Saw there was a new “All Neutral” starting up and had a thought about how you choose your nations. Not sure it is possible but how about each player starts with 100,000 gold and enters sealed bids in for the nation they want (minimum 5 bids up to 23 if you really want).
Each nation is then allocated to the highest bidder and the balance 100,000 less whatever was paid is their starting treasury.
It might add a little bit of balance with the more popular nations being strapped for cash to start with.
Judging by game 68 I bet you could get Dark Lieutenants on the cheap.
Well I can tell you that the Easterlings won’t be expensive either, losing half of your starting pops is all inclusive, so to say…
Nice idea in general, but I have a feeling that many players would just end up with an additional 100.000 gold. this game is for vets and most vets I know don’t care too much about playing a mighty nation. As far as I am concerned, I would just try to play a nation I haven’t played before, or try out a special strategy.
But it would be worth giving a try, what do others think?
I played the Dark L in game 68, and I can say that the extra 100k would have been a big help, and I may have been able to hang on for a little longer
There again maybe not with the Fire King wanting my lands from turn 1. 8-(
I’d say that this would have possibilities, but I still like the random elements of not knowing who you are going to get. Ok I got possibly the worst nation in the last game, but it was very enjoyable while it lasted, and I now know I would like to play the DkL in a normal game of 1650.
Well, I assure you I wasn’t too impressed with the Fire King when I got my set up, but, well, Ren’s doing okay ;). North Gondor promised me my pick of your royal christmas tree farm also, sorry, Urzahil wasn’t as forthcoming.
Yea I would say it is still to early in game 68 and in the play of all-neutral games in general to really say if the assignment system should be changed. Even as now, we are only allowed to strike two nations so the assignment process is mostly random and therefore “fair.” On the otherhand, one might quip that at first the All-neutral game is balanced and all players have an equal shot, then nations are assigned…
I know I continually compare this all-neutral game to Diplomacy the boardgame, but there are vibrant online and postal communities devoted to that free-for-all game in which several of the powers have significantly poorer chances of winning than the others. When those nations do excel its because of skillful play and negotiation. I suspect that it is possible to win with the weaker/more precarious nations, but that’s just a suspicion. We will see if poor, weak Angmar can pull off a victory in 68.
Anyone know if another one-nation all-nuetral game will be on the cards? I gather that one these games was started recently - but have no idea if anymore are planned.
