What makes the game fun?

[kevindusi]

I know Ry Vor recently posted about what we want to see in he future. What I'm curious about is this: what makes the game fun for you? Not necessarily what you think needs to happen in the future, but rather what is currently happening now that makes the game a blast for you.

[Lord Thanatos]

I know Ry Vor recently posted about what we want to see in he future. What I'm curious about is this: what makes the game fun for you? Not necessarily what you think needs to happen in the future, but rather what is currently happening now that makes the game a blast for you.

I very much enjoy that games are lasting into turns 30 and beyond.  This means there are powerful wizards, unbeatable armies, legendary agents, and well-developed courts.  The game from turn 25 to 40 is a much different game than it is the first 24 turns.

Recently I killed 12 units of dragons with 6 Summon Deaths in a single turn!  That is so much more fun than casting three shield spells and/or dispel + dispel + slay leader.  A 150,000 strength EL army beating down a TR citadel with almost 50k defense is also "a blast."  Much more fun than a 21,000 strength group casting diplomacy on a 9k town.  Owning a DW city worth over 100,000 defense is magnificent.

Of course, I have been on the receiving end of powerful RD armies destroying everything in sight.  I have had nobles killed, even when guarded, six consecutive turns.  Damn invisible wizards have made a shambles of my regional reaction, killed my wizards and surprised my group all in a single turn.  I faced a DW opponent who had both his capital town and the city worth over 80k defense each.  Great fun!

These are the sort of things players contemplate on turn 1 when they first receive their set-ups!!!  These are the sort of things that allow us to imagine we are controlling our fantasy kingdom and guiding it to everlasting glory.

[Hawk_]

I know Ry Vor recently posted about what we want to see in he future. What I'm curious about is this: what makes the game fun for you? Not necessarily what you think needs to happen in the future, but rather what is currently happening now that makes the game a blast for you.

I very much enjoy that games are lasting into turns 30 and beyond.  This means there are powerful wizards, unbeatable armies, legendary agents, and well-developed courts.  The game from turn 25 to 40 is a much different game than it is the first 24 turns.

Recently I killed 12 units of dragons with 6 Summon Deaths in a single turn!  That is so much more fun than casting three shield spells and/or dispel + dispel + slay leader.  A 150,000 strength EL army beating down a TR citadel with almost 50k defense is also "a blast."  Much more fun than a 21,000 strength group casting diplomacy on a 9k town.  Owning a DW city worth over 100,000 defense is magnificent.

Of course, I have been on the receiving end of powerful RD armies destroying everything in sight.  I have had nobles killed, even when guarded, six consecutive turns.  Damn invisible wizards have made a shambles of my regional reaction, killed my wizards and surprised my group all in a single turn.  I faced a DW opponent who had both his capital town and the city worth over 80k defense each.  Great fun!

These are the sort of things players contemplate on turn 1 when they first receive their set-ups!!!  These are the sort of things that allow us to imagine we are controlling our fantasy kingdom and guiding it to everlasting glory.

I like sharing turns and coordinating actions with other players.  I find that aspect of the game very interesting.  That is why my current favorite version of Alamaze is the anon team game.

My favorite part of the game is after you have achieved regional control and maxed out your influence.  At that point you have enough resources and orders to really impact the game board.  Up until that point it is more of a struggle to survive and a race against your neighbors.

[Beatific]

I know Ry Vor recently posted about what we want to see in he future. What I'm curious about is this: what makes the game fun for you? Not necessarily what you think needs to happen in the future, but rather what is currently happening now that makes the game a blast for you.

I very much enjoy that games are lasting into turns 30 and beyond.  This means there are powerful wizards, unbeatable armies, legendary agents, and well-developed courts.  The game from turn 25 to 40 is a much different game than it is the first 24 turns.

Recently I killed 12 units of dragons with 6 Summon Deaths in a single turn!  That is so much more fun than casting three shield spells and/or dispel + dispel + slay leader.  A 150,000 strength EL army beating down a TR citadel with almost 50k defense is also "a blast."  Much more fun than a 21,000 strength group casting diplomacy on a 9k town.  Owning a DW city worth over 100,000 defense is magnificent.

Of course, I have been on the receiving end of powerful RD armies destroying everything in sight.  I have had nobles killed, even when guarded, six consecutive turns.  Damn invisible wizards have made a shambles of my regional reaction, killed my wizards and surprised my group all in a single turn.  I faced a DW opponent who had both his capital town and the city worth over 80k defense each.  Great fun!

These are the sort of things players contemplate on turn 1 when they first receive their set-ups!!!  These are the sort of things that allow us to imagine we are controlling our fantasy kingdom and guiding it to everlasting glory.

I like sharing turns and coordinating actions with other players.  I find that aspect of the game very interesting.  That is why my current favorite version of Alamaze is the anon team game.

My favorite part of the game is after you have achieved regional control and maxed out your influence.  At that point you have enough resources and orders to really impact the game board.  Up until that point it is more of a struggle to survive and a race against your neighbors.

Oooh.  An anon team game.  I like the sound of that.  But if it is anon, how do you know who your teammates are.  Unless it is anon except for your team.  That would be an interesting game.  Maybe we could start one of those up soon.  I have some slots and maybe one other player for the start of a team.  Anyone else interested?

