199 3 vs 2 primeval

[Lord Thanatos]

it really should be 7.  6 regions seems a bit easy to get.

7 regions is fine.  Just wanted to know what everyone expected.

[Jumpingfist]

7 was what we used last time.

[gkmetty]

One possible solution for the council is to make a friendly agreement that it cannot be used to hurt other kingdoms.

[Netstrider]

I had my reservations that 3 v 2 was viable when I started this game and I think the results bore out my concerns. 50% more orders and power is just too much if the "newbie" side is reasonably competent.

3 v 3 mentor game sounds great. Or even better, 5 v 5.

My thoughts on having been back playing Alamaze after such a long time is that I'm surprised there isn't more experimentation with 10 player games. Half of the games I've played so far were 12 player games, and I just don't understand how that format is "fair" for the 4 players that start the game fighting over a region. I would love to see statistics that show the results for each kingdom when they start out contesting a region vs how the same kingdoms perform when they do not have to contest. I would imagine it's not even a close comparison. In a game where the region is so important I don't understand why there isn't a game format that matches the number of kingdoms with the number of regions.

[Jumpingfist]

3 vs 2 I think can work but does require a bit of luck in stuff like setup. I could not use any warlords type tactics because I had started with no PCs west of O. The spread out nature of this format actually helps the 3 player side. Because all orders can be spent expanding.

I do agree though that coordination and at least one player that knows enough to keep the others from making bad mistakes


I would be happy to try a 5 vs 5 or 6vs6. Team type battle. I really like the team games. Each side would need to be of equal experience because your basically talking about a Titan game style but with teams. Titan tactics are much more confrontational.

[HeadHoncho]

I had my reservations that 3 v 2 was viable when I started this game and I think the results bore out my concerns. 50% more orders and power is just too much if the "newbie" side is reasonably competent.

3 v 3 mentor game sounds great. Or even better, 5 v 5.

My thoughts on having been back playing Alamaze after such a long time is that I'm surprised there isn't more experimentation with 10 player games. Half of the games I've played so far were 12 player games, and I just don't understand how that format is "fair" for the 4 players that start the game fighting over a region. I would love to see statistics that show the results for each kingdom when they start out contesting a region vs how the same kingdoms perform when they do not have to contest. I would imagine it's not even a close comparison. In a game where the region is so important I don't understand why there isn't a game format that matches the number of kingdoms with the number of regions.

We've floated the 10-player concept before, but because that would require coding changes, and all coding resources are being devoted to Third Cycle right now, it has never really materialized as an option.

I agree with you, though, and think it would be a great variant, and I'd be especially interested in trying a public diplomacy version of it.

[Jumpingfist]

No need to code change just give two kingdoms to the Mouse and let them go away after 3 turns

[HeadHoncho]

That... that's a brilliant idea, JF! I guess two people would still be slightly disadvantaged at having groups/controlled pop centers in their home regions, but on the flip side, they might also have the advantage of having more census/pop centers (my impression has been that there is a slightly higher likelihood of more towns and villages in a shared region, although I don't have data on that) and being able to nab a few hostages for status points or free morale boosts and promotions against surprised groups.

[HeadHoncho]

Maybe:

R1: EL
R2: WI
R3: RD
R4: AN
R5: GI
R6: DA
R7: UN (no natural enemy, so penalized with GN as a computer player)
R8: DE
R9: SO (no natural enemy, so penalized with RA as a computer player)
R10: BL

Completely unselected: DW, TR, WA

[Netstrider]

Love it! Zombie kingdoms