Game 68 GMs v Praetorians

[Clint]

Just saying a quick hi to our enemy, Kim, Mike et al. Have fun guys.

Over by turn 12?:D :eek: :rolleyes:

Clint (player)

[DaveHolt]

Who is DS and who if FP?

[tshuiatt]

Come on Clint, you should be able to hold on for more than 12 turns, last I checked you guys hadn't lost <G>.

Looking forward to a great game, I hope both sides will post on a regular bases so some of us spectators will be able to follow the action.

Go GM's.

later,

tim

[Clint]

We're FPs and we've lost once. Ed blew up the Corsairs turn 0-1 and although we battled valiantly we couldn't make up the economy and with South Harad DS we were stuffed long term (we did good though, but it was too much of an uphill struggle). Got into Mordor and was doing fine but overall it was too much to bring back.

So T12 - depends on Ed both ways! (He blew up the Duns last game as well but at least that was Turn 3 so we managed...) :rolleyes: That with the North King dead in a non-GM team game and we're a tad anxious... :o (In answer to your next question, no I'm not saying which nations Ed is playing! ;) ) I vaguely recall another time but that might just be faulty memory there... (try to put them behind me now... shudder....)

Sam's got the most dead nations tally in one game with WK and FK though so that's always one to bring up... :) (Think Richard Devereux breaks the record there but I'm not sure). Me so far just the infamous FTF Rhudaur in a "grudge game" that I recall.... been close a few times of course... :fork:

Clint (player)

[kim]

Hi,

Greetings from the DS.
What are you saying, that you expect to conceed around turn 12 ? We are good, but not THAT good, a FP conceed turn 15 is much more realistic :-)

Anyway this should be a much interesting game, I expect this to be one of the greatest challenges we have had as DS. And if I follow my intuition it will be a very long game....of course with DS victory at last :-)

Good luck and good praise lord Sauron, cos he is truely the keeper of true freedom...

KA

Just saying a quick hi to our enemy, Kim, Mike et al. Have fun guys.
Over by turn 12?:D :eek: :rolleyes:
Clint (player)

[Sam Roads]

We also expect a concession around turn 12-15.

Cheers! :) :)

Sam

[tshuiatt]

So who is winning now <G>.

tim

[Clint]

No-one - no turns have been run and I've stopped Ed blowing up on turn 1... :D

Clint (player)

[tshuiatt]

So if Ed doesn't blow up turn one, I guess that means you are winning <G>.

Praetorians are in trouble.

tim

[Clint]

Well it means we haven't lost yet... :rolleyes:

Clint (player)

[Clint]

First turn in and looks like the DS have been conservative and defensive. We're happy.... More will have to be said later as it might give away too much... :rolleyes:

No-one dead..... We'll lose Imladris but well worth the potential benefits.

Market strong still but we're just about to hit Autumn so that's good. Pretty standard moves by the Dog, DkL and IK on turn 1, Harad gets to lose 3 Pcs despite attempts to the contrary.

:)

Clint (player)

[Clint]

Cool - what a hard game this is going to be... Just had the turn back and as expected the DS went for the Eothraim so that's good. Gotta see if we can take 2715 on t3 (need to do some number crunching for that). DraLd coming back to defend?

Blocked the WK up North - coming for 2004 guys the long way around? Fortress Mordor it is then... :p Selling mounts, always a bad sign that but we're happy to take them off your hands.

Market is going south, that's good, we'll see what the next few turns will bring there.

Clint (player)

[Clint]

Latest turns are back - Harad's taking a bit of a pasting (2 more PCs to fall this turn - very lucky challenge guys must be desperate!) but other than things are somewhat quiet in many ways. Looks like the DS have a dirty sick squad early in the game. Their panic moment has ended this turn which is interesting. The onslaught begins. :stab::bash::fork:

DG (2715) falls this turn (4) - good to see and sets the scene for later capitals falling so that the DS get used to it. We see the Dog Lord fool around with his cavalry, maybe he doesn't want to get his tunics dirty? ;)

What else? Well that'd be telling wouldn't it... :p

Clint (player)

[Clint]

Guess they don't want to talk... :p

Clint (player)

[tshuiatt]

Guess it won't last 12 turns,

Oh well,

tim

[kim]

Well, everthing you are telling is just what you can expect to happend in these games :-)

What you havent told is all the FP bad news :-)
- like losing Bain, his army and all his com artifacts turn three
- like the fact that you seem to be losing the Artifact hunt
- like the fact that we are close of having our first operational curze squad
- like the fact that its now dragon time, and you havnt reached any WK, Rhd or Mordor centers !!!
- like the fact that Mirkwood is nearly empty of FP troops and DS is now launching a large scale campagn to kick ass in this region. Sad that you can only hide one center at a time. You saved 2711 for now, but you cant save them all. The DoL cavalry is just waiting for the right moment and that moment is now !!!

