Well now that everyone has finally chosen sides it looks to be an interesting game. (Somehow I always seem to end up in those…) Dark Servants… don’t think the Easterlings joining your futile cause will help. We have Rhu and the Duns in a nasty vise. You have chosen poorly… Rhu has done a good job of holding off the skirmishers sent thier way, but is looking thin right now. As for the Duns…I doubt you can defend 4 directions at once. 
Anyway this looks like a fun game…
Steve, Dwarves
Yes, the Easterlings have chosen to go Dark.
And we have done it in a nasty surprise way.
I have yet to see a game lost to a side that has both Harad & Corsairs, so going Dark in a nasty way was the only way that the DS have a chance of winning this game.
If I’d gone Freep then the game would have been over instantly.
This is all spoken from the viewpoint of not yet having joined the DS team group, so potentially I am understating their strength.
But Harad & Corsairs are untouched.
It will be an interesting game!
Tony
Easterlings
Why thank you, it’s good to know my regimen of daily exercise and pizza ban is paying off! I’ll be on the beach flashing my abs in no time at this rate 
More seriously I toasted a 3k strong Freep army this turn and have absolutely no enemy armies on my pop centres for once. Another turn of recruiting with all my lovely commanders awaits, and then some serious moves on the many Free targets.
I’ve not seen a side lose that had both the Corsairs and Harad on their team, but we’re going to give it our best shot. The northwest will burn before we are through…
To those who would come at the Duns with their militaries…it matters not what direction you come from…it matters more where my forces go…
you will be blocked and tackled by every citizen in our country…you will pay a price so dear that your people will beg you to bring home their sons…and they shall go home either with or without their lives, which is your choice to make…
you will not scare us, even if in 4 directions you come. We assumed that you would do everything in your power to defeat us because we stand for ourselves in this conflict and refused to bow to your whims.
you will not be victorious…you may, for a time, walk where you please, but know our crows have seen you all…we have allies…you have been short-sighted in your preparations…
for all we know the dwarves were your scouts and cannot see above the farmland rows of crops we grow in peace for our people…the elves thought nothing could be accomplished in such a short time…the men thought they would rule the Northwest…all are false declarations of your prowess.
you could not take the Witchking from his homes in Angmar; you could not take the rhudaurim from their homes; you most certainly will be sorely tested by our forces and we say you shall not take us from ours.
The rhudarim used a worm; the duns used heavy cavalry; it matters not the end result is the same…rhudaur and the witch king are safe…the duns have your full attention for what good it will do you.
We shall rule this middle earth…over your dead bodies if need be…
Zilijah of the Duns
So, has everyone really chosen already??
:rolleyes:
And so the slaughter begins, the whole of Middle Earth is at war. We of the DS(:woot:) will slay any Freep (:p) that stands in our way, whether or not they started neutral in this war.
Mordor remains a fortress, whilest those of the Northwest begin to cower, as they underestimated the powers of the Witch King and his Allies.
Dol Guldor stands tall, as the nasty Freeps gather around for their nights of singing and tree hugging:hug:
The Sea of Rhun runs red, as the Easterlings move enmass into the dispicable Free dwellings. The men of the north begin to sweat, as they realize that they may soon die:stab:
The Gondors of the North continue to invest in their stock brokers, as they are constantly loosing gold. They dont realize that their investments are just going to the poor, as all economies should be set up. We in the mountains hear their complaints, even in the high altitude, of the high taxes and the fact that their leaders are letting money slip thru their hands faster that a horse disappears at the annual Morannon All-You-Can-Eat Buffet.
We Servants of the Dark Lord swear to liberate all people of their no-good, too-clean, fat, lazy overlords that sit on their buttocks all day ordering those around them to do simple work for them. We are the Answer, and we offer free food in the form of horsies, and a really good mystery soup that tastes pretty good, as long as you dont ask what the mystery is.
The Dark Servants have dominated this game. It is just a matter of us facing reality now that the Easterlings have declared for you.
Awww:D u have to admit though, you Freeps have put up quite a fight.:fork::hug::stab:
I gotta say the Easterlings going DS was about zero surprise. We knew you were going DS - which is why we shipped timber to the Northmen a few turns ago and he has been building fortifications. He wasn’t building fortifications for the Long Rider.
