Ascendant - Game On!

[kasnavada]

People are crazy around here, already killing each other like this !

Why can't we just have peace ! Claire likes peace.

[Renojustin]

I thought Claire was taking a nice dirt nap currently.

[Wrana]

And probably doesn't want noise around her ears at the time. It's really quite simple!

[Darkwind]

Then I shall order Yoth'Shothogg to order the Aboleths to make all the noise they can, in order to put Claire off-balance. Let loose the dogs of war!

[Wrana]

Well, it's certainly said about being "mute as fishes"...
Though you may try.

[Darkwind]

Don't worry, these fishes will be making a very large noise.

And Reno, I'd look like an idiot because I sent TNnO a few gems to help with the war effort, because let's face it, you're big enough as is. I also expressed a desire not to join TNnO, as that would quite probably mean imminent destruction.

[Renojustin]

I am not attacking Tir na n'Og. I quite like the nation.

Frannabelle and Sauromatia on the other hand, have no other choice, and are a different matter entirely. The faerie people are too weird and wild. They steal babes from cradles, cavort and prance around rings of mushrooms and on moonlit hilltops at night, and in general make quite a nuisance of themselves. Fir Bolgs are very hairy and brutish and besides are better farmers than the Sauromatians. A fact which even the Sauromatian farmers can agree they don't really appreciate much.

The thing about Sauromatia is that they are quite good at initial expansion... and quite limited by mid- and endgame. I think that they're well balanced, except in MP where they may be weak. Because they have a high rate of expansion at first, others may percieve them to be dangerous, which neatly curtials their later expansion as other nations look at Sauromatia nervously or with envy.

Don't fear, their borders will soon be well-defined and sealed to the outside world. And Sauromatia certainly doesn't fear, with its rock-solid wall of immense province defense (you may have noticed their gold income), and awesome fast-response teams of cavalry, hydras, and composite bows.

It's one thing to be helping Tir out with advice, and I would do the same for anyone on the map if asked directly. This game really benefits from people sharing knowledge and hashing out scenarios between themselves...as long as you don't go so far as to help out her enemies materially. That might make her angry. You wouldn't want to see her angry. I hope for the sake of your mealy-mouthed crustaceans of the deep that by gems you meant strategies and tactics and not the things used to create magic. At best, that would be a foolish waste, at worst, an invitation to genocide.

Besides, the merciful and just Frannabelle herself went so far as to give Tir na n'Og three months to prepare for her coming. And they have pretty great mages, thugs, magic paths, and units. Let's see how they fare!

[kasnavada]

Well Claire isn't in dirt, she's guiding us from the skies !

But do not fear, for she will be back !

[Renojustin]

If Fickle of Fomoria misses a turn at this stage of the game, he probably ought to be set to AI control. This is because he has never posted once here beyond his initial signup notice, and has in fact ceased answering any ingame or private messages at all over the course of the last few turns.

It's far from an ideal solution, but it's not fair to everyone else, and not very classy to 'give up' just because you're in a bad position. This is especially true when victory conditions for the map are only 7 of 15 capitals. Also, low (to no) participation on the forum thread is a real downer for those of us who try quite hard to keep the game entertaining, fast-paced and full of character.

In other words, speak out, put out, and don't puss out!

[Wrana]

Well, he had pulled at least one trick which I thought he could use currently, so he may be still with us. BTW, that's another reason we had to attack Fomors - they are too tricky!
I also noted some strange behaviour of the game in our part of the world - some of my armies hadn't move as ordered & probably his didn't, too (I can't know for sure whether he ordered them for the reason you just mentioned). But this is another question completely. Did you try to PM him?
As for advice I consider it a part of cooperation. It's fine to share it, but it IS a behavour of an ally (not one very forthcoming with his help, but still). So I see no qualitative difference between trade, actual subsidies or advice. THe latter is harder to prove, certainly, though...