Game 5684

[Maximus Dominus]

Lowering the cost to the minimum will flood you with gold, trust me, just do it...

Your wish stands fulfilled, Lycan Overlord.

But will the werewolves now bite the hand that has fed them?

[Maximus Dominus]

Ahhh the peace and love is making me sick. I may fly that way to chomp on you little morsels after all.
Smack talk courtesy of encouragement from Max. Everyone sux but me!

Lord Darkseid,
Great Rex of The Reign of Terror of the Red Dragon

I have declared you my ally. Whether you are receptive to such an overture or not, I know not. Yet, I have extended the offer, just the same. While others dally, I pledge my blade and my aid.

How others choose to receive this news is beyond what I can see. Each will do as each will do. For such is the way of all creatures, great and small.

If I or my realm may be of aid to thee, you have but to ask.

- Master of Shadows -

[Jon Deaux]

AN - LY yYour village is at SW.  I won't get around to taking your town for a couple more turns yet though, and it will be a few more before I can grab the village in Sword.  This whole trading PCs thing is more hassle than the merchant fleet is worth.

[Maximus Dominus]

While fortune may not always shine upon me and my realm, at least through Turn #5, I seem to have been able to hold my own, for the most part.

Combat and war(s) will likely change that, leading to my eventual downfall in this game of Alamaze, but for now, I shall claim my wins where I find them. I took control of my region, this turn - the same turn that Runigruth (Dark Elven), uncledarkseid (Red Dragon), Windstar (DeathKnights), and Strongwill (Giants) took control of their respective regions. I think that this is pretty good, especially in light of my relative lack of experience and my dearth of game knowledge.

The Free Traders under Rellgar became an immediate target for the Red Dragon, so that certainly would account for why Rellgar did not take his region, this turn. But what of Zarashand (Lizard Kings), Strylian (Halflings), Glowamane (Sorcerer), DuPont (Elementalist), and Brek (Lycans)? I really don't know enough about the limitations of each individual kingdom, nor do I possess enough first-hand experience, in order to be able to properly assess what the cause of these other kingdoms with very experienced players at their helm not taking control of their respective regions was, on this same turn that four others and myself managed to succeed at gaining control of our respective regions. Anyone out there care to lend me your own insight as to what might be causing this delay?

My court of characters continues to grow, albeit at a much slower place than I would otherwise prefer. But gold doesn't grow on trees, apparently (unless you're the Alchemist, if I understand correctly - or is it the Halflings? - or perhaps the Dwarves?), and there are always competing priorities that incessantly clash with one another for the lion's share of the kingdom's coffers.

A two turn delay in being able to raise agents above level 9 was an injury of the self-inflicted variety. One doesn't know what one doesn't know, though. There are, if memory serves me correctly, known knowns, known unknowns, and unknown unknowns. I can't do what I don't know to do. Alas and alack!

Through no fault of my own, I began this epoch in control of a town called Nimbus Sign (a terrible name for a population center, I might add) in the region of Mythgar. Yet, I now see that an army of the Elementalist now stands perched at the gates of this town. An army-sized group under the command of Major General Iovin Stoutboot, it seems. Could this perhaps be a cordial social call, I wonder? Or is something a bit more nefarious afoot? No doubt, the Elementalist desires to gain control of the region of Mythgar. Yet, what consequence - if any - will ensue if Major General Iovin Stoutboot initiates hostilities there?

For me, this epoch is an adventure in exploration. What a tragedy it would be, if I were to become sidetracked in pursuit of vengeance. Yet, each must choose their own path, and court their own fate. With much of Mythgar already under my watchful eye, it is doubtful that the best laid plans of mice, men, and the Elementalist will not go astray, if that kingdom should choose to draw first blood. There may yet exist opportunity to avoid the shedding of innocent blood.

Channels for timely communication are narrow and limited, though. And some choices and decisions lie beyond even the control of the Master of Shadows. So, for now, let me turn my gaze elsewhere, to other matters, to other things.

I have openly declared my desire for alliance with the Red Dragon. But how will this sit with other men, with other kings? While others have piddled and pondered, I chose to act! My overture will either be accepted or rejected or relegated to a state of abeyance. The ball now sits in the Red Dragon's corner.

On the good authority of the 4th Cycle rulebook, monstrous behemoth that it is, I have it that the Underworld and its peoples that I reign over "are accepted everywhere, if not loved." Indeed, this is good, is it not?

