Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Well I guess I'll test the water again and put my name back in the ring.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

KOTH has been updated again, and this update message was brought to you by some extreme, bleeding-edge technology. Okay, so it was Lynx, because of (again) ISP woes.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Gozra AKA Gozguy has surrendered to Asmala
Sorry I did not give you a better game.
Well played Asmala

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Thanks for the game Gozguy. Next time you should keep a closer eye on your colony ships. I was able to capture two of them and after that it is very difficult to win a game.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

So, Asmala, what shall our "poison" be? Setting suggestions?

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

This game of Geo's and I is going to be quick, either due to a possible restart or due to quick and dirty death.

We started so close that if we had sent ships in the right direction we would've met on turn 2, instead of 5.. heh heh.

Not that I am ancient but it's apparent to see where Alneyan started us and where the blasted computer chose to put the other two of our 3 planet start and I doubt it could have deliberately have chosen us closer beginnings!

Either looks like fun, or like too much fun too fast!

Rathar

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Yup, same old "feature" with multiple homeworlds. I don't think I gave you manual placement, though, since the settings I received were "3 Good planets
Balance mod
no mines/intel/stellar
low tech start
5 k racial points" (manual placement is not default)

You can always check with Geo whether you intended manual placement, and perhaps ask for a restart. It could change very little, though: you can end up with a homeworld three systems ahead of your starting point, which would be halfway to the other starting point or so, on a small map.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Defaults are fine with me but if you want something I'm almost sure I'll agree.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Well, how about:

(1) - Manual placement (so one of us doesn't get placed in a dead end and the other along the only path out, for example);

(2) - Geo Balance Mod v. 2 (so one of us doesn't find out he's on the side where all the nebulas are and the other is loaded with planets, for example);

(3) - Turn off the following:
Intel;
Stellar Manipulation;
Religious

(4) - KOTH defaults except:
3 GOOD starting planets;
Warp holes anywhere

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

Additional optional rules for you, if you want to make it a fair game:

You cannot have more than 5 ships in a fleet;
You cannot lay mines;
No ship above the size of destroyer;
You can only settle one planet per system.

There! Maybe now I'll have a chance http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

These settings are fine with me, though I think those additional rules should apply to you, considering the fact it's over a year from your last KOTH defeat!

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

So, we have game settings!

A year? Not actually, because you were gone a year and Alneyan and Master Belisarius were on the throne a bit. Well, for part of my time, I yawned. And remember, it's not like I had the likes of Rex, you, Alneyan, and Stone challenging me. And Geo's game lasted a 100 turns! And let's not discount Parabolize, my personal nemisis.

Anyway, hoping I can last 50 turns!

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

GosGUY and Thermodyne have agreed on game settings.

OK std game. (no mods)

Small map
No events
No Intel
No stellar manip.
1 good planet
2000 racial points
Low start tech

Everything else is default.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Well, according to KOTH page your last defeat was Feb 8,2005 against Joachim... That's over a year for me so your bluff failed. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Ahhh, my bad. I was thinking of how long I've been on the throne...and that's only been since August of last year.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

In the latest KOTH update, the fiery Asmala knocked out his courageous opponent, thereby putting him again on the second spot of the all-time KOTH rankings with 17 wins. The second spot was formerly held by Geoschmo, who had got his 17th win a few days ago, and snuck right under Asmala's nose.

As Asmala raced past Geoschmo, he smirked and said "So there", and sticked his tongue out at his unfortunate opponent. Geoschmo was found doing odd stuff soon afterwards, including some command-line editing and things of the like. When questioned, he replied he was busy with "PBW admin stuff"; our chief investigator reports seeing the words "Wanna delete the account of this (l)user?" before being sent to the nearest hospital by a bunch of heavy-handed Spanish Inquisition men at arms.

This was KOTH daily, brought to you by the Borg. "When you think life is hopeless, do yourself a savour, and surrender your existence to us. You will save yourself a lot of pain, and us some hard work. You too can make the universe a happier, better place!"

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Hmm. Looks like I still hold the record for "longest RL time" game, though. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

This has to be near the shortest! 18 turns, back to the bottom I go!

