Giants

[Lord Garth]

I saw in another thread that people aren't checking emails. I submitted an email on an issue about the Giants some time ago and never got a response so I guess that's true.

Perhaps I can get some help here. In one game I have ran afoul of the Giants and noticed that every one of their groups are masked. Every one, ever turn. This is not being done via spell. Nor is there any artifact that I know of that grants masking (although that would be a great idea). So I checked the Giant setup and noticed they only have Mastery in the mountains. None of these masked groups were in the mountains.

So what's going on here? If they are getting greater masking in every terrain that it stands to reason it's because they have been granted Mastery in every terrain. And if they are getting Mastery in every terrain then they are getting +20% bonus in every terrain. in EVERY terrain. I mean, the Red doesn't even get that.

That's when I recalled the Giant's original setup. I saved the old setup sheet. When the Giants were first formed they had Mastery in every terrain. But it was taken away very quickly no doubt due to play balance reasons with +20 everywhere and certainly because it is ridiculous for a giant to mask in the plains etc. However it seems that while the setup sheet has been changed, the program was not.

This could cause a great deal of confusion to anyone opposing the Giant. It certainly confused me. And it's an unfair advantage to the Giant on top of the stealth illegal buff it is receiving.

It also begs the question that if Mastery has not been properly adjusted, have other adjustments been implemented? The Giants were supposed to lose Dynasty, Seafaring and Trackers. Are they still in effect?

I emailed Brek about this awhile ago to get some clarity, no response. So I'm posting here.


Lord Garth
2022-2025 2x Consecutive Alamaze Runner up Champion

[davekuyk]

Looking at game 5898 where I played the GI (Jan of 2025), he does indeed have Mastery in all terrains, producing the Masked effect you saw.

What is curious is that, looking at the setup on the webpage, it states 'Mastery in All Terrains' under Special Rules; however, this is not reflected in the troop terrain chart at the bottom.

I also note that the movement in my setup is substantially better than what is shown on the webpage's setup. I do wonder if the setup on the webpage has a copy-and-paste error.

All the traits are the same - no Dynasty, Seafaring, or Trackers.

[JohnnyUtah]

When I played Giants in 5856 they did have mastery + greater masking in all terrains, but they did not have trackers, seafaring or dynasty.

[tonysoprano]

I saw in another thread that people aren't checking emails.  I submitted an email on an issue about the Giants some time ago and never got a response so I guess that's true.

Perhaps I can get some help here.  In one game I have ran afoul of the Giants and noticed that every one of their groups are masked.  Every one, ever turn.  This is not being done via spell.  Nor is there any artifact that I know of that grants masking (although that would be a great idea).  So I checked the Giant setup and noticed they only have Mastery in the mountains.  None of these masked groups were in the mountains.

So what's going on here?  If they are getting greater masking in every terrain that it stands to reason it's because they have been granted Mastery in every terrain.  And if they are getting Mastery in every terrain then they are getting +20% bonus in every terrain.  in EVERY terrain.  I mean, the Red doesn't even get that.

That's when I recalled the Giant's original setup.  I saved the old setup sheet.  When the Giants were first formed they had Mastery in every terrain.  But it was taken away very quickly no doubt due to play balance reasons with +20 everywhere and certainly because it is ridiculous for a giant to mask in the plains etc.  However it seems that while the setup sheet has been changed, the program was not. 

This could cause a great deal of confusion to anyone opposing the Giant.  It certainly confused me.  And it's an unfair advantage to the Giant on top of the stealth illegal buff it is receiving.

It also begs the question that if Mastery has not been properly adjusted, have other adjustments been implemented?  The Giants were supposed to lose Dynasty, Seafaring and Trackers.  Are they still in effect?

I emailed Brek about this awhile ago to get some clarity, no response.  So I'm posting here.


Lord Garth
2022-2025 2x Consecutive Alamaze Runner up Champion

From my albeit limited experience, the Giants do appear to be overpowered at least in the early game. It is easy to combine all troops into one near unstoppable group and then bum rush your weakest neighbor. I have had this happen to me in two games recently. I stayed in those games just out of pure stubbornness to just make sure the Giant was so weak they could not win.

[uncledarkseid]

I hope we all consider this variation of the game a work in progress while Brek revamps it. Yea there are some inaccuracies but the price is right!

[Lord Garth]

Looking at game 5898 where I played the GI (Jan of 2025), he does indeed have Mastery in all terrains, producing the Masked effect you saw.

What is curious is that, looking at the setup on the webpage, it states 'Mastery in All Terrains' under Special Rules; however, this is not reflected in the troop terrain chart at the bottom.

I also note that the movement in my setup is substantially better than what is shown on the webpage's setup. I do wonder if the setup on the webpage has a copy-and-paste error.

All the traits are the same - no Dynasty, Seafaring, or Trackers.

Thanks Dave,,

Jan '25 was long after these changes were supposed to have taken effect so I think we found a glitch.  I'm guessing the 'Mastery in all Terrains' text in the Special Rules section was supposed to be taken out along with the terrain chart being adjusted but they missed that because those things aren't usually in that section.  And of course the actual bonuses were never removed.


Lord Garth
2022-2025 2x Consecutive Runner up Alamaze Champion.