Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

I must admit, with Mari and Midgard AI, and only Caelum unconceded, I'd be sorely tempted to go AI myself for all the difference it would make.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Ok, so let me make a constructive suggestion.
I'll compile a list of all the nations that want to go AI/surrender.
I then volunteer to search for a sub for each of this nations. If any of you put a pwd I'll ask you to send it to the sub once one if found.

So far the list consists of:
1. Mari
2. Midgard
3. Ulm?
4. Utgard?

Baalz and QM please confirm whether or not you wish to surrender/go AI.

Lingchih, not mad at all, this is just a game after all, right? ;)

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Damn Wraith, you are a master manipulator. Your last comment about this just being a game almost made me jump back in. Well done. You appeal to my fighting spirit, while at the same time making light of it.

That said, yeah, I will still go AI. I have better games to play. There's no password protection on Midgard. I will set the to AI now, so I am not further tempted.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

I don't see the appeal of playing well past turn 100, but I'll stick it out if that's what it takes to win this thing if I can't get a concession. I do request that my diplomatic agreements be honored by any subs coming in though.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

@Lingchih, thanks pal. I understand why you may like to go AI and yet am sorry to see you go. Would you mind giving me a couple of days to try and find you a sub before you go AI?

@Micah, to each is own - I don't pretend to answer for the rest. For me the appeal comes from wanting a closure. I like the games I'm in to play to the end. Considering that this is a VP victory game there's no way its going to go on forever. The end is foreseeable. You want it to end, then go for them damn VPs :).

I think it goes w/o saying that the diplo agreements be respected by subs.

@Baalz and QM, can you please confirm whether or not you'd like for me to find you a sub?

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

OK. I won't go AI for a couple of days. I don't think it hosts (if it ever does) until Saturday.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

As far as Ulm needing a sub, I really would like one, though on the other hand I'd feel a bit guilty if my missing sub was the only thing still stalling the game.

In any case, I'm assuming we are extending the host again in hope of a Marignon sub?

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Well, I think the reticence on everyone's part to play is because there seems very little chance that anyone could stop Micah from winning with Mari going AI, but even if you disagree with this it's going to take scores of turns stretching across many more months. The constant cycle of pummel the leader has left nobody strong enough for a quick decisive victory, just a slow war of attrition with a huge amount of micromanagement and almost nothing to look forward to. No "I'm about to have xxxx researched...", very likely more Armageddons to cut off gold and bloodslaves to further mire things down, and generally just a lot of hunker down and take potshots at each other. Heck, from Utgard's position, with Mari AI it would take probably 2 months with this host time for me to even engage Bogarus in any meaningful way. It's just a whole lot of unenjoyable effort for (in my assessment) a foregone conclusion. To be honest, even before Mari went AI I was only sticking it out in this game out of a sense of obligation.

That said, there's no password and I've no objection to you finding a sub.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

First, we already have a possible sub for Mari - slayers_ai.
I'm waiting for final confirmation from him.
After that, I assume he'll need a few days extension to get going.

@Baalz, clearly we see things differently. I don't want to get into an argument. I respect your opinion yet I disagree.
Small thing though for perhaps I misunderstand: I fail to see the logic of how Mari turning AI is actually bad for you. With Amhazair leading it you'd have a hell of a harder time against it than against the AI.
Utgard with the forge up doesn't seem that feeble either. You lead in provinces and income, are 2nd in gem income and have the forge and nature's bounty up.

QM and Baalz I take it as a yes to my Q whether or not you want a sub. I will thus try to find a sub for you as well.

QM, I have extended by an extra 48h until we sort the subs out.

Re: The Artifacts Game - [ running ]
 

Meh, the score graphs only tell part of the story - I've got guns, but I'm out of bullets. I wasn't really playing for a win at this point, Mari going AI doesn't change (in my estimate) my personal chances of winning - it just removes the last fun thing I was doing leaving the remainder of the game a micromanaged war of attrition. Supplying Micah with items from my forge (he did finance most of it) trying to overcome the extensive casualties I took fighting Mari with my gold and blood economy decapitated from Armageddons, fight off a belligerent AI along a long border, *and* project force all the way across the map into the face of all the nastiness Micah built up while I bore the brunt of fighting Mari...I can't imagine a best case any better than stalemate.

At any rate, it sounds like you're really the only one who wants to keep going. Looks like we've got a group of guys considerate enough to stick it out but a better option would be to call it over and start a new game with people excited to be playing. That said, as I mentioned I've no objection if you want to line up subs, with fresh blood this game could go on for another 50 turns....;)