Yes, well with the Corsairs and Easterlings early movements it was crystal clear they were going Free. :rolleyes: I predicted this on turn 3rd last turn of the last 1 weeker I played in. 
(just poking fun! 
)
So the race is on too get Harad onside. They are going to be getting lots of messages in the next few days.
Game On! 
Regards Herman
One canāt complain about a Dun/Rhu/Harad vs. Cor/East split, if that happens.
Think itās about as even as it gets, if it happensā¦
In one week games neutrals tend to join sides early. Why are people having an issue with the split? DS got 3, FPās got 2 with the CO/HA killer combo split up. We have a whole active map battle thats really a dream set up for a good game. Who gives a rats ass when each of the neutrals decided to join which team, its their right to do so when they wish (in my mind a trade off for the 20 upgrades and downgrades they have to do to be even with the rest of the players). The facts are its turn 4 and they are all in the game and the game has about as balance neutral split as can happen. Lets please stop crying when no one is hurt; be happy, play the game and enjoy.
JL-NM
I missed the last couple of 1wkāers. But played the 3 before them and in each game the winning side simply outplayed the opposition. One game had 4 neutrals choosing the losing side. As far as I can tell itās a 2-2 split in this game and I donāt care what side Harad lands on, but 3-2 is ideal, with the minions outside of Mordor happy, it really comes down to the Mordor guys holding their own. Iām looking forward to the NW action, but the neutral players is not the determining factor in winning, itās about how well each side communicates and executes. We have a good game in the makes and every nation is solid right now. So, if youāve got game, bring it! And if itās too stressful, ask for a replacement gamer.
Stumpers
You have the assumptions incorrect. The Easterlings and Corsairs made a pact with each other to destroy Harad because he is the big VC neutral and we wanted to finish top 2. It doesnāt get more neutral than that. We would have done it as DS or FP. The DS diplomacy was very poor. The diplomacy of the FP was very good. We insisted with the FP that if they agreed to our terms of support of our goals that they must also prevent the other neutrals from joining the FP. They didnāt particularly like it. I was not sure until turn 3 that we were going to really agree on that and I think some of them still donāt like it.
It is very likely, that if Terry had not been the QA and let his paranoia ruin any chance at the DSās actively courting us, that we would have gone DS. We still would have gone after Harad and we still would have insisted that no more than one other neutral join the DS. Terry, I doubt youāll ever believe it, but you could have been our ally without your mistrust and accusations. Keep it in mind for the next game because I would actually like to ally with you sometime so I can try to understand your weirdness
If people want to drop over how we reached our decision, thatās their problem. I think a neutral is perfectly entitled to have an agenda, to play for a VC victory or at least high placement, and to try to impact the overall flow of the game. Thatās neutral self-interest. Iāll never play a neutral as an ATM and MT housing administration.
I donāt know what else we could have done to insure a more perfect neutral split with only 2 going FP and 3 going DS. Letās not kid ourselves about Haradās intentions when he is hosting QA navies at his MTās.
Doug - Corsairs
Think Doug, think!
Youāve joined the Freps on turm 0, so you have at min a planning advantage.
The NW with Duns and Rhu directed to the DS and with the clear already mentioned advantage for the Freps should be easy to beat.
The south with Corsairs and Easterlings on the free side is impossible to win.
Even without Easties, itās difficult to win the south in a grudge, now we have the Easties playing too!
Gondorians to northern Harad, Corsairs to the south (and perhaps some Eastie-cav too), thatās not winnable!
Thatās like committing suicide!
Sorry not with me!
Gixxx
Perhaps you should have given the other side a hint?
ā¦ that theyāll have to play grudge!
According to Terry, he knew after turn 1. Donāt blame us if the DS canāt agree on anythignā¦
I wasnāt in contact with the DS!
Only exchanged some mails with my neighbour.
Did anyone send Harad a Diplo from the company this game?
Youāre right in everything you say. So whatās the problem. You got your neutral position as you requested. I think all the neutrals in this game have played their positions fine to this point. There is no written rule that says each neutral should write a nice note to everyone stating their intentions. Each neutral should be playing to put themselves in position to win. If five neutrals feel they should join one side, then so be it. They have that choice. And if one side steam rolls because of it, then thatās the nature of that particular game. In our game, we have some balance, WK is happy because things have gone his way, and your not as happy because things donāt look so good for you. You do have choices and you have teammates. It is afterall a team game. Nobodyās eliminated and everyone is still pretty strong. Now give us your best shot. Weāll let you know if it hurts.
