Primeval Alamaze Classic

[kevindusi]

You can keep the wood it's the bushes we like

My high priestess told me otherwise.

[Jumpingfist]

I was just trying to be polite. She is a little worse for the wear after so many divination.

[DuPont]

So the BL (me) and GN now have our second regions - 8 and 4 respectively. Leaving 9 and 2 uncontrolled for the moment. The DW and EL are fighting in 2. The GI has spoken for 9, but has not yet converted on it. Given that the EL declared him an enemy, that suggests that perhaps he's sent the bulk of his forces north rather than south.

[kevindusi]

I can't confirm if it is the 'bulk' of the forces, but I've got a pair of Giant groups all up in my hizouse... which doesn't quite follow the originally stated diplomacy efforts of arranging us all our second region - his being 9, of course. It makes me think between he and the DW that there may have been some less than 100% truthful words spoken.

But, I raise my glass to both of them. Here's to being the first pincushion in Primeval!

We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.

[DuPont]

A man after my own heart. My philosophy is 'Never surrender, make 'em bleed'. Though the words of my house are actually 'Touch Not The Cat' - that works too.

[kevindusi]

'Touch not, lest ye be touched.'

When it comes to the cat, "Goddamnit, Fezzik!" is the most common phrase.

[Lord Thanatos]

I spoke only the truth to both EL and GI.

My initial plan was for EL to control regions 1 and 4 while splitting region 2 equally. I would hold regions 3 and 6 while splitting region 2 equally. This would have given us one city less than 50% of the total production of Alamaze to fight us 2 against the other 3. The EL continually objected and the deal was never reached.

I then decided to accept the GI offer while mentioning his vision of two full regions for each of the five players was a little naive and not really practical. The GI made it clear that I was the only fly in the ointment and he wasn't happy about that. Nevertheless he and I would both fulfill all terms of our agreement.

After the EL slapped down all my overtures I diligently communicated with all the other players and believe that everyone will honorably keep their word and will expect me to do the same.

I still think my initial plan would have been good for the EL. But I am constantly reminded of horses and water...

[kevindusi]

I spoke only the truth to both EL and GI.

My initial plan was for EL to control regions 1 and 4 while splitting region 2 equally. I would hold regions 3 and 6 while splitting region 2 equally. This would have given us one city less than 50% of the total production of Alamaze to fight us 2 against the other 3. The EL continually objected and the deal was never reached.

I then decided to accept the GI offer while mentioning his vision of two full regions for each of the five players was a little naive and not really practical. The GI made it clear that I was the only fly in the ointment and he wasn't happy about that. Nevertheless he and I would both fulfill all terms of our agreement.

After the EL slapped down all my overtures I diligently communicated with all the other players and believe that everyone will honorably keep their word and will expect me to do the same.

I still think my initial plan would have been good for the EL. But I am constantly reminded of horses and water...

Regarding "only the truth" being spoken, LT... well, we'll just have to agree to disagree.

[VballMichael]

Ok, 6 turns down and three of us have a second region. As the Gnome, I took Runnimede and Torvale. The BL got Southern and Arcania. The others are apparently fighting up north, though the DW did take his own region plus Eastern.
Our biggest limiting asset right now is influence. Imagine owning 2 uncontested regions (and I mean 100% of 2 regions) by turn 6. So, lots of food and gold (I have well over 300K to spend this turn) but not enough actions to really use that money. But I will think of some good uses for it.
Now that the northern part of the board is fighting, the BL and I will have to decide whether we fight each other, build and prepare, or jump in to the current hostilities.
Personally, I have started my own graveyard for priestesses. The gold spent is not bad, but continually hiring them does hurt influence. Also, the random artifact distributor seems to have missed Runnimede except for one square and the Giant found that one the same turn I did. Oh well. Also, I happen to have received one of the easier ESOs, which is good for achieving it, but correspondingly a little weak on rewards.
So, I like this format, but I think it would need a few tweaks to rebalance for this new format (like a harder ESO with better rewards, maybe no communication in the first few turns to keep it an individual game a little longer and force earlier conflict maybe, just thinking out loud, maybe even more actions for a fast start/game to use up all of this extra gold).

[kevindusi]

Turn 7 has come and gone and I believe the EL (me) are the only kingdom without 2 regions. Clever "diplomacy" by the DW and GI have me bottled up pretty well. This is certainly a fun variant of the game, but with only 5 players a 2v1 simply means that the '1' has 40% of the board against him.

I'd highly recommend this format to just about anyone.

As to learning experiences, if you're not already moving on your second region by the time you have your first, you'll be behind. The previously mentioned miss of the BL baron at Lorethane put me a turn behind and, well, with such gifted players as are in this game that will create a tough mountain for me to climb. We'll see how it works out.

Short version: great format, make sure all the players are on the same level, and be very careful with your negotiations.