Game 196

[HeadHoncho]

Here's a thread for Game 196 post-game reports. Congratulations again to JF!

                            Game End Status Points


         Place Kingdom    Player                Results-20  Grand Total

           1     AN     Jumpingfist               14,500      19,501
           2     DA     HeadHoncho                10,975      14,769
           3     EL     Jhereg                     7,500      11,300
           4     UN     Damelon                    6,435       9,421
           5     BL     DuPont                     4,900       7,750
           6     RD     Thudargh                   5,000       7,250
           7     RA     Runigruth                  4,700       7,225
           8     WI     Gamejunkie                 4,500       6,723
           9     SO     Feral Koala                3,500       4,850

[Feralkoala]

Congratulations to Jumpingfist!

[Frost Lord]

I think that he gets a "Special" Congrats for redeeming the Ancient Ones kingdom. This is the first time that the Ancient Ones have taken the Gold in an Alamaze Classic Steel game.

CONGRATULATION TO JUMPINGFIST!

[mafmiller]

UN
Congrats to all the podiumists!!!

This was one of my all-time favorite games! I had only played the UN one other time (and not very well!). As many of you probably know, I am a(n) (overly)cautious player and like to spend a while building up and exploring. I'm also loathe to be the aggressor. Well, I never had an opportunity to develop like I'd want to in this game, as around turn 7 or 8 the DE decided to invade. At this point I had four things going for me though. First, I had found the Ring of Invisibility fairly early, allowing one of my agents to be four levels higher. Second, the very agreeable RD and I had a great relationship as did the AN and I. Finally, and probably most crucial, solely by chance, the RD and DA had decided, without my knowing it, to attack the DE in Arcania on the very same turn he invaded me! Quite fortuitous indeed! This led to the RD and I coordinating against the DE. Eventually, after a long and successful negotiation over artifacts, the DA and I became friends as well. Well, with their military and ems and my magically armed agents, we eliminated the DE pretty handily. Sorry, DE! I warned you not to go after me!

By the end of that conflict, the BL, with whom I had some cordial contacts, but no agreements, started to target my friend, RD. He became the next victim of the alliance. By that time, however, I was only helping out part-time, as I was also helping the AN against first the GI and then the DW. A LOT of assassinations, thefts and kidnappings! The things a 23rd level agent (and a couple of 19s and a mess of mid-level guys) can do are awesome! What a blast!!!

I didn't podium, but it really didn't matter. I had the best time and two of the players I helped did podium. I would like to nominate JF for Chancellor for the tips he gave me on playing the UN and I would like to thank HH and Thudargh for their camaraderie.

[Jumpingfist]

From the start of this game I knew I had a chance to do well because their was no TR or GN in the game. So I could likely control my own region at least to start off with. I quickly made a nap with the EL and DE. The UN we were on good terms and planned to work together after we built up.

On turn 1 I ran across a GI town in Amberland on my way to Torvale from Arcania, so I knew where the GI capital was in the sea of forbidding. I could monitor him during the game. I also knew that I would need a navy to fight him at some point so I made sure to select requiring fleets as part of my SVC later. I also selected 10+ level 4 agents. I figured with the UN as my friend it was less likely they would get stolen. The agents also played a big part in me finding artifacts.

I became an arms dealer early into the game. Trading an weapon to the EL for an alter that would actually keep the priests alive the entire contest. Next as the DE attacked the UN, I traded a demons bane dagger and ruler eliminator to the UN. For these artifacts he gave me info to another artifact in amberland which would end up being a big windfall for me. I scouted areas in amberland close to where I was going for the UN artifact and then moved to the next artifact which ended up being the Stone of all minds.

While building up my mages it seemed I could do no wrong and just kept finding artifacts. I wanted to attack region 5 around turn 10 but the UN was not ready due to the war with the DE. So I had to continue to build I piled on enough emmies that by turn 13 I moved my invisible army to the GI capital. Then turn 14 I took the GI capital and sent an emmies to every PC the GI owned and moved my military to Avalon where his capital had moved. The UN was trying to help where he could but was still licking his wounds from his fight with the DE. The UN did kill most of the GI ships with a patrol he had. Turn 15 I took control of all of amberland except Evanon where the GI capital and my military moved and one UN town. This was enough for the GI to drop after 3 turns of no orders.

The final push the UN and I were planing to move into R3. We scouted and found the EL sitting on the DW capital. Worked another arms deal with the EL sending him the dragon slayer and somethings else I forget for him to move out of R3. Of course as I launched 2 invisible groups in to R3 a WI army was at one of the spots. I did not want to fight the WI. So I used a divine intervention to ensure I could take the town using a 180 combat phase. Then contacted the WI and traded the ring of spells and a bunch of gold for him to leave things be. I sent Ring of power off to someone as well. Still in the end I had more than my share of artifacts. I finished the game with control of R4 and R5, substantial in R3, significant in R1 and R2.

The UN despite being slowed greatly by the DE was a great ally through out the contest.

[DuPont]

Not much to say in this game. I made an early agreement with the RA/SO for peace and also the DE. I wanted to sit back and build before going. Finally in the mid-teens, I saw that the AN was getting too big too fast so figured I should move against him. Of course, he was some distance away so I moved a bunch of my people into a few Arcania pop centers with the intention of jumping into Amberland and Torvale. I would bring in the RA and/or SO if needed knowing that JF usually has NAPS/alliances up the wazoo.
However, he (or more likely the DA/RD/UN trio had their eye on me and noticed my enamor of Amberland. JF warned me off, saying he'd turn me to hostile in Amberland - that didn't stop me as I had three groups ready to go and I could have just as easily send my politicos into Torvale. But he also leaked that somebody else was about to attack me. I guessed it had to be the DA and his crew so I had to decide if I wanted to play defense or offense. I declared the DA an enemy but couldn't also denigrate him because I guessed (correctly) that I had to move my capital out of harms way. The DA and RD both moved on me but the UN came along for the ride as well. I've sort of gotten used to 3 on 1, but it did make me roll my eyes. I knew that this was going to throw the game to the AN, but so it goes. The RA and SO were getting ready to give me some aid, though there was a NAP that had to expire first.
Overall, a disappointing game. It was clear that AN was going to win and the DA/RD/UN trio effectively blocked for him. Congrats to JF for his win, though!

[HeadHoncho]

One email from you could have changed the entire course of the game. We only went after you because you had harassed RD in various ways. We had zero idea you were going after AN.

It was also me and RD hitting you, with a small side of UN. He was mostly busy in the north.

EDIT: RD and I were each also going after our own SVC's, and we were probably only a couple of turns behind AN.