Ludus - CUnknown WINS!
 

<font color="purple">Ludus : Latin for games!</font>

Status Page: http://67.66.187.69/dominions3/stats.php?game=ludus#

SERVER IS UP. LETS PLAY http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif Everyone has been added to the e-mail notification list. I'll send out a diplomatic e-mail list so that people can use it for diplomacy in game.

Game Type: TCP/IP (static server)
Speed: 24 hour hosting for as long as possible, until the majority of the players vote in 48 hour hosting. This game is designed to have quick pace for hosting.
Quickhost: Enabled
Era: Early
Players: 10
Start: Nations will be assigned when we are filled. The game will start 48 hours after nations are posted. That will give you two days to create pretender Gods for the nation you have been randomly assigned.
Nation Selection: Random with exceptions (see below). Only 2 water nations allowed.
Map: 15 provinces per player pre-generated map. Below is a link to a picture of the map itself including a connection between the two large bodies of water.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b...s-overview.gif
Victory Conditions: 90 out of 150 (~60%) provinces controlled, or the surrendering of all other players.
Graphs: Off
Renaming: On
Everything Else: Defaults
Masterpass: There will be one
Length: This game is designed for quick turns. Staling without notice will get you set to AI or dropped from the game very quickly.

Nation Selection: Once the game is full I will randomly assign nations out. When signing up players may request up to THREE nations they DON’T want. These are nations you DO NOT want to play. Sign up in this thread. There will be only 2 water nations, and 8 land nations at most. There is a possibility of no water nations, or only one as well.

After nations are assigned I’ll need you to email your pretender password to jazzepi(at)columbus.rr.com. This is because I’ve had issues with the Master Password working in the past AND so we can give your nation to another human player if you disappear. This is not optional. If you PM me your password make sure and include your email address if you would like to be included in the diplomacy email distribution list or want email notifications when turns host.

Once I have your password I’ll send you the ip/port of the server where you can upload your pretender. Once everyone is uploaded I’ll send out an email listing everyone’s email contact for diplomacy purposes and add you to the game turn email notification list (unless you specify otherwise). Then the game starts.

If you don't want to download from the server, feel free to download the map files from the attachment. They're zipped up, and both need to be placed in your zip folder.

Quickhost will be enabled. We will remain on 24 hours hosting until enough players vote to switch over. We'll need at least 50% of the currently active players to vote for 48 hours, or longer, before we change.

Players who wish to surrender (resign) should simply let me know so we can find a replacement or turn the nation to computer controlled. If you will be unavailable for longer than a few days please let me know. Failing to do you turn twice a in a row without letting us know will get you put on AI. If I think you are missing too many turns (e.g. 3 out of the last 6) I will put you on AI. Once (*ahem* - If) I am eliminated I’ll rely on the remaining players to tell me when something needs done with the game.

Finally, I'd like to send out a huge thank you to Velusion for hosting the game server, which includes the one this game will be run on. The e-mail notification he has is the only reason I can play in so many games at once. I also stole... er, borrowed, his game setup routine.

Jazzepi

Re: Ludus - Recruiting Players
 

I'll join. I might as well get another MP game going, since Perpetuality has gone to 48 hour. I'll send you my info when we get some more players.

Re: Ludus - Recruiting Players
 

I'm in. I'll send you an email with my prefs (or anti-prefs) soon.

Re: Ludus - Recruiting Players
 

Sign me up. I would like to avoid playing a water nation - other than that I am happy

Re: Ludus - Recruiting Players
 

Count me in please, will take any nation available.

Re: Ludus - Recruiting Players
 

I'm in. I'll PM you when I decided what to not play http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Ludus - Recruiting Players
 

I'd like to join this game and avoid playing a water nation.
Thanks
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Ludus - Recruiting Players
 

I'd like to join. Any nation is okay.

Re: Ludus - Recruiting Players
 

I'm in. No Mictlan, no Lanka, no Ry'leh.

Re: Ludus - Recruiting Players
 

Looks like I was too late. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Ludus - Recruiting Players
 

I'd like to sign up for this one as well, I'd like any nation except the water ones.

Re: Ludus - Recruiting Players
 

Prefs PM'd to you Jazz.

Re: Ludus - Recruiting Players
 

It seems water nations aren't too popular here. If possible I don't mind taking one of them.

Otherwise no prefs

Re: Ludus - Recruiting Players
 

prefs sent to ya Jazz, thx http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Ludus - Please Submit Prefs
 

If there are still spots, I would like to play. Any nation is fine, i.e. I have no 3 nations I don't want to play.

Re: Ludus - Please Submit Prefs
 

We're full, but I'll contact you if a spot opens up.

Jazzepi

Re: Ludus - Please Submit Prefs
 

Is this some sort of strange joke? I specifically asked to not take Kailasa. Monkey men. Frakkin monkey men.

Oh well, if life gives you lemons, make lemonade. I'll do my best with them.

Re: Ludus - Please Submit Prefs
 

No, not a joke. I just messed up. Sorry about that. I'll redo your pick. It's why I asked people to correct me if I gave the wrong assignment.

