691 Question

[davekuyk]

Multiple times I have had the 691 Early Trail Order.

In a game I got back recently I trailed two groups - one was a patrol, and the other had troops. Both began in the same area. Both did not have teleport or invisibility capability. The one with troops was engaged in combat. Neither group could have moved out of the agent's range - it was a corner region. No hidden pop centers are involved.

For both trail attempts, I got the same message: "Reports that it was not possible to locate the specified group"

I don't understand. How did both agents fail to trail these two groups? I can't come up with any game mechanic that would cause these trails to fail other than the player disbanding the groups, which I find unlikely. I am tempted to reach out to the kingdom player and ask what the magic trick is!

[Strongwill]

Patrol could have combined?

[Pine Needle]

A tip that I use all the time is to combine groups and switch numbers to foil agent activity (which is after group movement and combinations). And the combine actions don't count against influence.

Now if you expect agent activity, you could do some counterespionage to set up the offending spy, but if you just are paranoid, like me, switching group numbers on your valuable wizard/artifact groups is good protection. Obviously easier for kingdoms with 5+ groups.

This tip also works in winter if you can't feed big groups. Switching groups allows you to avoid multi-turn no feed/pay penalties- you still pay the one turn cost (10% morale or whatever) but not the multiturn mounting costs (attrition).

[davekuyk]

It would seem group transfer/combine would not foil a 691 order, as that comes before all of those types of orders. Perhaps that is a poor assumption on my part.

[Lord Garth]

DaveKuyk,

Yes, you are right that you gotta think of it in order, but you are not asking your agent to find out where the group is before movement (you already know that) but after movement. And you can't do that because the group is gone.

691 -- Agent trails (let's say) 1RA
699 -- 1RA Transfers to the 2RA
720 -- 2Ra walks away unfollowed because that order wasn't given. Agent ordered to follow the 1RA can't do anything because the 1RA no longer exists.
Next turn sheet -- Agent reports it's failure to follow the 1RA. Cruel and vindictive King summary punishes agent that displeases him.

See? Everything does actually go in order.


Lord Garth
2022- 2024 1st Runner Up Alamaze Chammpion

[uncledarkseid]

DaveKuyk,

Yes, you are right that you gotta think of it in order, but you are not asking your agent to find out where the group is before movement (you already know that)  but after movement.  And you can't do that because the group is gone.

691 -- Agent trails (let's say) 1RA
699 -- 1RA Transfers to the 2RA
720 -- 2Ra walks away unfollowed because that order wasn't given.  Agent ordered to follow the 1RA can't do anything because the 1RA no longer exists.
Next turn sheet -- Agent reports it's failure to follow the 1RA.  Cruel and vindictive King summary punishes agent that displeases him.

See?  Everything does actually go in order.


Lord Garth
2022- 2024 1st Runner Up Alamaze Chammpion

I am not fit to carry his sandals (LG)
The third place shall inherit the earth, tho I was told