Why games end so early

[Wynterbreeze]

I wouldn't mind some games with no SVC at all.

This

[Cargus10]

I wouldn't mind some games with no SVC at all.

This

This x 2

Keep the ESO however

[Brogan]

Well, I'll toss in my 2 cents. The game does have balance issues between offense and defense. If I am understanding things, the desire is to make it so that a 1-on-1 fight is something that, given similar skill levels, isn't over except for the crying in 3-4 turns. Gang-ups are going to happen, it's the nature of how diplomacy works. Butif the attacker can have friends, so can the defender - problem is, by the time the defender can get his friends notified and mustered, his position is in ruins.

I can think of two things that would greatly enhance defense:

1. Passive Status Quo. If an emissary is A) in a player owned pop center and B) has no other orders for the turn, allow them to do a free (no cost, no order) 310 at half their normal value. So a Baron would give 25% +/- 5%.

2. Allow defending groups to go behind walls. This would add the group and the pop center's defense together. As a penalty, the chance of promotion for any of the defender's leaders would be very small, and of course therer would be no withdrawal chance at all. This would tend to promote more sieges probably.

Would either of the above be desirable? That's a philosophy issue as to how one wants the game to play out.

I love this idea! Especially number 1. Would also make sleep and agents more valuable.

[Lord Thanatos]

I wouldn't mind some games with no SVC at all.

This

This x 2

Keep the ESO however

This x 3

The most fun I ever had playing Alamaze was when Phil ran a game with no SVC and no turn limit. If I remember correctly, the game ended on turn 42 with the UN claiming 5 regions. It was a spectacular contest! High-level wizards destroying popcenters everywhere; high-level agents making kings hide under their beds; huge, huge, huge armies; and I believe 6 or 7 players were still active at the end of the contest.

[Ry Vor]

Just want to say, I don't know that games are actually ending any faster than they used to. Someone could cross check Valhalla and the "Stuff from Phil's old website". I just remember Phil saying games ended around T20 on average, and we seem to be going longer more often than not. Of course, we are going through 20 turns now in 3 months instead of maybe 9.

[kevindusi]

I think 20 turns or so is about normal from what I recall from the later NC days (I got back into Alamaze with Pegasus around 2002). There were the same issues with teaming up at that point.

[Lord Diamond]

Of course, we are going through 20 turns now in 3 months instead of maybe 9.

Good point.