Nothing like the Prodigal Sons: The Odd Couple actually play as themselves.

[darrelljs]

Biggest Fear: The above happens while he's right next to Seven.

.

Darrell

[TheHumanHydra]

Opponent analyses are my favourite thing to read on these forums.

[Boldly Going Nowhere]

So far, so good. I can't add anything to Gore Ripper.

For wetbandit, I only have pb11 to go by, as we're both in that game. This probably isn't spoilery at all, but whatever. Don't click if you're playing in PB11.

He is currently in a very good position, though how good, particularly compared to the other teams currently in the top tier in that game, is hard to determine from my point of view in game. He waged an effective early war vs. Azza, showing Azza to the door, and has since been able to farm in peace, running no military to speak of and expanding to free islands that no one else really could get to due to geography. So, he hasn't failed at what he should have reasonably been able to do, but I can't say whether he's done it with any panache or brilliance. My feeling is that if he had, he'd be a clear favorite right now despite retep being in a similar situation and having GLH. As of now, I have retep as the hands on favorite to win the game, due solely to there being no one who can really do much to him due to distance and me having a terrible economy and no good boats. I hate that game and wish it would die a fiery death.

[Ichabod]

Wetbandit is just a ded-lurker in PB13, he's not playing the turns. He occasionaly logs in to take a look, but not a lot. Regarding Civ skill, I can say that I'd be in a better position if I had listened to him more than I did. I feel he has a good ability to read what's going on in the game and he knows how to evaluate objectives and dedicate his efforts to the most profitable ones. Can't say anything about his micro, I'd guess that I'm a bit better than him in that department (at least considering few cities).

He's way more ruthless as a civ player than as a WW player. It's actually pretty surprising.

[Gaspar]

Opponent analyses are my favourite thing to read on these forums.

Writing them has typically been one of my favored pastimes, but they're much harder when you're not playing the guys you know really well.

So far, so good. I can't add anything to Gore Ripper.

For wetbandit, I only have pb11 to go by, as we're both in that game. This probably isn't spoilery at all, but whatever. Don't click if you're playing in PB11.

He is currently in a very good position, though how good, particularly compared to the other teams currently in the top tier in that game, is hard to determine from my point of view in game. He waged an effective early war vs. Azza, showing Azza to the door, and has since been able to farm in peace, running no military to speak of and expanding to free islands that no one else really could get to due to geography. So, he hasn't failed at what he should have reasonably been able to do, but I can't say whether he's done it with any panache or brilliance. My feeling is that if he had, he'd be a clear favorite right now despite retep being in a similar situation and having GLH. As of now, I have retep as the hands on favorite to win the game, due solely to there being no one who can really do much to him due to distance and me having a terrible economy and no good boats. I hate that game and wish it would die a fiery death.

Wetbandit is just a ded-lurker in PB13, he's not playing the turns. He occasionaly logs in to take a look, but not a lot. Regarding Civ skill, I can say that I'd be in a better position if I had listened to him more than I did. I feel he has a good ability to read what's going on in the game and he knows how to evaluate objectives and dedicate his efforts to the most profitable ones. Can't say anything about his micro, I'd guess that I'm a bit better than him in that department (at least considering few cities).

He's way more ruthless as a civ player than as a WW player. It's actually pretty surprising.

Cheers guys.

[Gaspar]

The Enemies - A Tactical Guide

Volume III - Mikehendi



(This came up in a GIS of his username, and further research showed that it was indeed the same player here. More on this in a moment.)

Elizabeth of France (Philosophical, Financial, Agriculture, The Wheel, Musketeer, Salon)



Sing it, Lizzie.

(This would be funnier if this song didn't remind me of my ex-wife for reasons not worth explaining.)