We just couldn’t do anything about it. Not with the Dragon Lord running thru Mirkwood going into turn 10. At least the Dragon Lord will lose his recruitment center (Aka capital) this turn. Has anybody seen the Witch King and the Dragon Lord in this good a shape going into turn 10? I haven’t.
I think somebody mentioned something about stealing gold from North Gondor and feeding the poor? First thing is we don’t notice the gold thefts - they are irrelevant to the FP economy. Second thing is if the DS aren’t rolling in gold with the commodity prices the way they are then you guys are doing something seriously wrong. The gold thefts are just a training ground for the next mob of DS agents - the gold will make no difference either way at this point.
It will be interesting to see how this game develops now that all neutrals have finally revealed their alliegance.
I think the game will start to balance itself now that the advantage of 2 neutrals for the DS for most of the game has been neutralised… let’s see if we can convince the DS that having it rosy for 10 turns doesn’t make for any kind of win.
I guess having Rhu declare on T0 and Duns a few turns ago made it hard for the remaining neutrals to split differently.
I would still have liked to see Eas go FP… I think that would have leveled the playing field completely… but we’ll see how the game shapes up now that the neutrals are all decided.
Still all to play for. Good Luck to all… but specially to the FP…
Michael
Free Har
I am curious how the Dark Servants see this game.
A couple of us FP think the game is unwinnable unless you all take a couple turns off (and even then only if you told us in advance so we could take full advantage of it).
The economy is out of control. You have dragons in armies all over the place. You have an amazing number of agents (and many army killers already). The FK is so unimpressed with our ‘pressure’ on Mordor that he’s raising armies in Dunland. I have not seen the NM turn yet, but from what I’ve seen on other turn results, the Easterlings are having an easy go at him. Seriously, what doubts can you possibly have about winning this game?
Doug - Noldo - ready to sail west.
We speak (a lot) only on the behalf of our own nation…the valorous people of Dunlend. This is our perspective…
The game is balanced…how could it not be so when the economics of the Harad and the Corsairs are paired with the Gondors…All those Major Towns and Cities…just the southern powers alone have more than the combined Major Towns and Cities of the remaining neutrals…for now.
The Ds is not in full control of any region of the map…for now. Granted Mordor is untouched, Angmar is not threatened, Rhudaur is only beset by the dwarves, and only the Dragon Lord, this turn, lost his capital…
The Ds do not own many of the artifacts that do tend to make an impact…though to say we aren’t aware of their owners and location is something else…don’t stay still boyos…
Fact is that the Easterlings going dark made this game more balanced than if he hadn’t…the Northmen haven’t been pressured since turn 001…nor the Eothraim…Nor Arthedain or South gondor or the Dwarves…
The Corsairs must be doing well economically…they sent 4000 troops to die outside of my capital…why not come and visit me directly…instead you go to die at a town/tower? Really?
Why not combine the attack on my capital w/ NG who instead went w/ his army of some 1100 to hit a village? A village? Really?
So instead of parking easily 6000 troops on my capital you will die in piecemeal attacks against minor holdings and instead of rolling the dice you made a serious tactical error…
yes we have dragons…we’re going to need them to fend off all that troopage; don’t forget we just dealt with over 4000 cardolani troops over the last three turns…with yours we are about to kill off…that would be 10000 troops just in my grill…not for nothing but we were sweating just a little this turn’s results.
So no we don’t see it as a clear win with no hope for the free…but we understand that our coordination is working…I think it says something when the fire king on t010 is making HC rather than screaming for help and recruiting from camps to plug the gap…I think it says something when all you guys gang up on the duns rather than press on the only way to win for you…crack mordor.
I think it says something when you basically state the game is over when you have the two southern powerhouses on your side…it says either you are witless or weak…I’ll take either one for now…
Truly guys, c’mon the game is far from over…but time is on our side…all that troopage being dissolved gives us more time to develop our long term advantage…you know of what I speak.
More mindless rhetoric to follow specifically to immediate enemies…
Zilijason of Dunlend
We speak (a lot) only on the behalf of our own nation…the valorous people of Dunlend. This is our perspective…
The game is balanced…how could it not be so when the economics of the Harad and the Corsairs are paired with the Gondors…All those Major Towns and Cities…just the southern powers alone have more than the combined Major Towns and Cities of the remaining neutrals…for now.
