[SPOILERS] They're cOMing to taKe mE AWAy! Haha! Hoho.

[DaveV]

Haha. I remember that song from my long-ago days of listening to Dr. Demento. How did you get the little rainbow in the title bar of your opening post? I like it.

I guess you'll have to come up with a new opponent analysis for post #2.

Have fun with Perpentach! Go crazy!

[Mardoc]

How did you get the little rainbow in the title bar of your opening post? I like it.

Right beneath 'Post subject' there's a bunch of icons. Used to be only 4-5 of them, but since the forum upgrade there are many. Rainbow seemed appropriate for Balseraphs, plus it'll help me notice when it's got a new post in it.

I guess you'll have to come up with a new opponent analysis for post #2.

Opponent analysis: gtAngel



Well, he's either new around here or an awfully well planned out smurf: recently joined, an e-mail address I don't recognize, different posting style than the regulars I know. So that naturally limits the analysis I can do on him. I can figure out a couple of things, though.

He may be new, but I'm pretty sure he's not a noob. Shekinah isn't a noob choice. Sidar in general aren't one of the noobish picks, and of course he has to have either played some SP or read the changelog of EitB to even know she was available.

He seems well spoken, as best I can tell in his limited posts so far.

That said - Shekinah feels like an SP choice. Especially on a builder map (meaning big and lush, and hence more value in building horizontal than vertical). He's going to run into the same trouble as I did in 18 - the only units you can Wane are the same ones you want to keep around for war. Especially since this is high difficulty but normal barbs, he won't be able to farm nearly as many Wanes as Sidar might otherwise manage. And level 6 adepts are also known as 'your best mages' and 'your archmage candidates'.

Also, like any SP player coming to MP, he's likely to underestimate the value of mobility and collateral. Heck, I still underestimate that myself! I'm slightly less certain here, because Sidar's main bonuses are mobility (and Arcane is collateral), and surely he wouldn't have picked them if he didn't intend to use those features? But maybe he's thinking of them as a Wane civ, rather than as a fast Recon civ.

Here's hoping he is, because if so, he'll be the Pinata of this game. Hit him to make prizes come out. Er...assuming I manage to be first to notice, of course. Otherwise he'll be the hot potato or the reason someone else wins .

Also, ahem, I noticed just now that I have a heroic scout. Which means probably everyone has a heroic scout...which is an extra boost to Mr. Sidar over there, the lucky dog. Either a heroic divided soul caster, for forking and deadliness, or more likely, a T26 Wane. Thinking I'm going to have to go explore that dungeon ASAP (and maybe the shipwreck too, although those are usually less profitable), to interject some randomness and maybe catch up.

Have fun with Perpentach! Go crazy!

Tis the plan!

[Mardoc]

Foes in general: This is going to be an arcane duel if every I saw one. 3 Arcane leaders, me, and Vamps! If anything, I'm the weakest at Mage generation, unless my traits line up right. I'll need to either start early, or make sure to get the Titan...maybe both?

Hiding Kneel, Thessia of the Ljo. Elven econ was good and is stronger with new FT and Republic. Main thing I have going for me is that it's slow to start. I need to push ahead and stay ahead, or I'm in all kinds of trouble. Expansive ought to help him early - I honestly expect a redux of his PBEM23 game, except a focus on mages instead of Satyrs.

As Thessia, I expect a fairly straightforward early game, rushing to Leaves while expanding steadily, then debating the order of Knowledge of the Ether, Priesthood, and Hidden Paths, but picking up all three, then straight down the Arcane line.

The strength of this approach depends on a couple main things: how quick he can make it to Leaves, how long he can be unmolested. Really the elven econ isn't strong until he's got all the way to Hidden Paths and Priesthood, which is midgame at best. To handle him, someone needs to attack before he's got all his ducks in a row - or else a snowball needs to be well launched so it can outdo those end game 3/2/7 Ancient Forest cottages.

Ellimist, Decius of the Calabim. Mixed feelings here - vamps are a mid-game monster. Lack of Elder Council will slow him a bit. So will only Org as an economic trait. I ought to be able to get ahead early, and I had better, because once Manors hit the scene things will get bad. Need to get to Mages before he gets to Vamps, if we're neighbors at all.

