Scorched earth

[Amhazair]

I'll be turn this argument on it's head now I'm afraid:

I, as the person playing the game, have never yet been angry at another player, or spiteful, or anything along those lines. Possibly I might admire his tactics that led him to be able to beat me, and if the interaction with him (on the forums, by PM, or otherwise) was fun I (still as the person) might hope he goes on to win the game.

I, as the player (as opposed to the person playing the game described above) will - obviously - do anything I can think of that will allow me to beat my opponent. But, if/when that happens to fail I actually see it not only as justified, but actually as my duty to the game and all the other players to try and hurt my opponent(s) as badly as possible, by any means I can think of. Mostly this resolves about using my troops to directly do as much damage as they can before they die, and try to gain as much time as possible. I can't remember ever going so far as to pillage my own provinces for that purpose (usually, by the time I'm actually ready to throw the towell, all troops I've got left are besieged inside a fortress, as part of one of the doing damage/gaining time tactics) without the possibility to pillage ), but I definitely won't rule out doing it in the future.

[Stryke11]

Ok Baalz, I'm not sure if you didn't find anything in my post to be "justification" but here in my mind is the justification.

Player A is at war with Player B. Player B wins, and it is obvious Player A is out. Player B is directly responsible for Player A's loss, and removal from the game (soon). Therefore, player A thinks "Gee, I'd still be playing the game and doing well were it not for Player B killing me. Therefore, I will do everything I can to make sure that Player B loses to Player C, since I am done anyway."

You see, if you are going to lose, and therefore by definition cannot win, you cannot derive satisfaction from winning, BUT, you can derive satisfaction by causing the person who denyed you the win a denial of their own chances to win. You see this as "bad sportsmanship," and I see it as you being a wuss. If you don't want these types of tactics being used against you, I suggest you become Player C, the one that doesn't declare war, waits things out, and gets the help from defeated nations. Or, you can be a "just" opponent and be so respected by your foes they choose not to use scorced earth on you.

I guess you see it as why is Player A making it so hard for me to finish him off, while helping Player C, who he doesn't even have a relationship with. The answer is that YOU are the one who is attacking Player A, not Player C. That's good enough justification for me.

[Reverend Zombie]

Spike the canon, burn the supplies, scuttle the ship.

Consider it the unconventional phase of the war--the one that starts after the organized military has been defeated in the field.

You're not liberating the people of the player you have conquered, after all, why should they give you anything that is in their power to prevent...

And as always, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

[PyroStock]

IMO, the conquering player is also not entitled to the labs, castles or whatever the losing player has pre-battle anymore then he is entitled to his gems/gold/items. So complaining about losing something that you're not entitled to have and do not own is a bit of a stretch.

Some players like to "leave their mark" if they're going to lose and for some that's leaving a deep scar on their worst enemy nation, some cast armageddon(s), and others give generous gifts. It doesn't mean they are doing it because they're bad sports.

[Forrest]

Wow, give all my gems, money and magical items to my destroyer at the end as a "well fought noble enemy" gesture warms my heart and fills me with pride over my honor. I always take life so my lands will grow and be better at the end.

One thought. One item. Bane Venom Charm

I will take death on my Pretender so I can spam this. Every province your army sits in will have a scout with one in it. Every province you attack will have a scout with one in it. Every castle you siege will have one in it. Every enemy you have will get one with your name on it. Even you will find your lab filling with them. You will cross your land with them just to get rid of them.

From death's door I spit at thee.

Lychanthropos' Amulets shall cover the ground you walk on. [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Envy.gif[/img]

Eye's of aiming and eye's of the void shall hang on every tree

Rod's of the Leper king shall be every leader's weapon of choice

The spells of choice shall be Curse and Horror mark. My mages shall retreat so they can do it again in the next province.

Your troops will wither and die of old age before your eyes.

Burnt Earth? [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Campfire.gif[/img] I'll show you burnt earth [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/icon49.gif[/img]

[Edi]

I draw the line at pillaging my own provinces, because I generally play the role of a more or less benevolent god (whether a genuine nice guy or an ironfisted tyrant who looks after his population for his own gain) and pillaging my own provinces would go counter to that. But the rest of it, gems, gold, items, provinces, they'd go to those who I favor over the one who defeated me. If I detest everyone else even more (in-game, of course), then I'd still go down fighting, but take my stuff with me. Or maybe even give it to the victor if I wanted him to win.

[Alneyan]

Amhazair said:
But, if/when that happens to fail I actually see it not only as justified, but actually as my duty to the game and all the other players to try and hurt my opponent(s) as badly as possible, by any means I can think of. Mostly this resolves about using my troops to directly do as much damage as they can before they die, and try to gain as much time as possible. I can't remember ever going so far as to pillage my own provinces for that purpose (usually, by the time I'm actually ready to throw the towell, all troops I've got left are besieged inside a fortress, as part of one of the doing damage/gaining time tactics) without the possibility to pillage ), but I definitely won't rule out doing it in the future.

Sounds like a great platform for the Gandalf Parker 'there's no I in surrender' manifesto. That pretty much sums up my own views too, in so far as my primary goal is to gain as much time as possible (I'd raze everything in sight, but I sorta need the buildings in place to save my own skin, alas).

I'll add that I normally don't make gifts to my neighbors; I tend to invest my resources for my own good, including such unoptimal uses as raising PD everywhere to converting non-Astral gems to another non-Astral gem type. I might send out the non-combat items on the turn before my magehold falls, but I usually prefer to strike a deal with another nation (the usual 'five hammers for a bag of storms so I can cast Wrathful Skies on that bloody army, and there's no time for haggling, so better hurry up if you want those hammers' deal).