Dominions 4 - Pink Natajara

[KoolNoodles]

If two players start next to each other they just agree to be best buds and face the wastes arm in arm, right????

 

[Caul Shivers]

Not if the other one is a filthy hobbits.

 

[Grimwulf]

Let's go with no custom starts then and if two players start next to it other we'll restart.

Sounds good! And I'm pretty sure it's impossible to start literally next to each other with 10 players and 69 surface provinces.

 

[Caul Shivers]

Hold on, my rotten brain just remember the reason for fixed starts. We'll end up in 1k population provinces otherwise.

 

[Grimwulf]

Hold on, my rotten brain just remember the reason for fixed starts. We'll end up in 1k population provinces otherwise.

We will not. The cap provinces always have 30k population, regardless of the province type/size.

 

[Malakal]

We will not. The cap provinces always have 30k population, regardless of the province type/size.

Not entirely true, wasteland starts tend to have slightly less pop.

 

[Grimwulf]

Not entirely true, wasteland starts tend to have slightly less pop.

It's always random, 29-31k pop. Maybe wasteland has some sort of lower chance of getting 30k+ pop, not sure, but you can't ever have less than 29k pop start. Unless you play MA Ermor or somth.

 

[Caul Shivers]

Well currently all provinces are tagged as 1k population with the exception of the predefined starts. If you start there it will be 1k population cap or no cap. Not sure off the top of my head if there's another way to ensure low population in provinces other then setting it like I did. Small province tag + waste might do it though but I've no idea.

 

[Grimwulf]

Small province tag + waste might do it though but I've no idea.

It does. Small+waste makes all provinces to be 700-1100k population. If you hard-script 1000 pop, then you'll get yourself the cap problem you mentioned. But if you simply set all provinces to be waste+small, all caps will spam with 30k population and other provinces with 700-1100.

Edit: it has a minor downside, though. Small provinces have weaker defences, so indys are not impressive even at level 9.

 

[Caul Shivers]

I'm up for small+waste if it means not fucking around with bugged starts.
Also, we could always add a fuck ton of thrones to spice things up.

Lastly, I'm thinking magic frequency at around 10-15 should be fine. The wastes should add some.

 

[Andnjord]

This game is gonna be so ridiculous, I can't wait.

 

[Caul Shivers]

Game page on Llama-rama server.

Players and nations:

Grimwulf - Tecaburg, Realm of the Final Abyss
Dreaad - Chaninn, Rotting Rise
Mraston - Djarnis, Wasteland Realm
Andnjord - Vindorf, Pure Valley
KoolNoodles - Atlnom, Realm of the Unlcean Hunger
Muty - Siris, Obelisk of Death
Dayyālu - Calgaya, Song Order
Malakal - ?
JagreenLern - ?
Caul Shivers - ?

 

[Caul Shivers]

Oh yes, I see no possible way to lose a game with Lizard Lizard Chariots. These gloriousssss lizards are mine. I'm sticking with Gaelina, Advent of the Slave.

Spoiler

 

[Malakal]

Sorry but Im resigning from this game. I spent some time thinking and a game without gems or research would be mainly throwing troops at each other and that isnt very fun in Dominions.

 

[KoolNoodles]

Sorry but Im resigning from this game. I spent some time thinking and a game without gems or research would be mainly throwing troops at each other and that isnt very fun in Dominions.

Hmm, I wasn't following the settings too closely(other than wasteland map), but that does sound kind of boring.

 

[Dreaad]

There's still plenty of gems in the wasteland. It just means you can't set up a factory of summons and have to be more careful with your resources for battle magic. But w/e if there's gonna be just set it to normal magic site frequency or slightly higher.

 

[Grimwulf]

isnt very fun

kind of boring

Try using diplomacy. Your games will never be boring again.

 

[Dayyālu]

Hmm, I wasn't following the settings too closely(other than wasteland map), but that does sound kind of boring.

I do enjoy low magic settings, but after some tests (and with our nations) there are some changes it would be better to do.

Low gem sites is gud, but let's keep it at a somewhat reasonable level, like 25-30. 0 is somwewhat problematic to work with. The biggest problem is indie strength, though, as 9 forces you into some specific choices (to the point that I was almost thinking to change nation because Monkeys simply do not work agains 80 indies on turn 2).

It would be interesting to set-up EA indies (lower tech due the fact we are in some kind of apocalyptic wasteland), indie strength 5-6, gem ration 25-30. Standard research.

Just mah two cents, though.

Try using diplomacy. Your games will never be boring again.

But KoolNoodles is already kinda big on diplo. Malakal is somewhat lacking on that side, but I hope our little Codex matches will start to change his - I presume - /domg/ inherited attitude to be all cold and aloof and dark and mysterious with the common mortals.

 

[Malakal]

I am actually conducting all my diplomacy via steam whenever possible as it makes it faster and easier to do.

 

[Caul Shivers]

There's no such thing as throwing troops on a map where you'll have 400 income at best. That being said I can raise the magic frequency to 30ish. Anything more would force everyone to take rainbow pretenders in order to set a summoning factory and that wouldn't be very fun either. This game is about surviving with very meager resources and makes every single unit count, not throwing tons of crap at each other. Also, keep in mind that the wastes add +20 to site frequency so this is effectively magic freq 50.

 

[Grimwulf]

Also, keep in mind that the wastes add +20 to site frequency so this is effectively magic freq 50.

And Thrones always give increased site gen to the province they are located in. Which means 18 provinces in our case.

I vote for 0-15 site gen (even with 0 you'll have a load of magic sites in Throne provinces).

 

[Malakal]

Just saying that my friend ran a LA game with 10% research and well, it was moving huge crossbow armies around. The strategic part of this game isnt very interesting without magic.

 

[Grimwulf]

Just saying that my friend ran a LA game with 10% research and well, it was moving huge crossbow armies around. The strategic part of this game isnt very interesting without magic.

You can't operate full-scale armies in this particular game, be it crossbows or whatnot. Did you try to play this map and settings in sp? Unless you conquer a bunch of other player's caps, you won't have gold income. At all. Not enough to buy stuff, not enough to pay maitenance. If you attack somebody, you:

- risk losing the 1,5 cripplies you have in total and become vulnerable;
- make the other players worry about upsetting the balance and become vulnerable.

You don't have shit to build castles and defend provinces. Neither you have a reason to do it - barely any of them give you 10-15gp income.

Personally, I'm all up for the challenge of making every unit, gem and gold pound count. And I don't see how it is possible to "throw" something or "move huge armies" around in these circumstances.

Spoiler

I forsee typical conflict in this game:

- GIVE UP, goddamn hoburgs! My army is bigger! (pls give up)
- Then come and get us, lizzurds! (pls don't attack)
- We will spare your lives if you pay tribute! (pay up, come on)
- UMM, NO! (we will pay if you attack)
- Prepare yourselves for battle, then! (bluff)
- *gulp* (gulp)
- ... We will meet on the battlefield sometime. (No, we won't - it isn't worth it to risk the only warband we could afford so far. Maybe some other nation will pay up?)

 

[Malakal]

Yes, I know, every unit counts, but at least add enough gems?

 

[Dreaad]

No one is talking about 10% research are they? Just lower gem income. Don't bail on us Malakal. Fight for Polish honor in the wasteland