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

[Slynky]

Rathar said:
Well.. I am a fan of 3 good planets, no intel and manual placement to insure that we don't start right next to each other. # of points doesn't matter much to me as I can adjust to anything in that realm but I dunno about the balance mod as it seems a bit dull in a predictable sort of way (never played with it so what do I really know but..)

Everything else can be on if you desire as I can build warp openers as fast if not faster than you can and things like mines are only temporary speedbumps.

I also have to admit to liking low tech starts as I feel that I can research like mad but tis all good in this area too!

The opposite of being bored with the Balance Mod is to find yourself pulling an unlucky draw in planet distribution (with damaging warplines around you, etc.) I liken the Balance Mod to playing on the same 64 squares of a chess board...the board may be boring but the play changes in every game. And, at this point on the Hill, I think the pursuit is who's the best, not who's the luckiest.

I have no problem with the following settings (so far):

3 good planets;
No intel;
No mines;
and
Manual placement.

I propose:

No stellar manipulation; (because a game where the intent is to make the first opener and burrow past the front lines in a "riot run" attempt in the back lines shouldn't be the goal of the game);
ZERO racial points;
and
Balance Mod.

Your turn

[geoschmo]

I've been working on an update to the balance mod that brings a little more variety back in and yet still eliminates the worst of the really bad starts. I'd also like to have it allow for none races and bring back some moons. I've got some ideas that should work, but it will take some work. Might have it ready in a couple weeks.

[Alneyan]

If nothing else, I suppose a Paradise quadrant should be very easy to set up, with no damaging wormhole and no empty systems (possibly no asteroid systems too).

[Slynky]

geoschmo said:
I've been working on an update to the balance mod that brings a little more variety back in and yet still eliminates the worst of the really bad starts. I'd also like to have it allow for none races and bring back some moons. I've got some ideas that should work, but it will take some work. Might have it ready in a couple weeks.

Always interested in something to make the Balance Mod a bit more enjoyable for those who deem it too boring .

[Slynky]

Alneyan said:
If nothing else, I suppose a Paradise quadrant should be very easy to set up, with no damaging wormhole and no empty systems (possibly no asteroid systems too).

If the Balance Mod is too boring, then I suppose this option isn't too bad. After all, if we can't agree on parameters, then it's KotH defaults (LOL).

[geoschmo]

Alneyan, if you use Fyron's Quadrant Mod(Standard) I believe it has some built in quadrant types like what you are describing with no dead systems.

[Grandpa Kim]

I'm playing my first game with the balance mod in the 2005 tourney and believe it or not, I find it confusing.

Instead of spotting a huge breathable with lousy numbers and building research facs. till the cows come home, I have to make a decision every time! Do I need mins or research? Both,of course! (So what else is new? ) Makes for a quite different game.

I had a plan when I started. It disappeared down one of the non-existent black holes at the first sign of trouble.

Can't say I really enjoy the mod, but I understand its purpose. If you can improve it Geo you have my full support.

***

And yes, FQM standard does have Paradise quadrants which is a good compromise between mid-life and balance mod.

[Alneyan]

geoschmo said:
Alneyan, if you use Fyron's Quadrant Mod(Standard) I believe it has some built in quadrant types like what you are describing with no dead systems.

Does this quadrant increase the number of planets (and moons)? I suspect it is the case, but all the quadrant types in FQM confuse me. I think it might also increase the number of damaging wormholes and their harshness (if I understand my system data files right).

I can see two ways to change KOTH defaults: it could either be a vote to put the Balance Mod (or something else) as default, or a compromise to use something else. I'd prefer the latter solution myself, for the happiness and comfort of all my subjects.

[Emperor's Child]

Slynky said:
And, at this point on the Hill, I think the pursuit is who's the best, not who's the luckiest.

Exactly. My first game was stock, and my opponent was defeated by a rotten starting location. Balance mod should be standard for tournament games IMHO...

[Rathar]

Heh, in my first koth game 5/6 of the first systems I explored had either giant clouds of gas in various pretty colors or black holes. The 6th system had 2 tiny planets..

Needless to say, I lost and quick!

But I still say that the balance thing sounds a bit predictable. I would prefer a "paradise" start with Alneyan looking things over and starting us in reasonably good spots. But that might well be a bit of work and I know Alneyan to be a busy individual so I shan't demand it.



All the other settings are fine tho so lets fiddle with this one a day or so more?

Definitely not looking for true randomness but also not seeking true non randomness, heh.

Rathar