Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - Upload Pretenders :)
 

I recently joined a CBM game, thinking 'well, how different can it be?' I found out, and didn't last 20 turns. Not all of that was due to it being CBM (I made various strategic errors all of my very own), but not knowing the mod certainly cost me some opportunities.

And so I thought I'd start up a game for anyone who, like me, is interested in learning the CBM game.

Age: MA
Mods: CBM 1.3
Number of players: 23
Map: Faerun 466 has been suggested.
Other Settings: Default

I'll cheerfully listen to ideas about maps/mods/game settings/whatever people would like to see.

And, in an attempt to redeem my appalling record with them, I'll be playing Ashdod. I hope one day to survive the early game with them.

Players:

Gregstrom - Ashdod
Ylvali - Ermor
Ossa - Ulm
Crust - Machaka
Janlm - R'lyeh
Meglobob - C'tis
gotchaaa - Pythium
Quitti - Abysia
Hadrian_II - Pangaea
Kojusoki - Marignon
Radiogibbon - Vanheim
Saarud - T'ien Ch'i
Nikelaos - Oceania
Rabelais - Man
Jybalbyle - Arcoscephale
Psykmoe - Agartha
Deadnature - Bandar Log
Slayers_ai - Jotunheim
Shikome - Eriu
Juffos - Caelum
Konming - Mictlan
Radioheart - Atlantis

Re: Doedicurus - an introduction to CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver)
 

I don't think I should sign up, but I just wanted to posit that with CBM, production dependent nations get a huge buff and are worth considering and playing with max prod max turmoil max luck.

In general, production dependent nations (without some superpowered troops like the giant nations) are rarely on the same power level as nations that don't need to depend on this scale. read through the nations evaluations thread, the OP of the preponderance game thread, or just look around at nation strength opinions in general and you will notice that all of the nations believed to be particularly powerful tend to sport at least one high-powered/low resource unit, or at least very high cost to resource ratio units. Mictlan, Vanhiem, Lanka, Pythium, Nief, ect. There are of course many other such nations that are not considered powerful, but the point is that for any nation to really be considered effective they need to be able to produce lots of good troops. Those nations that are too dependent on production for their good units can't produce them fast enough, and are really forced to build forts in very specific areas where they can get more resources. They also must divert points into the production (generally considered an overall weak scale) rather than order (generally considered on of the most important scales) or another scale (like magic). Overall, the production dependency just puts a burden on these nations that the typically high-powered nations do not need to deal with.

CBM fixes this by making production intensive units a little cheaper in gold cost, and by making the luck scale more intense. Taking a production scale is more efficient, allowing a nation to swing with a turmoil luck scale. But the luck scale is more intense, meaning you will get more good events. The higher efficiency of the high resource units (being lower in gold cost, and typically being more robust due to higher prot) allows the nation to run fine with limited funds. But the luck scale will kick in intermittently and you will get nice gold boosts that allow you to build things like forts and such pretty painlessly. Additionally, you will get some bonus gems from the luck scale. On the flip side for the Order lovers, they will have to deal with a more intense misfortune scale, typically a favorite point mine for Order nations. With the intensified effects of this scale, even max Order is really getting risky with Misfortune of 2; this helps deprive these nation of at least one basically free positive scale pick.

At least, that's my analysis of one of the biggest changes in CBM. In my testing, the nations that have some high resource units as their elite units are really a lot better now.

Re: Doedicurus - an introduction to CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver)
 

I´m in. Haven´t played CBM much (actually haven´t played tha game itself that much either) And I´d like to play MA ermor.

Re: Doedicurus - an introduction to CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver)
 

I'd like to join with MA Ulm

Re: Doedicurus - an introduction to CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver)
 

I could join as Machaka.

Re: Doedicurus - an introduction to CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver)
 

i'll sign up as rlyeh

Re: Doedicurus - an introduction to CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver)
 

I have only played 2 CBM games, eliminated early, around turn 20 in one and never had the chance to do much in the other, overwhealming Hinnom win.

So, I would like Ma Ctis.

Re: Doedicurus - an introduction to CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 6 signed up, more wante
 

can I plz take pythium?

Re: Doedicurus - an introduction to CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 6 signed up, more wante
 

Of course :)

Re: Doedicurus - an introduction to CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 7 signed up, more wante
 

Give me Atlantis. Can't have Rlyeh hogging up the water wihout any competition.