The DS kill rate is now at:
- Two kidnapped, one curzed and three challenged out.

I can guarantee you a lot of FP characters will follow their fate the next couple of turns, and hopefully also a lot of FP centers !!! But besides this what an excellent game, FP always have the military advantage in the start, but lets see what happens when we reach past turn 15 when the character war starts to kick in :-)


KA

[Clint]

LOL... ;) Most amusing. No Rhudaur or WK because we've not attacked any, ditto the Mordor regions. Doncha just love spiel...

Clint (player)

[kim]

LOL... ;) Most amusing. No Rhudaur or WK because we've not attacked any, ditto the Mordor regions. Doncha just love spiel...

Clint (player)

Yes, and if our blocks works as they should, the only WiK/Rhd center you will reach next turn is 1910, the question is then if you have enough troops to take it....

I hope for an interesting turn tomorrow :-)


KA

[Clint]

Think that both sides are keeping quiet as there's too much information to potentially give away... LOL :rolleyes::cool:

Clint (player)

[Clint]

Turn 6....

you're so dead...
you're so dead...
you're so dead...
you're so dead...

Careless giving gold away with the Doggie, you're going to need that straight back. North Harad now official free of scum and villany, and so many DS dead or captured this turn that it's a rout... :p:D:eek:

Oh yeh and Bain's lovely items back where they belong as well. What is the BS army doing?! - Got it - sight-seeing but forgot to pack the picnic basket.

What was that about Mirkwood again? Appears to be no pcs lost by us despite a major offensive. Quite funny @2004, is that your third army you sent there to take it now?

Artefact hunt is going fine btw.... as is the economy, looks like a failed buy-out this turn guys (buy at 5 sell at 4 is not good) and with the rest of the product going cheap, blocking armies failing to block and Morannon about to die horribly - well couldn't really ask for much more good stuff this turn I suppose without being greedy. Okay we'll give you Barazon, twice Mumaks now, but that's about it really. QA defending desperately as well without a single gain of PC....

Harad down to 3 (lucky challenge to keep one of them), Rhudaur down to 2 pcs this turn (probably none next turn), WK to 3 in the NW and soon Dragon Lord out of Mirkwood.

LOVURLY TURN...

Clint (player)

[mikesankey]

Yes good turn for the FP - well played.

You are now ahead - but not for long.:stab:

[tshuiatt]

Once a side moves ahead, the other side generally doesn't catch up. Dark servants sound like they are in trouble to me.

Of course I only see what is written in this thread.

tim

[Clint]

Hya Mike, yep no doubt a few characters dead this turn, ;) but losing Uvatha's army probably stopped the onslaught in the East I reckon and the NW is now just a matter of grind I suspect. With the BS army having done nothing all game then that must cost you guys a bunch in terms of ability to do stuff.

Corsairs could be an interesting battle, Mordor all depends on dragons and what you've got in reserve I suspect.

I agree it's not over yet, but it's probably the beginning of the end now...:o First turn we could really say that so... We'll see, you can turn it around I strongly suspect and now the agents should start kicking into play big time but winter is coming as well so...

Clint (player)

[kim]

Dear Clint and team,

A little better DS turn. We will reclaim Osgilath and Morannon next turn, all DS still alive and finances are still good despite entering winter, due to low army cost. Its our characters that has to save us now :-)

And thanks for the Arthedain command artifacts, its nice that you willingly hands them over to Khamul and furthermore also increase his mage rank slightly. You will not require these back as easily as the dwarven ones.

I admit that DS are under strong pressure, and holding Mordor through the Winter without losing more vital capitals, is probably what determines if we have a chance to get back into this game for real. Let’s see if we can accomplish that with agents, curze and dragons coming into place.

Noldo agent Gamling was a nice scalp to get, but still Elladan has to pay for his crimes before this game is over. He has avoided his death a few times, but we are nearly ready with our next curze squad. Let see how many turns more Elladan can avoid his destiny. We have a pretty good idea where you are going next, lets see if we are right...



DS turn 8 report.
For those who like a little more detailed report on what has happened in this game. Here is the DS report where I will try to be as honest as possible :-)

Clint and his team has conducted what I would describe as military play on such a high level that I have never seen anything like this this in my 15 years of ME playing. All FP nations has coordinated perfectly on a large scale strategy to penetrate Mordor very early and destroy Harad/Rhudaur/WiK as fast as possible. I would only be able to do such manoeuvres myself if I played all 12 nations or if all players agreed on all army and character moves for the first 6 turns which was planned in ahead, as they require absolute coordination.

To be more clear this means:

* All nations only names four new commander and retire mages.
The goal is to destroy Mordor and win the game in 12 turns with massive military power, so only commanders are needed.