To our neighbors, the Lycans, and to all others, by magnanimous gesture on my part, I have rolled back the cost of training agents to the mere sum of just 2,000 gold. Surely, this is cause for celebration, is it not? But sometimes, gratitude is fleeting in the presence of those with eyes glinting of greed. I shall sharpen my blade, just in case.

Surely, I am blessed, am I not? For the fool of my Court raised my monarch's influence to a sufficient degree to offset the costs in influence associated with the hiring of multiple new characters this turn. Behold, for the Underworld's Court blooms! My cadre of agents is only a threat to the Underworld's enemies, though. For now, I remain content to stay my hand. And so it shall be that such personages as Gurthon the Wicked, Hornrod the Worm, and Zonagon the Demented must, of necessity, content themselves pursuing more leisurely activities, until such time as the Blood Moon rises in the Underworld's sky.

Eh? What's this? 'Twould seem that shame has arisen, and that plans were leaked by a conservative infiltrator, resulting in failure to move the people of a population center to join our kingdom's cause. Confound my luck in moments of crisis, such as this! Do conspirators lie in my midst? Or is Lady Luck a fickle whore?

With a Thieves Guild now at my disposal, the training of my kingdom's agents shall now continue. They will simply have to make haste and gather their wits about them, for now and only now does their training proceed past the arbitrary limit that the gods in their unknowable ways imposed upon my realm. To hell with that limit, for we have overcome even the will of the gods, themselves!

Surely, what I have said this day is sufficient to feed the ears of one and all. Yet, am I beset with those who speak not, no matter which direction that I turn my gaze? Come forth and speak, that I might be enlightened of happenings and occurrences in the lands that each of you lay claim to as your own.

- Master of Shadows -

[Maximus Dominus]

This whole trading PCs thing is more hassle than the merchant fleet is worth.

Then why do you do it? I will say this for Alamaze players, generally, Based upon my past browsing of various game threads, players sure do love to trade. Trade, trade, trade! They've done gone trade crazy.

I grasp that trading population centers confers certain advantages in-game, and I also understand that trading population centers helps to mitigate certain disadvantages. You trade this. I'll trade that. And voila! We both move closer towards the goal of gaining control of our respective regions. Plus, too, unlike in real life, since characters (some characters, anyway - I really need to brush more upon on characters in Alamaze) can't just move to any area on the map, but are constrained to just stopping in population centers, trading for a population center elsewhere can provide a base of operations for emissaries and/or agents - that the long arm of one's influence can spread and reach further across the map.

Trying to imagine how the various kingdoms, as described, would actually subject themselves to such unseemly practices invariably ends up leaving me scratching my proverbial head.

Trading gold. Trading food. Trading Mithril. Trading population centers. It's a wonder that players can't just trade characters at will, also. Sheesh! Talk about some trading sons of bitches.

And instantaneous trades, at that. Poof! No caravans to track down and raid and loot. Just trades happening all over the map. Whoosh!

[Jon Deaux]

This whole trading PCs thing is more hassle than the merchant fleet is worth.

Then why do you do it? I will say this for Alamaze players, generally, Based upon my past browsing of various game threads, players sure do love to trade. Trade, trade, trade! They've done gone trade crazy.

I grasp that trading population centers confers certain advantages in-game, and I also understand that trading population centers helps to mitigate certain disadvantages. You trade this. I'll trade that. And voila! We both move closer towards the goal of gaining control of our respective regions. Plus, too, unlike in real life, since characters (some characters, anyway - I really need to brush more upon on characters in Alamaze) can't just move to any area on the map, but are constrained to just stopping in population centers, trading for a population center elsewhere can provide a base of operations for emissaries and/or agents - that the long arm of one's influence can spread and reach further across the map.

Trying to imagine how the various kingdoms, as described, would actually subject themselves to such unseemly practices invariably ends up leaving me scratching my proverbial head.

Trading gold. Trading food. Trading Mithril. Trading population centers. It's a wonder that players can't just trade characters at will, also. Sheesh! Talk about some trading sons of bitches.

And instantaneous trades, at that. Poof! No caravans to track down and raid and loot. Just trades happening all over the map. Whoosh!

I never have before, I always figured it wasn't worth the trouble.  But, I figured I would try it... I was right.

[Maximus Dominus]

It would appear that the Elementalist player, the famed DuPont, has not logged into the forum, here, recently. The system last recorded his presence here back on 08-02-2023, some eleven days ago. This bodes ill, I think, for the Underworld's chances of avoiding conflict with the Elementalist realm.