Dan
Note, Iām actually not in the least bit impressed that Corsairs and Easterlings motivation is to actually Place in VPās this game, I donāt recall that in the emails, I hope theyāre kidding around for the boards on thisā¦
Note to Dan - itās not a team game. There are many ways to play (refer to Cor/East going for 1 and 2 aboveā¦) although Team Style is admittedly the predominant one. But Harad wasnāt playing a team game, he was playing his own Harad, his style by his choice. And, as a result, he has no teammates as you state he hasā¦ Weāve chosen to play a team style because we have enough experience to know that we have a much greater chance of being successful that way. I actually think Gixxx is just grumpy because, while he much prefers the team game (Grudge), heās likely ripped off that heās caught with his pants down in this one. 
And also note, Mike and Gerhard both feel that itās morally wrong for neutrals to decide which side to join on Turn 0. I have a hard time getting into thousands of years of conflict over a game, so Iāll defer to avoiding the word āshouldā as much as possible, but we all certainly have strong opinions on how the game āshouldā be played, yes? I kind of feel bad for both of them - Mike doesnāt like early declarations, yet heās accepted a couple on his teamā¦leading him having to fight the other two far from āourā neutsā¦! Gixxx likely insisted on a Neutral because he likely refused to play an Allegiance nation because of āthose damn neutralsāā¦and now, as a Neutral even, he feels heās getting screwed by āthose damn neutralsāā¦againā¦!!!
As a FP vs DS game, it looks pretty good and should be even - thereās lots of map outside the South for the DS to win in - and long. But then, there is a lot more to the game than how to issue orders and what orders people āshouldā be issuingā¦like dealing with those people (both neutrals, your Allegiance, the other, etcā¦) etc. How often have you seen all 10 starting Allegiance nations eliminatedā¦? The Game is really played outside the pdfā¦and Iām liking our chances out thereā¦
Clear so far,
see below!
Gixxx
P. S.
What team-mates youāre talking about?
Gixxx
Well, as usual, those damn neutrals have made people upset. People arenāt speaking now and grudge teams are being busted up like southern families in the American Civil War. What a load of silli-dung, IMO. thatās it for me, no more Allegiance nations - neutrals only form now onā¦!!!
When your decision is made, you will have picked your teammates. Your team should work with you and your concerns. One player may win the game, but that player is gonna come from the winning team. You are playing to win, correct?
This game is well matched so letās play it out. Donāt know what else to say here, so I hope you pick a side and go for it. I like the 1 week games and I think neutrals are entitled to play their nations to gain whatever advantage they can muster. Perhaps my thinking is to liberal, but I donāt mind the path any of the neutrals have taken in this game.
d
I do mind the path. I think Rhudaur should have ran his cavalry through Angmar to the back of Arthedain. Imladris is sooo lame. Too late for that, cāest la vie.
O.K Iām happy because I worked and got two neutrals onside, Iām ticked off because the Freeps have done the very thing I, the Duns and Rhu were being accused of. I donāt think I will play any more 1650 eitherā¦I will stick to grudge and maybe try Gunboat. However I will see this one out for sure it should be fun. I have to laugh because Cors and Easties have done the very thing that Blue was accusing Rhu and Duns of doingā¦ or was that just a big front? 
If so an Apology should be forth coming to them as they did not deserve the agro thrown at them. If it wasnāt a front, then Blue you are a hypocrite.
Regards Herman
That would involve an upgrade from him and me for last turn and since he has only decied to go DS last turn we havenāt got all that set up yetā¦ unfortunately he wasnāt a turn 0 or 1 DS member and happily getting downgrades done under the cover of neutrality.
Regards Herman
problem is Let make me look like a Bad guy hereā¦ When the truth is these are real life friends and had no intention of negotiating but doing a combined surprise attack one meā¦ Oh yes since I would go down so quickly but such a shock move ā¦ You and your buds would give the DS Harad defunct but on the following turn or turn Knock out Harad to make apearances of a fair gameā¦ A state beating your chests and clapping each other on your backs see we gave you a 3 to 2 split!
BUTTT! I wasnāt gonna play your Flunky and moved blocking the Good Ole boys showing there would be no suprise on my Nation or Team! So game on good Ole boys! When itās all over Iām with this variant and and all Indie games!
How in the Hell can any new players or returning former players deal with such lame ass play by players who donāt need to do this to win! Thatās exactly what is wrong with this game the PLAYERS!