[Warhammer]

How do you test for balance? What is an effective test?

Does Vanheim win all the MA games it is in? I think the evidence shows that they do not. It also appears that Vanheim is balanced for the entire game, rather than just the beginning or just the end. They have poor researchers and must have a substantial position in the late game so that they can hold on to win. But, if they do not have that position, they will not win.

Let's look at other classic games. In Diplomacy, is Italy balanced? Is Russia or France balanced? No, that is actually part of the game. Everyone must negotiate to set up a situation where Russia or France won't win. Only then can the other nations embark on their own path to victory.

In Republic of Rome, the player that holds the Cornelius family at the beginning of the game has a large advantage. Many have house ruled it so that they do not have such a powerful position, but I find those games less interesting than those with a powerful Cornelius that is guaranteed Censor and a 15 influence at the end of the first turn.

In Empires in Arms, France is far and away the strongest power in the game. Again, only by first curtailing France can the other nations pursue victory.

What people are ultimately upset about is that in MP Dominions if you start next to Vanheim you are hosed. If that is the case, you need to rely on your diplomatic skills to save you.

The thing is, in every massive MP game like Dominions, someone has to be the first two or three players out of the game. It might suck, it might seem like the lottery, but if it wasn't Vanheim, it'd be someone else that people were grousing about. Heck, if all things were equal, the game would eventually stalemate if all players were of equal ability.