Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Please note however that all those products are built on the slave labor of peace-loving lizards

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

We Norwegians do not use slave labor! Our Svartalfs and Vanir craft these items and trinkets by hand!

IF you were to visit one of our IKEA stores, that would be different. But that's Swedish, and they just use Finns.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Nothing like racial harmony in the world....lol.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

If by racial harmony you mean 'kill those goddamn fire people and dirty asterix-wannabes' then sure. More like species harmony though.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Hmph.

It seems my thugs like to spam random spells and get killed thanks to fatigue.

No matter.

I don't need their filth.

I will have my victory the way I should have had it from the beginning.. with none of their cheap tricks and trinkets.. only COLD. ONI. STEEL.

HAIL THE INEVITABLE CYCLE OF DEATH AND REBIRTH.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

This is why I've given up on death combat magic -- any mage with D magic will kill himself with skellyspam given the opportunity.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Massed skellyspam is one of the strongest earlygame tactics full stop.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Until they bring out either massed priests or solar rays.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Massed archers work too, though not as well as massed priests.

Think of it this way. Even if you're playing EA C'tis, which gives you the most bang for the buck (200 gold D3) it's easy for an equal gold value of priests or archers to clean up your summons. Four 50-gold H1's or two 100-gold H2's will punish them, as will a squad of 20 archers.

A 200 gold Hannya D2 raising skeletons is a complete waste.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

OOC: Just so you guys know, I'm thinking of starting an AAR for this game starting turn 36 (so a 3-turn lag all told). I think that'll be enough to keep the information outdated enough for my own benefit.

IC: Lizards are sooooo nice and cuddly. <3

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Bah! Why do you suddenly have a glut of lizard-skin shoes in your lands!!

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

These are not lizard skin! They're faux-skin. PETA would've be have an uproar (well, more than normal).

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Guys, looks like I will need a 12h extension.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Do what you want host.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

MWAHAHAHA!

(But more seriously, I try to let people what I am doing in the interests of being fair.)

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Guys, Abysia and Arco have both staled three times in a row. I'll see if I can find out what the go is, but in the interim I am adding another 24h extension. Both seem potentially viable (although Abby's army looks like it got smashed last turn), so if they are not coming back then subs could be an option.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

My understanding is Arco is giving up; The enemy is at the gates with bigger numbers and stronger creatures? No extensions, let the game-social darwinism do its job!

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Yes, but thats NOT a reason for people allow turns to drag out.

If they want to quit just go AI. Instead they say nothing, do nothing and the turns drag.

Thanks very much for your kind consideration to your fellow gamers!

Lung Drago and Darlian, two more names to add to my "never play with again" file.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Well, I wouldnt say few hours delay - let us say less than 12H in this particular instance - is really dragging out a game yet. Few extra time is handy to reconsider your turns, for example. Me, for instance, I send several versions of turns over few days. Fast pace means poor tactics and administration.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Condoning such behaviour doesn't sit well with me either. I am guessing Darlian is your mate.

If you need extra time then say so. Using it as an excuse for an "I couldn't care less attitude" from others is a bit lame.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Mine? Nope, I dont recall him from previous encounters. Lung Drago I met in the last I Need More Power -game, not before that - nor after either. Otherwise the post is a bit confusing: I, on the otherhand, was trying to say, that with fast host interval (48 or less) the game doesnt get delayed that much from my point of view. The interfering delays start only after when admin starts postponing the host still without reactions from stalers. But this is only me...

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

I will likely need a postponement after this turn is through (since my laptop is refusing to reboot and has been in startup repair for 24 hrs as of now). I can't say for how long, unfortunately.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

No worries, thanks for letting me know.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

No response from Abby or Arco. It seems pretty clear Arco needs to be set to AI. I will get someone to check Abby for me and tell me if it looks viable - if not, AI too. Otherwise I'll troll the forums for a sub.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

OK, Abby is probably still in the game, but Arco is dead.

When I get a moment I will post for:
a) a sub for Abby, with some description of where they are at (from what I know)
b) someone to turn Arco to AI.

Then, back on track!

