Intro: The first step to success is learning what not to do
Let's hope so, right?
As I once again sign for a BTS (3rd time) PBEM (7th time) game, I guess it's time for some recapitulation. By revisiting the games I've already played, I hope I can remember the lessons I've learned when playing them, which will make it easier to apply them to this game. Besides, a little nostalgy can be fun. So, without further ado, let us start!
1. Fall from Heaven PBEM IV: A New Hope
FFH PBEM IV was the game were we first met the bright youngster Ichabod. After being received with some initial distrust by the members of the community, it soon become clear that we were in the presence of a prodigy:
(February 22nd, 2011, 17:34)Irgy Wrote: Am I the only one who thinks Ichabod actually understands this game a lot better than we do?
Unfortunately, that game was the closest I got to winning one. That impression wasn't a lastly one. :P
Information about the game:
1. Map description: Heavily edited wheel map, with many barbarian cities added by mapmakers Square Leg and Mist to take advantage of the "no settlers" game setting.
2. Players, Civs and Leaders: Dantski - Cassiel of the Svartalfar, Selrahc - Kandros Fir of the Sheaim, Ravus Sol - Varn Gosam of the Illian, Ichabod - Jonas Endain of the Clan of Embers, Sciz - Dain the Caswallan of the Grigori.
3. Result: Game Abandoned.
4. Description: The massive numbers of barbarians added to the map combined poorly with the Clan and Illians both being present in the game, and colluding to use their worldspells together. Early elimination of Selrahc and Sciz (before turn 50) led to an agreement between the other players to end the game prematurely. A Wraith was involved.
5. My opinion: This was the game that I can consider to be the one closer to a win between all the others that I've played. If we had kept playing, it'd mostly come down to a battle between me and Ravus Sol, each one with his particular advantages.
The game ended too quickly for me to learn any real lesson. It was a good way to get my feet wet, to see how multiplayer Civ works and to get a taste of diplomacy (probably my biggest diplomatic moment in all my games was the Orc-Illian pact to destroy the world with the combined powers of our World Spells). Besides, the no settler option made expansion, probably the key point in any civ game, a moot one, making the game significantly easier in terms of planning.
So, it was a good game overall, where I was througly helped by the settings.
6. Screenshots:
My two cities:
Wow, I thought I had more screenshots of this game (like the units I got from my World Spell), but I was wrong. So, I guess I've learned that reporting is a difficult business in this game already.
2. Fall from Heaven PBEM VI: The born of a Nemesis
FFH PBEM VI was the game were I first met my biggest Nemesis in CIV MP games: the
midgame crisis. It's something that always happens when I lose the impetuousness of the early game but haven't quite reached the decisiveness of the late game. A time of crisis in which I don't really know what to do with my Civ.
Jokes aside, this is my main problem, really. I tend to stop planning and thinking about the right steps to take when the game reaches it's middle part and this tends to make me lose my head start on the other players (which, to my surprise, I can get from time to time). In this particular game, this phase was marked by lack of expansion and tech/great people planning, which eventually led to my demise (second place, actually).
One thing that can be stressed is that this game went on a slow, and I mean SLOW, turn pace. I think it went on for more than a year, with several week breaks between certain turns. I'm surprised it even ended, actually. This, combined with the very poor map in terms of resources and the fact that I was against a Civ that was mostly perfect for the conditions we had (while mine was probably unable to achieve any victory other than conquest, which is hard), made my interest vanish. Late in the game, it came back and I managed to pull some good defensive moves. But it was too late to try any sort of victory.
Information about the game:
1. Map description: HA barren, barely-habitable wasteland. By Maksim.
2. Players, Civs and Leaders: Ichabod - Kandros Fir of the Khazad, Selrahc - Hanna, the Irin, of the Lanun (later Hyborem of the Infernals), Dantski - Ethne, the White, of the Elohim, Jkaen - Dain, the Caswallan, of the Amurites, Sciz - Tasunke of the Hippus, Irgy/Mardoc - Cardith Lorda of the Kuriotates
3. Result: Selrahc - Concession.
4. Description: The extremely harsh conditions on the map led to a slow start in gameplay. This was not helped when mistforms and other barbarians caused severe disruption to many early game plans. The Khazad and Kuriotates took the early game economic lead, but were blindsided by a Hyborem rush from the Lanun. Selrahc proceeded to take down Mardoc and Jkaen and trigger sanctuary from the Elohim. While this was happening, the Khazad took out a stagnant Hippus empire, establishing themselves as the clear rivals of the infernals. Selrahc failed in an initial assault against the Khazad due to strong defence from a combined Elohim/Khazad force, but was able to present an unbreakable defence against counter attacks due to high production and obsidian gates. From there the Infernals conquered the Lanun and raised the AC. The game was conceeded immediately prior to a second assault on the Khazad, due to slow turn pace and limited options for Khazad victory.
5. My opinion: I played well for most of this game, but the settings conspired against me, just like they were in my favour in FFH PBEM IV. Khazad are a civ to go tall with its cities and the map didn't give me this option. Like I've said before, Conquest was my only possible way of winning, but after the Infernals entered the game, that option basicly went out the window.
I think I've spent some 30 turns only mailing them and that made me lose the game. If I had kept full focus and full planning, maybe I could have pulled out something. My lack of meaningful diplo in a full diplo game also didn't help much.
6. Screenshots:
Capital city of Boatmurdered:
Rest of the Empire:
Captured Sciz cities:
Blight owning me:
Of course, once again I didn't take any pictures of the most meaningful moments of the game, lieke when I battled against Selrahc main stack, when I killed Hyborem (one of his lives only) and the Horseman of the Apocalypse.
3. Fall from Heaven PBEM IX: The Rusher becomes the Rushed
FFH PBEM IX was a fast and furious game. I rushed Sareln (yup, i already had that honor), taking his undefended capital with a scout at turn 10. Than i proceeded to make an elaborate micro plan to surge forward of my adversaries. Problem is, i didn't take into account that the Doviello, played by Ellimist, were my neighboors. After some turns, he rushed me with beastmen, lucian + wolves. I lost a key battle in defense with a very low odds attack and then my defenses crumbled by the axe of the well promoted beastman that resulted from that. I think this was my last full diplo game (I just don't have the will to do diplomacy).
Information about the game:
1. Map description: A modified donut map with an added ring of islands, edited by Mardoc. Map choice caused some controversy, due to violating the explicitly donut-averse instructions of the players.
2. Players, Civs and Leaders: Bobchillingworth - Falamar of the Lanun, Ellimist - Charadon of the Doviello, Mist - Amelanchier of the Ljosalfar, Ichabod - Alexis of the Calabim, Sareln - Arthurus Thorne of the Khazad.
3. Result: Ellimist - Conquest.
4. Description: The game featured the "dregs" of FFH- leaders who had yet to be chosen for any game. A small map, bad luck for the Khazad and Calabim, and excellent play by Ellimist secured the win for the Doviello underdogs (pun intended).
5. My opinion: I was more experienced with Civ MP then my previous games, after having read the threads of some incredible players here in the site. So, I was kind of charmed by the sandbox spell. I did a through micro plan, but didn't analyse properly the real circumnstances of the game. Albeit I was caught extremely pants down when Ellimist attacked, I could have been in a better position, I think.
I also learned that taking a 30% shot at victory against a 70% chance of failing miserably is better than having 100% chance of not being able to win.
6. Screenshots:
Bye, bye, Sareln:
Bye, bye, Ichabod:
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