I'd say it's probably more because Iskender pillaged a huge amount of Pirate tile improvements, which I think he would have done anyways.
Merovech's Mapmaking Guidelines:
0. Player Requests: The player's requests take precedence, even if they contradict the following guidelines.
1. Balance: The map must be balanced, both in regards to land quality and availability and in regards to special civilization features. A map may be wonderfully unique and surprising, but, if it is unbalanced, the game will suffer and the player's enjoyment will not be as high as it could be.
2. Identity and Enjoyment: The map should be interesting to play at all levels, from city placement and management to the border-created interactions between civilizations, and should include varied terrain. Flavor should enhance the inherent pleasure resulting from the underlying tile arrangements. The map should not be exceedingly lush, but it is better to err on the lush side than on the poor side when placing terrain.
3. Feel (Avoiding Gimmicks): The map should not be overwhelmed or dominated by the mapmaker's flavor. Embellishment of the map through the use of special improvements, barbarian units, and abnormal terrain can enhance the identity and enjoyment of the map, but should take a backseat to the more normal aspects of the map. The game should usually not revolve around the flavor, but merely be accented by it.
4. Realism: Where possible, the terrain of the map should be realistic. Jungles on desert tiles, or even next to desert tiles, should therefore have a very specific reason for existing. Rivers should run downhill or across level ground into bodies of water. Irrigated terrain should have a higher grassland to plains ratio than dry terrain. Mountain chains should cast rain shadows. Islands, mountains, and peninsulas should follow logical plate tectonics.
(December 17th, 2012, 13:22)spellman Wrote: Right. The question was how much did Maniac's tell push the timetable forward.
I'd say less than 10 turns.
Merovech's Mapmaking Guidelines:
0. Player Requests: The player's requests take precedence, even if they contradict the following guidelines.
1. Balance: The map must be balanced, both in regards to land quality and availability and in regards to special civilization features. A map may be wonderfully unique and surprising, but, if it is unbalanced, the game will suffer and the player's enjoyment will not be as high as it could be.
2. Identity and Enjoyment: The map should be interesting to play at all levels, from city placement and management to the border-created interactions between civilizations, and should include varied terrain. Flavor should enhance the inherent pleasure resulting from the underlying tile arrangements. The map should not be exceedingly lush, but it is better to err on the lush side than on the poor side when placing terrain.
3. Feel (Avoiding Gimmicks): The map should not be overwhelmed or dominated by the mapmaker's flavor. Embellishment of the map through the use of special improvements, barbarian units, and abnormal terrain can enhance the identity and enjoyment of the map, but should take a backseat to the more normal aspects of the map. The game should usually not revolve around the flavor, but merely be accented by it.
4. Realism: Where possible, the terrain of the map should be realistic. Jungles on desert tiles, or even next to desert tiles, should therefore have a very specific reason for existing. Rivers should run downhill or across level ground into bodies of water. Irrigated terrain should have a higher grassland to plains ratio than dry terrain. Mountain chains should cast rain shadows. Islands, mountains, and peninsulas should follow logical plate tectonics.
For those playing at home, Maniac has made landfall on Isk's East Shore. dun dun duuuuun.
From my view, I'm surprised Isk got caught that badly off-foot. Then again, Maniac's insane amounts of EP do help. And Isk is fighting a 2-front war.
Based on Isk's mention that Mardoc went back to cranking on Econ, I'm curious was the rationale is. Mardoc if I recall is looking to snag a few important techs so he can do land damage, so I guess storing up the cash for a huge military rush and so his economy doesn't collapse under the maintenance for units?
(January 22nd, 2013, 20:41)spellman Wrote: Based on Isk's mention that Mardoc went back to cranking on Econ, I'm curious was the rationale is. Mardoc if I recall is looking to snag a few important techs so he can do land damage, so I guess storing up the cash for a huge military rush and so his economy doesn't collapse under the maintenance for units?
Could be that. Could also be that he is happy that Maniac is fighting his war now so he can sit back and tech. Or a combination of both.