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Just wanted to mark my agreement that good form is to at least go AI if you're in a hopeless position, and preferably to find a sub if your position is still playable.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

...on the other hand we might want to note that AI really messes things up - more likely than not. If nation has some muscles, AI is preferred or simple stale... Now if we do the math, staling does not in fact delay the fast paced game much at all. The delays, as I have noted above start when adming starts postponing the automated host for the stallers. The greatest delays come from players who face force majors and thus cannot play for several days. If thise pile, the delay is somwhat upsetting. However, if there aint stallers in a game of 48H interval, we might save some 6H for each turn which means a full day for one complete week of turns... that not that much...

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

The delay is annoying and really avoidable, but certainly not a game breaker.

Staling though is a game breaker. At least the AI will build some troops and put up some kind of resistance as opposed to a free ride into the staler's capital for the lucky person who is fighting them.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

It seems we have a sub for Abysia, and possibly for Arco. More details soon.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Good work as usual Jimbo.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Interestingly Calahan gives some good reasons NOT to go AI. Quoted below the next paragraph.

However, people SHOULD play the game out unless they have real life reasons not to. To walk away from a game in which you still have a part to play is pathetic. I KNOW there are players here who will continue to play as long as they have a chance of winning and drop out as soon as things go sour, despite their empire being strong enough to influence the game.

----------------------------------------

Mr Calahan...below.

There are several problems with natons turning AI, and why staling is the preferred option (or at least my preferred option), but for now I'll limit my reply to just the two main ones IMO.

1 - Turning AI is permanent. So while a sub can be found for a staling nation even after several stales, once a nation is set to AI and the turn hosts then that can't be undone (unless you rollback). So mainly because of this I'd rather anyone who has to leave the game suddenly and is unable to contact the admin (ie. real life emergency), then I'd much rather that they just walk out of the game without turning AI first.

As you'd be surprised how often this scenario occurs, and how often players in such a situation think they are doing the game a favour by turning their nation AI rather than just letting it stale. When in practice the exact opposite is the case. As while in theory it sounds logical that an active AI, no matter how poor, would be better than a staling nation, Dominions just doesn't comply with that theory. Even though I have no doubt other online MP games do (my online gaming exp is limited to Dom only, so have no knowledge of how other games play with AI nations)

Although an important aspect in this theory is often how caring and active the game admin is, as sadly some admins couldn't care less if nations are staling and show no corcern at all if their game is falling apart due to multiple staling or AI nations. But luckily for you all I'm a fantastic admin biggrin.gif biggrin.gif biggrin.gif and I do care about the quailty of the games I play in, and especially those I organise and admin. So unless I start forgetting to look left and right, then I certainly won't be letting this game become a staling or AI happy festival.


2 - The AI is dreadful. Really dreadful. If I personally had to choose between fighting a staling nation or fighting the AI, then from a difficulty prespective, and especially from a time needed to defeat them PoV (which is a critical aspect of MP games), then the AI is far easier to beat every time than a staling nation. Mainly because a staling nation can't suicide all it's troops, which is something the AI loves to do, and to the point where its play becomes 100% predictable. (although I'm sure Gandalf would disagree, as the AI is excellent in his mind)

Nowhere is this seen more clearly than in fort sieges, as if you park a Scout on an AI fort then it will always attempt to break siege with everything inside the fort because all it can calculate is an easy victory. So all you have to do is bait the trap with a Scout, then move all your forces in for an instant win. No tricky fort storms required ever, or any need to get sufficient numbers to break the walls down with repairers inside. Whereas if the nation was staling you'd both have to break the walls down of an occupied fort, and battle your way through the gate of the fort (if you lacked the magic and strategic option to win by other means, such as if it's early in the game). And doing that can take considerable time and effort that could genuinely cost you the game if it takes too long, but that time factor disappears against the AI because as I said, it will always attempt to break siege, enabling every fort to be taken in 2-3 turns.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Gentlemen,

did I miss something. I´ve already offered to join in as replacement player. Would prefer to play Abysia, but be happy with Arco too.

I´d returned a PM confirming my intention too.

Cheers, Klaus

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

By "here" I meant on the forums...... not those left if this particular game.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Dear friends,

I´m taking over for Arco. My real name is Klaus, I´m a MD from Germany. Not an experienced Dom3 player, but a semi-professional chess player and very experienced wargamer.
So better you drop me a mail in case we are at good relations..:D

However, have fun and enjoy the game.