Jazzepi

Re: Ludus - Please Submit Prefs
 

Thanks Jazz. I actually had an OK little SP game going with the monkey men, but I'm much happier with Neifelheim.

Re: Ludus - Please Submit Prefs
 

I read in the first post that we have to e-mail our pretender password to you? Why? Just use the master password if you need to get into our nation.

Will the IP of the server be posted here?

My e-mail is Dowdcc (at) yahoo (dot) com if anyone needs to contact me for diplomacy or any other reason.

Re: Ludus - Please Submit Prefs
 

Directly from the game description on the first page. I've never hosted a game before, but Velusion has hosted many, so I trust in him that this is a good step and not one that should be circumvented. I'm not going to use your password to cheat, but if you feel awkward/unsafe about it use a password you don't normally use for your other pretenders.

If it's a huge issue to comply with, we can find a replacement for you. Again, this isn't my idea really, but I'm sure it's a good one.

The IP of the server gets mailed to you so that you can upload your pretender to it once I get the password for your nation mailed to me.

"After nations are assigned I’ll need you to email your pretender password to jazzepi(at)columbus.rr.com. ****This is because I’ve had issues with the Master Password working in the past AND so we can give your nation to another human player if you disappear.**** This is not optional. If you PM me your password make sure and include your email address if you would like to be included in the diplomacy email distribution list or want email notifications when turns host."

Jazzepi

Re: Ludus - Please Submit Prefs
 

To be able to give the nation to somebody else in case somebody vanishes completely from the game and from the forum, stalling forever. That's better than setting him to AI. And yes, since there is going to be a masterpass anyway you can aswell send over your password, too. It's not like you are losing anything by it.

Re: Ludus - Please Submit Prefs
 

I would also like to mention that Ulm had to be set on AI in a game I'm in, Ragnarok, and it's a real pain in the butt when someone in such a crucial position can't be taken over by a human. Mostly because whatever alliances, or wars were going on at the time, are ignored by the AI. Anything that allows a player's position to be changed into another's players hands seems good to me.

This also happened to Patala in another game I'm in, Hidden Signs. We needed him for a world wide alliance against Emor, but instead he continued to attack Arco who needed time to prepare for Emor. Again, the AI doesn't understand diplomacy so nothing could be done.

The AI is fine for subbing in for a player who's capital is under seige and will never be able to fight back, but it does an awful job replacing someone who is a major super power.

Jazzepi

Re: Ludus - Please Submit Prefs
 

Sorry, it's my anti-authoritarian side showing through. I'll do it, I'm glad to get an explanation first, though. I would hope that you'd trust me not to leave the game and stale forever -- I've never done that in any game I've ever been in. I think that dominions is a small enough community that we should all trust each other. I wouldn't invite someone to the game who I thought would be a risk to do something like that (for example, I'm probably never letting Remmy into a game of mine again).

But at the same time, it's not difficult to comply, so I will.

Re: Ludus - Please Submit Prefs
 

Honestly, it would simpler be easier for me to not have to collect everyone's passwords and just set people to AI with the master pass. I don't exactly /want/ to have to go through the additional trouble of wrangling passwords out of people, it's just something that seems like a good idea considering the problems it overcomes.

Again, I would encourage you to use a non-default, uncommon password for whatever pretender you send me so that you can be sure I won't be using it to log into one of your other games. I don't have any intention of doing so, but maybe it'll give you more peace of mind.

Jazzepi

Re: Ludus - Please Submit Prefs
 

exactly, you should trust Jazzepi as well . http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

Re: Ludus - Please Submit Prefs
 

True enough, Fal! I should practice what I preach. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

I do trust him, so I went ahead and sent him my password. Now that we've established a bond of trust, let's get started with killing each other!

Re: Ludus - Please Submit Prefs
 

I trust that you'll die when I stab you.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/heart.gif

Jazzepi

Re: Ludus - Please Submit Prefs
 

Sorry on the holdup! I didn't even notice it had started. Turn is in now.

Re: Ludus - Please Submit Prefs
 

Server appears to be down at the moment.

Re: Ludus - Please Submit Prefs
 

I sent a message to Velusion.

Jazzepi

Re: Ludus - Please Submit Prefs
 

So, just like the mega....:p

Nation: Helheim
Looking For: Bag of Winds.
Will Pay: 25 Air Gems, or 20 Air Gems plus 75 gold.
Start from: Turn 4(Current Turn...*cough*)
Status: Open.

Diplomacy
 

Jazz,

Did you ever send out that diplomatic email? I've recently met a neighbor, the friendly, flaming Abysians, but have no idea who it is. Their mere presence is causing some of my favorite glaciers to show signs of global warming.

Re: Diplomacy
 

Ahh, never mind. I see from Velusions game server page that you, Jazzepi, are playing Abysia. Well met! I hope your travels to the south are fruitful. Because any travel to the north will be met with, well, extreme distaste.

Re: Diplomacy
 

A warning to all other nations.
After 1 messenger was sent to Helheim with no reply, we started to worry. He went offering peace, as all know a war this early is silly.

