Ray the Wanderer Ray the Wanderer

Fellowship of the Ring Empire Thread

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Fellowship of the Ring Empire Thread

from Stardock Forums
The Prancing Pony

The welcome sight of a tavern greeted the weary traveler as he moved within distance of the town. Having traveled for many days, he longed for a cool mug of ale to slake his road-thirst.

As he approached the inn, he could see a sign of a fat pony rearing up on its hindlegs. The letters, THE PRANCING PONY, was painted in white.

The common room was large and rowdy. A bald and overweight innkeeper stood bent over the counter, whispering the latest gossip into the ears of a patron. On the benches were various folks, the local drunks for most part, but in corners of the taverns, he noticed there were groups drinking by themselves.

Setting himself down, the traveler handed a couple of coppers over to one of the bar wrenches for ale.

“Welcome to the Pony.” The traveler was mildly surprised to find a sprightly old man next to him, holding his gaze with keen eyes that belittled his obvious antiquity.

“Thank you, and whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?”

“Folks around here call me Ray and I do enjoy meeting up with newcomers to see if there is any assistance I could render.”

“That would be great, Ray. I would love to learn about the people who reside in these parts.”

“Ah, that’s a frequently asked question and one I’m well qualified to answer. There are a couple of factions here in Meta that you will want to watch out for.

The Pirates are currently dominant. Not the most refined of speakers but they are a jovial bunch, with a particular weakness for good drinks.

The Diplomats hold power in the Courts. Their courtiers are many but they don’t really mix with us common folks.

The Farmers are our working class. Hardworking and honest, they are however on occasion given over to overly elaborate festivals and celebrations.

The Galahs are a group of seafarers. They are also good trainers of livestock.

The Warlords are our warrior class. Their love for long campaigns leaves them frequently out of town.

The Spiders monopolise our merchant guilds. They are by far the most invertebrate bunch of traders you will ever see.

Far to the north, the Undead holds a death grip over the wastelands. I would caution you against traveling down that road.

There are many other smaller factions around, but I leave the details of those to Barley our bartender.

One of our tavern regulars, Gerakken the Spymaster, is also in the know with regards to many of the factions. So do buy him a drink if you want to find out more.”

“Thanks for the insights, Ray. But how about yourself, which faction do you belong to?”

Smiling to himself, the old man stood.

“Come round the Fellowship Halls tomorrow morning and I’ll show you around.”
467,801 views 2,185 replies
Reply #1076 from Stardock Forums Top
There was only one Maso player who lobbied hard for scoring changes and that was Staffa
End of quote


Several lobbied hard including you.

Both of them made valuable contributions to scoring IMO. With the pop nerfs, players are no longer able to get big increases in score just by pressing the enter key for more pop. I thought that was a great change which did not merely benefit Maso players.
End of quote


This is non-sequitor to my post. And all it did was change the date of hitting turn. You now do it earlier and give aliens all your pop and morale tech's and wonders before you take em over. It just changed what was milked. Exactly what I said would happen.

The point of my post was these were precisely the changes that dropped the maso (and to a lesser extent crippling) scores. A totally unintended effect. You never answered that point.

The rearrangement of victory conditions was not a result of lobbying.
End of quote


It wasn't? The several why should someone be able to hide in the corner threads followed by frogboy's
capitulation says otherwise.
Reply #1077 from Stardock Forums Top
Several lobbied hard including you.
End of quote


Which other Maso player did? Did I? When and where?

This is non-sequitor to my post. And all it did was change the date of hitting turn. You now do it earlier and give aliens all your pop and morale tech's and wonders before you take em over. It just changed what was milked. Exactly what I said would happen.
End of quote


That's why I made the suggestion to Frogboy when he was asking for scoring feedback not to include pop, tech, TGs/wonders, economy etc in the score. Those are too easy to abuse.