Good luck,

Jolly Roger, King of Arco

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Youch! First salvo in my war against Atlantis, and my armies are crushed! Chaff does NOT like earthquakes!!

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Welcome, Jolly Roger :-)

Very pleased to have you in the game. Dom3 is a lot of fun, and quite addictive (it has a very steep learning curve) so hopefully this is the start of many games to come with you.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Wow, Pangaea has lots of troops. I guess someone took some disorder scales? Good luck feeding all that chaff!

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

The chaff eats other chaff. It is like a perpetual motion machine, only with each iteration the act of eating chaff somehow introduces additional energy into the system resulting in exponential growth in the amount of chaff running around.

MA Ermor vs EA Pan would be awesome - chaff everywhere!

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

You can throw the pass to me, I can act as a sub admin when situation arises.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Hey all,

I've taken control of Abysia. I'll do my best to honor all existing treaties and trade agreements, provided that they remain within our best national interests. I heartily encourage anyone we've had dealings with in the past to re-open any dialogues that may have been previously discarded, and also invite anyone we haven't met to take advantage of this opportunity to establish an ambassadorship in Abysia.

Although our nation has had some very public failings in recent months, I want to assure our allies that these were due to errors in policy and judgment by the administration of my predecessor, and NOT through any systemic weakness of our country or our people. I have already instituted sweeping economic reform, as well as instituting a new military training program and replacing senior officials with some whose tactics are (significantly) better-suited to winning today's wars.

Our present may be the smoldering embers of our recent past, but our future burns brightly.

- Abysia

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

We have turn files in for both Arco AND Abby - yay! Thanks guys :-)

And thanks for stepping up Anaconda - I'll flick over the password tomorrow sometime, and send out a message so people know.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Well, this map is certainly nice and crowded - caves and ships for everyone! And wasteland, too. :D

I'd like to announce that the Abysian Grand Bazaar is now open for trading! We have many fine hand-crafted wares - fire brands and shields of gleaming gold for thugs, herald lances and flambeaus for dealing with those pesky undead/demonic neighbors, even flame helmets for people (or giants/monsters/whatever) looking to diversify. All available now, at fire sale* prices!

*pun mostly intended.

I'm also looking to acquire a couple pairs of earth boots, as well as some skull mentors, at very favorable rates.

Don't be a stranger! Let's make a deal.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

My greatest fear was that you wouldn't sign a NAP3 and would swarm me early on before I got the chance to research Earthquake, esp. since you have better scales and the resultant income. (I have about your income with twice the provinces.) Also you're the all-powerful R'lyeh while I'm the measly Atlantis. :p I tried some early war scenarios before we started play, and they were generally highly unfavorable to me.

Why did you let me research Earthquake? :hammer: I gather that Shark Attack was the research goal you were waiting for, but I don't think that tops Earthquake, which is easier to get, and annihilates your best troops...

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

It is an awesome map, I have to say. And if you have a look higher up in the thread, you'll see that the Agarthan player (whose name eludes me, but shall always be "Lucy" based on their pretender in the first game that we played together) has done some work to tidy up the visuals if that appeals.

I'm potentially interested in trade (might even help me square the circle with another set of trades that I am working on), will get back to you on that (I am EA Ermor).

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Urgent!

I have to do some unexpected work-related travel from the 16th to the 19th. That's a too long for an extension, so does anyone think they could help find a sub? I'd really rather not stale- Im in the middle of a war with Atlantis!

Also, does anyone here want to help me sub in TheAscensionWars? It's really easy, I promise! If not, no big deal, Im not really invested in that game, being a sub myself.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

My two cents are that 16-19 aint too much for extension: you can play before you leave and as fast as convenient when you get back so theres an extension of ...say less than 2 full days? After all its already >30 so a little bit longer turn wont hurt?

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

As long as everyone is fine with it, an extension would be great. However, I dont think I will be back until the late evening of the 19th, so it might be more than 2 days.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

I'm fine with an extension. Besides, what's the worst case scenario? You'll stale in a war with Atlantis. :rolleyes:

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

I'm fine with an extension as well.

Re: Power Beyond Comprehension aka "My power is still raising!" newbie game - Running
 

Ditto -- there's no sense in getting a sub for 4 days. We can do a short postponement easily enough. (It's hardly the first!)