[Zooko]

In my opinion, it is a problem with the "all vs. all" format. In that format, if you attack to clam-hoarder you might win, but you will be temporarily weakened by the war effort, and your *other* neighbor can move in and conquer you.

This is not a problem in a "proper incentive for war" format such as one team vs. one team or pentagram.

At least not in theory. Nor, in practice, have I had a problem with clam-hoarding in any of the multiplayer games that I've played. However, this is only a small sample and it's possible that I just haven't happened to encounter a clam-hoarding enemy yet.

The same applies to many of the other alleged balance problems in Dom2. Life-draining weapons are too powerful? Gift of Reason? Hoburg Militia? Not in my experience. Your Mileage May Vary.

Maybe after I finish my current multiplayer game I should organize a "Test of Balance" game in which there is a Proper Incentive For War format and people are invited to try to abuse Dom2's balance problems as much as possible. :-) We won't use any mods, either, just plain 2.16.