So went sent a second messenger, and Helheim responded to tell us it's too late. The war has already began.

If you border Helheim, don't trust them for a second. In fact, now would be a good time to take some of their land while they throw their little horse bound army at us.

I hate crowds
 

The North seems to be very crowded this time of year. I wonder what my neighbors' intentions are? I guess we shall see soon. That's a mighty big crowd of smelly cavemen on my border. I wonder what they're up to?

Having diffilculty connecting
 

I am having some difficulty logging onto this game. I belong to a couple of Velusion's other games and am not having any trouble with them.

I finished my turn and the turn hosted and now every time I try to connect dominions crashes in a heap while waiting for game info. Hope I didn't break anything ...

Re: Having diffilculty connecting
 

The server went down again x.x

Jazzepi

Re: Having diffilculty connecting
 

I'm out. I HATE getting rushed.
Helheim is running a W9/E9 bless. I like to think I did all I could possibly do, but couldn't quite pull it out.
First person to post proof of themselves taking over Helheim provinces gets free gems. Assuming it happens before he musters enough to start tearing down my walls.

Cavemen should stick to selling insurance
 

The war against the Agarthans has begun. Let them flee to their caves against the righteous might of Niefelheim. They should never have crossed me, but now they will pay.

(Scribe of Niefelheim adds "Actually, they never crossed us. I think Big Stick just wanted to pick a fight")

Note: Scribe of Niefelheim has been sent to front lines.

Re: Cavemen should stick to selling insurance
 

Yeah, were a real threat aren't we, with all of our 8 (make it six) provinces. Has anyone figured out how to actually get EA Agartha to not have the problem I like to refer to as 'failure to thrive'?

Well, at least Niefel had the decency to declare war. Niefel, if you call off this assault you have all of my resources at your disposal to destroy Abysia utterly. You can kill us, or you can have an E4,D3,etc. factory devoted to production with a fanatical hatred of the fire demons to the south. It's your choice.

Re: Cavemen should stick to selling insurance
 

Man, it is so hot down in there in Abysia. I mean, have you been there? It's just really freaking hot. We can't even wear our nifty fur greatcoats down there.

No, I think it would be better to crush you up here where it's nice and cold. We'll deal with Abysia after we've developed some really good sunscreen.

Re: Cavemen should stick to selling insurance
 

We love you too. Now, please die quickly so that we can get back to spreading firey goodness.

Jazzepi

Re: Cavemen should stick to selling insurance
 

Well then; to Helheim with the both of you.

Re: Cavemen should stick to selling insurance
 

These have been some interesting battles. I never knew that Niefel Jarls and Niefel Giants could hold off so many units, with the proper bless (I've never played Nielfelhiem before). Quite impressive. I've also seen how vulnerable they can be to fear spells. Hopefully I can counter that more effectively in the future.

Well played, Agartha. You may be going down, but you did some damage in the meantime. Who knows? You may beat me back yet.

Re: Cavemen should stick to selling insurance
 

My understanding is that, for the most part, when the blessed giants get knocked out of a battle, it's because of morale. Their squads are so small that the checks are more difficult than normal.

Jazzepi

Failure to Thrive.
 

Well, I think the party's pretty much over now, but I'm glad my one-eyed buggers could put up such a fuss on their way down. Thanks!

It seems Agartha really needs an awake pretender for early expansion -- their opening army is awful and their decent units chew up so much cash that it takes a few turns to put together an army that can actually take provinces. But they also cry out for a strong bless, because all their big mages are H3 (and their unblessed warriors are kinda squishy and daft). So I'll need to figure out how to balance this...or avoid playing the cavemen in the future...

Re: Failure to Thrive.
 

I just don't like them. Even if you give them a good bless, their units have terrible attack values, and low protection. It seems like their H3 mages could be very powerful later in the game. I think the problem is actually living until later in the game.

Re: Failure to Thrive.
 

I'm playing MA Argatha in Afterthought at the moment, and I've found them very difficult to play. I went for good scales, and the forge lord pretender to site search and give me better death magic.

The mapmove of 1 on almost all their commanders and units makes it difficult to respond to attacks. I found myself overwhelmed by a Van player in the early game, and only beat him by bribing a bigger player to basically come in and mulch his capital.

Jazzepi

Re: Failure to Thrive.
 

My impression of living longer in MP (from the few games I've played): there seem to be two basically successful strategies 1) to be honest and 'perceived strong' (i.e. not a border-threat, and costly to mess with) so that you don't get directly attacked after the initial expansion phase and you can be a modereate power player in alliances, or 2) rush to an very strong position and then play smaller states off of one another who will give concessions or become vassals in order to not be attacked by you. (I've achieved #1 exactly once, and #2 I haven't attempted.)

Unless EA Agartha gets really lucky right off the bat and uses an awake combat pretender, it seems nearly impossible to achieve either of these positions going into midgame. Partially because Agartha will always be 'perceived weak' and have to fend off early war. (Or fail to...and go down swinging his big slimy fists.)