Black Dragons & Unusual Sightings

[HeadHoncho]

The penalty for weapons artifacts is already in place as well. "Black dragons gain no benefit from weapon artifacts".

Correct. My suggestion is to allow them, just at a reduced effectiveness.

[Kulvac]

So what I am getting out of this thread is everyone agrees that there is no real way dragons can investigate an unusual sighting and the idea of that is craptacular. General consensus right?

[Jumbie]

No. I enjoy sightings, but I don't feel like I'm missing out on them playing the BL right now.

On the other hand, if the BL and RD were free to zoom around gobbling up artifacts, I think we'd have a lot more complaints than this thread is seeing.

[Hawk_]

No. I enjoy sightings, but I don't feel like I'm missing out on them playing the BL right now.

On the other hand, if the BL and RD were free to zoom around gobbling up artifacts, I think we'd have a lot more complaints than this thread is seeing.

I cast my vote as "no artifacts" for the RD and BL. I also think there should be some rework of the status point system in general to create other opportunities for kingdoms not hunting artifacts.

One option would be a base status points earned per turn for finishing a game regardless of how well you did. Kingdoms that battle adversity but hang around 25-30 turns should be rewarded some even if they were defeated. Maybe 15-20 status points per turn survived.

[Kulvac]

No. I enjoy sightings, but I don't feel like I'm missing out on them playing the BL right now.

On the other hand, if the BL and RD were free to zoom around gobbling up artifacts, I think we'd have a lot more complaints than this thread is seeing.

I cast my vote as "no artifacts" for the RD and BL. I also think there should be some rework of the status point system in general to create other opportunities for kingdoms not hunting artifacts.

One option would be a base status points earned per turn for finishing a game regardless of how well you did. Kingdoms that battle adversity but hang around 25-30 turns should be rewarded some even if they were defeated. Maybe 15-20 status points per turn survived.

I agree that the status points need to be reworked as well but it also reinforces the point that eliminating the wild card aspect of an artifact greatly inhibits the dragons from being competitive in the game. The penalty of not being able to use weapon artifacts should be enough of an equalizer. Getting off the path here but I'm guessing that no one knows of a way to get artifacts, even from the US they find, unless they are bought or captured right? I still say it is craptacular.

[davekuyk]

When Phil was running the game he made the change to allow the Dragons to investigate unusual encounters. This was the way the game was played for years and years. I want to say for well over ten years.

From a game balance point of view I don't see the need for this restriction.

From a lore standpoint perhaps, but then how does one explain Dragon emissary and agents?

Unusual encounters are a large part of the game and include far more than weapon artifacts. For example two encounters can produce a p-2 wizard, which is the only way to gain a wizard besides ESO.

Restrict the type of artifacts the Dragons can use perhaps, but no need IMHO to prevent them from investigating encounters all together.

[Lord1]

how about create different versions of the games, and allow players to choose which version they want to play?

ultimately, the most fun in Alamaze is in epic games of two players (or two teams), with each side picking kingdom, in this case, it does not matter whether changes are made or not.

[Titus]

My concern with Dragons able 2 get artifacts is any artifact out of their grasp since their troops are so strong? A US should be a littke taxing to get not a sure thing