* Transfer of pops to optimize recruitment.
2608, 2709 transferred to Woodmen for recruitment. 3612 and 3316 transferred to Dwarves. NG MT's transferred to allied to bring recruitment closer to Mordor.

* Arthedain, Cardolan and Duns optimize recruitment before attacking WK an Rhudaur turn three.
- While WK and Rhd waste a lot of command orders on blocking manoeuvres and large upkeep to armies, FP just stay and recruit for the first two turns, and then go for Rhudaur in a combined and coordinated attack, before the dragons arrives.

* All starting cavalry in the game heads for Mordor turn one.
All MO bought each turn and HC hired against Mordor. Cardolan, Arthedain, Duns, Eot, NM sends HC armies towards Mordor ASAP.

* All larger armies around Mordor recruits and heads for Mordor ASAP.
- Dwarven capital army first to Dol Guldur, then meet up with all other dwarven troops from Iron hills and 3916
- SG capture/threaten N Harad quickly and then concentrate on Ithril pass together with NG
- Corsairs recruit 500 HC at capital every turn and easily take out the poor defended southern harad towns in a few turns. Corsairs combine all his starting troops in one army early and goes for 2535.


In 8 turns we have fought and destroyed the following around Morannon:
- 1000 Cardolan cavalry
- 3000 Duns cavalry
- 2000 Arthedain cavalry
- 2000 NG HC, 3000 mixed troops
- 6000 Eot cavalry, 2000 HI
- 6000 dwarven HI
- 2000 NM mixed troops
- 4000 Sinda HI

This is an overwhelming amount of troops, and against nearly all DS teams this will penetrate Mordor one way or the other. And if not DS assassins/curze/dragons are extremely well coordinated around Mordor, Mordor will certainly fall in less than 12 turns !!!


We have defeated the first huge FP wave against Mordor and this game will not be over in 12 turns, but FP certainly have the edge. DS still have a fighting chance in NW where WiK still have all his MT's intact. LR is getting ready for a new assult on NM after the unfair slaughter of Uvatha and all LR troops. BlS still have his main army intact right next to the Eot complex. FP have been clever to hide the targets we have chosen so far, but they will soon run out of luck and mantle of Doriath will be removed from play. In Harad DS actually have the military advantage and Corsairs should have his first MT destroyed next turn.

In 8 turns we have kidnapped 12 characters and killed around 15-20 characters, so DS are no where defeated. Lets see how the situation looks in 5 turns. If not FP manage to break through Mordor, we will be ready to counterattack and take the advantage.

DS logging out for now....

[tshuiatt]

Very nice update Kim, thanks.

Wow, and enourmous amount of troops sent after Mordor early. I would like to know how you managed to defeat all of them. Perhaps at game end you will be able to expand on your strategy.

tim

[Clint]

Thanks Kim, our team-play is our strong point. Individually errors occur, we've deliberately kept the BS army alive, it's done nothing all game... ;)

As to winning, not sure if we'll actually win, there's been enough errors on our side to impact on the game (eg Bain's army, NM error were two biggies) to slow down the assault enough. Stopped two buy-outs so far so that's good and with prices 1s across the board (br = 3 mi/mo low) then we're hoping that's hurting you guys. Fun to see some of the big armies come out to play.

What is Dendra upto!!! Got lost uh?!

Gamling was a tad annoying - guess he showed up at the PC uh!? Nasty.

Rhudaur loses his last northern pc this turn and WK should be on the ropes shortly. Harad down to 2 (nearly 1!). QA decent play so that's cute.

You've not mentioned the lucky challenges you guys have had - Khamul should be dead this turn and the Harad commander lucking out down south saved the PC there, along with a bunch of Mumaks that slowed things down a lot. No worries, we win, we lose - it's fun and a good challenge! :D

Clint (player)

[Blue Knight]

Lords of Sauron here is a tip on how to beat Clint and Team -- Use and get Dragons into your armies -- was the only way we did it to beat them -- have to use them stratgically and have emissary replace camps that they burn in the misty's as they did with us !!

Clint I would like to know what your side does because from what i remember of that game you kept coming at us with wave after wave of Heavy cavalry !! I have toyed with the idea that you must get your taxes well above the 59%/60% that everyone normally does on turn 1/2 to purchase mounts and leather !! but atlas I can't afford to run 12 postion in one game to give my theory a try !!

And till today it was still the most balls to the walls game i have ever been in !!

[Clint]

Is that the one where we blew up the Corsairs on turn 1? Shame that, as we'd have won the game otherwise... LOL

So how do we beat Kim's team then guys as everyone's posting our strategy and details on how we play etc... ;)

Clint (player)

[Blue Knight]

Clint -- yes that was the game , you guys conceeded after like turn 13 or something , but we did do pretty good getting dragons into the armies to stop your push into Mordor !! Would still like to know where you got all those Heavy cavalry -- don't think I remember seeing one army after the intial ones where used where it wasn't heavy cavalry hitting us -- has to be a tax hike way above the normal 59%/60% and you guys where buying Leather/mounts to pump out the HC !!

