I’ve asked, not tooo directly, on a couple previous threads, about the end game statistics - Victory Counts by Allegiance. And the issue has not been addressed in any official capacity, even though one sees the “official capacity” addressing other issues in other threads.
So I’m addressing it again. The DS win more than they lose in 1650. Irregardless of whether the FP “On paper” should win more (as was espoused by one reply), it is simply an understood. The FP start behind the 8 ball from Turn 0.
So what “should” be done about this? If the game is unbalanced, then how can it be made balanced…?
GSI data shows 66% of games won by DS. There has been no MEGames data since this “archived” data was released. So all I have is the latest News From Bree, which broadcast the results of the following 1650 (apparent) games: 52, 86, 70, 11, 63, 16, 1. 7 games 5-2 for the DS. 71.42…% DS Victory.
2950 was created years after the original, and my understanding is that not only was the new game flavoured to a different environment, but also that many of the “unbalancing” issues were addressed. (whether 2950 was created by the creators of the 1650 game Ed might address…). The FP were given better characters. More Elves, more stealth, more/better starting mages (relatively) and, here’s the kicker… starting agent/emissary characters at Full Strength. What I mean by that is the Northmen, for example, have a 40 point emissary at start. From turn 1 he can replicate himself and presto, a FP nation with multiple 40 point emissaries from the start of the game. Contrast that with 1650 where Noldo, Sinda, Woodmen haven’t even a 30 point agent. Northmen have something like 20 points of emissary power spread around, etc. Ice King meanwhile, an entirely ficticious fabrication of “the game designer” is given “Name Agents at 40” and “Increased Chance of Stealth” bonus in the game AND given some crud doofus named Gorthog who can start replicating himself as a 40 agent right off the bat.
The DS in 1650 are like that - they win 66+% of the games. The FP in 2950 have seen this “imbalance” addressed and win at least 50% of their games, if not more (GSI Stats had FP at 56% or something like that…).
So why don’t some “tweaks” happen to the 1650 game…??? On one hand I’m sick of getting kidnapped and assassinated to death as the FP by mediocre opposition, simply because they can. On the other hand, I’m actually tired as the DS of being able to survive, heck even thrive, with decimated/eliminated nations simply because a semi-well run Cloud Lord can eliminate entire nations by himself, whilst Dragons and 3-1 Curse Companies and artifact laden emissary companies wander about the backfield doing all sorts of mean things to the “otherwise dominant” Free Peoples.
Why don’t the Woodmen have a 30 agent? Why don’t the Northmen have a 40 emissary? Come on, this is getting tedious. What can be done here??
Regards,
Brad Brunet the Frustrated and Annoyed