166 - Pagan

[Lord Thanatos]

This contest has not yet been added to my order entry and validation program.  When will we be able to enter orders in this game? Or will orders be entered in a different fashion due to the new game engine?

Good Hunting all.

[Ry Vor]

Enter Away, Pagans!
They now shall hear your commands.

[Bash Grimtooth]

Is the starting season random? Usually it starts in the last month of Summer, I believe, but now this game starts on Mid Autumn?

[DuPont]

It is random in this game. That's going to be fun for the Northern kingdoms!

[Beatific]

It is random in this game. That's going to be fun for the Northern kingdoms!

Seems like this would be unbalancing, but maybe the effects of winter are not as large an impact as I think........

[unclemike]

It is random in this game. That's going to be fun for the Northern kingdoms!

Seems like this would be unbalancing, but maybe the effects of winter are not as large an impact as I think........

Why would it be unbalancing? Kingdom setups are designed without regard to seasonal effects. Having games start with a random season allows each one to be fair to everyone.

[Jumpingfist]

It is random in this game. That's going to be fun for the Northern kingdoms!

Seems like this would be unbalancing, but maybe the effects of winter are not as large an impact as I think........

Why would it be unbalancing? Kingdom setups are designed without regard to seasonal effects. Having games start with a random season allows each one to be fair to everyone.

While true everyone had equal chance of the seasons starting one way or another it does not make it equal once the game has started and a random season has been determined.  With the North getting one turn of full production then 3 turns of winter it puts them in for a hard winter from the get go.  Serious council bid would not be wise.  Building armies near impossible.  An initial boost perhaps from selling food would be foolish.  They simply do not have the infrastucter in place that early to begin building.  An agressive Southern neighbor could invade before during the end of winter already having double the military strength and trained agents ready to explore that much faster than a struggling northern foe.  This is likely to cause a higher drop rate especially for newer players that do not yet understand how to navigate through a winter.  
I am all for switching the starting seasons between north and south at random but think it should be set to be one of four different months giving either the north or south one or two turns of winter then standard production.  It should not give one or two months normal production then a winter this creates a harsh winter that the other side can capitalize on.

I will add that if the random seasons really bugs a player there are quite a few kingdoms that starts with Towns and or villages in both the north and south so taking one of them would at least lesson the winter effect early on.

[unclemike]

I've updated the new software to automatically increase the number of fleets if your starting group's location is in water (turn 0 only). Since I just added this code, it was after turn 0 was made for this game so check if your turn 0 kingdom report shows a group starting on water and not enough of fleets exist to move your group on turn 1. Send email to me at prototype300.alamaze@gmail.com and I'll manually adjust your fleets to get you going. From now on, this adjustment will automatically happen on turn 0 but if it doesn't in a future game then send a note to support about it.

[unclemike]

Some of you have received an email from me with a correction to this game. I was referencing the wrong DBF file and didn't have the correct values for a few kingdoms. I won't be able to update the order checker with the corrections but the actual game database has the proper values. Sorry for the confusion but it's been a hectic week.

[unclemike]

Turn 1 was sent out on time. If you notice a problem, send Support an email.