[SPOILERS] Alignment unknown

[plako]

T4

I wonder if there is a hut in similar place where ther was one near my borders. Worth checking so I move towards NW next. Barrow secured with warrior. I'll take a risk after getting couple of more warriors built.



Ruins secured with scout and warrior arriving soon. I hope there isn't any spawnfree time in FFH since then I would have wasted precious exploration turns.

[Mist]

I hope there isn't any spawnfree time in FFH since then I would have wasted precious exploration turns.

Nope, lairs can spawn creeps from t0. Also, this is unaffected by borders, a lair inside your culture is as likely to spawn a creep than a lair outside.

[plako]

I guess it is time to think how I want to play this out. Ellimist has suggested rushing for Hyborem, but compering with Bob will only work with plenty of luck and I really haven't started optimally to get there fast. Other suggestion has been building the Ragnarok that would allow me to control the armageddon counter. This could actually work since I probably could beat selhrac relatively easily there with my double length golden age and better economy. I haven't buried the basium alternative totally either. I also need to find out which normal units I've potential to get and would be immune to effects of armageddon. Without much investigation I could go for KotE and buidl adepts to spam puppets and skeletons. I should be able to manage horsemen although some effects would hit the adepts. Ashen veil offers at least corpses that I think are immune. What else could work?

[Mist]

Mutation. Armageddon only affects units that are alive, mutated units are not, so Freaks first and Chaos 2 spell later. Veil ( Corpses ) and Overlords ( Drown, Stygians ) are decent, but there is Hell Terrain to mind once Hyborem enters play.

[plako]

ah ok - didn't know that about Freaks. They are then pretty good units to survive. Does the spell destroy undead affect to them? Are they immune to fear?

Concerning hell terrain there is at least life Mana close by so I might be able to keep my land sanctified. In case I go for KotE although I haven't played any game with high AC counter.

[Mist]

Does the spell destroy undead affect to them?

No.

Are they immune to fear?

Yes.

Also cannot be hasted or dominated.

[plako]

T5

Seven Pines and another Tomb of sucellus spotted. This map seems to have very few huts.

[NobleHelium]

Some mutated units are not alive. Plenty of mutations don't turn the unit into nonliving.

[plako]

After testing NobleHelium is right. Freaks are alive and affected by the effects of Armageddon. I also finally run some tests with driving the AC up fast and it is not too encouraging. AC can raise very fast. We need something and we need it fast. I should've run the tests before signing up. Either I must prevent AC raising or get some units capbable of attacking and killing the power barbs.

[plako]

sigh. I thought this group would get the save rolling at least once a day.

Well meanwhile I chatted a bit with Ellimist and did my own tests and here is the current plan of actions:
* Move warrior out of Barrow. Apparently it only spams skeletons so it is actually beneficial to have it there spawning them and those units won't benefit CoE world spell (Right?)
* Tech path Mining-Calendar-Festivals-Ancient Chants-Mystisicm-Philo
* Build 1-2 Pagan temples after Mystisicm
* Fire golden age - around the time Philo arrives - Convert to Pacifism - Start Ragnarok - utilise Priests to spawn prophets
* Techs after that Education - KotE - Way of the Wicked
* Use Prophet bulbs

So denying Ragnarok from Selrahc is the key that keeps me in the game. If that fails I'm also trying to get to Hyborem+AV 1st. Now I just wish I get insanely lucky and become Philo+expansive . I probably could then beat Bob in Hyborem Rushing.