Secrets of the Deep: Northstar (Lanun) vs. Mardoc (Svartalfar)

[Northstar1989]

OK, I asked Mardoc if we can set up a blitz to fix this, as it would set us back too much time otherwise... If he doesn't have time for a blitz soon, I'll just eat it...


Regards,
Northstar

[Northstar1989]

In the meantime... I finished Calendar:



And swapped into Agrarianism:



Furthering my economic lead over the Svartalfar...





I've said this before, and I'll say it again- but economically, the Elves are weak. The slow work-rate of their Workers is a HUGE disadvantage to them, and the Elven civs really need an economic buff in future versions of Erebus in the Balance...


Regards,
Northstar

[Ellimist]

My rule to avoid glitches: always exit to main menu to load a game. Using the Ctrl-L hotkey to load a saved game (especially a save from a different PBEM) seems to lead to trouble. Following this rule has let me play multiple PBEMs without any (known) issues.

My theory: Ctrl-L doesn't initialize everything it should, and stuff can leak over from one game to another.

I'm not sure if exiting to the main menu actually helps with this. I'll test it sometime.

I just tested this and you're absolutely correct. Exiting to the main menu appears to clear the effect that causes this and avoids the glitchiness.

[Qgqqqqq]

I've said this before, and I'll say it again - you have no idea what you're talking about.

[Northstar1989]

I've said this before, and I'll say it again - you have no idea what you're talking about.

Perhaps. But have you considered that I might actually be onto something? I provide a reasonable-sounding argument that slower work-rate leads to reduced Return on Investment on foodhammers spent on Workers for the elves (that is, it takes much longer for a foodhammer spent on an Elven Worker to pay for itself due to the slower work-rate...) If you think I'm wrong, it's your responsibility as a friendly and courteous human being to provide a counter-argument against the actual ideas, not simply just insult the person coming up with them... So far, that's been your main pattern of behavior- I think you can do better than that Q...

Update (and save to Mardoc) coming very soon. Currently have the game open in another window (was distracted by notifications that Kragroth posted a long forum post trying to force me to give up the passwords to this duel...)


Regards,
Northstar

[Northstar1989]

OK, so my Warrior tried to do a little exploring, and immediately a Bear moved into my line-of-sight...



Guess I might have to keep the Warriors home after all!


Meanwhile, my population remains far ahead of Mardoc's...



As do my Demographics and even my Soldier-count...



I wonder what Mardoc's up to...


Regards,
Northstar

[Northstar1989]

Another turn, not much to report...



Peace is good- especially when it allows to to pile onto my lead in economics and population...





This map seems to be a lot drier than it was supposed to be (this map was supposed to be "Snaky Continents")- but at least the lack of a large number of forests around the start gives me a decent chance to stay ahead of the Elves...


Regards,
Northstar

[Northstar1989]

Another turn...



Nothing too exciting to report. I continue to be ahead of Mardoc in population and economics:





Here's to hoping I don't have to deal with one of Mardoc's Scouts trying to choke me too soon...

Also, did anyone else notice it looks like Mardoc lost a unit last turn? Judging by the Soldier count, it looks like one of his Scouts... I guess I'm not the only one getting eaten alive by the animals.


Regards,
Northstar

[Northstar1989]

Another turn- still not to report...




My Scout did discover some Fish though, so at least I've got that going for me...











Regards,
Northstar

[Northstar1989]

Our people inch forward in their search for knowledge of the Dvine!





Meanwhile, our capital has completed another Worker, and has begun on a Granary. I don't necessarily expect to finish it before I build my first Settler (in fact, I don't intend to), but the proximity of Rice, Wheat, AND Corn to the capital makes it a respectable health-building in itself, entirely aside from its benefits to the rate of city-growth...



I could have been working on this earlier, but I was keeping my fingers crossed for another strike of the Insanity trait, and my intent (although, thanks to a bug this isn't what actually happened) was to finish a Scout and then switch to a Granary with 1 turn left on a Warrior (to increase the chances of building it with Aggressive or Raiders active...)

Either way, I probably could have played it a little riskier thus far. Exploring with Warriors and starting on a Granary sooner instead of Warriors both would have been solid, but risky decisions. Ones that could have come back to bite me hard if Mardoc had shown up on my borders with a Scout or two and started choking my economy...


Speaking of Mardoc...



What exactly is he up to that his Demographics are lagging so far behind?



Assuredly all this couldn't be merely due to the slower rate of his Workers, could it? I'll have to go back and punch some numbers with Demographics to try and figure out what exactly is up...


Regards,
Northstar