"Gamey" tactics like "Rock, none" races

[spoon]

Originally posted by geoschmo:
The multiple training facility thing is an exploit yes, but it's not a tremendous advantage. I am not positive that on balance it's much of an advantage at all.

This from the person who claims PPBs are balanced. Out with it, Geo, you're really Aaron, aren't you.

[rextorres]

Actually I think Religious has become a disadvantage because every game I've played in the Last six month has had the religious player suffer a coalition against him.

[LostCommander]

I agree with the "almost a disadvantage" PoV. The games I play are always with "Can only colonize atmosphere type." option in the game setup (which obviously affects my PoV). This means that there are NO gas giants I can colonize (yes, I am still trying to eek out a living amongst the moons) and production can be seriously hampered (the population production / construction bonuses are NICE) unless I am lucky with the map. Great use of units and the proliferation of SS construction yards in my empire nicely balances it though. If one does not mind utilizing units extensively, the extra moons (which often outnumber the possible gas giants with a breathable atmosphere for other races) are perfect. Also, with one or two trustworthy allies, moons can make great supplemental defences for an ally's planet.

[geoschmo]

Originally posted by spoon:

quote:

---

Originally posted by geoschmo:
The multiple training facility thing is an exploit yes, but it's not a tremendous advantage. I am not positive that on balance it's much of an advantage at all.

This from the person who claims PPBs are balanced. Out with it, Geo, you're really Aaron, aren't you.

---

No, I am not Aaron. I just play a lot of games on PBW so I don't jump on the bandwagon every time someone claims to find the super secret formula for SEIV success. I have learned they all have their weaknesses. To me actual proof is worth a lot more than any theory or scads of charts and formula. If PPB, tailsman, or multiple training facilities were the nirvana they all were claimed by various people, then everybody would be doing them, or at least everybody that won games would be doing them. And I can tell you from experience everybody doesn't do them, and those that do them don't always win.

I never said PPB are perfectly balanced. I think they might be a little cheap to research, and at level 3 they are a bit strong IIRC. But overall they aren't the uber waepon that people claim them to be. They are simply too short ranged and too expensive to be the ultimate weapon. Those are huge weaknesses that are easily countered.

Geoschmo

[ December 20, 2002, 22:17: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

[Pax]

Originally posted by PvK:
However, building multiple training facilities in the same sector does seem to me like an obvious bug exploit.

PvK

Why?

[1FSTCAT]

Well, to get back to the original topic...



I guess I was in a bad mood Last night. I also hadn't considered how a Rock/None race would deal with getting the Gas/None and Ice/None techs. I can see where that's their counter-balance, now. They give a good start, but beyond that...

Thanks for the perspectives, guys. I see it in a totally different light, now.

--Ed

[capnq]

Religious isn't nearly as big an advantage when more than one player takes it, either. In one of my PBW games, we've got 3 Religious races and 1 Ancient race, out of 5 players. I remember another PBW game where the first three empires I met lived on Gas Giants.

Things go in and out of fashion, as opponents find countermeasures, and people get tired of playing the same race every game.