Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

That could be fun. I would like that in a patch.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Turn 77
I accidentally pressed 'e' and the turn hosted before I could write it up. From what I recall Vanheim counter-attacked, though not effectively. I was successful in all my battles, except against the Amber clan, who killed almost all my troops including the mighty Asp Turtle, and sent me off the field of battle. I had a successful assassination, and am trying another.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Shortest update ever. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Pity about the Asp turtle.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Turn 78
After the confusion of last month I hardly remembered the orders I had given, so the reports this month, while good, were a little unexpected:

Ratheldun managed to assassinate a Vanjarl. Even I was impressed by this, since Vanjarls, being powerful mages of Air, tend to summon ghostly wolves and sometimes air elementals, which often are enough to stop would-be assassins in their tracks. In addition to this they are really hard to hit, on account of the glamour ability. Below is a shot of the beginning of the battle:

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...eathofsurt.jpg

Ratheldun very swiftly slew the elemental, and then about 6 wolves, before closing for the kill.


I myself was assailed this month by Vanheim; I stopped by the troops in Cathedral Gap to bolster their morale, and Vanheim, clearly thinking that they had an opportunity to destroy me, attacked. Sadly their pitiful force was no match for my might, and were beaten off most easily.

Two of my armies attacked: one in the west, who took a province from Vanheim without trouble, and one in the south, who took a province containing some Forest Ramparts from Vanheim. My force there, led by Bishen, was strong enough to destroy the gates of the fortification: we will be able to storm the gates this month.

Balastha has another force in the south, and will also be attacking a province this month.

Dhritiman is also ready: he will be leading out the fourth force from the western fortress this month.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Turn 79
Victory to the glorious armies of Kailasa! All of my armies defeated their foes with minimal losses!

Bishen was counter-attacked before he could storm the ramparts, and used his magical gems to protect against this attack, which meant that he didn't have any for the assault. I was nervous about this, particularly considering that one of the spells he is supposed to cast is Arrow Fend, to protect my unarmoured Yavanas against missiles. Especially before storming a fortification this is a good spell to have in effect. However, this potentially disastrous situation turned out to be ok, because Vanheim, in his haste to counter-attack left his garrison without any leadership, so as soon as I started advancing they retreated. I took the fort without a single loss!

Devasura and Balastha successful took their respective provinces with little resistance. The real coup however, was with Dhritiman's army: he attacked in force, but not necessarily expecting a lot of resistance, and found Vanheim's pretender with only a few bodyguards. Of course he pressed the attack, and even though he took the field himself, Vanheim's false god was slain. Below is a picture of the unfortunate just before his life was taken.

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...6-79vangod.jpg

With the loss of their god Vanheim's morale must be low - we will sweep the dissenters away and emerge as the one true ruler of this world!
Accordingly, Balastha is storming the castle in the province he just took; Devarama and Dhritiman are pushing south, and Bishen is moving westwards. After this turn Vanheim should only have 3 provinces left, and only one castle.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

This doesn't say much about the AI considering how easy a time you're having...

It also seems like the Kailasa are overpowered...

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

The AI seems a lot better to me than in Dom2. I think st.patrik is playing on normal difficulty level?
edit: "difficult" difficulty level.

I've played two quick games, and the first one I lost because the guys I was fighting against dominion-killed me!
I had a 6 dominion, a living prophet (though an imprisoned pretender), and a couple extra temples, too, so I was quite impressed. As for Kailasa being overpowered, I don't know... I'm stomping them as Marverni in my second game. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif
High morale troops are good for not being awed.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Any nation is overpowered if you know how to use them effectively. In this game I opted for a heavy bless strategy, which meant that I got a late start (imprisoned god) relatively speaking. Everything has a trade-off: if I had been attacked early on by a thug pretender I may not have made it, but now I have the troops and power to dominate Vanheim.

The AI is not bad, but is never to be compared to the challenge of a human opponent. There are a lot of things I would have done differently if this would have been a MP game. I probably could have given myself a harder time by setting the AIs to mighty or impossible.

I've said this before, but I think that the AI opponents are tough in the early game, because (if you set them to above normal) they have more resources than you, so can expand faster. If you make it to the middle game you can be on even footing - matching their numbers with your strategy. Once you get to the end game (ifyou get to the end game) they are easier, because you have (as an intelligent human being) figured out how to defeat their strategies.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Turn 80
Apparently Ratheldun has been in contact with some of his shadowy brethren in the hidden kingdom of Elludia - Another individual from that land appeared, asking for asylum. He calls himself Sedestar, although I have no doubt that that is an assumed name. But, as with Ratheldun, I offered him a place in my land, with the understanding that he will put his unique talents to work in my service. A taciturn fellow, he nodded his agreement and went to the armoury to outfit himself with appropriate equipment.

With regard to the war with Vanheim, it would seem that I am right: the people's will to fight is diminished - resistance has been mild at best. It will not be long now before the end comes. Here is a view of the last of Vanheim's domain:

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...1419-80map.jpg

Just for fun I am casting 'Imprint Souls' on Vanheim's last castle. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Turn 81
Imprint Souls is a fun spell! Looks like the effects were that it converted (i.e. made fanatics of) 12 people, killed 44 people, and made 52 people mad. The result was that the madmen and fanatics attacked the province. Here's some shots:

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...1-81madman.jpg

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...1madpriest.jpg

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...1madbattle.jpg

Here's the main screen, which shows Elohar (the mad priest) sieging the castle, which is good. However, also notice that his button has a special colour, which means that I can't get him to do something else if I want to. Because he's mad.