The point of my post was these were precisely the changes that dropped the maso (and to a lesser extent crippling) scores. A totally unintended effect. You never answered that point.
End of quote


Nope. Pop nerfing affected scores of all difficulty levels from Calkwalk to Maso. A Calkwalk player can get lots more score as well through pressing turn.

It wasn't? The several why should someone be able to hide in the corner threads followed by frogboy's capitulation says otherwise.
End of quote


I must have missed those threads. Can you tell me where you saw them?
[Message Edited]
Star Control: Origins
Reply #1078 from Stardock Forums Top
The people I remember as being especially vocal about the Metaverse were Staffa and Code Monkey, and Code Monkey's not a maso player.

A question for the Spymaster. What seems to be the most common difficulty level played?
Reply #1079 from Stardock Forums Top
What you are asking for is indeed daunting research, vincible. However, since I was already digging into the depths of my own empire this very night, I can tell you what every player in GROSS who ever submitted a game played at (average level of difficulty weighted toward last three games submitted per player):

Cakewalk : 2
Easy : 1
Simple : 5
Beginner : 4
Normal : 6
Challenging: 8
Tough : 4
Painful : 7
Crippling : 5
Masochistic: 1

It is obvious to see that, at least in GROSS, playing above normal difficulty is preferred. It will take longer to do further research on the other major empires, and I might save that task for further expansions to my Major Empires thread.
Reply #1080 from Stardock Forums Top
I've compiled a similar profile for the Fellowship,

Calkwalk : 0
Easy : 0
Simple : 2
Beginner : 2
Normal : 5
Challenging : 8
Tough : 1
Painful : 9
Crippling : 8
Maso : 1

Most popular are Challenging, Painful and Crippling.
Reply #1081 from Stardock Forums Top
a similar profile for the Fellowship
End of quote


If you weighted it to the last three games, mine are probably atypical - I wanted a few quick games to get up to 20 played and promotion to commodore....

Alex


~SDC~
Reply #1082 from Stardock Forums Top
Yes Alex, I noted you down as one of the four who plays simple/beginner. You are probably more a challenging player looking at your old games.
Reply #1083 from Stardock Forums Top
Whoa! I'm 13th on the Average Scores board! And mysteriously, I moved up from 92 to 91 overnight... :notsure:

Reply #1084 from Stardock Forums Top
Whoa! I'm 13th on the Average Scores board!
End of quote


That's a very decent rank for a relative new player like you. :)

And mysteriously, I moved up from 92 to 91 overnight
End of quote


Probably a dormant player got aged down.
Reply #1085 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks! Didn't realize how hard it would be to stay in the Top 100! :)
Reply #1086 from Stardock Forums Top
Probably a dormant player got aged down.
End of quote


Dormant players do not get aged down. Scores only degrade durning calculation, and that only happens when a game is submitted, when a player's scores are converted to a new Drengin.net account, or during a metaverse-wide recalculation which, as far as I know, has only happen once.
Reply #1087 from Stardock Forums Top
Nope. Pop nerfing affected scores of all difficulty levels from Calkwalk to Maso. A Calkwalk player can get lots more score as well through pressing turn.
End of quote



1. Pop got nerfed.
2. Nerfing one item makes another item relatively more important.
2a, Wonders, are relatively more important now.
2b. Those are things you cannot get as much of on Maso for the most part.
2c. Those are things you can get much more of on lower levels of difficulty.

Conclusion: Nerfing pop hurt maso the most relative to the other levels.

Simple logic. Shame you can't seem to practice it.


That's why I made the suggestion to Frogboy when he was asking for scoring feedback not to include pop, tech, TGs/wonders, economy etc in the score. Those are too easy to abuse.

Yes but what you suggested is totally lame and will result in mass exodous from the metaverse.

Oh well, I'll let the whiners and crybabies do their thing and get back to playing. It's obvious you're just disagreeing to be disagreeable.
Reply #1088 from Stardock Forums Top
Oh well, I'll let the whiners and crybabies do their thing and get back to playing. It's obvious you're just disagreeing to be disagreeable.
End of quote


Easy, Pontius. I don't think there's a need for name calling here.

