166 - Pagan

[DuPont]

It seems to me that after thinking about it, perhaps the early winter might not be that big of a disadvantage for northern kingdoms. Let me explain.
While turns 2-4 were winter, that's when northern kingdoms have few pop centers. So while you would have had half the gold, with early production being what is it, half of 25k is not as impactful as half of 90k. The trick would be to not splurge on your early orders; live off of your initial stocks and sell your fleets and such. Now it's turn 5 coming up and the EL, DW and TR all have their regions (EL actually got it on turn 3 - the only player to do so). Normally, these positions would be seeing three months of half production right now, which can crimp their next phase of expansion, but now they'll have full production. One could argue that this is well worth the challenges of the early winter.
I have to say, I am enjoying the improvements. Just landed on an encounter and am happy to know ahead of time that it's an 'easy' one.

[unclemike]

Game 166 Turn 4 turns were sent out today but ignore the victory condition at the end of the report. It's a misprint and has been corrected. Game 166 is an individual Steel game and does not have Team (Magic) victory conditions.

[Beatific]

It seems to me that after thinking about it, perhaps the early winter might not be that big of a disadvantage for northern kingdoms. Let me explain.
While turns 2-4 were winter, that's when northern kingdoms have few pop centers. So while you would have had half the gold, with early production being what is it, half of 25k is not as impactful as half of 90k. The trick would be to not splurge on your early orders; live off of your initial stocks and sell your fleets and such. Now it's turn 5 coming up and the EL, DW and TR all have their regions (EL actually got it on turn 3 - the only player to do so). Normally, these positions would be seeing three months of half production right now, which can crimp their next phase of expansion, but now they'll have full production. One could argue that this is well worth the challenges of the early winter.
I have to say, I am enjoying the improvements. Just landed on an encounter and am happy to know ahead of time that it's an 'easy' one.

The disadvantage comes in the investment growth curve....not in the 50% reduction of any given turn (or turns).  A reduction of income early in the growth curve has a much heavier impact than later in that same curve.  It is why in a 401k, your earlier investment level is much more important than your later investment level even if that later investment is two or three (or more) times of that earlier investment.