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...1-81orders.jpg

In other news, I took another Vanheim province, and he counter-attacked in a different one - but not with enough force to break my grip. Same old story. Am moving in this turn to wear down his walls.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

That is very cool! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Turn 82
Vanheim tried vainly to break the siege on his castle. Pathetic.

Elohar the mad priest is fervently Calling on his God (i.e. me) to return, even though I have not left this world, and therefore have no need of being called to return. But there's no telling the guy - he's intent on his task!

I am giving the order to storm the castle. Balastha and Bishen command. If this attack succeeds, Vanheim will be no more.

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...1427-82map.jpg

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

lol http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif
Do mad or insane commanders ever move. I mean do they ever roam from one province to another or initiate an attack on an enemy controlled province?

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

I'm not entirely sure about that. I haven't played much with madness yet. I do know that sometimes you can command them, and sometimes you can't

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Turn 83

"This is the way the world ends…not with a bang, but a whimper."

Here is my attacking army, in front of the gates to Vanheim's castle:

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...3attackers.jpg

Here are Vanheim's defenders:

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...9898-83def.jpg

Cowardly to the last, the inhabitants of Vanheim left their defence to a few clockwork horrors and a crusher.
I don't really need to show the battle. We all know what happened.

I will show some other images though:

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...7448-83map.jpg

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...83pretlist.jpg

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...8611-83hof.jpg

My main four commanders:
http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...83Balastha.jpg

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...8-83Bishen.jpg

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...3Dhritiman.jpg

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...83Devarama.jpg

And finally:
http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...nalmessage.jpg

And that is the story of how Ghanivallika came to rule the world.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Yay, good story! Way to end it with a touch of madness; very nice. Thanks for doing all the work to get this to us.

=$=

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Wonderful! Great finale, even if it was a bit of an anti-climax. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Where did that Siddha get the Horror Mark?

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

*Applause*
Great story, thanks for all the effort of putting it up for us to see http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

st.patrik, you've forgot to post the power graphs. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif
Anyways nice AAR, thanks for it! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

*edit* typo http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/stupid.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

How can you be certain it's you he's calling? Could be he's just feigning loyalty and will be fhtagning before you know it!

Anyway, thanks a lot for the AAR, I enjoyed reading it. Can't wait to play for myself.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Oh yeah, thank you very, very much for making this AAR, it has been very enjoyable and informative. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Nice AAR. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

thanks all http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif it was fun to do.

re. DominionsFan - it would apear that the score graphs take out nations that are no longer in the game, so at the end it showed only me! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

This didn't seem particularly interesting, so I didn't post it. I can though, if you like.

re. Nerfix - Dhritiman got the horror mark from wielding the Mage Bane sword, which horror-marks anyone who wields it. Thankfully he didn't actually get attacked by a horror, although it would have been an interesting fight...

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

The good thing about being horror marked by the Mage Bane is that it makes killing horrors much, much easier. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Damn, it should show all nations until they were wiped out. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Do the little icons above Ratheldun signify weapons/artifacts he has? I hadn't seen that before. How great is that?!?

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Thanks for the AAR, it has been great!

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Yeah, it's the Commander Tokens and it has appeared before you know. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

A player is unable to review the end game graphs if all other graphs have been removed. I would report this as a bug since it's a loss of data which was previously available.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

I'm pretty sure this is intentional on the part of the developers. I suppose that if you have a large game, then it would be helpful to not have all the dead nations cluttering up the display, so instead non-active nations are removed from the charts. It makes sense, it's just not helpful in cases like this where you want to look back over the course of the game and see how everyone did.

maybe an option to toggle on/off defeated nations would be nice.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

We all know most computer opponents have serious problems expanding into water provinces. The map he was playing was tipped in his favor since he expanded into these nearby water provinces.

Thus if you want to play a super easy map then setup a map with islands surrounded by water and start each nation on its own island. And to make the game even easier have yourself start as one of the water nations.
Ermor and Jotun are the only land computer opponents I've seen somewhat effective with expanding into the water yet even they are no match for how quickly a human can expand into the water.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

I don't think making dead nation disappear from the graph is a good idea. You can identify which nation is dead by seeing which one flat-line http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. ..
Flat god, no prophet! Someone bring the priest! We need emergency dominion, NOW! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif



Also, St. Patrik, I think this is one of the few complete Dominions AARs. Most stop at one point or another. Very few are this detailed. I can't think of any that last this many turns. Good work!

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

I completely agree... I will eventually report this as a bug since it's a loss of data which was previously available.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

thanks http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Hopefully I haven't given you any ideas that you're going to use on me in the MP game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Well, it's actually good feature if you play huge games with 50 nations in them. Getting rid of dead ones makes graphs much more readable. I think that dead nation's graphs should return at the end of the game though.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Yep, however the best would be to have an option to turn it on/off when we want. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Yes I like this idea... I would be a little sad to finish a long game yet have no graph to judge which computer opponents played the best.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Actually... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif I MEANT to upload an Oracle, I really did, but it seems I clicked on the wrong name. It seems the Oracle would've been better so far, but I quess I'll just have to try and do with what I have. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smirk.gif

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

There was an option in Dominions 2 to turn of nations from the score graph. Why would they want to remove that?

And if they have not removed it, there is no reason to autoremove destroyed nation. Better is to have destroyed nation turned off by default and let the player turn them on if intrested.

Re: Silent Seas AAR
 

Hmmm, so Devatas have the same base stats as the hero Devasura, except the difference in magic stats...