Fact is that the Easterlings going dark made this game more balanced than if he hadn’t…the Northmen haven’t been pressured since turn 001…nor the Eothraim…Nor Arthedain or South gondor or the Dwarves…
The Corsairs must be doing well economically…they sent 4000 troops to die outside of my capital…why not come and visit me directly…instead you go to die at a town/tower? Really?
Why not combine the attack on my capital w/ NG who instead went w/ his army of some 1100 to hit a village? A village? Really?
So instead of parking easily 6000 troops on my capital you will die in piecemeal attacks against minor holdings and instead of rolling the dice you made a serious tactical error…
yes we have dragons…we’re going to need them to fend off all that troopage; don’t forget we just dealt with over 4000 cardolani troops over the last three turns…with yours we are about to kill off…that would be 10000 troops just in my grill…not for nothing but we were sweating just a little this turn’s results.
So no we don’t see it as a clear win with no hope for the free…but we understand that our coordination is working…I think it says something when the fire king on t010 is making HC rather than screaming for help and recruiting from camps to plug the gap…I think it says something when all you guys gang up on the duns rather than press on the only way to win for you…crack mordor.
I think it says something when you basically state the game is over when you have the two southern powerhouses on your side…it says either you are witless or weak…I’ll take either one for now…
Truly guys, c’mon the game is far from over…but time is on our side…all that troopage being dissolved gives us more time to develop our long term advantage…you know of what I speak.
More mindless rhetoric to follow specifically to immediate enemies…
Zilijason of Dunlend
The DS keep talking about “economics” as if there was some shortage of gold in this game. The Harad and Corsairs bring a great economy to a normal game. However, this game is anything but normal.
When I see a starting Blind Sorcerer army on turn 9 where the BS actually took the time to equip not only his starting HI with bronze armor but also his starting LI with bronze armor - when bronze sold for 7 gold per unit on turn 9 - that pretty much tells me all I need to know about “economics” in regards to this game.
I have never seen an economy this high in any game. Of course there is the OBN exploit built into the code. If a single nation creates a market condition that exists in this game - then it is no violation.
So the economic power that the Harad and Corsairs would normally bring to a game are offset by gold being of no concern to any side in this game. It is obvious that neither the DS or the FP have any concern over gold. You steal 30k gold from us in a single turn and we really don’t even notice it. You decide to not sell metal and instead start equipping LI with bronze armor that would sell for thousands. I’m also seeing Steel armor and weapons on newly recruited DS HI as well. You have no need to sell the metal as you have all the gold you can use.
The problem is that the DS have better characters - better starting artifacts - and better abilities. The gating factor being gold. The FP have a better economy at start and are able to develop characters faster than the DS - that is as long as gold is a gating factor. In this game the DS have had unlimited gold to do whatever it is they wanted to do. That creates the lopsided we game we have before us.
Hi Thavius,
FK81 checking in here. I would like to give a comment or two towards the discussion thus far. If I may, let me first say that the Dunlendings only joined our side because he didn’t want to be plagued by agents all game long. That was the end decision he made. He had enough cavalry to make a run at us that would have been hard to deal with.
Secondly, please recognize the artifact race run by the Noldo and others was fantastic. You beat us to everything. The theft of the bracers of the mists and the Ring of Impersonation came by happenstance as we were tracking the items and yall stayed put two turns giving us a chance at them with stealthy agents. The army killing agents is mostly a result of “luck” in our favor as far as the random elements given to all such orders.
Also, the presence of dragons has been remarkable for us. We have been able to get to them rather quickly as we managed more camps than the free in our best estimation. It doesn’t hurt to have them to hold the gates. I was expecting a larger sortie this turn against the West Gate given that the dragon I had left before battle…must have been a Geiko Gecko keeping his insurance down.
So, I have seen loads of massive armies from the freeps as is “scripted” but honestly you guys are doing quite well. I have not played the FK before but this has been an unusual game for the position I would say.
as for economies, gold being available allows us to keep things going. Note that I am playing also the dropped BS position and the LI in bronze is the starting army with augmentation; these are not new LI with bronze. I prefer heavy cavalry for that. That the FK has been making cavalry is testiment to the allies being willing and able to share resources.
