Invisible Swarm III: over

[Jurri]

Nexus isn't a game-winner, certainly. It will only yield 1/4 or 1/8 (can't remember) of used gems (not slaves or pearls of your own) in pearls, so I would assume you and Boron have possibly even more astral income combined than I, with your clammy attitude. At least if Boron plays like he speaks, and it's not him who's dispelling Pangaea's enchantments.

Without Wish it's not quite as easy to turn pearls into useful things, so Panther's concerns are invalid to a point. I wouldn't necessarily agree with his assesment even in unmodded, but that's another discussion... My take on Nexus has sometimes been ignoring it and hunting down the schmoe that cast it, but I haven't seen a high-astral nation cast it before (figure that), so it's not necessarily the god or hero or ether lord who cast it. This small a game, I would possibly even ignore it if I wasn't an Astral nation.

All in all, I still think Chris has the strongest position, since Boron is completely and utterly devoted to helping him win. Indeed, I couldn't believe my eyes when he said he declares war on me! Without it, I would be happily destroying myself against Chris, and Boron would be the one eating up jeffr's remains, and in a very strong position against the one who would emerge victorious. He's a great strategic asset to Chris if used wisely, and Ulm still has the most lands and hence the greatest gem and monetary income, besides which I'm a total apprentice compared to Chris when it comes to building and destroying invincible armies. I'm expecting one kick-*** endgame if I can get Boron out of the picture by the time Chris is content with the state of Pangaea! Especially if Pasha compensates for Boron, and sides with me against the Evil Empire.

There's always something to be abused, so I wouldn't worry about it too much: that's one thing that's so fun with all these mods flying around, that you get to break a new toy every time!

On another note, weather conditions have prevented me access to my dominions-computer all day, so could you please extend the deadline a few hours? (I should get to it on time, but I can't quite remember when the deadline was.) Pretty please? I hate to be a pain like this all the time, but some vacation this turned out to be: Instead of languishing in the sun and playing dominions all day I've been doing all sorts of odd jobs up here in the country. Fun, certainly, but eating up on computer-time! I guess I should get a sub, but this is too much fun and I've been managing a ~48h cycle so far. And I should have much more free time starting Tuesday.

[CUnknown]

"Nexus isn't a game-winner"

"All in all, I still think Chris has the strongest position"

That spell can definitely be a game winner. As long as it stays up, you've certainly got the strongest position because of your massive gem income (easily twice or three times mine, I believe--it will probably give you around 100 pearls a turn, right?).

"and Ulm still has the most lands and hence the greatest gem and monetary income,"

Yes, I may have the most provinces, but Pangea's provinces were all set to 200% tax forever, and aren't worth much. They are also fairly gem-poor. And with your growth-3 scale, Jurri, your capital is worth around 500 gold/turn. You have a massively higher income (both gold and gems) than I do.

"Especially if Pasha compensates for Boron, and sides with me against the Evil Empire."

If Pasha attacks me, the game is basically over. Everyone must join against Ryleh or else he will conquer the world! Pasha, at least remain neutral, please think about that. If you attack me, Jurri then gets the time he needs to put his amazing gem income to use.

Pasha, if you were helping me, we may still have a chance to beat Jurri.

[CUnknown]

Oh, you have like 30 hours from now (~5pm eastern time on saturday), Jurri. I may have restarted my computer, so the deadline re-set.

[Jurri]

Thank you! ...although it looks like jeffr hasn't yet done his turn, so no new turn just yet.

You forget that you have over 70 provinces and I under 40. (Notice how I count Boron's provinces as yours.) I have a hard time believing that even with the Nexus I would have even close to the gem income those provinces must certainly yield. Also, it's more than likely that you and Boron have more clams combined than I.

Gold income, well, my growth scale hardly doubles my gold income, so with you having so much more provinces and way better earth/fire gem income there should be no doubt that your income is better. Also, my mages cost twice that of yours, so after upkeep the difference might be even greater. (I wager I have three lobos for every mortal chump you have )

Pasha may or may not be a king-maker, but even if he sides with me the game is very far from over - I suppose there's no use in bickering over it, though, as ultimately everyone must draw their own conclusions. I think you stand a great chance of winning, no matter what Pasha decides. (If I haven't said so yet, I greatly admire your handling of Ulm. Have you played any other nations?)