[Lord Diamond]

In Anon Team games you know who your opponents are and probably what team they are on, but not which kingdoms they are playing or are allied with one another.

I do like the long games. That is likely why I am leery of SVC; in the past they have tended to end the game just as I was really getting into it. I would be thrilled to play a game that never ends until and unless somebody can claim the Rex. 120 turns would be fine with me! I would especially like it if there was a chance to replenish wizards as the game progressed like Turn 50 and Turn 100 reinforcements of characters where you automatically get to choose 5 points off the ESO list. I can see kingdoms getting broken down to near elimination and then coming back later in the game.

I enjoy collecting artifacts, slaying enemy wizards, and making my opponents really, truly, wish they had attacked someone else.

[Hawk_]

In Anon Team games you know who your opponents are and probably what team they are on, but not which kingdoms they are playing or are allied with one another.

I do like the long games. That is likely why I am leery of SVC; in the past they have tended to end the game just as I was really getting into it. I would be thrilled to play a game that never ends until and unless somebody can claim the Rex. 120 turns would be fine with me! I would especially like it if there was a chance to replenish wizards as the game progressed like Turn 50 and Turn 100 reinforcements of characters where you automatically get to choose 5 points off the ESO list. I can see kingdoms getting broken down to near elimination and then coming back later in the game.

I enjoy collecting artifacts, slaying enemy wizards, and making my opponents really, truly, wish they had attacked someone else.

That would be a really interesting version to try.  

[Lord Thanatos]

In Anon Team games you know who your opponents are and probably what team they are on, but not which kingdoms they are playing or are allied with one another.

I do like the long games. That is likely why I am leery of SVC; in the past they have tended to end the game just as I was really getting into it. I would be thrilled to play a game that never ends until and unless somebody can claim the Rex. 120 turns would be fine with me! I would especially like it if there was a chance to replenish wizards as the game progressed like Turn 50 and Turn 100 reinforcements of characters where you automatically get to choose 5 points off the ESO list. I can see kingdoms getting broken down to near elimination and then coming back later in the game.

I enjoy collecting artifacts, slaying enemy wizards, and making my opponents really, truly, wish they had attacked someone else.

I concur with everything you said Lord Diamond.

Sign me up for a Rex only "Endless game" if Rick allows.

We did this once years ago in NC and the game lasted 42 turns until the UN (I think) claimed victory.  I finished 4th with the DW.

[Lord Alz]

I LIKE THAT GAMES ARE FINITE, DIFFERENT POSITIONS ARE AT LEAST SOMEWHAT DIVERSE. (NOT ALL MILITARY ETC.). BEING DENIED INSTANT GRATIFICATION IS NICE SOMETIMES, PLANNING IS BOTH LONG RANGE AND SHORT SO STRATEGY IS IMPORTANT AND ALSO THE HUMAN INTERACTION ELEMENT IS NICE BUT I ALSO ENJOY THE ANON GAMES. LOOKING FORWARD TO NEW ITERATIONS OF THE GAME WITH IMPROVEMENTS AND NEW FEATURES. THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN HELPFULL, FOR THE MOST PART AND THIS IS SO IMPORTANT.

[Beatific]

In Anon Team games you know who your opponents are and probably what team they are on, but not which kingdoms they are playing or are allied with one another.

I do like the long games. That is likely why I am leery of SVC; in the past they have tended to end the game just as I was really getting into it. I would be thrilled to play a game that never ends until and unless somebody can claim the Rex. 120 turns would be fine with me! I would especially like it if there was a chance to replenish wizards as the game progressed like Turn 50 and Turn 100 reinforcements of characters where you automatically get to choose 5 points off the ESO list. I can see kingdoms getting broken down to near elimination and then coming back later in the game.

I enjoy collecting artifacts, slaying enemy wizards, and making my opponents really, truly, wish they had attacked someone else.

I concur with everything you said Lord Diamond.

Sign me up for a Rex only "Endless game" if Rick allows.

We did this once years ago in NC and the game lasted 42 turns until the UN (I think) claimed victory.  I finished 4th with the DW.

Well, IMHO, and in my limited experience, it is the HP that makes the game so short.  When I was playing the titan game with Sten (which finished recently - nice win Sten!) we agreed to no HP until turn 11.  Until then, you had to do everything the old fashioned way....look for it.  You had to invest more heavily in agents for scouting, use your army patrols for scouting, arties took longer to find (and you didn't know what your were getting) etc.  I would play a long game as well, but if we were to simply all agree to no HP and no end turn and Rex only that would pretty much do it.  I actually enjoyed having to track everything down.......I could see, though, that if that were the only flavor of game, it could get wearisome.  I agree with another player comment that the coming diversity will also be very welcome.  And some of Ricks's visionary projects seem intriguing........you go dog!

[Jumpingfist]

For me it is the challenge crave the most. If i get out maneuvered or outplayed I am thrilled. When i am able to win a hard fought region in an even fight. When the game ends with the winner being a truly dominate performance are the wins and losses I get the most satisfaction from. I love to win but i love the fight more.

an unrecorded stat i keep for myself is no one has won a single player game when they choose to attack me first. These kind of things motivate me.