Keith, it’s the same pairing that you posted for WK/DkL…
but yes, we felt that the “traditional” pairings were tough for the DS, and tried to beef up the northwest DS.
Neither 94 or 96 have finished so there’s no comment available from anyone in the game as to how the experiment is progressing. That said, both games have received results from turn 19…
Absolutely. I just posted what Clint sent out in the turn email. Definitely doesn’t mean I agree with it…
but yes, we felt that the “traditional” pairings were tough for the DS, and tried to beef up the northwest DS.
Makes sense to me.
Perhaps the desire was to avoid pairing the DarkL with any other Mordor DS. Too bad, making the DS pairs a little more closely aligned might help mitigate some of the “character war” issues.
Yes, but the minute you give the Cloud Lord any ally with either an artifact or double scouting, people start to scream. Now, if the Woodmen were given the +20 k/a and a starting 40 agent to “balance” things out, then no more problem… 
Guys… the changes in the NW should make it more interesting… I’d say that the FP should also have some benefit though.
How about giving 2 of the rubbish Harad characters command skill, and making osgiliath a keep.
Cheers
Mike
Note the new pairings and changes are not designed by us. At the request of the players we changed it. Personally I slightly prefer the older groupings (but as I’m not playing it’s not pertinent):
FP: 1/4 Woodmen/Arthedain, 2/8 Northmen/Dwarves (4017 Fort), 3/7 Eothraim/South Gondor, 5/9 Cardolan/Sindar, 6/23 North Gondor/Dunlendings, 10/22 Noldo/Harad
DS: 11/20 Witch King/Dark Lieutenants, 12/21 Dragon Lord/Corsairs, 13/15 Dog Lord/Blind Sorcerer, 14/24 Cloud Lord/Rhudaur (CL town @3428 goes to village, CL town @3629 goes to MT, 1910 Fort), 16/19 Ice King/Long Rider, 17/18 Quiet Avenger/Fire King
New version: DS: WK/DkL (1804 city), Rhu/LR (1910 city/castle; 1908 fort; 2208 MT/fort), FK/CL, Cor/DrgL, IK/QA, DogL/BS
FP: NG/Duns, Northmen/DW (4217 fort), Arth/Wood, Noldo/Harad, Sinda/Card, SG/EO
I’m happy to have us support either. I can’t really feedback about the games as they are presently running. What we’re intending to do this time is run a 1wk game - I’ll go with the new format for nations (like I said I’m pretty easy about either) and I’ll collate that info later today to see who’s up for playing (got around 4 positions left)
From before though (mostly as a player so feel free to disagree/agree): I don’t see any need to improve the FPs - if any I’d do the NM/Dwarf combo. Noldo has a massive character strength to make up for the deficit in the Harad (and from a military perspective the Cor/Har is winnable by either side in my experience).
Clint
Hey Clint - I’d agree with both your comments. But the WK DKLts and Rhu LR both are great combos individually - their problem is that the Wk and Rhu are isolated and their destinies are not in their own hands. Noldo / Harad really has the same pluses and issues, I think. My suggestions were really to just ever-so-slightly improve Harad’s standalone survivability. Having just played Harad / Noldo and really committed the Noldo to supporting the Harad, I know it is v v tough unless SG steps in…
Cheers
Mike
How many guys you got signed up Clint. Might be interested mate. Alan J.
9 so far
Clint
bingo. In GB, SG really really needs to stay in the south an let NG deal with Mordor (whether HA is DS or FP, though I personally think a DS CO is a much better “balanced” situation, as DS HA is hugely tough for the DS if the FP have a clue). All that said, I really don’t think an FP HA should be beefed up at all. SG is a huge and powerful ally. It just needs to be played well.
re: pairings
whatever the 12 people that sign up for want is what you guys should go for. The experiment currently running in 94, 96 & 97 is “in progress”…
I can say that it was motivated by results in prior GBs where the Rhu/WK were normal (other than 1910 fort), and both nations get waxed earlier than they do in team 1650… But, Clint (as he just said) and some others, think that we beefed them up too much… Personally, as I was a part of the group that suggested the experiment, I would like to see the data (admittedly small sample set) from 94, 96, & 97 to decide whether we beefed them up too much or not… Then, the data can speak for itself.
Dave
Posted only 5 days ago. 9 (maybe 10) players signed up. This one’s going fast. Yessiree, only 2 more players, and then we can all look at our T0 pdf’s tomorrow!
Who’s going to be the last 2 players to get in before this first in your lifetime opportunity slips away forever? Sign up now, and I promise, to get Clint to promise, a chicken in every pot. Also, once again I guarantee you the opportunity to pound me into rubble! Perhaps not the most difficult of tasks, but an invitation to those who have an opinion of my capacity and wit.
FYI… Pearly not sure who you are so not sure if you’re in the game or not.
Clint
I am uncertain if:
Nonetheless, no one shall thwart my plan to put a chicken into everyone’s pot.
No one.
Bwahahahahahahahahaaaaaa…
Oh, wait. My medicine is kicking in now. Ah, that’s better. However, as I appear to have a pseudonym, I shall endeavor to maintain it. I add that Clint has emailed me my reservation/questionaire for this game.
Only 2 or 3 more players needed, so back to the top with this thread!
Who is Pearly? It was scrawled all over in alleys, abandoned cars, box car trains in those last years before the Socialists finally dragged America down. It was men like Henry Rearden who kept Our Nation crawling that last mile.
Always wanted some of those cigarettes…
Ta Pearly - done.
Note I get a lot of requests for games and formats. I also get a lot of players say that they 1) will sign up for a game, 2) have signed up for a game. In most cases this is the case, but sometimes it’s not. I just want to make sure that I don’t miss anyone out if they want to play.
Clint (da Guardian of Chickens and all that is Middle Earth).:rolleyes:
Except in Game 12… 
Clint why not pair NG and the Eothraim. please…
pretty please…
How do the pairings work? Do I get a choice or am I stuck with a random selection?
As the email I sent to you says. If you want I can re-send it to you. Below is the list but if you’ve not played GB before then you need to read the rules as they are somewhat different to normal games.
DS: WK/DkL (1804 city), Rhu/LR (1910 city/castle; 1908 fort; 2208 MT/fort), FK/CL, Cor/DrgL, IK/QA, DogL/BS
FP: NG/Duns, Northmen/DW (4217 fort), Arth/Wood, Noldo/Harad, Sinda/Card, SG/EO
There’s 2 duos left. (1 duo or a Kingdom in the 1000 GB game)
Clint