[PashaDawg]

Hello:

I have returned. It sounds like that Arco Council of Philosophers has a lot to debate.

Pasha

[CUnknown]

Thank you, Jurri!

I have played Man, Ctis, and Vanheim a little as well.

I also admire your mad skillz, cheap lobo guard or no, if anyone else was doubled like you were in this game (for at least 20 turns, right?) they probably would have lost, or at least been extremely hurt. Maybe you were hurt, but have bounced back. Either way, it's impressive.

I'd be interested to find out how many gems you get from the first turn of the Nexus. I bet you're not going to tell us, though!

[jeffr]

A new turn is up.

"would be the one eating up jeffr's remains" - that hurts

"but Pangea's provinces were all set to 200% tax forever, and aren't worth much." - yep, the sign of a good player, eh? Poverty rules!

"They are also fairly gem-poor." - an even better sign of a good player! Hmmm, maybe I should rethink this one.

"Zen's item mod makes me want to puke. I will never play with it in one of my games."

I hope you change your mind on this and consider it for your next game. I think the item mod might introduce some variety and make item construction much more interesting. Anything that promotes variety and choice is a good thing as far as I'm concerned. It seems to me that everyone currently builds more or less the same small subset of items, which is a shame considering the number of items in the game.

Cainehill said above, "Making lifedraining weapons less common is a majorly good thing about it, imo; likewise making staff of storms, etc, harder to attain."

I agree with this. Does anyone have experience with the item mod? Have games played out differently?

[CUnknown]

Well, I'm open to the possibility of changing my mind about it. I do like that some of the weaker weapons have been made cooler. I just can't get over the lifedrain thing.. it seems like it essentially removed lifedrain from the game (except maybe for the rare 40+ strength guy or Golems with astral weapon). I thought lifedrain was a nice aspect, something that allowed SCs to compete with armies. I agree with making armies more powerful, and that's been done with Zen's other mods and SC's mod (and other mods). I don't think that you need to -also- weaken lifedrain. I'd agree with a price hike--make wraith and hellswords cost 20 gems each, and I'd agree with a damage and attack value nerf on Blood Thorns (maybe to 0 or -2). Zen's mod just goes too far, and that's an understatement. It goes way too far.

I'm ambivalent about the nerf to hoard items. I can see the value for nerfing them if you like to play on large maps, but I don't. Small maps with quick action are the way to go, imo. Under those conditions, I think hoard items are balanced in vanilla.

I dislike most of the other changes in the mod, such as making flying boots, water bracelets, etc. more expensive. I don't see the reason for it, and it would really hurt my Ulm game, heh. I can't really see Ulm doing very well in an item mod game, and I think most people believe them to be weak. There would be no question they'd be weak in an item mod game. Item construction is their bread and butter, you nerf that, you're killing them. Where would I be in this game, for example, if I couldn't hoard bloodstones, clams, if I couldn't make flying boots, water bracelets, etc? I'd be up the creek! My god can do anything, but she can't do everything at once.

Yes, now we're getting to the meat of the issue. The item mod drastically nerfs my favorite race! You guys happy??

[Boron]

Qm now continues the mod. He already did many new tweaks.
About the LL weapons he is still unsure but he is 100% sure that he has to improve them. Zen's version of LL weapons are garbage. I personally don't mind though because i love troophordes and nerfed LL makes the troophordes a bit more valuable strat .

[The Panther]

Unfortunately, the single best change for life drain is not fixable in a mod. All that really needs to be done it make life drain steal HP only and NOT fatigue. If the battle goes too long, then they will get fatigued out and die like ordinary troops. This potentially fixes both the troops with inherent lifedrain (can you say 'much-too-powerful Vampire Lords and Queens'?) in addition to fixing the weapons.

If commanders with LD could die from fatigue and you therefore had to consider reinvigoration items, then LD would not be a no-brainer like it is now for an SC.

Oh, and about the Nexus: Since you are using the spell mod and Wish is not available, then Nexus/Clams are not near as powerful as in the base game. Still extremely strong, of course, but not worthy of resigning at once. Jurri could summon a lot of abominations, though, if he wants, and those guys are very good. Furthermore, because you are not at turn 100 yet, then perhaps he put it up with fewer pearls than the max.

Anyway, R'lyeh ought to have the most clams since Atlantis is not in the game.

Finally, as long as Aku valiantly holds out, Pasha will not be attacking anyone else, I would wager.