[SPOILERS] Might Makes Amurite -- Tatan tries not to screw up

[NobleHelium]

for maps!

[Tatan]

So about the map.
First of all, it's too early to make comments on balance, layout, etc. yet, but let me just say that so far I am thoroughly enjoying the map.

Right now, I think I have a pretty good idea about the general map layout. While I was staring at the map earlier trying to decide what to tech next, I realized that the curved land with a sea on either side was very reminiscent of the Donut map script. The line of mountians fits in very well with this; each player will have their own little sandbox slice of the donut. What confirmed it for me was that plains pig tile to the east, which sticks out exactly like the tile formed at the "tip" of the donut. The islands to my east likely extend in a ring around the whole thing, and there may or may not be a treasure island in the middle (I'd venture a guess as to yes). I haven't used Flying Camera to check the world wrap, but toroidal is a strong possibility. (I hope; I'm Org, after all!)

What affect does this have on the civs chosen? For one, I think I'll actually be able to make mages in peace. Darrell's elves are also going to KILL on this map, with a lot of time to get the snowball rolling and a nice, safe core to do it in. And the Lanun will just be scary, potentially encroaching on other civs' offshore islands.

But most importantly? I have three mana nodes (no, the offshore node doesn't count). If I can find a fourth one close by, I can go for the Tower of Mastery. o_O And with the land the way it is, unless someone realizes what I am doing pretty quickly it would take either an overwhelming assault or a Lanun commando landing to stop me. Honestly, I think the biggest problem with the plan is not that I would be stopped, but that someone else builds it first (Uberfish's pick isn't looking so strange now... ).

Anyway so here's the dotmap:

Most of the dots are pretty self-explanatory. This map is really rich in food and commerce, but a little lacking in production comparitvely, so I packed a lot of the cities pretty close together and tried to avoid planting on hills. I'm not completely satisified with my western cities; I'll probably want at least one port on the inland sea, and I might have to adjust anyway depending on what's in the fog.

The two contenders for my second city are Blue and Black. Both have a first ring wet corn for early growth, and a riverside commerce resource for teching. Black is further away and needs to expand its borders before I can grab the incense, but will ultimately be a much better city on account of those juicy hills (future Tower builder, I'm looking at you!). Blue is much closer and immediately useful, though I am leery about planting on the coast. Still, I am leaning towards founding Blue first right now.


That is all.

[Tatan]

Oh, wait, I've played some turns since my last actual update.

1) Finished Crafting, waffled over what to tech next. Calender and Education were both tempting, but I decided to go for Mysticism so I can use God-King to power out most of the first settler.

2)


50% battle...

[Tatan]

Ha-ha, coward! Run in fear!


Picture of my cap [now one turn out of date]:

[Tatan]

Well, nothing really interesting to report in the game right now, so allow me to present: the worst start I have ever rolled.





And keep in mind this is a turn in; my settler actually started ON the snow tile 1NE. Oh, and don't think I could escape by moving south, because three tiles to the south was the other side of the ocean.

Fortunately, this was a Mirror map duel against a friend, so he's having to suffer through it too...

[NobleHelium]

Uhm, wow. What mapscript?

[Tatan]

Mirror script, Archipelago landmasses checked.

[mackoti]

I reasly enjoy this kind of duels.

[Tatan]

I reasly enjoy this kind of duels.

Yeah, they're really fun, especially if you can find someone of similar skill level. Of course, the map I'm playing on right now is turning out to be a god-forsaken wasteland with no copper and a maze of desert islands between each player, but that's half the fun!


Anyway, on to a [STRIKE]turn[/STRIKE] scouting update!



Mana! Well golly, this makes my fourth close mana node, which means that (b/c I get Metamagic from the palace) I have all the mana nodes I need to build all the towers. Interesting.

[Tatan]

Gah, I really want to do an update while I have the spare time, but I failed to upload my pics to Photobucket before going on my vacation and still don't have civ access. :/

I suppose I could describe that I've been building warriors in preparation for a settling party, and the land my warrior has thus far defogged, but without shiny, lovely pictures it's really not the same.

Well, at least I've murdered several minutes and bumped my post count. Thanks for reading the thread where nothing happens! See you next week... or, if I keep up my current posting habits, not!