Rathar

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Games tend to go quickly when you start so close together. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

A good game nonetheless. You fought well. There wasn't much in the way of strategy, just build as many ships as I could as fast as I could and keep throwing them at you.

I was suprised that you didn't try to collect your ships for a large assault at the end there. You seemed to throw them at my fleet one and two at a time. Was there a concious decision there or just desperation?

That fleet was running on fumes at the end there. I didn't have enough fuel to run, and barely enough to take out the one homeworld that I managed to kill. It's possible that if you had held up your attacks for one turn to get a decent size fleet together you might have driven me out of your system. Of course I had already damaged you at that point and you hadn't gotten to any of my colonies so it probably wouldn't have mattered in the end. But you could have dragged it out for a while longer.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Yeah..

I had figured out the fumes part and knew if I could take a second to group up my ships would have killed yours as well, they were better armed I think but it's rather difficult to take a turn to regroup when the enemy is sitting at your homeworld dropping rocks on it, heh heh.

I also wanted to try to waste your supplies with individual attacks.

I tried to give ships wierd move orders so they would come at you in waves but thats hard to work out.

Well, this game was my first with a balance map and showed me to definitely insist on manual placement!

Good fun!
Rathar

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Mwbard surrendered to Glyn.

Thanks for the game Mwbard. I had colonized about half the systems and Mwbard had about a quarter of the system the other quarter were nebula & asteroids. It didn’t help that in the early game, my missile ships took out three of his colonies and isolated a forth, giving me control of a system next to his home system.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Please note that KOTH has been updated, even though most universities in France are currently "on strike" (if you can consider a university to be striking, or plain "lock down" to be a strike). The rules have also been updated somewhat, with the most notable change being the removal of the Non-Gold league. I am *that* dedicated to your welfare and happiness. Please write down "Alneyan" when you next cast your ballot. I truly am the most skilled KOTH admin out there.

Don't anyone dare ruin my little speech by pointing out I was late in updating the website (especially the rules page). Accidents happen every now and then, even in a realm governed so wisely and kind-heartedly. You can never play it *too* safe. This message was brought to you by The Insight, the only newspaper made by people like *you* that you can trust.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Glyn, I haven't been able to get my yahoo email to work all day. I did get your message, but I haven't been able to reply. I'm cool with no intel, and would suggest no mines and no stellar manip as well if you are willing.

Geoschmo

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Geo,

Fine by me.

No Intel
No Mines
No Stellar Manip.

Lets add:
One Good homeworld?

Anything else?

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Do you want manual placement? If so we need to specify it. I'm cool either way. I tend to well in games where I start close to the other player. But I know a lot of people prefer some space. Other than that I'm good with what you've mentioned here.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Geo,
I'm fine with random placement.

No Intel, No Mines, and No Stellar Manip.
One Good Homeworld
everything else is standard KOTH.

I'll upload my empire tonight.

looking forward to a good game.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

KOTH Match:

Just to report, Asmala is as dangerous as always. Now, mind you, I don't mind having a good game and getting beat. This one is loaded with strategy as we have stuff going on a few different places (mostly me losing).

However, what IS embarrasing is that he owns less of the galaxy than I do, and does his turns in about 11 minutes (while I take half an hour http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif).

Oh well. It's an interesting game. Now I just need to try to last at least 50 turns (like I said in the beginning http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif).

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

If you have been waiting on me recently, be advised my graphic card has died. I now have a new one up and running, and I should be able to catch up. Well, unless yet another part of the computer decides to stop working.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

I've often wondered if one were so good at some sort of game if it would become boring to whip people's asses all the time. Well, I guess I'll never know but maybe Asmala can say something on the subject. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Just in case he DOES get bored whipping asses, I figured I'd spare him the yawns and surrender. I could add some (possibly) humorous little ditty about wanting to same my people from destruction but to tell the truth, the lazy bastards should die! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image.../firedevil.gif

Now, it could have possibly been a bit more interesting if I hadn't copied a colony ship design to a destroyer and altered it to become a minelayer and NEVER ADDED THE 6TH ENGINE! Or, perhaps, if I hadn't built 9 light carriers at various places to be defensive rammers at warpholes WITHOUT ANY ENGINES AT ALL! Then, the little matter of giving orders to an early colony ship, then canceling the order, and then deciding to move it toward an unknown system WITHOUT POPULATION (and having to divert it to get some).

