Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - finished - Abysia wins
 

Game Link: http://www.llamaserver.net/gameinfo....d_a_Hard_Place

I'm setting up a small LA game to test the new CBM, looking for experienced players. You don't have to be a hard core vet but for balance reasons, this shoudn't be among your first games either.

Mod: CBM 1.94
Era: LA
Map: Land of Ethereal Squirrels with fixed starts for eight players
Banned nations: Ermor and R'lyeh
Diplomacy: not binding, item and gem trades are
Players: 8
Magic sites: 45
HoF: 15
Renaming: on
Graphs: on
Otherwise default settings

Hosting: 24 h for the first 25 turns, then 48 h. 72 h after turn 50 or so

Victory condition: consensus among the survivors

Don't use the exploits

I will grant reasonable extensions for RL reasons if asked in time. However, if you already know you'll have regular and frequent difficulties with the above hosting schedule in the future, please don't join. Also, if you get into that kind of situation or just can't or don't want to continue playing let me know as soon as possible. I'll try to find a sub. Above all, never go AI without permission - even staling will hurt the game less. I would, however, strongly encourage people to fight untill the end and have a 'playing to win' mindset even if victory doesn't seem realistic. Simply to ensure the game stays interesting and fun untill there's a consesus that it's really over.

Players:

vargr – Abysia
Ossa - Marignon
dojango - Bogarus
Reverend Zombie - Mictlan
Immaculate - Atlantis
Jolly Roger - Gath
odeoderok - T'ien Ch'i
YellowCactus - Ulm


Attachment 12002

Attachment 12003

NOTE: Mod changed to CBM 1.94. Pretenders created with 1.93 should be ok.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - recruiting
 

max number of players?

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - recruiting
 

To reduce the end game micro, I'd keep it 8 players max.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - recruiting
 

Marignon please.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - recruiting
 

Welcome Ossa.

Btw, we'll hopefully see the varius buffs to the elemental royalty in action, as well as the new zmey power level. Not a requirement, but I'm sure a public feedback on these is appreciated!

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - recruiting
 

Bogarus. General Winter rides again!

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - recruiting
 

Mictlan, please.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - recruiting
 

vanheim

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - recruiting
 

Welcome all.

If you have a strong opinion on the map, let us know. I would insist on a wrap around though.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - recruiting
 

GATH

Regards, Klaus

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - recruiting
 

Welcome Jolly Roger.

I haven't played with you yet and your account is rather new so I ask it bluntly: what's your experience level?

Please don't take offence, I just want to make sure everyone is comfortable enough with the basics so the game will be enjoyable. If you can expand reliably, have a game plan for the late turns as well, and have survived to late game before that's enough.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - recruiting
 

I´ve taken part in several MP games, know how to expand and I have an interesting plan for GATH for all game phases.

So far I´ve survived only two games to the late game phase
due to the competitive community.

However, I´m definetely not a champion compared to the other participants.

Hope that´s OK with you, but I won´t complain in case you prefer to replace me.

Regards, Klaus

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - recruiting
 

Sounds good, welcome aboard!

Edit: we now have the minimum number of players I had in mind. With 6 I'm thinkin Streamlands as a map. I'll wait untill tomorrow before closing, still room for 2 more!
Also I remember llama mentioning a bugfix for the weekend, so might be worth waiting for that before starting unless it gets postponed too much

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - recruiting
 

I'm gonna change my pick to atlantis i think.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - recruiting (6/8)
 

OP updated.

I'll set up the game on llamaserver Monday morning GMT when we know our final player setup. So start planning on your pretenders, hopefully we could start soon after that. We can start with the current 6 players but there's still room for 2 more!

We may get a hotfix for CBM in time but so far I haven't come across anything game breaking. LA Man seems to get free Bean Sidhes but as of now they've not even been picked. Anyway, if you do find something that's obviously a bug, report it but don't exploit it.

And if anyone is wondering about the xp-requirements, hopefully I didn't sound too exclusive about it. There are certainly some competent players already signed in but the main point was to ensure the aforementioned basics. So if you meet them, welcome in!

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - recruiting (6/8)
 

T'ien C'hi please!

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - recruiting (6/8)
 

Welcome odeoderok.

Still room for one more!

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - recruiting (7/8)
 

LA Ulm for me if there's still room!

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - recruiting (7/8)
 

Welcome YellowCactus.

We're full with 8 players. I'll set up the game as soon as we are decided on the map. There's a version of the Ethereal Squirrels that has 7 and 8 fixed starts on the llamaserver. It's a bit tight for 8 but still ok I guess, especially when Atlantis and Mictlan can go in the water straight away. Both should be rapid on the land as well though.

If we want a larger map, then I would suggest Land of Legends. Still just under 20 provs / player (19,1). Not a wrap but plays much like one.

What do you think?

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - full - design pretenders
 

It SuX to be in the middle of non-wrapping maps, but I'm happy to play Dominions with you guys. Thanks for setting up the game!

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - full - design pretenders
 

either is fine with me.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - full - design pretenders
 

I agree. However, in the version I had in mind, the central island is disabled as starting location, furthermore, some of the worst starts (2 neighbour provs mainly) have been disabled. I think it's mainly question of size here.

I had a small game in mind when I started but as I've played several tight maps recently, and gotten into very early wars I didn't like, I'm leaning more and more towards a bigger map here. Even when the said wars went ok for me, I felt they hurt my end game. Maybe I'm just a hopeless turtle :)

But I want to emphasize that I'm certainly ok with Squirrels with 8 as well, if that's what folks want. I did propose it originally after all.

