[SPOILERS] PBEM 11 Lurker Thread

[suboptimal]

Hmmm...I think I still count as "marginally new" around here but that might overstep the bounds of gen-lurking. Just my $0.02 on that one.

if Cornflakes can hold off a Cossack assault (or somehow deter Archduke from trying one) I don't see how any of the players break the military stalemate conventionally. Sure, Cornflakes can control the seas but he won't be able to do much damage to Rome and rho21 may well be content to sit and build away if/when he can clear Greece.

If a Russia/Brazil stalemate develops I'll be curious to see how they pile together the cogs for a Spaceport or two. Those are 3000 apiece, IIRC, just for the district. Even with chops I don't think they're going to be able to get more than about halfway without spending time to find +50% or +100% chop overflows. If one of them starts putting that production into military instead of a spaceport (and space projects) the other will probably be forced to respond in like manner, slowing them down. Likewise if one of them attempts to go nuclear.

A stalemate on that continent favors rho21, provided he can eliminate or at least permanently cripple Greece. He'd have the option of building projects, nukes or both. He also probably wouldn't fear a land invasion, since I'd expect that any military buildup by Cornflakes would get matched by Archduke.

If Cornflakes loses his core I think the damage would be too great for his colonies to make up for. In that case I think it gives rho21 the edge for a builder-ending, though if it were me I'd be going for nukes first, not a space race.

[Old Harry]

I'd leave that here for him to answer after the game - a bit too leading I'm afraid.

[VoiceInTheWilderness]

Yeah, you're probably right. I do want to know their endgames in more detail - if, indeed, they know their endgames in more detail.

[Chevalier Mal Fet]

At first I thought Cornflakes and Archduke would stalemate, to rho's benefit after he steamrolls Greece (does anyone doubt that will happen?). But Cornflake's recent posts, while fun to consider zany colonial schemes, make me think Archduke will run over him with Cossacks the same way Alhambram ran over Woden.

[MJW (ya that one)]

Cornflakes plan was obviously bad due to Cossacks. What a powerful unit! They can win games you wouldn't be able to win and are worth the wait.

[VoiceInTheWilderness]

So Brazil had to knock Russia out pre-Cossacks? That feels like it could be unbalanced.

[MJW (ya that one)]

You can use enemy roads in this game? ??? Well that explains why Cossacks are so powerful. That usually isn't a big deal because you get stuck due to 1UPT but Cossacks bypass that so you cannot effectively use enemy roads. So it's like giving the commando promotion.

[suboptimal]

Yep, we saw that in PBEM 2 when Alhambram was raiding Woden's China out of the fog - move, attack and disappear.

[Grotsnot]

Interesting that Rome seems more concerned about rump Brazil than the Russians. Maybe it's just that Brazil and Greece can be handled with one hand each but rho needs both for the Clash of Titans?

[VoiceInTheWilderness]

Brazil is the one with the navy that can harm him, after all. Russia will a) lose their port cities, and b) be plausibly out-techable. Brazil is at least a military threat still, given that Rome is barely unlocking the right *millennium* of ships.