Gunboat - aah! There’s so much that could be said, and yet so little that can be said legally…
I’ve played in three GB games, now two (no, I didn’t get knocked out!) and feel that all the games were pretty well balanced, some with one side slightly on top, some with another. All the games will have points which will make for fascinating discussion once they have come to an end and we can all talk about them. For now though …
1: I’m not in favour of allowing much (if any) communication between nations. That’s the whole point of GB after all! I could live with the 100 word diplos suggested by Clint for every 5th turn, though I am cautious to say the least - MEPBM players are pretty bright on the whole and I’m sure they would find a way to subvert such a system.
2: The original concept of having lists of dead nations was that this list would only go to the relevant team. For instance it’s one thing the FP knowing that the Sinda are out so they can go and nick the characters, but it’s another thing telling the DS this news. In one game the information that a nearby enemy nation was out has given me a significant advantage that I do not feel I should really have been given.
3: I have a few balance concerns, but to be fair I don’t think anyone has played the game enough to draw any firm conclusions. I would suggest that breaking into Mordor is very difficult in GB, which obviously gives the DS an advantage. On the other hand the fact that the DS maps show less of what is going on in the world than the FP maps may balance this. Certainly some nations (eg the Dwarves) are in a very good position to judge and react to situations based on map information - pity the poor Blind Sorcerer!
Finally, to the suggestion of a one week turnaround game - count me in!
I agree with point 2 Colin that the fact a nation is dead should only go to the allies of that nation. There is the 585 order which can be used to find out if an enemy is gone.
Question, if a player drops his position and the positions SS for a while…is this communicated in anyway to the allies ? I think not but I was just wondering.
1 week sounds good but I don’t think I’ll be starting any new games for quite sometime.
Originally posted by loraelin
3: I have a few balance concerns, but to be fair I don’t think anyone has played the game enough to draw any firm conclusions. I would suggest that breaking into Mordor is very difficult in GB, which obviously gives the DS an advantage. On the other hand the fact that the DS maps show less of what is going on in the world than the FP maps may balance this. Certainly some nations (eg the Dwarves) are in a very good position to judge and react to situations based on map information - pity the poor Blind Sorcerer!
Colin [/b]
It might be that its difficult for FP to break into Mordor in a GB game, but then again this is more than balanced by the fact that Rhudaur and WK initially are pretty ****ed without any coordinated help. If Arth, Card, Dwa, Duns and Noldo play a normal agressive style against WK/Rhudaur, then at least Rhudaur will be vertually unsaveable. If his partner Dkl furthermore tries to save Rhd by transfering backups, it then puts both these nations in a severe economic disaster, which easily could ruins both of them. Without Rhd, WK is isolated in the Northwest surrounded by 3-5 enemies. How many turns can a WK player realistic survive in such a scenario, if we assume the player has the same skill rank as his 3-5 enemies ?
So I would definitely not say that DS has an overall starting advantage in this game.
Playing in a couple of GB games and thoroughly enjoying them, although I will admit that one of them does appear to have gone a little stagnant. Good varient and I would be happy to play in another one - a one weeker would be fine, I usually do at least a rough draught of my gunboat turn as soon as the previous turn arrives anyway.
It is refreshing to play without having to consult allies over every move and it will be very interesting to talk things over when they finally end. I know for sure my allies in one game will be cursing me about now for making a complete hash of something and I will have some rather pointed questions for a few people myself.
A limited info version was proposed on the list a while back and that also has an appeal - the idea of an anonymous 100 word notice every few turns seems like a a good idea, all the advantages of GB but with a little more room for player co-ordination. 100 words seems alittle much tho. Maybe limiting players to a single 20 word message sent to their entire team might be more interesting, restricing the info that can be passed on’ you can say alot in 100 words.
I agree that only the allies should know which nations of theirs are out. This prevents some scav from going around and picking up the remaining pop centers!! Probably harder for ME to do, since I notice the dead nations are listed on the front sheets.
For now though …