Selrahc, Auric Ulvin of the Illians. Actually a bit surprised he still went with this, it's the most predictable thing he's done in a while. New Auric's gameplan is pretty obvious - imitate Selrahc's PBEM1 play, except with Arcane instead of Defender, he's unlikely to get stuck with a million adepts and no mages. Regardless, I expect Priests of Winter for deterrence purposes, followed by marching straight down the arcane line.

Only room for question: it is Selrahc, after all. Maybe...maybe he ends up deciding to play the Illians thematically for the challenge instead of optimally. Which would mean Temples of the Hand and an eventual God, instead of archmages.

[Yell0w]

Opponent analysis first. I'll revisit this once picks are in, but for now let's discuss the opponents.

Yell0w (Agg, Agg)


And if he said he was going to attack you unless X - it's not a bluff.

I don't threaten anyone without being willed to go through with my threat.
=)
I'll lurk you in this one.

[Qgqqqqq]

Three points: firstly gtangel as a BobCW smurf comeback would be awesome!
Secondly, IIRC entertain steals the money from the owner of the city it entertains (I.e entertain (almost certainly) isn't happening).
Finally, are you intending a arcane path this game?

I think with the huge map, build up civs like ljolsofar are the scariest.

[Mardoc]

=)
I'll lurk you in this one.

It's a veritable party in here!

Secondly, IIRC entertain steals the money from the owner of the city it entertains (I.e entertain (almost certainly) isn't happening).

Well, eventually Loki might entertain one of my own cities. Steal money to give it back, and meanwhile I have an extra happy. Agreed that no one's going to tolerate Loki inside their cities.

Finally, are you intending a arcane path this game?

Probably. Unless I see an opportunity for something else, like a Swordsman invasion of somebody near. Or a straight up cultural victory.

I think with the huge map, build up civs like ljolsofar are the scariest.

All depends on just how big the map is, really. I'm sure it's possible to outbuild them, with sufficient micro skill. Bigger question is whether I have that skill.

[Ryan]

May I ask a questions ?

IF yes, How would the tundra city be profitable ? I dont understand that.

[Mardoc]

May I ask a questions ?

Absolutely. I like talking .

IF yes, How would the tundra city be profitable ? I dont understand that.

Two bits.

First, it boosts trade routes. You may have noticed that each city has a 'trade route' or several when it's connected to your other cities by road, river, or sea. This is free commerce. At the start of the game, you have just one allowed per city, you can gain more at Trade and Currency, plus a few buildings and civics give you more. Anyway - there's a complicated formula for how much you get, but basically it comes down to 1 commerce/turn for trade routes inside your empire, plus a bonus 1 for either overseas trade or foreign trade (to someone else's empire). So as soon as I settle an island, any island, my first trade route in every city will go from 1 commerce/turn to 2 commerce/turn, since they can all be overseas trade. This effect gets bigger the more cities you have: if I made it my second city, it would hardly matter, but if I found it when I have 10 cities on the mainland, it'd automatically give each of them a bonus 1 commerce just for existing. Err...assuming I don't have open borders and a trade route with a neighbor by then. This effect matters more in always war games where you can't trade with your neighbors.

Second, an island city with a lot of food (which the Tundra city has, between Fish, Crabs, and Sheep) will end up working a lot of coast tiles. They're not the best tiles, at only 2 commerce each, 3 with a Harbor, but if you work enough of them, it still adds up to a lot of commerce.

[Ryan]

Thanks for explaining this BUT isnt sailing and fishing kinda far off from usual belsearph tech ? * i hope * well you need calendar , farms , and husbandry for that city.. But you are probably gonna just farm it all.

[Mardoc]

Thanks for explaining this BUT isnt sailing and fishing kinda far off from usual belsearph tech ?

Yes. It's a debate, therefore, on the right time to research it. It'll probably boost my commerce enough to pay for itself, I think it's only something like 400-500 beakers for the pair, but of course it's no help in war. I need to debate with myself on the right time for island colonization.

As for tile improvements - I haven't a clue what I'm going to do yet. Depends too much on where I end up putting the city. Probably a lot of farms, yes.