[SPOILERS] PBEM7 Lurker Discussion Thread - No Players!

[Krill]

FWIW, when I was designing this map I expected those who started next to TT to have an advantage because TT doesn't have that cut throat edge, that intricate game knowledge, that strategic nor tactical level planning ability that others have.

Now, I know full well that many other people will consider that I am being fairly harsh with what I am posting here, and I kinda see their point, but it's an important point: don't play with people out of your depth, and then get pissed off with people when you unbalance the game.

[Sandover]

Not only is TT's understanding of war rather lackluster - his weakness is also easy to identify. I fully understand Scooter's notion of not wanting TT in a game that's supposted to be competitive, because he cannot compete. His first priority should be to learn the basic mechanics of war before signing up for more PBEM games.

[Krill]

Well, it's looking like the game is heating up so long as they are having a good time on the map, I think it's worked out OK even though the islands haven't been used all that much. Hopefully they will by hte late game though?

[Bobchillingworth]

From a "coolness perspective" I think this map is one of the best on RB, and it's quite possibly the most balanced as well. I do worry though that with all the players obsessed with fighting each other on the starting continent that the game will essentially be decided before the remaining third or so of the map can be properly settled. A lot of that is due to the players more than any fault with the map itself though. Besides starting them apart due to seperate islands or lines of mountains, I'm not sure what else could have been done.

[Krill]

From a "coolness perspective" I think this map is one of the best on RB, and it's quite possibly the most balanced as well. I do worry though that with all the players obsessed with fighting each other on the starting continent that the game will essentially be decided before the remaining third or so of the map can be properly settled. A lot of that is due to the players more than any fault with the map itself though. Besides starting them apart due to seperate islands or lines of mountains, I'm not sure what else could have been done.

In hindsight, not starting each player on copper would have been good, but then there would have been no resources on the starting continent, and stopping a pink dot isn't possible (especially when Inca/India are around). I suppose it is nicer to see a little fun galley and axe warfare for once though?

Oh well, I need to figure out a third map to design after this one and PB3.

[pocketbeetle]

It is a good map, it's just unfortunately fallen at the usual hurdle for 'new continent' type maps: namely players getting entrenched around their capital.

My only suggestion would be an even thinner starting landmass.

[Selrahc]

I think the biggest "fix"* to stuff like this would be to implement a minor variant of "Always Peace until T130" or something similar. That would lead player to spend the first turns in an aggressive REX build off, jockeying for position before the inevitable T130 wars roll around.

*Not that its really a problem per se.

[Bobchillingworth]

I find it strange that both TT and Moogle seem to regard Serdoa's email tone as being beyond the pale. It looks to me like a lot of what they're reading as rude or insulting is largely just Serdoa having difficulty getting his points across in English. Are they not aware that he isn't a native speaker?

[plako]

It isn't just the "rudeness", but also contents + actions. e.g. razing city and then asking a tribute of 500 gold for peace seems pretty unacceptable proposition especially to SleepingMoogle that really shouldn't be hurting much from this war at the moment. I'm surprised why SleepingMoogle thinks he needs to start full mobilization and hand over the game to Scooter. He could direct TT to just build military and provide some support units while continuing his economy build up/expansion.

[Sandover]

SleepingMoogle is either trying to spin things as hard as possible or he is delusional...

I'm a bit unsure whether he tried to apply a lot of spin to this message, or whether he's genuinely unaware of the situation.

Hilarious.