New patch

[SelfishGene]

I really like the Hinnom mythology. It's a cross between the Biblical antagonists of the Israelites, Vampire: The Masquerade's Antedilluvian 3rd generation fathers, and Warhammer 40k's Horus Heresy.

[thejeff]

I do like the mythology. The only nit I'd pick with it is the reference to "Celestial Powers". Seems to me "The Pantokrator" would fit better with the rest of dominions mythology. Nor does "Powers" go well with the Israelite background.

[Loren]

Can someone explain the Merkavah?

222 astral pearls for something inferior to a Seraph. You can get the Searph for 100 astral (wish) + 20 nature (GOR).


I also wonder if something happened to the AI. I'm trying out the Gath and things seem strange. I had just about surrounded Agartha's 3 provinces when they went to war--I had at least 20 at that time! In the other direction I found Panagea's two provinces, although I didn't get to smash him while he was that size because I was busy dealing with Agartha.

I finally dominion-killed R'yleh in year 12. His farthest expansion at that point was 11 provinces from home, a point he had attained years before--there are still neutrals out there that I am now collecting with R'yleh out of the way.

The map is Glory of the Gods. Nobody else has completed their research even though the world is approximately divided in thirds right now. Admittedly I am pressing my dominion over a good swath of their empire and I've got Wrath of God & Purgatory up but their research rate hasn't dipped since I cast them, they are just going slow.

[MaxWilson]

Hey, I just noticed that Gath's Benjamite slinger has precision 12 and ambidexterity. Cool.

"And the children of Benjamin were numbered... Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss."

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/judg/20/15-16#15

-Max

[MaxWilson]

Loren,

It's 222 astral pearls for something that may (or may not) be inferior to a seraph, PLUS 4 super-awesome mini-thugs in their own right. The 4 Ophanim are definitely worth the price--in my test runs I had the Chayot just stand there watching while the Ophanim rolled over hundreds of chaff units everything in sight without taking a single wound as far as I could tell. You have noted that the Chayot has four forms and can survive a Soul Slay? That's not to say that somebody might not Wish for a Chayot directly, but I must say I'd rather have both the Chayot and his bodyguard. Call Merkavah is incredible.

-Max

[Omnirizon]

Damn MaxW!!

that's some impressive research and imagination from KO & JK to include something like that, and a good eye by yourself to catch it.

I'm trying to picture KO/JK reading their bibles while in preparation for making this new nation.

[MaxWilson]

Omnirizon,

Thanks! I can't claim much credit, though, because I've always thought the Benjamites were pretty cool. They slaughtered most of the other Israelites in the war, and it took the combined armies of everyone to fight them off. (Then the others killed off all of the Benjamines except for six hundred men.)

I agree, I'm also impressed. I'm sure KO and JK are always this thorough and I just don't usually catch it because I don't know anything about Japanese/Nordic/Aztec/etc. history.

-Max

[Kristoffer O]

I've probably done more research this time than before. I begun work on it before the 3.15 was released and I didn't want units to appear in sprites and stats before the nation was finished, so I went for descriptions first this time.

Not making graphics and only making descriptions made me read more than usual. Also I'm quite fond of Middle/Near eastern ancient myth and history.

I've used the bible, the Zohar, book of enoch, some modern writhings on Ugaritic religion and the rephaim texts, and of course an osprey book (ancient armies of the middle east)

Since I'm quite fond of the nations I've been afraid that they would be too strong. I hope the drawbacks are enough to make them not overpowered. Since I'm not very used to design thugs/SC, and the nations are based on few mighty men I'm not sure how to properly balance them. There is no real precedent. Niefel giants are more powerful with their cold aura, but the Fomorians are probably inferior.

[Loren]

MaxWilson said:
Loren,

It's 222 astral pearls for something that may (or may not) be inferior to a seraph, PLUS 4 super-awesome mini-thugs in their own right. The 4 Ophanim are definitely worth the price--in my test runs I had the Chayot just stand there watching while the Ophanim rolled over hundreds of chaff units everything in sight without taking a single wound as far as I could tell. You have noted that the Chayot has four forms and can survive a Soul Slay? That's not to say that somebody might not Wish for a Chayot directly, but I must say I'd rather have both the Chayot and his bodyguard. Call Merkavah is incredible.

-Max

Oh, that's where those came from! I thought they were from another summoning. I hadn't noticed them when they showed up as I wasn't expecting any non-commanders.

Ok, I'll retract my objection.

[chrispedersen]

Yes, its sad. Gath's best unit is a slinger = ).
(tongue in cheek, but its almost true).