Caution: Brainstorming in progress (Spoilers!)

[HidingKneel]

Let's get in the spirit of this thing.

[Mardoc]

Bah, I was really hoping for an Illian with stasis. Still think they might be worthwhile, if you learn from the mistakes I've made in 31, but they're not as strong without a WS. Cha is sort of economic, but Arcane...not so much.

Well, maybe best is to work backward. What sort of game do you want to try? Offbeat, Magic, Divine, Economy? Or what sort of game have you had enough of and would rather avoid?

[HidingKneel]

Good question.

Here were my original picks:

1) Cardith Lorda, chosen with the intent of chasing Hyborem. Bob suggests that this is a bad map for Hyborem, so I think that plan should be tabled for the time being.

2) Auric Ulvin, assuming that Stasis was allowed (which it isn't).

3) Decius (I don't think I specified but I meant Decius of the Calabim). Chosen because vampires are strong and I haven't played them yet, but I'm not super-excited by the choice.

4) Volanna (who is now banned).

So, let's rethink this. What sounds like fun?

Lanun are banned. Infernals are bad for this map. We've already sort of done the Mercurian thing.

Luchuirp, Malakim, Elohim, and Sidar sound dull to me.

Grigori, Amurites, and Doviello seem a tad underpowered, as do the Illians without their worldspell.

I'm already playing as the Hippus in XXIX.

That leaves the following options:

a) A reprise of the Kuriotates. Kuriotates are fun, and after XXIX it might be nice to have a hard upper bound on the number of cities to manage. Then again, I'd kinda like to try a Hyborem run in another game, so maybe save Cardith for that.

b) Bannor (probably Capria). Something we could play very thematically. Crusade!

c) Elves. Am I sick of the elves? No, not really. With Volanna out, I think Arendel is the best choice, but either of the other Svartalfar leaders could also be good (not a big fan of Thessa after XXV; Expansive doesn't synergize so well with the super-slow economic buildup).

d) Khazad. We just finished playing the Khazad, but XXVIII was probably the favorite game I've played on RB; I wouldn't be opposed to a reprise using Kandros in place of Arturus.

e) Balseraphs. Technically I've already played them, but was eliminated early after a disastrous early game. Keelyn is banned but Perpentach is more fun anyway. OTOH, we're sort of already playing as Perpentach in XXXI.

f) Sheaim. Averax. Burn the world down. Definitely an underpowered choice, but could be a lot of fun.

g) Decius of the Calabim or Jonas Endain of the Clan. These are good things to choose if we want to win the game, and would also be fun things I haven't tried in a MP game.

Which of these sound like fun to you, Mardoc?

[Mardoc]

Which of these sound like fun to you, Mardoc?

These do. I'm partial to Perpentach, definitely not burned out on him. Too many Clownish tricks that he just doesn't get to use on the seas. But I'd be happy with any of these:

b) Bannor (probably Capria). Something we could play very thematically. Crusade!

d) Khazad. We just finished playing the Khazad, but XXVIII was probably the favorite game I've played on RB; I wouldn't be opposed to a reprise using Kandros in place of Arturus.

e) Balseraphs. Technically I've already played them, but was eliminated early after a disastrous early game. Keelyn is banned but Perpentach is more fun anyway. OTOH, we're sort of already playing as Perpentach in XXXI.

f) Sheaim. Averax. Burn the world down. Definitely an underpowered choice, but could be a lot of fun.

g)Jonas Endain of the Clan. These are good things to choose if we want to win the game, and would also be fun things I haven't tried in a MP game.

As always, you're the turnplayer and get final say.

[HidingKneel]

Which of these sound like fun to you, Mardoc?

These do. I'm partial to Perpentach, definitely not burned out on him. Too many Clownish tricks that he just doesn't get to use on the seas. But I'd be happy with any of these:

b) Bannor (probably Capria). Something we could play very thematically. Crusade!

d) Khazad. We just finished playing the Khazad, but XXVIII was probably the favorite game I've played on RB; I wouldn't be opposed to a reprise using Kandros in place of Arturus.

e) Balseraphs. Technically I've already played them, but was eliminated early after a disastrous early game. Keelyn is banned but Perpentach is more fun anyway. OTOH, we're sort of already playing as Perpentach in XXXI.

f) Sheaim. Averax. Burn the world down. Definitely an underpowered choice, but could be a lot of fun.

g)Jonas Endain of the Clan. These are good things to choose if we want to win the game, and would also be fun things I haven't tried in a MP game.

As always, you're the turnplayer and get final say.

Alright... I can order those.

Perpentach, Averax, Kandros, Capria, Jonas.

Submitting.

[Bobchillingworth]

Just to make sure I've got this correct, Perpentarch is your first pick?

[HidingKneel]

Just to make sure I've got this correct, Perpentarch is your first pick?

Yep.

[Mardoc]

So, this is the point normally where I'd give a civ overview, run through the uniques, try to judge which will be useful. But, well, we've both been around the block before, and I don't want to spend a lot of time repeating stuff we both know. Do you want that, or should I just skip it for now?

[Commodore]

Sidhe-it! Other Sidar new chick!

Perp is sooo mainstream.

[HidingKneel]

Sidhe-it! Other Sidar new chick!

Perp is sooo mainstream.

Bah! The classics never go out of style