Re: Doedicurus - an introduction to CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 7 signed up, more wante
 

I would love to try MA Abysia, thanks!

Re: Doedicurus - an introduction to CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 7 signed up, more wante
 

Pangaea please

Re: Doedicurus - an introduction to CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 7 signed up, more wante
 

Marignon please

Re: Doedicurus - an introduction to CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 11 signed up, more want
 

I'll take Vanheim if your still recruiting.

Cheers.

Re: Doedicurus - an introduction to CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 11 signed up, more want
 

I'd likr to join as T'ien Sh'i!

Re: Doedicurus - an introduction to CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 11 signed up, more want
 

oceania please.

Re: Doedicurus - an introduction to CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 11 signed up, more want
 

Still recruiting...?

Helheim if possible.

Jybalbyle

Re: Doedicurus - an introduction to CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 11 signed up, more want
 

Nikelaos: Done.

Jybalbyle: Sorry, Helheim is EA and this is an MA game. I'm still recruiting though.

People in general: My thoughts on scheduling are that the first turns should probably be okay with a 1-day quickhost but because of the differences in CBM it would be a good idea to go to a 2 day hosting on turn 15 or so. That way there's time to look more carefully at those important early research and casting orders. Thoughts?

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 14 signed up, slots available
 

Sounds good to me.:)

Any thoughts on maps?

Well I am happy to play on any map, how about Edi's new adventure, Faerun 466 (no. of provinces) adventure. Its basically Forgotton Realms, has set starts, so we are all guarenteed 5 adjacent provinces and has, 'special' provinces which are defended by extremely strong forces, they do have powerful sites however.

It should add more spice but like I said any map is good.

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 14 signed up, slots available
 

i think to be fair a few games go to 48 hours hosting from the mid game onwards anyway, so from turn 15 or so sounds about right, possibly a little further down the line though, turn 15 is still kinda early.

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 14 signed up, slots available
 

466 is pretty darn big for 14 players. However, Faerun is a pretty nice map and has some neat features including the nice VP's and so on.

If we can get 20-odd players for the game, then I'd definitely go for it.

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 14 signed up, slots available
 

Man please... probably hasn't changed that much.


thanks,

Rabe

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 14 signed up, slots available
 

Duh.... I'd like to withdraw that request for Helheim and I would like to try Arcoscephale instead... Please.

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 14 signed up, slots available
 

actually can i withdraw oceania and have mictlan instead please.

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 16 signed up, slots available
 

Sure thing. Oceania, anyone?

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 16 signed up, slots available
 

oceania are great i just wanted to try something more interesting,

with oceania though it usually gets results for me it is all to easy to just spam itchycentaurs, feild gift of health without much trouble, use voice of tiamat to rack up massive gem income then spam naiad warriors (awe +3 :D)

Mictlan should be more interesting, especially with the lack of immediate blood access.

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 16 signed up, slots available
 

Cool - I guess that means Pan get the GoH instead then :D

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 16 signed up, slots available
 

Bah, all that talk about water... I mean, what's so great about it anyway? At standard room temperature (Abysian scales) it's cooking already, thus difficult to contain.

A mermaid might be nice for the eye, but the Abysian virgins are really hot, you know (at least before the sacrificing)..... tsts, water lovers... now, when's the game gonna start? :p

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 16 signed up, slots available
 

Well if you don't mind a total newbie I'd like to give Agartha a try. In any case I'm interested in the CBM ;)

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 16 signed up, slots available
 

Bandar Log please, I always wanted to try them

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 16 signed up, slots available
 

Can I have Bandar Log? thank you ^_^

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 16 signed up, slots available
 

upps...dont know it's taken...
then can I change to Jotunheim? thanks:D

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 16 signed up, slots available
 

nope, mictlan has some pretty decent nature magic of it's own, so i wouldn't bet on pangea for GOH.

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 19 signed up, slots available
 

Wow - 19 players!

Okay, if we can get 1 more then Faerun looks like a possibility.

Not that more wouldn't be better, of course :)

I guess I'll give it a couple of days to see if more people want to join, then start.

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 19 signed up, slots available
 

If you don't mind that its my first MP game, I'm in as Eriu (think they're still free, yeah?)

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 19 signed up, slots available
 

Well, while I wouldn't recommend CBM for someone's first MP game, I guess it's your funeral. If you've read Baalz' guide to Eriu then you'll have an idea where to start.

