MP: Chlorolera is made of contagious and deadly!

[AdmiralZhao]

Originally Posted by JimMorrison

That sounds like a lovely idea. But it is set in-game, so when you find a way to hack the fthrlnd file to raise the bar, let us know. <3

I'd be fine with this. Will the game let you continue playing even after you've hit 6 VPs? That might be the easiest option.

[DonCorazon]

Can we add a few hours to the deadline tonight? This game is suffering quickhost drift makes it hard for a west coaster that works late. Thanks!

[Incabulos]

I am in the same boat, west coaster working later means I have problems since I have to jump on the game the moment I get home and then have a very little window of opportunity before it hosts.

[AdmiralZhao]

Shinuyama was expecting a bit more gratitude after spending so much blood and treasure to help stop the Ashdod threat. If we hadn't grown and taken provinces, the giants would be stomping over us like they have been doing to Mictlan, Tien Chi, Ermor and Man. Still, in order to avoid any sort of unpleasantness with our neighbors, we are willing stop our growth. We will try to take Ashdod's capital and its surrounding provinces in order cut off the flow of giant SCs, but other than that we will not expand further.

[JimMorrison]

Originally Posted by AdmiralZhao

Shinuyama was expecting a bit more gratitude after spending so much blood and treasure to help stop the Ashdod threat. If we hadn't grown and taken provinces, the giants would be stomping over us like they have been doing to Mictlan, Tien Chi, Ermor and Man. Still, in order to avoid any sort of unpleasantness with our neighbors, we are willing stop our growth. We will try to take Ashdod's capital and its surrounding provinces in order cut off the flow of giant SCs, but other than that we will not expand further.

Well it's sort of a moot point, and in general terms, it was a great thing that someone was able to step up to Ashdod, and lay down some smack.

But in the specific scenario of the game, really there are only 2 outcomes, you could fall asleep and not notice someone else hit the painfully small VP limit, or you could play the sleeping dragon and let people fart around for a couple of years while you develop your impressive lead into an unstoppable force, and then win anyways. Personally, I'd rather just have it over, and be able to start a similar scenario on the same map perhaps.

And no, the game won't let us continue, a True God will ascend at 6 VPs, and we will receive a final turn, our pretenders and empires obliterated for all of time and history.

[Juffos]

I put the low vp requirement for victory in order to activate players. In some games I have been, player passivity has been extremely frustrating, and I decided to try to find out whether players will be more active on the diplomatic front if letting some player gather an insurmountable lead would result in quick defeat. You can think it as some kind of a social experiment.

Also, the hosting interval is now 48 hours. This ought to help our North American players.

[JimMorrison]

Originally Posted by Juffos

I decided to try to find out whether players will be more active on the diplomatic front if letting some player gather an insurmountable lead would result in quick defeat.

Well, an interesting experiment, though Shinuyama started in a -corner- with vast stretches of unclaimed land nearby. I think this concept would work better with at least preset starting locations, so some people don't get all crammed together (myself, Arco, Jotun, Abysia, Ulm, Marignon are all clustered tightly, for example), while others can travel 8 provinces in one direction before meeting a neighbor. It creates an environment where the tightly packed people are at eachothers' throats already, giving time for the others to expand rapidly through indies. And then we're on what, turn 27? And the game is all but won by Shinuyama, whose amazing recruit-anywhere mages, and monstrous economy can crush 6 capitals in no time, since he is safe on 2 sides, so can never be properly gangbanged.

[DonCorazon]

Yeah, I am done playing non-wrap around maps after this one. I am surprised though that Shin has been so unstoppable. Admittedly, Arcos signed a NAP with them a while ago so we haven't done our part, but we never thought their province count would just keep running up like it has.

Not sure that the game is "all but won" by Shin but we have no intel up north so just have to take people's word for it.

[JimMorrison]

Originally Posted by DonCorazon

Not sure that the game is "all but won" by Shin but we have no intel up north so just have to take people's word for it.

Well, do you have anything that can stand up to his sheer numbers?

What about after the losses you might expect to take against Bandar Log?

What about when the war with Bandar is over, and Shinu has had all that time to build and train, and prepare for the war that you and Jotun will bring to him once you are done with me (according to "the plan")?

Zhao is going to win. If he claims the rest of what Ashdod has, he'll be at 4 capitals already, with income+gems far beyond anyone else, and with research that is even rivaling yours now. If he were a less experienced player (like me, or even less so!), then I'd agree it's still a bit up in the air, but as it sits I'm having a hard time imagining the game making it to year 5 before a Shinuyama victory occurs.

[DonCorazon]

Originally Posted by JimMorrison

Well, do you have anything that can stand up to his sheer numbers?

Magic! And uh, how many nations are still left?

Originally Posted by JimMorrison

What about after the losses you might expect to take against Bandar Log?

What losses?

Originally Posted by JimMorrison

Zhao is going to win. If he claims the rest of what Ashdod has, he'll be at 4 capitals already, with income+gems far beyond anyone else, and with research that is even rivaling yours now. If he were a less experienced player (like me, or even less so!), then I'd agree it's still a bit up in the air, but as it sits I'm having a hard time imagining the game making it to year 5 before a Shinuyama victory occurs.

Games not over til the fat lady sings.