Jotunheim:Utgard AAR

[Norfleet]

Originally posted by Arryn:
I've also come down with some bug since yesterday. Whatever Gandalf had I think I've caught.

I give this suggestion often, but try ignoring it, and it will go away.

[Arryn]

Turn #38, Late Spring of Year 4
Dust to dust.

Part 2 of 2

I raise the PD in Ancyna by 2 (to 20), in Zenthra by 3 (to 20), in Agenor to 9, in Man to 20, and in Ivenmoor to 20. A new lab is to be built in Ancyrna, and a new temple in Man. These preparations drain the treasury of 961 coins.

Taxes are reduced to zero in Agenor to quell unrest.

The Ivy King Thomm continues a monthly ritual of Awakening Vine Ogres, at a cost of 1 nature gem each month. The Norna Rimdriva prepares to invoke the ritual of Acashic Record upon the province of Ivenmoor, for which I allot 25 of the astral pearls in the treasury. The Skratti Tunne, using a Dwarven Hammer, forges another Clam of Pearls, at a cost of only 7 water gems. The Enchantress Petrona forges Winged Boots, for which I allot 5 air gems. Two Garnet Priestesses each forge a Sceptre of Authority, using all 10 fire gems in the treasury. Two Seithkona each forge an Endless Bag of Wine, expending 10 nature gems.

My wyrm Jorgun will Teleport to Imictan, consuming the Last 2 astral pearls in the treasury. Imictan is reported to contain some 30 barbarians. Even twice that number should not present any problems. While I have little concern for any hostilities stemming from Ulm's recent acquisitions in provinces adjacent to Imictan, in the long run I cannot afford to just sit idly by and let my neighbors continue to grow in strength. It is better if I lay claim to the resources that these as-yet-independent provinces contain.

With that thought, I command that Swanuth the Firbolg, who is given the Winged Boots that were forged Last month, take command of a new army of 20 Jotun spearmen and 8 vine ogres in the Black Alps and that this army move to occupy the rich coastal farmlands of Saeborea, heading off any potential expansion of Atlantis or Arcoscephale into the eastern part of my realm. The commander Theag will move to Ancyrna to pick up the recently recruited Troglodytes there, while Tahmar moves back to Pythium.

The four priests in the Rim Mountains move to Agenor, as do three of the priests in Man, and commander Stark from Melma.

Rod the Firbolg, leading a company of 18 Jotun spearmen and a bodyguard of 5 vine ogres, along with 4 priests carrying Sceptres of Authority and with one vine ogre apiece as bodyguards, move northeast from Agenor to attack Vanheim's province of Gipha. Resistance is expected to amount to no more than a score of archers and light infantry.

Bove, commanding my largest Jotun army, will patrol Ivenmoor, while Grymis and the priest Erkeborn preach there. The other priest in Bove's army, Arnold, heads to Hoburgdorf.

Ualgo, with a half-dozen Jotuns (four of them still afflicted), moves from Herghendorf to rejoin Bove's army at Ivenmoor.

Turn #38 plotted movement (1178x1024)

[Arryn]

The start of Turn #39 ...

overview (1178x1024)

[Norfleet]

It looks like you've finally decided to heed my warnings and do something about that Ulm problem. Meanwhile, your Vanheim infestation seems well under control. In the near future, at leisure, you may wish to expand eastward into the Independent provinces. This will enhance your general income and resources, without having to antagonize any of your neighbors. This is a good thing: One should never get so distracted by an ongoing war elsewhere that internal affairs are neglected. I find this to be a common failing among many of the people I've played against: They become so tunnel-visioned that their empire is neglected while they fight a war which nets them little profit with somebody else. Don't let this happen to you.

[Arryn]

Ulm was not a problem. They are now, but that's of my own doing with my wyrm, as you will see when I get part 1 of turn 39 posted. My decision stemmed solely from economic, not military, considerations. As soon as I finish munching on some of the provinces to my immediate southeast (Saeborea was the first of three on my agenda), I intend to shift that army northwards and take the indies that are between R'leyh and my realm. The indies due east remain useful as a buffer against Vanheim's westward expansion, as well as Marignon's.

It's not so much a case of tunnel-vision as in not having the gem income to create instant armies as needed, and in having the bulk of my forces not in a position to gobble up the indies to my east and north. So I'll be doing that with my pretender, and with a secondary army I created just for the task.

You are too accustomed to playing Ermor and being able to raise armies quickly. Jotunheim requires more patience, and more thinking ahead of where you'll need the relatively small number of expensive and powerful troops you can muster. (R'leyh, with its expensive Illithids, has a similar situation.)

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised when you see what I do plan to do with that rather largish Jotun army in Ivenmoor ...

[ March 12, 2004, 19:04: Message edited by: Arryn ]

[Norfleet]

Originally posted by Arryn:
You are too accustomed to playing Ermor and being able to raise armies quickly. Jotunheim requires more patience, and more thinking ahead of where you'll need the relatively small number of expensive and powerful troops you can muster. (R'leyh, with its expensive Illithids, has a similar situation.

Just because I'm an Ermorian, I'm impatient and don't know how to think ahead and use expensive but powerful troops? That's racial profiling, I tell you!

An Ermorian army certainly CAN raise quickly, but you don't really have any real control of this. Furthermore, the troops tend to be mostly worthless and die en-masse even if you win the battle. That kind of attrition can quickly grind your advance to a halt unless you're feeding in a steady supply of fresh fodder. And all your troops are fodder.

I've played a fair amount of Jotunheim, too: One of the nice things about Jotun is that against the kind of light Indies you're facing, a Jotunheim army can roll over the opposition with few if any losses.

Besides, I never said YOU were suffering from tunnel vision, merely that it was a problem that often afflicted other people.

[Arryn]

Originally posted by Norfleet:
Just because I'm an Ermorian, I'm impatient and don't know how to think ahead and use expensive but powerful troops? That's racial profiling, I tell you!

I distinctly recall a conversation we had, perhaps in private (it was some weeks ago), in which you did state you *are* impatient. Doth protest too much thy dubious innocence methinks.

As for Ermorian fodder, isn't it the whole point of having hordes of them that you can just mindlessly (pun and leg-pulling intended) throw them willy-nilly at your foe heedless of losses?