[SPOILERS] Balseraphs: A Guide to Mis-Management (by Kyan and TT)

[Kyan]

Yeah, def. get that gryphon if you can. Flying units are scarce in FFH- permanent flying units even more so. Being able to hide out on mountains or lakes or whatever, threatening to pick off a player's workers or low strength units or explore their lairs with a HN unit is strategically a great option to have =) Plus they're one of the few units which can explore those always-annoying "shipwrecks-in-a-lake", and you can get one way earlier than a cultist.

Hmm, if there are islands it could definitely be useful for finding and popping huts etc. I'll make sure to make an effort to go get him. He shall be my Beaky and he shall be mine.

[Bobchillingworth]

Is it a menagerie pre-req? If so, it would be worth getting and putting to sleep in the capital at least?

What do i need for menagerie?

Lion
Tiger
Gorilla
Wolf
Bear ?

Yup, those are the five you need. They all have to be merged into the same city, too. Lions and Bears are pretty common- shouldn't have much trouble catching either. Tigers are very rare in the wild, but you can get an endless supply with a Tier-II Leaves Priest. Wolves are a bit more difficult to catch- they tend to stay at the poles & have such low strength that they'll go extinct just from people's scouting units fairly quickly. But gorillas are the real killer. They spawn very rarely and only in jungles. And they're only strength 4, so they're likely to get killed trying to attack warriors or scouts on defensive terrain. And they're slow, so escorting one back to your borders is a huge pain. The best way to get one is to purchase it from the event which gives you the choice of one of the five menagerie animals.

[DaveV]

Bearing in mind the crazy amounts of floodplains discovered thus far... is the chance of a menagerie really going to make that much difference?

Considering it's +2 happy in all cities, plus a free Carnival in all cities for a net +3 happy, yes.

[Kyan]

Yup, those are the five you need. They all have to be merged into the same city, too. Lions and Bears are pretty common- shouldn't have much trouble catching either. Tigers are very rare in the wild, but you can get an endless supply with a Tier-II Leaves Priest. Wolves are a bit more difficult to catch- they tend to stay at the poles & have such low strength that they'll go extinct just from people's scouting units fairly quickly. But gorillas are the real killer. They spawn very rarely and only in jungles. And they're only strength 4, so they're likely to get killed trying to attack warriors or scouts on defensive terrain. And they're slow, so escorting one back to your borders is a huge pain. The best way to get one is to purchase it from the event which gives you the choice of one of the five menagerie animals.

Right ok. I'll send him off into the jungle to try find a new toy then. I'm naming the lizards Thorn and Zorn. Cookie for the reference.

[Kyan]

Considering it's +2 happy in all cities, plus a free Carnival in all cities for a net +3 happy, yes.

My understanding is tha we don't need the tech to capture animals though, just to cage them? Surely it would only be worth switching from the current tech path if we actually start to assemble our zoo. There's always the possibility the lizardman could die or we can't find a gorilla etc.



Clever goblins? They have maneuvered to avoid the river. I think i'll retreat the warrior into the city next turn as they are far away from the worker so i can't see the point of holding fast. I stayed working the rice rather than the ivory so that delays second warrior by a turn but grows the city significantly more and adds a commerce. If the RNG is krill-like and wants to win both battles of equal strength despite them attacking a hill, over a river, onto culture and with warriors innate defence bonus- so be it.

[Katon]

Right ok. I'll send him off into the jungle to try find a new toy then. I'm naming the lizards Thorn and Zorn. Cookie for the reference.

The new Balseraph national anthem?

[DaveV]

Surely it would only be worth switching from the current tech path if we actually start to assemble our zoo. There's always the possibility the lizardman could die or we can't find a gorilla etc.

Yes, absolutely. Menagerie is a fairly low probablity wonder, but the rewards are great. Festivals is still a good tech for the Balseraphs, but you don't *need* it until you have some animals collected (the time to get serious is after you capture a gorilla).

[Kyan]

The new Balseraph national anthem?

SUCH a good game. I might use this tune in my next greeting message. Unless i meet Gaspar next in which case i'll find something far more suitable ( ).

Dave, for once, you were wrong!



that's at end of turn so we'll get the tribal hut unless another player does in the interim. I definitely like being last in the turn order as i can see the barbs movements after i end turn.

[Kyan]

Yes, absolutely. Menagerie is a fairly low probablity wonder, but the rewards are great. Festivals is still a good tech for the Balseraphs, but you don't *need* it until you have some animals collected (the time to get serious is after you capture a gorilla).

Aye, but if it's so difficult to pull off- i doubt there will be much competition- especially this early! As such, i'll likely tag on Festivals after code of laws as Freaks are going to be fun to play with regardless.



Heh. I forgot to move the warrior into the capital but this has turned out well. One warrior suicided on Terence and gave him 2 xp (and redlined him) whilst the other wussed out. I'll check out the odds of Zorn (the 2xp lizard) to kill him next turn. A quickfire way to get a second subdue animal unit already ahoy!

[Kyan]

Diplo with Rawkking:

I've proposed a long term NAP, settling rights to all the floodplains and the marble. In addition, he lends us both his palace mana when required and we will lend him sun mana when required (with notice).

I'll tie in a few more bits and pieces also, but nothing too exciting. I am nicking 'his' marble source and a city 6 tiles from his capital. His mana types should be useful for a) a free promotion and b) maybe vitalize later on. Is it nature 2 that lets me destroy undead?