Edit: asked around about the Squirrels map with 8 starts, it was used in the Momentum game and seems some of the starts were very close each other. So maybe we shoud use another version, if we use that map

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - full - design pretenders
 

If you could get one of the vets to set the start positions on the one with the disabled center, i think that would be very interesting. I know in the past i've gone on ICQ and asked vets to do that and they've been very generous with their time. I feel it might be necessary to avoid start positions that are either low on resources or in otherwise bad sites.

Your call.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - full - design pretenders
 

Nothing wrong with close starts, the ol' phonebooth knifefight can be entertaining, although it would favor nations like Mictlan and Atlantis.

As far as designing pretenders go, have pretenders been tweaked a lot for 1.93, or can we simply use the ones in 1.92 ettin fix?

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - full - design pretenders
 

Seems that balancing the Lands of Legends for 8 LA nations is quite hard - if you want to have roughly even spacing, No of neighbours over 3 and the access to the limited harbors. In addition, Mictlan and Atlantis will have a definitive advantage for the island provinces as they can reach it much more easily.

In order to allow people to plan accordingly I've decided on the Ethereal Squirrels map. Take a look athe thumbnail at:
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showt...omentum&page=5

I would keep these starts but move 73 one tick east to 74. This way everyone should have a mimimum of 3 provinces between eachother. I don't think you can get 4 prov spread for everyone when it's this crowded.

Not at home atm but I'll set up the game tomorrow with the updated map. Try to have your pretender ready soon!

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - full - design pretenders
 

Great map.

Pretender designed ( CBM 1.92 ettin fix)

Ready to go.

Regards, Klaus

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - full - design pretenders
 

Installed CBM 1.93 meanwhile and designed a new pretender.
Ready to go.

Regards, Klaus

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - full - upload pretenders
 

The game is created on llamaserver, ready to accept pretenders!

http://www.llamaserver.net/gameinfo....d_a_Hard_Place

OP updated with the fixed starts map

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - full - upload pretenders
 

We are almost ready, still need the Marignon pretender.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - full - upload pretenders
 

PM:ed Ossa and asked how much time he still needs. If we don't hear from him I'm inclined to start the game with 7 players tomorrow.

Another thing: CBM194 is out and fixes some of the bugs, especially concerning EDM. Looking at the changelog, there's no changes to pretenders. Best to my knowledge this means we could use it without the hassle of resending the pretenders, anyone disagree?

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - full - upload pretenders
 

Asked llama about this and there should indeed be no problems with pretenders created with 1.93. So I will be changing the mod to 1.94

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showt...999#post810999

Otherwise we go as planned. We'll wait for Ossa atleast until tomorror, and if need be, start the game with 7 players. We'll then use the same map but with 7 fixed starts instead (there's a separate version in llamaserver already, seems to be used in the game 'Faded Magic').

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - full - upload pretenders
 

Game is on, good luck!

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - running
 

I need a 56h extension. Sorry- work related meetings and a house move.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - running
 

Postponed by 56 h.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - running
 

Hmm, judging from the graphs, there seems to be some action already..

Heads up everyone, I'll be going on a short trip this weekend. I'll play tomorrow but have to postpone over Fri-Sun. I think I'll be able to play Sun evening GMT again - Monday the latest.

Sorry in advance for the delay!

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - running
 

Hi,

I'm in Philly on business without access to my gaming computer- can i get a 36-48h extension please?

i.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - running
 

Hosting postponed by 48h.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - running
 

Gentlemen,

I´ll be on a trip to the beautiful city of Dresden from Thursday to Saturday evening. Gonna have no internet access until Sunday
morning ( GMT +1).

A break for this period would be much appreciated.

Thanks, Klaus

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - running
 

I'll postpone hosting untill Sunday evening. Will add to the next turn in case you have time to play the current turn.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - running
 

Thank you.

That´s much appreciated.

Cheers, Klaus

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - running
 

Bogarus, I noticed that you had a stale turn. Please let us know if you need a delay.

I'll increase the timer to 48 h after the next hosting anyway, as was planned.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - running
 

I've postponed hosting by 24 h as Bogarus is yet to submit the turn with only 90 min to DL. Waiting on Mictlan as well.

Will start looking for a sub tomorrow if we don't hear anything form dojango.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - running
 

Bullock has kindly agreed to sub in for Bogarus. Thanks Bullock!

Note that hosting interval will be 48h after the next hosting.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - running
 

Yeah thx for the hot welcome:
I'm already being invaded and my other neighbor is breaking nap lol

So i guess i won't stay long ^^

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - running
 

Well, judging from our struggles in previous games I'm convinced that you'll make your aggressors pay dearly. :D

I had no idea how the diplo would actually play out here but seems you got the raw deal.. Anyway, again geat many thanks for subbing. I for one appreciate this kind of helpfulness alot in the community! I know I haven't been too active on this regard.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - running
 

Atlantis is looking to buy a thistle mace and can pay in death or water gems.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - running
 

Sorry Mictlan... obviously you were not my target.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - running
 

I postponed the hosting considerably when the llamaserver was down. It's now back and I set the hosting closer to the original again, but seems that the game status hasn't been updated yet. You'll have some extra time anyway:

"Hosting postponed for Rock_and_a_Hard_Place by -48 hours. The game will now host at 18:43 GMT on Thursday November 8th."

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - running
 

I will be gone from Nov 16 to Nov 26. I need to try and find a sub.

Re: Rock and a Hard Place - LA game - running
 

OK. Much appreciated if we can get a sub.