But, I'm sure the outcome would have been the same anyway. Asmala seemed to be 3-4 turns ahead of me most of the game.

All hail the returning KING!

(nice lesson, my Finnish [fiendish] friend) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Thanks for the good game Slynky. I was a bit scared when I saw your PPB ships when I had only DUCs. However my early Advanced Military Science research paid off when I attacked you. I believe you didn't have trained fleets and ships, and even though you had PPBs against my DUCs I won the battle(s).

This was my first game using Geo's Balance Mod v.2, and I've nothing else to say that it is a very good mod. It's much more interesting to explore the galazy than in the former only-medium-sized-planets mod, but the new mod is still well balanced.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

When we had our first (big) battles, my fleet was trained to 20% but the ships in the fleet were at different numbers.

As I said, it seems you were always about 4 turns ahead of me. The last attack yu made happened as I refitted nearly all of my cruisers to place Sensor 3's on them. You attacked after the retrofit and before repair. That is one reason you killed all the cruisers in that last battle, I think.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

KOTH has been updated, following the Appomattox Slynky has witnessed. Shame you never had any King to behead, though. History is so much less fun without kingslayers, Lord Protectors, usurpers, kingmakers and whatnot.

I'm readying for my own Berezina myself... or perhaps it will be Fort Alamo, or even Castillon, on the side of the English, of course. I haven't made up my mind yet, and I'm open to suggestions.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

I noticed you avoided the use of "Waterloo" ( http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif ).

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

I know you would notice, Mister Gettysburg. There are battles galore in military history, but not all of them are equal in importance (I'm sure you liked the battle of Nashville, though). And then you have those battles that are technically a victory, but a bitter one, as in Bull Run: Take Two ("Second Battle of Bull Run" is such a dull name"). Not to mention battles like Saragota, where...

I guess it all broke down with Saragota. I actually thought about using Waterloo, but decided to go with the Berezina instead. The whole campaign of Russia wasn't exactly the best idea in the world, and it has taken a pretty strong meaning in French as a plain noun. If you insist on a proper battle, I guess it'll have to be Traffalgar... or Agincourt, Crécy and L'Ecluse for a different theatre.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Renegade 13 has defeated Rand.

I controlled about 70% of the galaxy, and though we hadn't had any major fights yet, Rand knew he could not prevail and thus surrendered.

Please move me on up Alneyan!

Good luck in your next game Rand!

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Geoschmo, please meet us tomorrow out of town. The gentleman and myself will fight to the death, like men ought to. And don't forget to bring my new sabre, right?

Regarding settings, here are my most important preferences (I'm taking the initiative, since I'm going to bed soon); I'm pretty neutral regarding the rest of the settings.
- I prefer manual placement, since the random placement is highly random ("Evenly distributed?" That's wishful thinking pilot!).
- I prefer not to use balanced systems, since I feel they remove a part of the game (adaptability to the resources available), while strengthening another random aspect, namely the wormholes and where they lead. A disadvantageous system layout is more damaging in balanced systems, where all systems are created equal, than in a more random game, where fewer/harder to defend systems can be compensated by better planets.
- Regardless, I am not against ditching some of the poorer system types (blackholes, infestations...), or even all of them but "regular" systems. I'm fine with any option here.

With regards to the rest of the settings, let's just say I'm fine with most of them (so long as you aren't planning to forbid *all* tech areas, or some such *Whistles*). I'm also open to more exotic settings, if you would like something out of the KOTH ordinary. So, please name your poison, and I'll accommodate.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

It's you and I who shall meet on the field of battle, correct Alneyan? Assuming it is, I'll respond to the latest post as though it is. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

- Manual placement sounds good to me. I've been stuck behind a blackhole or two myself at times.
- I also do not like balanced systems, for much the same reasons you specified.
- Hmm...I leave it to your discretion as to whether or not the 'bad' system types should be removed. It honestly doesn't matter to me.

As for other settings, how does this strike you?