His army-sized group that has encamped at my population center location there in the region of Mythgar did not bring a Hallmark card. The seeds of suspicion are now planted in my mind. Granted, the Elementalist's army could have been simply scouting for pop centers. Unlikely, I think, since as a long time player of the game, one who registered on the forum, here, back on 02-16-2013 (more than a full decade ago), DuPont would be intimately familiar with better, more efficient ways to scout for population centers. He doesn't need an army-sized group to accomplish the task of scouting for population centers. And so, I now begin to untangle this web of mystery that freshly floated in only just this turn.

Hmmm. . .

   

At present, I am faced with both an army led by renowned military leader, a Major General, and silence from the power behind the worldly throne. Unprovoked military aggression stands to escalate the scenario that is developing there. Being a very inexperienced player of Alamaze, can I afford to show weakness? Vacillation shall not be my hallmark, this much I swear!

I do not crave war with the Elementalist and his minions. I respect the power that he commands, in all its many forms. Yet, as soon as it was within my power, I withdrew a military group that I inherited that was located there at the start of this epoch. I was benevolent, in this regard. But will my benevolence now be returned?

[uncledarkseid]

It would appear that the Elementalist player, the famed DuPont, has not logged into the forum, here, recently. The system last recorded his presence here back on 08-02-2023, some eleven days ago. This bodes ill, I think, for the Underworld's chances of avoiding conflict with the Elementalist realm.

His army-sized group that has encamped at my population center location there in the region of Mythgar did not bring a Hallmark card. The seeds of suspicion are now planted in my mind. Granted, the Elementalist's army could have been simply scouting for pop centers. Unlikely, I think, since as a long time player of the game, one who registered on the forum, here, back on 02-16-2013 (more than a full decade ago), DuPont would be intimately familiar with better, more efficient ways to scout for population centers. He doesn't need an army-sized group to accomplish the task of scouting for population centers. And so, I now begin to untangle this web of mystery that freshly floated in only just this turn.

Hmmm. . .



At present, I am faced with both an army led by renowned military leader, a Major General, and silence from the power behind the worldly throne. Unprovoked military aggression stands to escalate the scenario that is developing there. Being a very inexperienced player of Alamaze, can I afford to show weakness? Vacillation shall not be my hallmark, this much I swear!

I do not crave war with the Elementalist and his minions. I respect the power that he commands, in all its many forms. Yet, as soon as it was within my power, I withdrew a military group that I inherited that was located there at the start of this epoch. I was benevolent, in this regard. But will my benevolence now be returned?

It is generally assumed that taking an opposing players pop in your own starting region does not constitute the beginning of a war.

[Strylian]

Thank you my short, hairy-footed friend!  I look forward to living next to your gentle, peace-loving folk.

Stop by for a wonderful first and second breakfast.

[Maximus Dominus]

It is generally assumed that taking an opposing players pop in your own starting region does not constitute the beginning of a war.

Lord Darkseid,

General assumptions are, when you get right down to it, still assumptions, and an assumption is a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof.

For the record, the Kingdom of the Underworld does not count itself as an opposing kingdom to those that it has no history of conflict with in this epoch. At present, the Underworld considers itself to be neutral to all other kingdoms, save for my recent decision to declare your own Kingdom of the Red Dragons my ally. Granted, you have not declared that your kingdom is even interested in an alliance with my realm, and accordingly, I do not assume that you. I am, however, hopeful, where that matter is concerned.

With regard, specifically, to attacks upon population centers by military forces of other kingdoms, such constitutes casus belli. Launching military assaults upon population centers of kingdoms that are neutral, based upon general assumptions, lays the groundwork for considerable error to manifest itself. The core of my interest in this epoch lies in the adventure of exploring. It does not lie in ill-conceived campaigns of military adventurism predicated upon general assumptions.

Kingdoms that choose to sow their oats of war in fields of assumption should not, therefore, assume that they will incur no responsibility or blame for the decisions that they have willfully, deliberately, and intentionally sown, and particularly when they are sown in a premeditated manner with malice and mischief in their hearts, aforehand. Certainly, sovereign lords of sovereign realms are free to cast caution to the wind, but the wind blows more than just one way.

Verily, the Elementalist player enjoys vastly more experience in playing Alamaze than I do. But should folly ensue, evil will be visited upon evil.

Furthermore, nothing precludes a sovereign lord of any realm from entering into negotiations in good faith, where matters of mutual interest lie.