Game 169

[Vulkar]

Ranger: I had hoped for peace with the Demon Princes and left the DE village in Synisvania alone at the start, so was disappointed when the DE showed up in 9. Were it not for the Black Dragon's persistent war, or had I more time, Arcania was to be my next target. I had already surveyed the region and had most/all of the PCs mapped out. I also stole Demon Bane from the SO so I could target Demon Princes, though never had the opportunity.

It seems that in these anonymous games how you treat starting PCs belonging to other races is the single-most important indication you can make regarding your desired allegiances, aside from attacking someone, declaring allies/enemies and perhaps unilateral transfers of supplies. Taking someone's PC early obviously earns you an opponent who won't forget the hostility.

Being in a hotly contested region and not being able to communicate was somewhat frustrating. Now that I have a free game slot I might gauge some interest in a limited diplomacy game wherein only public in-forum communications are permitted between races. It's a nice balance between anonymous and the standard game and works well for some other PBF games I participate in.

[Jumpingfist]

BL.
This was actually a rather fun game even though it was very long. I took my region but was slow to build because of all things the RD got on the council and was winning influence bid after bid. I could not get a marshal from fighting PCs and such so ended up waiting until T10 to grab one from my ESO reward. I had 2 groups ready to go at NN. The next three turns I recruited a Phoenix brigade and would transfer it then have it join another group. So 1 Marshall and three BL brigades made me three Phoenixs that I would keep for the rest of the game. They really do kick serious butt for the BL. 1 PH and a few WY take a village then regen the attrition and do it again. Or a PH in a bigger group acts as a healer. I had three standing orders to regenerate at all times. But I really noticed the added punch in the smaller groups and because they have the higher defense and always only 1 in the group they never seem to die.
Anyway as well advertised I was the first into R9 to join the RA and SO in there private war. I was happy to attack either of them and got the region at a cost of many political a due to assassins and retaking of PCs. I pretty much removed both armies from the field and at that point the DA with what seemed like perfect timing swooped in. The DA at the time had more mages and a bigger group so I stayed on the side a bit counter attacking away from his main group. I only knew about a PC at RR in R9 so went to hit it and move towards the Heart of his area as payback for the attack on at the time my region. After about two turns when I just started getting some PC the DE moved in to R6 in force. Grr not I am kind of fighting 4 people oh make that 5 because the DW who's PC that was at RR seemed to take offense to me taking it. DW moving into R10. So I back tracked into R9 and with a couple groups and started retaking what the RA and DA had taken and sent a couple groups and emmies to keep the DW under control
After this second round of crushing on the RA I was actually in danger of loosing from not having any emmies. So I created a few random guys to just be place holder in case I lost to many more or my king. I sent them to random areas.
I removed the DW R10 and the DA from R10 and R9 and had near full control of 9 again. Except that dang sea PC I had no way to touch. It was getting around turn 30 at this point and I needed 5 cities and 15 towns so figure I am the BL no way I will win using status points since they are not geared for military kingdoms with artifact issues. I would need to win via SVC. I first hit the DE a little bit just to bring him Home a bit and hopefully hold him off from attacking R10. DE had both his Cities at 65k+ defense. I could have taken at least one but really that would have killed my troop numbers and I also needed 125k group. So I moved to amberland took NK the RD capital then went to IN and took his capital again. I was moving my capital to the cities as I took them so I could recruit more and more WY into my inactive group and combine it. I basically had unlimited resources the whole game. Even in summer I just ate on reserves. Took both R5 cities but the RD was not happy to I beat him up then the AN moved in while I was getting ready to go take some more cities. It was starting to come down to the wire on weather I could split off enough to take some extra towns. The RA was almost done taking back all of R9. I was close but on turn 38 RA moved on all my towns in R10. He would flip this to neutral and then to control on T40. I knew I was not going to get my SVC so did not even submit a final turn. I was amused that my king was finally killed turn 40 taking the very last of my hidden emmies to replace him.

One note: RA is a new returning player but did manipulate the status points on T40 declaring all his enemies neutral. I am sure he just does not know this is not allowed but it isnot put directly in the code, would be nice if it was someday. I do not think anyone would have finished in a different spot so no real harm

[Vulkar]

One note: RA is a new returning player but did manipulate the status points on T40 declaring all his enemies neutral.  I am sure he just does not know this is not allowed but it isnot put directly in the code,  would be nice if it was someday.  I do not think anyone would have finished in a different spot so no real harm

I wasn't aware of any prohibitions on such declarations and don't recall seeing such a rule anywhere in the rule book or elsewhere. Is this an actual rule, or just a generally accepted convention?

In any case, I'm fine with it.

[Lord Diamond]

Actually, the Darkelf would have been 2nd place had the Ranger not left him as a declared enemy.

It is not a rule. It is more of a social thing that resulted from one game where a group if players declared all their allies enemy on the last turn and declared all their enemies neutral. This resulted in a huge status point swing.

I am pretty sure that the status points were why the Elf never declared. E enemy even though I was attacking him in R2 and he had control. We were very close in status points and this could have made the difference.