Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?

[Slynky]

Bad starting positions in KOTH was one of the main reasons Geo created the Balance Mod. For important games, I propose to my opponent we use it (so the map doesn't decide the winner before the game even begins).

[Glyn]

Fuzzie, hang in there! Your dragons will find a good nesting place soon!

Congratulation Emperors Child.


Congratulation’s Renegade, though I don’t understand how your mother board failure could cause Rand to get off to a bad start??? (Did you throw it at him?). I’m looking forward to our game!

[DeKaye]

Slynky said:
Bad starting positions in KOTH was one of the main reasons Geo created the Balance Mod. For important games, I propose to my opponent we use it (so the map doesn't decide the winner before the game even begins).

Slynky, do you use this MOD in all your KOTH games, or just the important ones - like now, as you are the residing King. I would consider that an important game when someone finally makes it to you and challenges you.

[DeKaye]

To All, I am curious. Does anyone have any idea how often a player is disadvantaged by location in the game? Also is it possible for a player whom has a bad location to win if the two opponents are different but equal in skill and strength.

Then one more question, if this occurs quite often, then why isn't the Balance MOD used as the default settings for all KOTH games? I know that there is one option in place in which a mediator can create a balanced map. I just ask these questions for info purposes. I am not complaining, whinning, etc about my own random location in my last game. It made the game very interesting and actually is a bit more realistic - you never know where a civilization will take root. I learned a bit at what not to do if I am in that position again. :}

Thanks for sharing and satisfying my curiosity.

[Renegade 13]

I suppose it is possible for someone to win even in a disadvantaged starting position, but it's not very likely. Fortunately, it doesn't happen very often that such a situation occurs. I've played 9 KOTH games now (I think...) and on my 3rd game I ended up starting right next to my enemy, and had barely any room whatsoever to expand. In that spot, the only choice you really have is an immediate assault on your opponents homeworld, hoping that they're focussing less on defense, and more on expansion. Didn't work for me, but then again, I didn't expect it to! But I've only had a bad starting position 1 time out of 9, so that's not too bad.

What the balance mod does is basically kills all variety in the map. Every system has a single medium sized planet for every possible combination of rock/ice/gas and atmosphere type, thereby putting no player at a disadvantage. There's also (I think) no black holes, etc. It removes all advantages/disadvantages the map can provide, but also (in my opinion) kills anything that could make the map interesting, since every system is identical except for where the planet is in the system.

Congratulation’s Renegade, though I don’t understand how your mother board failure could cause Rand to get off to a bad start??? (Did you throw it at him?). I’m looking forward to our game!

I'm not quite THAT evil! Nah, I'm not sure why the delay hurt him, but that's what he said in his surrender message so that's what I'm going on. At least, it was something like that, I may be misinterpreting (a likely possibility with me!).

I too am looking forward to our game, and good luck!

[DeKaye]

Renegade 13 said:
What the balance mod does is basically kills all variety in the map. Every system has a single medium sized planet for every possible combination of rock/ice/gas and atmosphere type, thereby putting no player at a disadvantage. There's also (I think) no black holes, etc. It removes all advantages/disadvantages the map can provide, but also (in my opinion) kills anything that could make the map interesting, since every system is identical except for where the planet is in the system.

It sounds like the balance MOD does take a bit of the environmental variety out of the game. I see why it is not used a lot more. It does look like it would be a great MOD to really determine who is a "Better" player, but this also can be miss leading. There are so many different elements to this game. I have discovered (since playing my two KOTH games) that a game winner is not easily predicted based soley on experience and skill/ability. How you set up your empire, your galactic placement, the computer generated map, and every single descision you make all determine the games out come (plus the addition of a little luck). I am so glad that all of you and whomever set up this game, set it up on the principle of just having fun along with the idea of learning to become a better player. It makes this league a much more enjoyable experience. Happy gaming All!

[Alneyan]

Default settings are pretty much as basic as they come: they were first set by Geo a few years ago, back in the days when there were no Balance mods (PvK Balance mod is also quite good in my opinion for Empires).

I know I am not too fond of the Balanced systems myself because they are so deterministic, and tend to make expansion a lot more straightforward, since you know what is inside each and every system. Expansion is perhaps even more important under the mod, as more systems always equal more resources, whereas you might have wealthier systems with random systems. On the other hand, I dislike very much random starting points, particulary the "start next to a neighbour" situation. So, tastes vary I guess.

I would say it is possible to win despite a bad starting spot, with a faster expansion, or cunning tactics (or plain old luck with the strategic battles). I know Primitive trashed me good in our battles in *that* game, while our economies were pretty much balanced, and I had an edge in Stellar Manipulation. On the other hand, in my first game with Belisarius, my undefended homeworld somehow kept at bay his four raiders, so quirks in the game can be beneficial.

[DeKaye]

Thanks for sharing your experiences/ knowledge/ opinion.

[Slynky]

DeKaye said:

Slynky, do you use this MOD in all your KOTH games, or just the important ones - like now, as you are the residing King. I would consider that an important game when someone finally makes it to you and challenges you.

I would hope any challenger would agree to the Balance Mod for the Hill game. I also played the Balance Mod in the game that won me the chance to play for the Hill. Usually, on level 1 or 2, I just take a standard map.

[Slynky]

Anyone who has played the game a lot knows the "space empires evenly across the galaxy" setting doesn't work. Around 3 out of my first 5 games stated be beside or one system away from my opponent. It got to be so bad I finally asked the question and then I learned it occurred often.

The problem is, by the time players arrive at the top of the Hill, their skill level has to be fairly close (assuming all the wins getting there weren't just luck), so being placed even slightly badly can make the difference in winning and losing.