So for the record you guys have most of the agent toys, and the spirit mastery toys as well. I am looking for an excuse as the BS to become military as the artie hunting is beyond the sight of the Blind Leader.lol
I will not say much on the neutral balance of the game thing. I have been “one of those guys” that has seen a team win with one neutral on their side instead of a good split so I know it happens. I am not willing to call this game over just yet. I have not seen any moves that made me think you guys are not gamers or that you are looking for a consensus to drop.
Perhaps I am wrong in my sight, given that I am the Flaming Blind Sorceror King, but I say there is much contention over who will rule this Middle Earth.
Later,
fk81
bs81
oh, and my son plays the ik81
lol…keeping up the tradition that drives my wife into " OHHH GAWD, not another GAME TURN!!"
:hug::stab:
“The theft of the bracers of the mists and the Ring of Impersonation came by happenstance as we were tracking the items and yall stayed put two turns giving us a chance at them with stealthy agents.”
This was one of a long list of very accidental but critical mistakes that really hurt us (maybe when the game is over I’ll list the rest). We obviously knew better than to ever stop moving but a typo is all it takes.
The biggest factor in the game, though, has been the neutrals. Rhudaur on turn 0 was huge. Your team strategy to support the WK and Rhudaur with agents and economy was excellent. No matter what I offered, none of the other neutrals were interested in balancing things. I offered 100+ points of artifacts, I offered to put my entire economy in the service of neutrals but all I heard turn after turn after turn was how we FP were running away with this game. You guys did a great job of convincing them of that, or they were just blowing smoke - I’ll never know. We had no doubt that the Duns were going to go DS. We should have attacked him instead of waiting for his attack.
The Lord of Morannon formally protests this prejudice conversation. It is well know that dogs have a short attention span and can’t read that many words in a row. Please provide a canine translator for your next speech.
Waggin Tailnub
Imperial Envoy
I wish I could say that the DS are winning the game because of “luck”. You have played well. I have nothing against a neutral jumping one way or the other. A turn 0 declaration is disappointing and violates the spirit of the game. A neutral is supposed to be just that - a neutral - not an ally of one side or the other from turn 0. That just means the neutral is a De Facto DS or FP. It skews the game - and in my opinion makes the game a little less for everyone.
The single biggest factor in this game is the market. It overrides everything else.
I don’t know if I really have a problem with turn 0 declarations so much as a problem with how we, the FP, and the rest of the neutrals reacted to it. If the Rhudaur communicated with the DS’ and they told him, “hey, join us and we’ll make the NW our #1 priority and support you with agents and give you a backup MT” or something like that, I can’t really fault him for what he did. It is the best possible time for the Rhudaur to make a DS move.
However, It was absurd for the rest of the neutrals to think this was not going to create an imbalanced game. It was a mistake that we did not press the issue harder with the remaining neutrals. I think that if we had it would have been more clear that the Duns were going to join the enemy.
That is another way to look at it. Though a turn 0 declaration violates no game rules or mechanics it does violate the spirit of the game. A turn 0 declaration means that particular nation was never neutral. The nation was the 11th nation of whatever side they declared for.
It does imbalance the game - how can it not? One side or the other is starting with 10+1 nations versus 10. In addition, the opposing side does not expect a neutral nation to begin aligned. So the opposing nations make no plans with this in mind.
I know we have discussed the FP attacking Rhudaur on turn 1 to prevent what happened in game 81. This would offset any advantage the Rhudaur may have. This, of course, is not an ideal situation. Neutrals are supposed to be neutral.
Heh, interesting. Rhudaur is unique in that it has to make a choice early doors or the WK will be dead and buried, and the Dragon Lord too in all likelihood, within 10 turns.
Whenever I play Rhudaur I will make an early declaration. For game balance in the NW I would always lean towards the DS, but if the WK and/or DrL were complete numpties or rude it would be for the Free.
But, if it makes you feel better, you can carry on and call me a cheat. Plus maintain your insinuations about the One Nation Banker rule. Either way it won’t ruin the fun I’m having.