Countdown

[Cammorak]

I considered going for early VPs with my natural water access, but I figured I would already be an early-game target and didn't need to draw any more attention to myself.

Honestly, I was trying out a Baalz-style strategy, which I think makes the loss of 25 points a bit of a nonissue. The downside was my forces weren't consolidated when you came knocking so they pretty much got steamrolled piecemeal.

As I was considering it though, I think the handicaps actually might need to be a bit harder. I was testing out bless builds and a loss of 25 points is rather small change. Sure, you may have slightly worse scales or lose a bit of your bless, but it doesn't strike me as really even by any means.

I think it's a great idea, but maybe if the handicaps are somehow normalized to, say, the cost of increasing dom scales a point, rather than arbitrary values. I think one of the issues was the relative lack of bidding wars. The community seems small enough to where this may never happen extensively, so it may be better to high-ball the opening bids.

[Verjigorm]

The only reason I didn't take VPs early was for diplomacy reasons (same as Marverni). It's sort of like painting a giant target over your ball sack (you know, where you keep your soccer balls), but when Marverni took one, I decided I might as well start grabbing them or risk falling behind.

I'm taking 3 this turn, btw: 126, 101, 81.

That should be 6 VP total (1 + 2 + 3).

[chrispedersen]

debaser was having problems with the 24 hour timer, so I added 8 hours. Theoretically we should be at 40.

[chrispedersen]

Interesting that Marverni hasn't claimed any vps...

Cammorak.. I really wish we got more bids. But as we haven't I will definitely keep your feedback in mind on the next one.

Still, I do think the bids definitely changed the game: We have no mictlan, or sauromatia in the game, for example. Conversely, we do have yomi, arco, abysia, marverni - which I think is proof of concept.

Personally I think thats a huge plus.

[Cammorak]

I definitely agree that the bidding is a huge plus and an important component of the concept. What I was trying to say is that the bidding should be kept, but the starting bids should perhaps be spread out a little more. I love that it encourages all the lesser-played races as I'm always a fan of the underdog (despite playing Niefel this time).

I also think this could branch into two different concepts:
1) A bidding mechanic that keeps the games organic and relatively fresh
and
2) A set handicap mechanic that can be kind of an extension of the Endgame Diversity & CBM concept to further encourage lesser-used race play.

This is also inspiration for a Gimp game I may want to start once I'm done moving this month. All the races on the bottom of the HoF duking it out. Probably already been done, but still seems fun.

[Verjigorm]

I have another interesting question.....

Since we are manually tracking VPs rather than allowing the game to track them...

Could VPs be used as a commodity for trade? The mechanism, of course, would require said transactions to occur within the Forum chat so that they could be properly administered.

[chrispedersen]

Nope, no trading vp's.
However you can feel free to make any deals you want regarding possession of vp provinces.

Ver, I hate to sound like I'm raining on your parade - you've been a great player.
Please only report provinces when you've actually taken them.. I don't want any surprises complicating my posting. That said did you take your 3 vp this turn?

[Verjigorm]

Yes, still at 3 vps. Total should be 9 cumulative victory points as of the start of turn 34.

Turn 34 = + 3 vps (9)
Turn 33 = + 3 vps (6)
Turn 32 = + 2 vps (3)
Turn 31 = + 1 vp (1)

[Debaser8]

I definitely want a longer clock, but I came in as a temporary sub so I didn't want to ask for one. However seeing that TwoBits also seems to be interested in a longer clock, and I haven't been able to find another sub for myself, how do people feel about a longer clock? I would prefer a 48 hour clock, but am happy to hear from people who like the status quo (32hrs?).

[Verjigorm]

I don't care.