:notsure:
Reply #1089 from Stardock Forums Top
Easy, Pontius. I don't think there's a need for name calling here
End of quote


Theoden. It's not namecalling. It's just observation. If it's not one thing wrong with the scoring It's another. Frogboy makes the modifications asked for and no sooner completed then the whining begins again. Then they make their way into our thread and chastise our members for not "playing high enough" Although at least that has stopped for the time being as several got called on it then vowed never to post there again in childish fashion. It really becomes quite tiresome actually. Well Off to the daily grind..... bbl.
Reply #1090 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm not sure I see it as whining, but you have the right to your own opinion.

In a more fraternal spirit, check out the newest news flash on Fellowship News! It should brighten your day...

http://home.earthlink.net/~nascarfanatic/fellowshipnewslog/

Fellowship News - All the News A Ring Wraith Needs!
Reply #1091 from Stardock Forums Top
Just for fun, I searched the GROSS thread and EBZeroMatrix (EBZ) has his early strategy on post #1106. Maybe this will save others time. I was really curious how the "high volume" approach is different from the "big galaxy" or "tougher difficulty" when scoring in the metaverse. EBZ says he plays differently now and the July 3 strategy needs a tune-up but the basics are good nuts & bolts strategy. Maybe EBZ will contribute to an updated Orion Gal Civ Strategy Guide sometime.

I played EBZ's basic game of small, abundant, +2 speed, +2 sensors, all victory conditions off, AI on subnormal with overall difficulty beginner. Then I modified it by getting just enough techs to trade soon enough that I never had to cut my spending under 100% in the begining. My basic strategy was to bankrupt the AI fast while trading with a minor. Toward the end I gifted a starbase to the Arceans so the game would last long enough to not only get all the TG/wonders/achievments but research all tech. I was zero level evil so got some extra techs (although nothing approaching the power of trade centers when one plays good). The turn after I researched all the tech I took a few dreadnoughts and combat transports and finished the Arceans. Interestingly, the score was a pretty good 11610 for a beginner game. Sadly, it still took me 5 hours (although I turn off sound and listen to Mozart, Beethoven, Stravinsky, etc. CDs when I play) so I may take longer than most. LOL.

I wrote this because the beginner game can yield high scores even on small. EBZ is amazing for cranking out several games in the time it took me to play one and for being able to do this all the time. I didn't feel like I beat the AI - I mugged the AI. LOL.

So I think I will try to find a fun level (like Painful) with a map big enough I can research all the techs (smaller than gigantic so probably large or huge). I am still experimenting with density, habitable, and good v. evil. I sure wasted time with my early games by playing neutral. LOL.

I have looked at most of Fellowship metaverse scores and am curious as to favorite sizes of galaxies, habitability, and star density. Perhaps you can share your thoughts on why you think certain maps are the most fun. Of course, variety is fun too. Thanks for your comments.

Rick
[Message Edited]
Reply #1092 from Stardock Forums Top
I play Large or Huge because smaller than that and it's too quick (for me). I like longer, drawn out campaigns with some extended wars and lots of exploration.

My favorite setup is Huge/Uncommon/Loose Clusters/Challenging

Not too easy, but not too hard. The AI has room to play, but not enough 15+ planets to run away with it. Actually this setup seems to provide a balanced game (at least for me).
Reply #1093 from Stardock Forums Top
Easy, Pontius. I don't think there's a need for name calling here.
End of quote


That's not the first time, Theoden. He resorts to that when he knows he can't outreason someone.

That's why I'm sick of having any form of reasonable discussion with him. Remind me not to respond to him again.
Reply #1094 from Stardock Forums Top
Dormant players do not get aged down. Scores only degrade durning calculation, and that only happens when a game is submitted, when a player's scores are converted to a new Drengin.net account, or during a metaverse-wide recalculation which, as far as I know, has only happen once.
End of quote


You are the expert on the Metaverse computations, IceMole. But I could have sworn I've seen some scores get reduced even though that person did not submit a game.