Known Knowns:

So this is definitely Mikehendi's first appearance on these boards in a competitive game. Through sheer accident I stumbled upon the above screenshot from a game he chronicled on CFC. Before anyone goes to kill him, he was playing a variant where his first 8 builds had to be settlers. A quick perusal of other stuff showed he played a bunch of CFC variants. So kudos for keeping with the RB spirit, lad. That said, a cursory glance showed basically the same old same old SP strategies employed in his games once he overcame his variants, building to Rifles or Cavs and roflstomping everyone. No discredit to him there, but it does generally speak to a type of player who tends to get overwhelmed in their first MP games here.

Liz of France is a safe pick. Probably the best leader on the board at the time of his picking. Liz's downfall of course is that she starts slow. FIN is pretty nothing in the early game and PHI doesn't help you with much early on either. Only one cheap building on the whole docket as well, though Universities are a good cheap building since they're way overpriced and you need them for Oxford. France is meh, the Musketeer is probably the best of the Gunpowder UUs because they make great stack protectors but Musket UUs are still pretty underwhelming given the close proximity of Rifling in the tree. The Salon is lolz. The start techs are great though.

Known Unknowns:

Biggest question is how he makes the transition from high level SP play to high level MP play. I believe everyone should either dedlurk/team with an experienced player for their first time here. Almost all the players who came in and became successes in the community started this way. The ones who jumped into high level competition without experience or a lead dance partner are often the one and dones. There are exceptions, but they're few. As far as the pick, its low synergy which as I said before, doesn't matter. There's a lot of strength for him in the midgame with his traits and UU, though. So if he can make it there, he can be a force.

Unknown Unknowns:

Again, seems pretty straight forward. Anyone else have any thoughts?

Mikehendi's Yearbook:

Pro Wrestler His Personality Most Reminds Me Of:

(New guy who's done well elsewhere)
Likeliness to Succeed:

Quality of Selection:


Exploitable Weakness: Follows predictable SP patterns - overcautious early, getting lapped by more aggressive experienced players.
Biggest Fear: Converts skills well, riflelolstomps us.

[Merovech]

Opponent analyses are my favourite thing to read on these forums.

Same.

[TheHumanHydra]

I thought that whole commentary on how new players adjust was very interesting.

[Boldly Going Nowhere]

I agree. Keep churning out preview analysis content!

[Gaspar]

The Enemies - A Tactical Guide

Volume IV - Kuro



(I'm of the belief that this is the particular sort of stigma which should stick to you, so .)

Isabella of China (Spiritual, Expansive, Mining, Agriculture, Pavilion, Cho-Ku-Nu)



See here and here


Known Knowns:

Well, as above, I'm as qualified to talk about Isabella of China as anyone, having played her twice to wildly different degrees of success. She excels at the fast start, its entirely possible to go BW first and get slaving in play very early. China is right there with Egypt as one of the great all-rounder Civs - great start techs, useful and long-lasting UU, situationally useful UB. Ultimately, she does require a skilled hand to execute - I lacked that skill the first time around but could see the potential; Noble and I tapped into it much better in the return game. Easily my favorite combo to play.

Kuro... I haven't read his later games, so hopefully the peanut gallery can let me know how much he's improved. He was pretty awful in the two games of his I lurked, though - PBEM21 and the FFH game where Bob coined the PYFT war against him. He lacks focus (I suspect he's very young, as in 15 or so) and so while he occasionally has a good plan, he's proven thus far unable to stick to it. He's played a lot by now though, so its likely he's better now. Given that I haven't read any of his stuff since, I couldn't say.

Known Unknowns:

Again, biggest question is how much he's improved. There's really nothing about Isabella of China that I can't speak fairly eloquently to, though.

Unknown Unknowns:

See above.

Kuro's Yearbook:

Pro Wrestler His Personality Most Reminds Me Of:

Likeliness to Succeed:

Quality of Selection:


Exploitable Weakness: No question you can fall in love with your farmer's gambit with this combo, if you do, you can die a quick death.
Biggest Fear: He loses interest a month in and his start is so bad nobody wants to take over for him.