MP: Chronicles_MA - General Game Discussion

[Gandalf Parker]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't cumulative VPs get awarded once a year in midsummer. I was thinking 'Mystical Juncture' sort of thing, where each summer rituals can be undertaken, but it takes a lot of rituallin' before the Pretender is strong enough to ascend.

Its a game option...
--totalvp X Vic. points available in the world 0-25
--capitalvp One extra victory per capital
--requiredvp X Vic. points required for victory (default total/2)
--summervp Vic. points are accumulated each summer

[Lokean]

So that's a yes. The only sort of cumulative VP is once every summer, not monthly.

The point being, it doesn't actually matter what a religion thinks if there's 'real metaphysics' (mmm, oxymoronic!) involved. Nifelheim might consider winter months holy, but that's not going to change the fact that the nature of reality requires rituals on the summer solstice, at a place of metaphysical significance. It's not "Faster! We much rush to that particular little province so our god will receive the necessary blessing of the holy August holidays..."
It's "Faster! the conflux of ley lines is coming! Lay waste to the puny humans that would seek to control the power of the heavens!" If your god says 'go here, do this, or I shall be quite put out' you jolly well go and do it, even if summer does seem a funny time to do something for your god. The problem is, the religion's beliefs need not have any bearing on the matter of when and where junctures of mystical power occur.

[Tifone]

Well, the mystical power is supposed to be understood and somewhat controlled by religion. That's why the power of the cold god of the Niefel should IMHO more consistently get the control of the ley lines in the cold season and not in the hot one...

That's just semanthics anyway, really. I'm ok with everything you choose Lokean

[Shikome]

Well the point of capturing the ley lines (or whatever they represent) isn't just to gain their power; its to stop all the puny insects that dare challenge your divine majesty from gaining their power too, even if its a nasty summery power you don't want, you sure as hell don't want the pathetic little midgets to get it and heat up your nice cold tundra now do you?

[Zeldor]

What's wrong with normal VPs in capitals?

I played on cumulative VPs twice and they are really not a good idea in the way they work [adding that VP every summer]. If you could set that you get an VP after controling it for X months it could work. But with current mechanics I think standard VP victory would work best [we can discuss about adding additional VPs on the map and reequired % of VPs to win, probably smth between 40-60%].

[Tifone]

Sure Shikome, I was just saying why I was in favour of normal VPs instead of cumulative ones - you stop the enemy gaining power from them in both ways

Zeldor I think the point against VPs in capitals is to avoid a rush game where everybody tries to destroy other nations soon to get their victory point; it would just impoverish the number of players and thus the reports soon.
With dislocated ones, who gets them will probably fortify their position there in those remote places, and we will likely have nice battles around the spots, diplomacy and waves of armies back and forth to lose and conquer them. Or at least it's what I'm looking forward to. (But again I'll adapt to any choice )

[calmon]

I'm for normal VPs.

A game like this is special enough, we really don't need a second special effect like cumulativ VPs.

[Wrana]

As for VPs, they seem fine either way for me. And Niefelheim can consider that summer solstice is important as it is the time of the greatest strength of sun's heat which should be combated so that it won't gain absolute domination (reverse of actual beliefs of many cultures)...
As for maps, I'm for continent exploration, though reverse World of Geometry could be fun, too - at least for novelty. (Another thing - please, no toroid maps!)
Also, I don't think it's possible to hide VP provinces from players. Gandalf can say with certainty, I think...

[Tifone]

Yay for continent exploration.

Mmh this game really deserves a special map.

[Lokean]

Tifone basically has the point.

Considering this remains a first experiment, I think I'll be happy with us just using the standard Orania VP map with normal victory points (no capitals). I realise it's a toroidal map, and I've got to admit to thinking they're horrible to play on, but it'll certainly do for a first try. There's very little in the way of impassable terrain, so most nations will end up with long borders surrounded by enemies, with little strategic variety, but as I say, first experiment...

I'd suggest that the magical sites be set between 50 and 60, abundant, but not prolific. I prefer to allow score graphs, since I like to think that most nations would have *fairly* good intelligence on their major obstacles to ascension, and obviously I don't think people should treat diplomatic agreements as anything other than what they are; the mutually convenient illusion of security. If you want to be a trustworthy and honourable god, go ahead, but, well, don't expect Abysia or Pangaea to do the same...

Mod nations would be fine. I like the idea of allowing people their favourite nation where possible, so I'm happy to use the Single Age mod (though if people are strongly against allowing the 'broken nations' I'll consider banning those specifically). Variety is clearly a good thing for RP or interesting narratives, so CBM will be used. Anything else people would like to discuss? If not, I'll get things rolling.

For my convenience, could people list their top 3 favourite nations and I'll assign them as best I am able.

EDIT: Regardless, I like this idea and would rather see it evolving into something made of fascinating and win than just being a one-off. As such, I'll probably load up the GIMP after all and start working on a few maps with an eye to narratability (is that even approximately a word?!). Although, I refuse to paint all my lush grassland beige and yellow! We'll see how this one turns out and I can work through the feedback and make it better for next time! (in about six months, when this one is finished...)