Ashdod is worthless now

[rdonj]

Originally Posted by triqui

(for MP compettitive play among veterans in 10-15 provinces per player maps at least)

Like it matters.... A group of 5+ Niefl giants produce such a cold aura that they would kill any non-cold inmune chaff by hundreds in no time. If Ashdod Giants would have a Fire Aura, I wouldn't find their 150g88r encumbrance 7 overpriced. They don't have, though. So they are overpriced.

So MP competitive play among veterans is somehow not a good measure of what optimal play involves? I don't think that reasoning flies anywhere. No one is saying that it literally can't be done, but for optimum efficiency of resources and nation potential, if you wanted Ashdod's sacreds you used an e9+n4+ bless, and you do that with every giant SC nation. There is no other bless that will allow them to kill as much for as long, or make them as powerful later in the game.

As for niefel giants, they can be quite powerful, but they're also just not strictly necessary. You can expand just as well using nothing but niefel jarls and later on you will prefer not to have the giant upkeep. So giants are largely overlooked due to not being necessary.

[triqui]

Originally Posted by rdonj

So MP competitive play among veterans is somehow not a good measure of what optimal play involves? I don't think that reasoning flies anywhere.

No, that's not what I was saying. Of course is a good measure of what is optimal play... but the optimal play has to have metagame involved.

For example, among vets in MP competitive, thugs are incredibly important. So E9N4 is an awesome bless there. But if you happen to play in different playsets, other blesses might be better. For example, if you ussually play in 1vs1 blitzes in maps with 20 provinces, probably F9W9 (or even triple bless) would be better, as it's quite probable the game is over before thugs can start to dominate. On the other hand, if you happen to play in massive multiplayer games with 20 provinces per player and 15-20 players, then maybe S9 looks better, if only becouse it gives you a Wish per turn in the late game.