Dropped positions with artifacts

[unclemike]

I'm going have to reverse what I mentioned above about some artifacts remaining at neutral pc's whenever a kingdom is eliminated. I came across a problem where an alignment artifact (Good, Evil: like the Red Bats) was dropped at a neutral pc but then later was picked up by a non-aligned kingdom when it acquired the pc which isn't permitted in the game.

I thought about destroying the artifact at that point but some have mentioned that this "hidden" rule of artifact behavior is becoming complex and somewhat tricky (which may get worse with the additional changes for artifacts that are coming in the near future). So for the time being, to keep things consistent of handling artifacts in all cases, whenever a kingdom is eliminated, any and all artifacts currently in their possession will be destroyed and removed from play. Yes, this also includes the Keys so you need to steal them before a kingdom is eliminated or the corresponding quest artifact will become unaccessible (as would be the case if a player destroyed the Key at the Fire of the Void location).

This rule may change in the future after Ry Vor redesigns artifacts (coming in The Choosing release) but for now, I need to impose the above in order to freeze the 2nd Cycle version of the program.

[Drogo]

Seems like it might be better to reset them back to Unusual Sightings, especially when they are part of SVC's. My $.02

[HeadHoncho]

But the only kicker is, I'm guessing that might be a major programming effort.

[unclemike]

Actually, I already went over that point in the game 300 thread. The problem with creating new Unusual Encounters during mid-game is that it would be unfair to certain players who have already searched that area of the map (which will put them at a disadvantage to others who haven't searched that area yet). So if I changed the program to broadcast a message to everyone that one or more artifacts have been "reinserted" on the map, players will have to search every map area again in order to find them. So after considering all of the numerous possibilities of handling this situation, the best solution is to destroy the artifact as if the eliminated player dropped the item in the volcano.

[Mad Hatter]

Having searched the forum and finding this thread, can I assume that in a game that I am in, a kingdom had the Orb of Anti-Magic in a group, but then 7 turns later dropped the game, the artifact no longer exists? Unless it changed hands in that 7 turn time frame of course. I have the short name of it and was considering divining the location, but it would be pointless if it's gone from the game.

[Jumpingfist]

It has changed since that post. When a player drops the artifacts get randomly spread around unless they were in a group and another group is in the same square when they dropped. In that case the artifacts go to the other group

[VballMichael]

It has changed since that post.  When a player drops the artifacts get randomly spread around unless they were in a group and another group is in the same square when they dropped.   In that case the artifacts go to the other group

And if the group was at a pop center, the artifact will go to the pop center.