar warriors laid an ambush in the jungle directly in the path of the advancing gaints.

They were initially joyful as they charged what appeared to be another lightly defended Mictlan village, though this villiage did have a larger than normal group of conscripted soldiers formed up to meet them. As the first volley of sling bullets fell though, the giant host trembled as the very trees seemed to become a terrifying group of holy warriors with death in thier eyes.

The giants were driving a herd of foul-spawn mutations ahead of them as chaff, and a pack of wolves protected thier other flank. Our conscript warriors engaged the foul spawn as our mighty Jaguar Warriors fell on the wolves with such ferocity they barely had time to attack before they were killed to an animal. As death rushed towards the stunned Hirdmen, their Jarl captain was heard to remark "holy crap, did we ever step in an ant hill!" He fired his magical black bow into our warriors as we swarmed over the giant ranks like a viscious swarm of pirranah tearing appart cows trying to cross the river.

As the crows decended on the the pile of gaint bodies, I got a report that 10 of our holy warriors had fallen at a cost of over 70 Jotuns. I had allowed 4 or 5 Jotun surviors to flee to spread word ahead of us that the end of the nation of giants was at hand. Seeing I still had the other half of the giant army to deal with, ordered the other two-thirds of our army to our eastern front and prepared to fulfill the holy crusade I had been charged with. Our bloody god demanded the heart of the Jotun prophet for the affront of invading holy Mictlan lands under pretense, and I would not fail him. The pile of Jotun bodies would stack high enough to be seen from the holy Mictlan ziggarat. The other Jotun army obviously hoped thier Amazon bow-women would fare better agains our lightly armored troops, but they were in for a surprise as I had a plan to deal with them.

Angerboda\'s wrath...
 

In the dark, damp, chilled halls of Nielfelheim, Angerboda sat on the blood throne, shaking in uncontrollable rage. Not from the armour of twisting thorns which constantly caused Angerboda's blood to flow, no, it was the news from the hirdman. Beaten again, first the Marverni savages and now Mictian barbarians, it was too much, Angerboda's hand moved swiftly forward, grasping the blithering hirdman. In seconds all blood was drained from his body, the remaining husk tumbled to the floor, breaking into pieces. "Out, everyone out, or you will suffer this fools fate", giants, men, mutants, amazons fled, fighting to escape Angerboda's gaze.

In time Angerboda rose and made her way upto the highest tower in Nielfelheim. Only one thing could sooth her anger and from the paraphet she looked down on the courtyard below and smiled. Five gates stood open, surrounded by dozens of skratti and her lesser kin, there minds bent in concentration to control the monsters that emerged. Countless where there number, they lined the walls of Nielfelheim, waiting the word to march. Besides the creatures from the underworld, giant beasts conjured by the black arts stood, virtually unkillable and unstoppable. "Yes", said Angerboda, "let Mictian have his little victory, Neifelheim is called the land of monsters, it is time all realised how true that was and besides, winter is coming..."

Re: Angerboda\'s wrath...
 

Awesome write ups! I enjoyed them immensely. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Angerboda\'s wrath...
 

I'll second that! These are great! I wonder what will happen next...

Re: Angerboda\'s wrath...
 

I agree. Great AARs Baalz and Meglobob! Keep it up please. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Too late...
 

Server is still down it seems. Any ETA on when aprox. it would be back online?

Re: Too late...
 

Are there any nations with an excess cache of death gems they would be willing to trade to the bloody empire? I can offer in exchange water, astral, or nature gems, as well as blood slaves. I can also offer greater magical items forged from those spheres. Know also that your friendship will be remembered once the nation of giants is no more than a memory of the elders.

Re: Too late...
 

So does that mean you've been able to connect to the server? :X
*attempts to connect*
EDIT: Still no luck connecting.

Re: Too late...
 

Uh...yeah. I've taken a turn every day for the last 5, you haven't? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif


Nah, just thinking about what I wanna do once I can.

Re: MP Game, Early Era, Random Nations, Victory Po
 

The server is unfortunately still down as it turned out that I also needed to get a new floppy drive for my newer computer before I could make the startup disk necessary to rebuild the server. I'm hoping to get everything reinstalled today or tomorrow depending on my schedule, and have the server back up by Saturday. I have to apologize for the long delay.

Re: MP Game, Early Era, Random Nations, Victory Po
 

Also, please upgrade the server to the latest version http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: MP Game, Early Era, Random Nations, Victory Po
 

That's a relief, was beginning to get worried.

Re: MP Game, Early Era, Random Nations, Victory Po
 

The temporary reprieve for the nation of giants is at an end. Our armies march east today or tomorrow (depending on our their schedules) and there will be blood in the streams. Gnash your teeth Angerboda, for you have bitten the hand that was once extended in friendship and our wrath is terrible to behold. Watch in anguish as your disciples are strapped to our altars to worship our god with their lifeblood, and your daughters' life essence consumed to bind the very methods of your destruction. We bring blood and fire to your frozen mountains, and know well as the pyre of your own making consumes you that you will be chained for all eternity in the afterlife at the feet of the bloody god.

Re: MP Game, Early Era, Random Nations, Victory Po
 

We may need to be careful with this one - all turns that have been submited before server went down were made with 3.01. If missing turns will be submited with 3.04 before the next hosting, it may crash the server.

Re: MP Game, Early Era, Random Nations, Victory Po
 

Just read further into what Gandalf said - as long as the server is brought down (which it already is), then patched, then brought back up, there will be no problems. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: MP Game, Early Era, Random Nations, Victory Po
 

I haven't senn his post, but I will take your word on it.

Re: MP Game, Early Era, Random Nations, Victory Po
 

Just check out this thread: http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...o=&fpart=1

Re: MP Game, Early Era, Random Nations, Victory Po
 

The server is almost back up, except for the fact that the video card cooler fan melted and needs to be replaced.

Re: MP Game, Early Era, Random Nations, Victory Po
 

The server is back up, and should stay up indefinitely now that I've identified and fixed the problem that was crashing it. (Video card overheating to the point that the fan melted to th chip.)

The server is currently running version 3.04, and has a 48 hour time delay before the first turn starts. I'm still looking for a good email notification program that will work with my setup.

Re: MP Game, Early Era, Random Nations, Victory Po
 

Excellent! Thank you for fixing it up Graeme.

Only Niefelheim left to submit their turn, and then we will have a new turn. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: MP Game, Early Era, Random Nations, Victory Po
 

Did it as soon as I got home from work.

Now T'ien Ch'i can you please hurry up and win the game!

Re: MP Game, Early Era, Random Nations, Victory Po
 

Heh, I wish. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif This turn my main army took a serious beating from Helheim. At the end I was able to rout helheim hordes (who outnumbered me almost 2:1), but more than half of my army was destroyed. If only Helheim would commit their whole army which was sitting within the capital to the defense of their capital rather than committing part of it(and without giving them mage support), they would without a doubt destroy my army to the last man. Why they haven't done it is a bit of mystery. Perhaps they didn't think I would have balls to attack their capital this turn before waiting for reinforcements. And that's exactly why I have attacked. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Nevertheless, great battle Maltrease. I wish I would get that nasty prophet of yours - he was parading nice collection of items. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

I assume you will be coming for the rematch next turn. I better prepare my armies for the 2nd round. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image.../firedevil.gif