MP: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI. Game Over. Team ACGHHS wins!

[rdonj]

Yeah, but see, that is the point of the small map. To keep the markata scout SCs to a minimum. Otherwise each player would have dozens of them running around, and that would just be no fun to fight.

[chrispedersen]

please for the love of gawd, please take it to another thread... please!

[pyg]

So now it's Team Easy-Slay(TM) -vs- everyone?!?

[Septimius Severus]

Note for game 2: I had been hoping for an error-free and efficient method of combining both PBEM and Direct Connect modes of play for any sequels. Gandalf tells me, that while possible, the process still needs more work (if completely feasable) and he cannot guarantee against any mishaps. Maybe for game 3.

Therefore, I've decided to go with just Direct Connect w/ e-mail reminders for game 2. I think this will allow the game to run more smoothly, possibly faster (no files to shuffle around), will avoid many of the issues associated with PBEM, and will make the switching in of alternates easy with a password(s) that can be posted on an individual teams' forum if desired.

[DrPraetorious]

Indeed, it appears that the dastardly Mysterios are vile treaty breakers, and have attacked us without notice after we spared them!

For shame.

I'm not particularly surprised, although it was a foolish decision on their part.

[rdonj]

Well, there is one good thing about the situation. The ultimate realization of the Easy-Slay(TM) philosophy: the opportunity to distribute violence to consumers world-wide! The question is, have we expanded our business too quickly, trying to service too many customers at once? Our marketing teams will get to work post-haste developing new ways to expand the Easy-Slay(TM) brand and finding new ways to slaughter people.

Mysterios, you may have to wait a few months to begin receiving packages in earnest, but worry not. We will spare no expense to bring the benefits of Easy-Slay(TM) to you!

[Septimius Severus]

Originally Posted by DrPraetorious

Indeed, it appears that the dastardly Mysterios are vile treaty breakers, and have attacked us without notice after we spared them!

For shame.

I'm not particularly surprised, although it was a foolish decision on their part.

I would wager there are probably some on the Mysterios who are not particularly enamored of being used as meat shields by either of the competing kings of the hill but there are also probably some on the Mysterios who remember the 'Days of Infamy', when the Devas launched a savage, cruel, and unprovoked attack against them.

Hosting update:

3 hours till host, I have received a PM request from DrP on behalf of Caelum for 12 hours. I will attempt implementation unless I hear otherwise fairly soon. I am awaiting a response from Algae to a previous PM regarding wishes for TC and Helheim. I may need to force host it it becomes necessary.

[Septimius Severus]

The poll on hosting interval will be closing shortly. If you've not voted and you find yourself or your team needing more time, this is a good way to accomplish it and yet keep things moving without resorting to delay requests every turn.

[Septimius Severus]

Recently, I had a chance to sit down with the famous/infamous Chris Pedersen, veteran Captain of ACGHHS whose maverick machinations have been the subject of some controversy. Chris was kind enough to take some time from his busy schedule to answer a few questions for us.

SS: Chris, some of the other teams have poked fun at your team, particularly your team's name, calling it variously ACHOO, AARGGHHH, ABCDEFGH, and other things. Others have wondered about your perhaps unorthodox style of leadership and strategems. What is your response to such criticisms?

CP: Gesundheit?

Well, I really buy into the whole team concept, and I want to try to encourage forming a team identity.

To this end, all of our teams turns are sent to a common mailbox - as are our proposed turns. Each player can review any others players turns and orders. Each turn we make a manifest of what we hope to accomplish - and all players are invited to make suggestions, critics etc. Additionally, we use the chat room here to conduct team meetings where faster turn around is needed.
Periodically we create a jpg reflecting the current gamestate.

I have to give a lot of credit to our team members. Shard made a fantastic catch just this turn that will have a big impact on the rest of the game; squirrel made two last turn.

Playing with these two guys has been great. But what has really been gratifying has been showing Grudge some of the ropes in the game, and how much he has picked up on it. Thats been really fantastic.

SS: Have you found the position of team Captain difficult or challenging in any way? And if so how?

CP: Well the most difficult part was the turnover we had in the early going. I really hate losing friends and players. I know my style can be difficult, and I really hated losing Hoplosternum. He was a classy gentlemen, and a great player.

Other than that, my style requries a lot of communication and feed back - so we are usually among the last team to get turns in - and we are spread across 19 time zones so it can be challenging - but all of us have been really good about checking our turns and schedules - and squirrel especially has been good about being our enforcer- holding out until our entire team is confirmed ready.

On top of these were technical difficulties, but we worked those out with the help of KO and Gandalf.

SS: On a scale of 1-10, (10 being most likely) how likely do you rate your team's chances at winning?

CP: 2-3: Don't get me wrong - I think we are doing a great job as a team, and outperforming our individual nations. But the combination of Hinnom, Niefle, Caelum, and Ulm in the hands of Dr. P

Hinnom's early game is real strong - but its end game is *terrifying*. And we are getting into the mid game with no signs that the devas really *can't* do whatever they want.

SS: Thanks for your time, you are a wonderful asset to the community and I am sure everyone appreciates your efforts.

[rdonj]

Hmm, interesting, I wonder how long ago that interview was done. With all the nations in the world united to bring down the Devas, and us being the only real rivals to team ACGHHS (I can honestly not imagine any team winning at this point other than one of us two), I would say their chances have definitely got to be better than a 2 or 3 out of 10

Our team has been a lot more laissez faire (hope I'm spelling that right) than ACGHHS, with a lot less team effort going into each player's turns. With all the hype built up against us, I wonder if we'll be able to live up to everyone's expectations. Hopefully so, or else ACGHHS has this one.