I believe they should do a periodic Metaverse-wide recalc else a dormant player's score would stay at the same level if no further games are submitted.
Reply #1096 from Stardock Forums Top
Theoden of Rohan excellent link, I haven't checked out the LOTR Site for a while . . . its kicking along nicely, I heard there was like pictures and other goodies there too? Didn't see them though, did they get taken down?

Egads GROSS is winning! Aggg! I shall double my efforts and give 200%! Is that possible? or should I say 150%? Is that double? Or is 100% all I can give . . . mmmm, now I'm confussed and I think I feel a migrain comming on, mabye even an Anyerism ;p

Alternatively if I double my efforts and thats 100% it can only mean I was giving 50% befor and an therefor a 'slacker'! . . . I apologize therefor for my laziness! :notsure:

I can relate to PontiusBruinPilot mentality, people say I aslo lack a degree of 'tact' . . . hehe. He can (from what I've seen) be quite charming when it suites though . . .

I've been thinking alot about the results of the difficulty calculations experiment. Lower difficulty games rated much much higher than expected. All in all that's not such a bad thing. I recall playing on Normal for the first time thinking 'yikes' this is impossible!

The observations made by others that the scoring system as it stands seeks not to discourage new players (which to its credit it does wonderfully well . . . except for that fellow who got a score of ""9"" . . . hehe) also invites exploitation. There's no way around this that I can see . . .

Anyway I've started a nude experiment! I mean new sry . . . Exploring scoring as related to map sizes . . . should be interesting . . . although not looking foward to some of the small returns on little maps.

Edit EBZ . . . nice one! Ha !

Still the brides maid . . . LOL .
Call me anything you like, just not late for supper!


[Message Edited]
Reply #1098 from Stardock Forums Top
EBZ is amazing for cranking out several games in the time it took me to play one and for being able to do this all the time. I didn't feel like I beat the AI - I mugged the AI. .
End of quote


Thanks ricbayer! :) Nice to see someone appreciate and give me some props for my effort, from another emipre :D .

Concerning my newly tweaked strategy, it can be applied to all other versions, but perferably 1.09. I'm working on a website to distribute my new strategy, as I have a saved 1.09 game to go along with it as a teaching aide.

I am currently having problems with using(/learning) Javascript, and anyone that knows this perhaps might be able to help me roll out this site faster so that I can release my guide. But then again, I might get fed up with the JS and release it this Friday if I am in a better mood.

Thanks again ricbayer for the props, and I'll be sure not to add you to 'the list' LOL (the Altarians are the only ones on it though).
[Message Edited]
Reply #1099 from Stardock Forums Top
Egads GROSS is winning! Aggg! I shall double my efforts and give 200%! Is that possible? or should I say 150%? Is that double? Or is 100% all I can give . . . mmmm, now I'm confussed and I think I feel a migrain comming on, mabye even an Anyerism.
End of quote


The Metaverse race is a marathon so don't worry about the small lead GROSS has, Cotal. I'm more concerned with you burning out there. Make sure you pace yourself, take a break once in a while. :)

I apologize therefor for my laziness!
End of quote


Absolutely no need for that. Metaverse competition is just one aspect of empiring. I would personally feel that the Fellowship is more about trying to contribute to the game/forum, discussing strategy and indulging in the occassional role-playing/story writing. Competition is for fun and not the key thing here.

The observations made by others that the scoring system as it stands seeks not to discourage new players (which to its credit it does wonderfully well . . . except for that fellow who got a score of ""9"" . . . hehe) also invites exploitation.
End of quote


Agree that there will never be something near a perfect scoring system. My personal style is to provide some suggestions and opinions but to take whatever system that the developer decides on and play by it. I believe in the argument that if you don't like the system, don't participate in it.

people say I aslo lack a degree of 'tact'
End of quote


You may be that :D that but I've never sensed any malice in your words.