Suggestion for a new nation

[jaif]

Forgive me, but I have to ask - where's the balance in this new nation? Don't get me wrong, I think there should be a Persian/Arab influenced nation in the game, but what's described in this thread sounds like it has no weaknesses and several strengths.

-Jeff

[Nagot Gick Fel]

Originally posted by st.patrik:
Why two riders for the camels? this seems very odd to me.

I didn't want them to be just another cavalry type with new sprites. And historically the Midianite and Nabatean Arab armies used 2-bowmen camels

[Chris Byler]

Originally posted by jaif:
Forgive me, but I have to ask - where's the balance in this new nation? Don't get me wrong, I think there should be a Persian/Arab influenced nation in the game, but what's described in this thread sounds like it has no weaknesses and several strengths.

Fire as one of the nation's primary magic paths isn't enough of a weakness for you?

I don't see it as having any particularly impressive strengths. Nothing with heavy armor, no crossbows or longbows, primary magic path is weak, average at best priests. Cavalry are always expensive and only sometimes worth it. The seducing unit might be good, but probably not as good as a well equipped assassin - a more limited choice of targets and probably a lower success rate. (Although it would be interesting if, when a courtesan fails to seduce someone and has to fight them instead, the target doesn't get any of his armor during the fight... )

It might be fun to play, but I wouldn't expect it to be a serious contender against the likes of Arcoscephale, Pythium, Caelum or Jotunheim.

[Sandman]

Jaif has a point about balance.

Flying mages, excellent assassins, effective cavalry, powerful summons, stealthy troops, sacred dervishes. All pretty good.

One obvious place to make up the balance points would be with weak priests. Spread the faith through conquest, rather than preaching. Seems in keeping with the theme.

It would be hard to say if it's balanced or not without the particulars. Maybe each Djinn costs 30 Air and are barely reasonable for that cast. Maybe the Fire and Air of the mages is minute. Maybe the cavalry are expensive and don't fight well.

I'd wait to pass judgement on balance until you can see what is there, then you can go from there.

[Psitticine]

It sounds very interesting to me, especially in light of the myth-laden flavor inherent in the idea. It should fit in marvelously with the already existing nations (which isn't a necessity, but it always nice) and have something unique to offer.

[tinkthank]

Well when I originally posted the suggestion, I pictured the "Djinn Warrior" as a fighter/mage hybrid, and not *NEARLY* as powerful as, for example, Al Khazim. That would be overpowered.
Otherwise, I dont see this as being overpowered, at least without TOO much national summons.
Weaknesses would include:
- low armor
- no non-random earth, death, blood, nature, water.
- no heavy-hitting units (scimtar wielders and dervishes are the closest that come to it)

Should things still be too powerful, one could always nerf this or that or crank up the prices of some units.

Wouldnt go camel archers, and certainly not with two archers per camel -- sounds like moose riders to me, which I really neither understand nor like either. (A size 4 moose? Please. And two riders? Good luck hitting the side of a barn.)

In general, as someone pointed out, it sounds a lot like Pangaia (which is generally not considered overpowered) or a cross between them and Van and Machaka.

I still like the mish-mash idea, where the capital city (I picture a cross between Alexandria and Constantinople) is one in which scholars and sages gather and civilization has its peak, although the dark temples still harbor the mystic exstatic cults of the dervishes,
and the twilight culture of the sand dwellers is found on the outskirts.