[NO PLAYERS] Lurking and Mapmaking PB52

[GeneralKilCavalry]

Jowy, AT and Charriu are locked into this triangle of indecision that MJMD seems content to leave unresolved, and Mr. Cairo is too passive to capitalize on. Jowy surrendering half of his conquests in rapid fashion against Charriu is disappointing to see but a testament to how quickly Charriu managed to respond on all fronts and on how much AT had bungled this game.

Interestingly, AT was one of the weakest AI when I ran this game AI championship style. Perhaps the start and the position is just not that good?

[scooter]

Pindicator is 100% allowed to be upset and vent. I would be too. Just wanted to take his question seriously though for post-game though.

But that's what this game is starting to feel like:  pindicator's the vet, he must be winning.  Pindicator isn't winning.  Pindicator hasn't won a game since ... since his first game?  I mean, Noble and I had that PBEM where I didn't finish, but what have I won?  Where is this reputation from?  But it keeps getting repeated that somehow I'm a good player yet I always seem to find myself in losing situations like this.

I think it's pretty simple. If he captures Pyramids and GLH, he 100% wins this game. Mjmd can see that he's got a real chance at this, and he has some beef from that weird opportunistic snipe and reparation payment that satisfied neither one of them. Plus Mjmd could put himself in serious contention too if he gets a good result from this. I don't think this is a reputation thing even remotely, it's a game status thing.


Wonder if pindicator ought to consider offering peace for some of giraflorens former land. That might feel like a huge win for Mjmd (pick up some cities, keep your stack intact, use it elsewhere), while preserving pindicator's win condition (absorb Superdeath). Though it would be a gamble predicated on actually winning the SD war soon.

[GeneralKilCavalry]

MJMD would have gotten more/better land from invading charriu while empowering Jowy and leaving pindicator unchecked (although, by now, charriu would be eliminated), but attacking pindicator is a move to remove a leader while gaining "eh" land. Which one is the right choice I am not sure.

[Commodore]

For all that Pindicator is utterly demoralized, are there really any others who have a better shot at winning right now? Superdeath is in a defeated mindset, Mr. Cairo and Jowy seem constitutionally unable to launch an offensive with strategic goals beyond "take a single city". Mjmd is ahead...but not if Pindicator smacks him around for this attack.

[GeneralKilCavalry]

Mr. Cairo seems to be preparing to overrun AT, and Jowy will eventually outtech everyone and burst out of his peninsula. No one is a clear winner though, and no one is snowballing either.

[scooter]

Pindicator is probably still going to win. I'll believe one of the other players can execute an invasion when I see it. His morale is still an issue because he keeps talking like he has no chance to win despite his competition dorfing invasions and dogpiles left and right. I suppose Cairo has a shot I guess, but his limited reporting and slow moving makes me pretty skeptical of that too.

[Thoth]

Pindicator is probably still going to win. I'll believe one of the other players can execute an invasion when I see it. His morale is still an issue because he keeps talking like he has no chance to win despite his competition dorfing invasions and dogpiles left and right. I suppose Cairo has a shot I guess, but his limited reporting and slow moving makes me pretty skeptical of that too.

I think Pindicator's morale will likely be the deciding factor.  If he continues think he can't win it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

[scooter]

Pindicator is probably still going to win. I'll believe one of the other players can execute an invasion when I see it. His morale is still an issue because he keeps talking like he has no chance to win despite his competition dorfing invasions and dogpiles left and right. I suppose Cairo has a shot I guess, but his limited reporting and slow moving makes me pretty skeptical of that too.

I think Pindicator's morale will likely be the deciding factor.  If he continues think he can't win it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Probably. The good news for him is that fate has conspired to push him down the correct path - peace with Mjmd and keep pushing into Superdeath. If he nabs and holds those wonders, he might suddenly realize his position is nearly unassailable.

[Thoth]

Pindicator is probably still going to win. I'll believe one of the other players can execute an invasion when I see it. His morale is still an issue because he keeps talking like he has no chance to win despite his competition dorfing invasions and dogpiles left and right. I suppose Cairo has a shot I guess, but his limited reporting and slow moving makes me pretty skeptical of that too.

I think Pindicator's morale will likely be the deciding factor.  If he continues think he can't win it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Probably. The good news for him is that fate has conspired to push him down the correct path - peace with Mjmd and keep pushing into Superdeath. If he nabs and holds those wonders, he might suddenly realize his position is nearly unassailable.

His latest post seems a bit more upbeat and it looks like he's got enough to break Superdeath's army.

But have a look at Jowy's thread.  He's got a solid looking economy with multiple banks already built and is beelling rifling and steel.  I think Jowy has a legitimate shot at this if he gets left alone to tech.

[scooter]

Jowy's position is definitely great. He just didn't inspire me with great confidence with his last invasion. He'll definitely have a bigger tech edge for round 2 though.