- No Intel
- 3 planet, GOOD start

Those are my only desires, if you have any others you'd like to propose I'm certain I'll be happy with them.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Hmm, looks like I had forgotten to name my target. You are the one indeed.

I suggest going with the middle way for the map, and ditching the truly empty systems (blackholes, nebulas, infestions, forming stars and dying stars).

You may also wish to turn off Stellar Manipulation (unless you like the SM race), since I'm a known Warp Opener/Closer junkie... well, I guess I'm second to Asmala in that field.

I'm fine with three good homeworlds and no intelligence; I find it easy enough to switch off my brain.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

I get no respect. NONE at all... *sniff*

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Ah yes, I'd be quite happy to not have Stellar Manipulation in this game. I'm not a fan of that particular race, it's too unbalancing I think.

I too find it easy to turn off my brain...I do it most of the time. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Your suggestion for empty systems looks good as well.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Well, I'm available to set up the game in the next hour or so if you guys are interested...

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Respect costs extra, Slynky. Besides, you know, Asmala is the king, the previous KOTH admin, and so on, so I feel obliged to show deference and... Okay, so I gotta suck up to him too.

I'm interested in your setting up the game in the next hour or so... or later than that, for that matter.

The settings seem to be:
- No intel
- No Stellar Manipulation
- 3 good homeworlds
- Manual placement
- The following system types are out (listed in the order they show up in SystemTypes.txt): Storm, Black hole, Comet, Stellar Core Fragment, Green Giant, Nebulae, Nova, Organic Infestation, Red Giant, Spatial Rupture, Star Forming. Hmm, that's plenty of empty systems.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Well, I can handle all the regular settings but someone will have to tell me how to NOT generate crappy systems. I'll check the map, of course, to make sure none were generated.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Renegade, you may wish to chime in regarding the actual list: I had forgotten some system types, and you might wish to have some of the more interesting ones (nebulae come to mind) in the game.

Slynky, you'll have to use a mod, or do some file swapping. If you want to use a mod, copy all data files in a new folder (named, say, "Alneyan_is_a_nuisance", and edit your path.txt file to say the mod is "Alneyan_is_a_nuisance"). Replace the SystemTypes.txt in your new folder with the one attached to this post.

Swapping files should go faster, though. Rename your current Data/SystemTypes.txt and put the one attached to this post in its place. I have removed all the system types listed below. Hopefully, I didn't leave a dreaded double blank line in there.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

File-swapping is easy.

Time is running out (I need to go somewhere soon) and I hesitate to create a game since Geo might be the next best chance and have heard nothing form Renegade 13.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

I'm sorry were you guys needing me to set something up here?

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Ok, it didn't look like Slynky had setup a game on PBW yet so I created one and joined you both to it. If this has already been taken care of just ignore my game and I'll delete it.

Are you guys wanting the balance mod or something, or just a random map minus the system types you've listed below.

Also, do you want random placement or assigned starting positions?

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

No, Geo, you're spot on.

I was around this afternoon and offered to set up the game because I had seen messages from both peeps and thought they might be around and waiting. But I had limited time, so I didn't actually create the game on PBW till I had a "go" from both players. When it got too late (had to go do something), I mentioned I hadn't even created the game.

So, when they are ready, have at it! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Sorry for not being around to respond Slynky, was chasing cattle around for a few hours. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Alneyan, I leave whether or not to leave Nebulae and other interesting system types in the game to your esteemed judgement. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif I am neutral. Besides that, the settings you mentioned all sound good.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Phoenix-D v Fuzzie: Fuzzie surrenders on Turn 86, just before my battle fleet incinerates his homeworld.

It was a bit of an odd game, thanks to my racial setup: massive construction rate, -25% to defense. I went for Stealth armor early, letting me get a nasty sneak atttack in, but I think it was really numbers and tech that won the day.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Rathar surrenders to the empire of Dex Solo.

Watch out for this fellow folks. Their first koth game and while they were missing lots of things in the bag of tricks he still managed to hand me my ***! Got to 100 turns, could have fought on longer but the end was apparent.

Quite demoralizing as I thought I was at least an ok player!

I'd say put me back on the bottom but I am already there!

Rathar