Mod: Ulm: Order of the Black Rose v0.301b

[Mightypeon]

Now, having participated in the creation of an "Awesome Ulm" mod over at something awfull (it turned out even stronger than Black Rose in my opinion, it was about equal to very powerfull nations such as Sauro, Lanka or LA Mari), what I would propose for Ulms mages is decent spell casting capacities but fairly high encumberance and fairly low precision. This way they can buff whihc imho is in line with MA Ulms fluff. I was also liking map move 2 on the non black steel troops, and Ulm troops actually having good weapons (Broadswords not Hammers etc.).

[Squirrelloid]

I think we should be clear. Ulm has one schtick. That schtick is massed heavily armored units with light mage support.

There are counters to that schtick.

Most other nations have multiple schticks.

As such, Ulm's schtick has to be really good. Its the only thing it really has to rely on.

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mm2 on their infantry is right out. Its not thematic. If anything, it would be the black plate which would get it (because its effectively a magic material), and that destroys any sense of internal balance.

Broad Swords would require new sprites =P.

(More relevantly, broad swords don't strike me as a fitting companion to a *tower shield*. Of course, I don't particularly like hammers with tower shields either.)

Now, if you mean on the cavalry, well, that's not totally out of the question...
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I might tweak research levels of some spells, but I am not removing any of their new spells or changing the one battle spells. Considering the *stronger* version of Ulm BR that also inherited the encumbrance change for regular Ulm got completely thrashed by LA TC in the only game I've watched its performance from beginning to end, I find Kobal's claims of gross imbalance highly unlikely.

Especially since BR Ulm's steamrolling of Pythium seems to have had a lot to do with timing, diplomacy, and catching your enemy with his pants down. That it was a steamrolling seems perfectly reasonable in that context.

And that's the steamrolling of one nation. IIRC the game is ongoing and Ulm was forced to conceed Pythium's capital to Ermor, at least for a short while. That doesn't sound like Ulm BR totally overpowering everyone.

[Mightypeon]

Actually, Ulm in this game is pretty much dying now, since we are down to three main players and the remaining 2 big ones just decided to team up against Ulm. Which will give Shinuyama the game unless they go for a split victory, which Shinuyama has no reason of considering. Shinuyama is currently far ahead of Caelum in terms of SC numbers etc., Shinuyama has Air/W access and thus no problem at all in dealing with Thunder Strike/Falling frost Spam, and while Caelum got some D going, Shinu is not known for a lack of wither bones access either.

In the end, it was my own mistake in not pressing a very early war with Shinu (was hard because Acro backstabbed me though), it also reinforces that one should not delay dealing with lategame threats. Rose Ulm still needs a Rainbow/Somebody with serious paths to compete in the lategame, it has no natural paths for any gem generating globals, and at least Earth Deep Blood Well is something they desperatly need.

[RonD]

You are awfully quick to declare defeat, considering that the war just started and no real battles have been fought yet. Let's see what happens when a Shin army meets up against an Ulm army full of all the BR special goodies.

As far as this thread goes, the point should be to try to separate issues related to the strength of the mod nation from those arising purely from the diplomatic situation.

[RonD]

Something I just noticed in the Pointy Sticks game, that probably is not working correctly:

Mightypeon has a Knight of the Black Rose (Amalarik - if you want to check and see if you see the same thing in Ulm's turn) who is carrying a Thunder Bow, yet is still listed as having the Scourge of Infidels (and Lance, for that matter).

[Mightypeon]

That could be a rollback issue, however:
1: In the game, it is known that Thunder bows become Sourge of Something because of a mod conflict
2: I can buy Black Lords with all 3 kinds of sourges
3: Also, you are right, totally shouldnt declare defeat. I dont like the fighting being on my own turf at all though