Invisible Swarm 2 - in limbo

[IndyPendant]

As a relative MP newbie, Score Graphs Off scares me. There's a boogeyman in the closet daddy, I can hear it scratching...

I'm also thoroughly confused as to which mods will be used for this game. Can CB be broken up? Is there a version that is compatible with 3.10 that I can't find? Before we start, I'd like to know clearly what mods I need to download. ; )

[quantum_mechani]

The current CB version up for download is not that current, a new version should be up this weekend. Actually the same goes for worthy heroes, Turin has taken an indefinite dominions leave, so he's allowing me to update his mod in the meantime. And yes, CB can be parted up in any version, though I hope you'll consider the new full version when it's out.

[CUnknown]

Yes, the CB mod can be broken up into parts. We are only using the Gods and the Scales part. As far as I know, only Spells and Nations (?) are incompatible with v3.10. I'd actually like to use Spells if QM makes it compatible with v3.10 before we start.

Worthy Heroes

CB 1.1

About the map, I think we should probably use a random map.

Edit: I think we should wait until the new mods are out before starting if that's okay with everyone. It gives us time to figure out a map.

[Jurri]

I think I'll go with Bandar Log. (Could you put the player list in the initial post: it's the fastest to check )

I have not been very impressed by the random maps: they have all kinds of problems starting with provinces that are not connected to any other provinces and ending with weird starting position placement. (The latter is probably more a function of the general capital placement algorithm, but at least for me it has been more pronounced on random maps.) Three Lakes would be a fine map. (Although I much prefer wraparounds when possible.)

No graphs gets my vote! Flailing around in the dark has it's own allure. Since the victory condition is rather obvious, there's no problem of a 'sneak victory,' either, for those who worry about such things. I have no strong opinion on the matter, however, so if it helps Indy sleep at night scores on is good

Indeed, to address his other issues:
1) ~10 provs per player is plenty, and has proven to provide for a nice stage for the kind of aggressive games that the Invisible Swarms have been. Quick an' dirty and fun! It's of course not everyone's cup of tea, but I would prefer we not bloat the map: there are plenty of games that can satisfy the urge for a more sparsely populated map.

2 & 3) I suspect you're mixing 3 lakes up with Pasha's other map or something. 3 lakes has plenty of plains, and while there are only two non-passable mountain ranges they create some choke-points, along with the map not being wrap-around. Especially for land nations the map has a lot of tight spots what with the lakes and all. You should take one yourself and see for yourself

[PashaDawg]

Howdy from Athens!

If on the off chance you use Three Lakes, you might want to make sure you use the updated map file (on the same thread) that no one starts with the province with a wraithlord, because otherwise, that player will get a free wraithlord commander, which is a bit unfair.

But, what about Jurri's map (Playground of the Dawgs)? Is it too small? It is a wraparound, and Jurri recently updated it from Eye Cancer to Eye Candy.

Pasha

[archaeolept]

10 provinces per player is pretty small, and will hurt anyone not running a bless strat, especially due to difficult research. I can cope w/ that though

i'd prefer sticking w/ only worthy heroes, scales, and pretenders. I barely know vanilla DomIII, and so might have problems adapting to CB spells and nations - scales and pretenders, all the changes are up front, so easy to factor in.

[CUnknown]

Okay, after reading Jurri's post I have finalized stuff! I agree with him that the Invisible Swarm games have always been fast, brutal, early game action. So it will continue to be like that.

I sort of dislike the look of the Lonely Mermaid map, but it is a wraparound, and of roughly the correct size, so we will use it. It's 120 provinces, 12 per player. That may be a little small for some people's preference, and considering that we have a couple of relative MP newbies, there will be another house rule:

No intentional hostilities for the first 10 turns of the game! The previous Prokrantor's influence is still felt for a short while, enough to give everyone a chance in the early game. At the time of the Awakening, however, you had better prepare for war!

I also hope that using the scales and gods mod will help to mute somewhat the extreme bless strategies. But, it does seem pretty clear that this type of game favors a bless strat.

As far as scoregraphs, they will be off, but I will try to figure out the scoredump thing and give a report every 10-15 turns. So, before the hostilities can begin, there will be a report on the relative strengths of everyone.

How does this all sound to everyone?
Lonely Mermaid

Edit: Oh, also we will need the Quickfix mod because we have MA Tien Chi. I hope all these mods are compatible, I'll have to do a test game before we start.
Quickfix mod

[Jurri]

Hehe, that's some quirky house rule! You don't see rushes before turn 10 usually anyways, so I don't quite see what the point is. In fact, the rule makes the awake pretender option worse than usual, and I don't think the game needs that.

I'd maybe prefer total blindness to an intermittent scoredump, actually. There's enough fiddling around with the settings already with the numerous mods and all, in my opinion

[IndyPendant]

Err...or use CUnknown's link posted earlier in this thread, in answer to my own request. Here it is again:

CB 1.1

Note we're only using Pretenders and Scales from it.

I'll get a Pretender loaded up later tonight.

[jeffr]

Pan uploaded. Almost hit "Start Game" by mistake, but ESCed out.