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 19 signed up, slots available
 

Yeah I fully expect to get slaughtered, but I have a tendency to learn better from jumping in the deep end rather than taking things slow and simple so that's not a problem in my opinion.

I do have some experience with CBM in SP so I'm not completely inexperienced with it, though i doubt the SP experience will count for much really.

And yeah i read that guide, very handy, as all Baalz guides are.

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 19 signed up, slots available
 

I would like to argue for difficult or very difficult research so that end game hopeless nations (like man) have longer to flail around aggressively before being crushed by high level astral and death summons.

Since we are attempting to learn CBM, a slightly slower game doesn't seem out of place.


Other than that I have no opinions on settings.

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 19 signed up, slots available
 

Shinuyama please.

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 19 signed up, slots available
 

Hum. Big game, tough research... could work.

And we're at 21 players! Woo. Welcome on board DC :) I'll start looking at the game setup. If both water nations start in the western sea area of the Faerun, they shouldn't have too much room to grow unchallenged.

Barring objections/better ideas, we'll look at playing on Faerun 466.

Rabelais has suggested difficult/very difficult research - what do people think?

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 19 signed up, slots available
 

I would like to join as Caelum.

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 19 signed up, slots available
 

Well, with the number of 21+ players, map that big and (potentially) longer research times, this is probably going to be a lil' bit more to me than just an "introductory" CBM game and a bit too large for my part - so better count me out and leave Abysia available to others again.

I was just more focussed on the "introductory" character and not aware it would turn out that large. Sorry, but 20+ is still a strong number ;)

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 19 signed up, slots available
 

I'll take abysia then :)

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 19 signed up, slots available
 

Just one word of warning: The Faerun 466 map does NOT have set starts. This is due to the fact that there are so damn many nations in the game that I would need to do different versions for each era and it would still be extremely difficult to manage in any sort of balanced fashion. So with that many players, you may end up starting fairly close to someone. If you play with VPs on, set the number of required VPs to somewhere around 35 - 45. There's 100 of them on the map, so several different regional wars will eventually determine who ascends.

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - 19 signed up, slots available
 

Well, I'm sorry to see you leave, Toran. The interest in the game surprised me too, but I don't think it'll get in the way of learning CBM too much.

However, with the player count at 22 I think I will now close down on signups.

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - Game Full!
 

okay then.

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - Game Full!
 

I've looked at game setup on Llamaserver and I'm happy with how the interface works. Before I start the game up, though, I want to be sure of the settings we'll be using.

I suggest a VP vctory. Looking at Edi's advice, if I let each capital be 1VP in addition to the 100 on the map, then a 45 VP victory might be about right.

I have sympathy for the idea of difficult research as it's quite a large game on a large map. However, there's only been one voice asking for it so far - I'd need to see more people supporting difficult research before I impose it.

Basically, speak now and you will be heard.

NAP-wise, this will not be a Machiavellian game. Picking up on CBM is enough to be thinking about, without the distraction of mistrusting all your neighbours and trade partners.

The Faerun map is here - the same link is in the top post.

CBM is here - link also in the top post.

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - Game Full!
 

Further startup info:

If you haven't played on Llamaserver before, the Llamaserver FAQ will explain what you need to do. Don't try submitting pretenders before the game has been set up - they'll be rejected.

If you haven't done the mod game thing before, remember to enable CBM 1.3 Complete before creating your pretender.

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - Game Full!
 

you know what?

i have the urge to get an acient kraken pretender and simply name it "Giant Killer Octopus"

yes it's quite sad and i'm a pain but i really don't care i'm changing back to oceania.

after all it's more than 60 provinces of sea for atlantis and R'lyeh to share and don't tell me they won't try it on with some land provinces between em, well it looks like a job for pangeas fishy cousins, original lords of the deep till the atlantians came out of the abyss and then offcourse that damn star fell out of the sky, i mean typical - just our luck. Well we shall prevail.

Re: Doedicurus - Introductory CBM (PBEM, Llamaserver) - Game Full!
 

Ah. Actually, the map file is currently set up so Atlantis and R'lyeh are sharing the main sea area of ~40 provinces, which is about right (the inland sea was all on #nostart).

Still, in this case what is done can be undone without major effort. I'll update the top post.

Do you have any opinions on research settings?