Actually it is interesting to actually see neutrals be neutral and quarky. Not the usual pop and Art trade off. I say Qudos. You guys might be insane but isn’t that what makes things fun? But hey what do I know… Oh goodie here comes the nurse with my meds:D
There is honour in a good fight. I’m not going away - But how best to fight? This will be interesting.
(In answer to an email query:)
The basis for the cost calculations is primarily the resources I put in, not the effect. In the sense that I’m making up pricing rules as I go along, the prices are not totally fixed. However the basic calculation is 1 RA per 2 actions needed to carry out the task, plus extra for resources.
So the initial commissions - which used starting armies - were relatively cheap. You’re right about the subsequent camps business. Check the boards - I think I already proposed a price for the LR camps, possibly 6? One also needs to account for such things as the cost of maintaining the army, orders for recruitment, cost of food, mounts & leather for losses etc (which is where the initial 1 comes from, given pre-existing armies). And since that’s all a little complex, I may well just guess at the resource cost for a mission.
There’s something to be said for vague goals. So for example a commission to destroy any 4 starting camps would be harder for the DS to defend against.
Gold and other products would depend on market levels to a degree, and I’ll have to use my judgement. My current thinking is to convert any non-gold resources into gold and work from there, using the ‘sell’ price for resources I hold and the buy price for anything purchased, also taking account of 10% NatTran losses. I’d reckon on about 5k/RA. But I want to be a little careful about this, as 10K sent to the DS clearly has more effect than 10K sent to the Free. So I may decide not to send gold at all. There’s also a material constraint - I must have the resources available. I just muffed an order last turn for lack of gold, I’m not mega-rich. Though maybe the Dwarves will help me with that …
The delivery of pure resources is less problematic for play balance, and I could well imagine commissions to distribute leather to a player short on capital orders. This would not be public, as there’s nothing for an enemy to defend against.
I don’t think I’d sell a starting pop centre, due to my holy homeland concept. But there’s nothing against commissioning me to create and build a pop centre. I’d probably charge one RA extra if it’s within my homeland (just as I’d charge 1 RA for you to place a camp within my homeland).
I must say I’m rather enjoying this, and really curious to see how it all pans out.
Lords of Gondor,
I must apologize for the way I treated you guys at Mithas Ithil. Slapping you around :bash: like that and then taking your town away was a bit excessive…:eek:
Now you’ve decided to commit another army to the fray…against my army. :rolleyes:
Oh wait…is that another army right there…making that two armies :hug:
Yes…I most certainly is! 
But that is ok you still have your other towns. Oh wait that would be 2…yeap…1…2… armies on your towns.
Sorry about that 
But hey we can all party at your captial in a few turns 
Be like Motel 6 and leave the bridges down for me 
or is that the lights on… either way
Choooo choooo
The big trains a coming…
ReN, tHe UnCLEaN
Dîn is here or am i.
Hey Ren the Smelly,
Let me peer into my Palantir…
Oh yes you have taken Minas Ithil but wait whats this i see 2 small, very small unwashed armies outnumbered by 1 heroic well kept army on a basis of over 2:1, hmm i wonder who will win this battle and then sidestep the town to your capital.
Look at the CL cav army at 3028, outnumbered and may i say it outsworded as well.
Hmm the LR cav. army at 3026, ok it can take this town but at what cost? Will it be overrun by whats coming next turn, can the LR afford to lose one of his best characters?
I think your trains are going to be derailed
Tarondor
So what’s your plan over running my cav army, or loosing one of my best charecters. Last i looked you had in range of 1600 troops, and Cl had someowhere near 1200 cav, so after this battle you wont have enough trrops to run me over tough guy. But i welcome your cander and acting meek. See you next turn.
LR
Outrage! The Dwarves have grievously trespassed! They are in my holy homeland without permission!
Publicly accept the following demands this turn or I will wage a private war with the Dwarves:
[ul]
[li]The Dwarves must pay 1RA every time the Dwarves enter my lands (even in passing) until turn 13.
[/li][li]The Dwarves shall pay 2 RA in compensation
[/li][li]Easterlings will cease all contracts for the Free until they have paid all RAs due
[/li][li]The Dwarves shall make a full and humble apology on the boards - the Neutrals shall stand in judgement.
[/li][/ul]
Naturally if the Dwarves harm the peace-loving women and children of Lar-Huz ,terms will be far tougher. How dare you threaten them!
Hint - if the DS can prove that a Dwarven army could only make its move by passing through Easterling lands from now on, inform us so the Free can pay!
Note: Even a private war against the Dwarves is not a declaration for the Dark Servants. But it will use up the resources I would otherwise have used for Free contracts.
Reminder: any nation may enter Easterling territories at any time. But they must inform me in advance. Only Dwarves need pay … Naturally any hostile act determines my allegiance immediately!
The Easterlings are delighted to confirm the completion of their contract for the Free. The Quiet Avenger owns one town less.
It was a delight to do business with you and (as soon as the unpleasantness with the dwarves is concluded), we look forward to any future commissions.
Our contract for Saurons’ servants continues to present challenges - we had a fine fight with the Dwarves (the Eothraim chose to watch from the side-lines). All hail Gain I the Brave!
The Eothraim forces remain strong: 1200 HI, 900 HC, 300 LC. It could be some time before we conclude this contract - we are sending for reinforcements.
sigh - the Free contract was SO much more profitable!
For one extra RA on any artefact not yet researched, the Easterlings will publicise its secondary power. Neldelhach #23 or Ghostbane #24 would be especially interesting as there are rumours they have secondary powers.
The Free artefacts I’ve checked out all perform as published.
What rumors are there about Ghostbane ??
In another game, it definitely had a secondary power - quite an appropriate one. I wonder if it’s the same in this game?
I want to thank the Woodmen of Maethelburg and the Sinda Elves of Cerin Amroth for their graciousness invitation for my armies to come visit.
But seriously, you needn’t have reciprocated at Sarn Gowrin. Or Goblin Gate. Or Dol Guldur…
Khamul
Looking more closely at my turn, I was astonished to see a Free army on Easterling sacred turf at 3320! Camping right on top of my Great Aunt Sally’s grave! Have you no shame? You had but to ask and you’d have been most welcome (though perhaps in the field round the back of the barn instead).
We are flabbergasted! We are so taken aback by this affront that we can’t quite decide what to do about it! Are we forced into grim servitude of Sauron (ugh)? In the face of such provocation are you leaving us a choice? There’s got to be a better way …
Oh mighty easterlings,
Although we do not wish for you to go dark servant and even if you do we will still pay the 4 RA’s per the contract, it looks like the dark servants are in need of your assistance.
The Sinda,
[quote=“Blue_Knight,post:112,topic:3441”]
What rumors are there about Ghostbane ??[/QUOTE]
Some artifacts have a set secondary power each game. Some of the others (maybe all I don’t know) have a secondary power that is random from game to game, and has to be discovered by casting Research Artifact.
Indeed. But these normally aren’t noted. But they are still interesting. For example, one casts a heal spell - super for a double-casting mage squad.
One which cast a minor defensive spell might be handy for camp-bashing.
One casts one of the ‘return’ spells: having a commander who can zap long distances could be very useful.
And what if a variable artefact sometimes gave some sort of lost-list access?
Anyway, the RA exercise is as much about having a currency for mercenary activities which doesn’t favour either team as anything else.
2 “random lost list” arties in the main lists, there might be more…
It aids when fighting ghosts i.e. spirits & wights, thus a Dun mage can overcome ‘ghosts’ when you have those as random encounters for arties. Also it may aid in other non arty ‘ghost’ encounters such as barrow wights etc.