Never seen so many small armies coming into the misty mountains to burn evil camps either !!

If ever got the chance to play against you again -- would try to get everyone to jack there taxes (thinking around 80%) and try the buying of mounts and leather to pump out the HC to see how that goes !! Wish I didn't move and got rid of those files as I am sure could have figured out more of what you guys do !!

Was still the best game I was ever in !! If anyone wants a fast paced , action every turn game they hould definately play your team :) !

[Clint]

Yeh - we put up a valiant fight, Ed wanted to try something in the game and so he did, :mad: but with 11v12 we were stuffed on Turn 0. Broke into Mordor etc but was unable to hurt you economically enough.

Clint (player)

[Blue Knight]

Yes - i to would like to know :)

[mikesankey]

Well Elrond died last turn (we are on turn 11).

We are doing well in Corsair land (2 of his MTs already overrun)

However Angmar is almost gone and fortress Mordor is under siege.

It can still go either way.

[Clint]

Yeh close game... ;) I think both sides don't want to say anything just in case... :)

Clint (player)

[mikesankey]

I just love my dragons

[kim]

Hi,

For those interested turn 12 has just been processed and what an eventful turn.
I think Clint must agree that this was certainly a great DS turn, it could have been perfect if not we had some unluck with the rolls.

All DS still alive and we are nearing spring season, but we are under severe military pressure. It can go both ways from here which the next couple of turns probably will indicate.

If we start with the character war, we caught Elrond last turn with our curze boys. Unfortunately we failed this turn to get his company commander with all the juicy artifacts as one of our curze boys had a really bad day. Well, our second curze team had a much better day as we had ambushed the entire Noldo agent squad. Gildor was curzed out while Elrohir died in ji indurs arms and we stole RoI. Elladan however managed to slip away that lucky bastard, how many times can he avoid his fate ? Again had we just known that Elladan was the company commander, we would surely had targeted differently.

On the military front FP are playing with their muscles against Mordor. With three dragons we wiped 5 FP armies at 3222 including a huge Sinda army, and what happens, FP just move in two new huge armies. In the same time Gothmog with 3500 troops and dragon tried to defend Osgiliath against 4 NG armies including one huge and one large SG army, but it was too many troops. Lets see what our assassins can do about that...

Can someone please ask Clint politely to slow down the massive attack on Mordor, we even have to arm our women to recruit new troops. I would really like a truce, just a couple of turns, so we can get our women and children in safety from the brutal FP troops :-)



KA

[Clint]

I think Clint must agree that this was certainly a great DS turn, it could have been perfect if not we had some unluck with the rolls.

Nope, sorry Kim, it was an interesting turn. One of the things I love about the game is the difference in perception.... You were unlucky?! Wow, there was I thinking that our kill on Ji Indur bounced by our own PC was unlucky, and 3 very good threaten chances failed. 3 dragons was very lucky for that army though, boo..., especially as we nearly went to assassinate it instead.

Market 1 across the board, mithril bought at 44 now sell at 43. Gold for nought with the DS and WK desperately hanging on in the NW (one pc after this turn and desperately running low tax to keep that) and Corsairs recaptured all its losses and now on the offensive, leaving us with troops into Mordor and nothing much outside of Mordor now.

Fascinating game... Best dragon game I've seen, slightly below-average agent game if you want feedback. I do love Ohtar's start Sindar army though, 3 pcs taken, one item picked up, and not blocking a horde of Harad troops....

Gotta love those armies, oh and the next wave is on the way again.

Clint (player)

[mikesankey]

Just to remind Clint what he said at game start:

"Just saying a quick hi to our enemy, Kim, Mike et al. Have fun guys.

Over by turn 12?

Clint (player)"

It is now turn 12 and I would just like to congratulate Clint's team. Despite his prediction his team has managed to last to turn 12.

Mike:o

[Clint]

Dragons, pah! :D;) Bonus is that Ed hasn't blown up a nation so we've improved... :rolleyes::eek:

Clint (Player)

[mikesankey]

I love this game.

Still on a knife edge.:bash:

[Blue Knight]

NEWS -- whats happening -- Inquiring minds would like to know ??

[kim]

NEWS -- whats happening -- Inquiring minds would like to know ??

Turn 14 has just been processed...and quite bloody as 12 FP characters and a hell lot of FP troops were killed by assassins/curze around Mordor. But they just keep on comming....

I dont know how many more turns we can keep out the outradious pressure on Mordor, but at least its season change next turn !!!


KA

[Clint]

Good game... market is still stuffed - who says you can't defeat buy-outs uh?! :eek:

Still in the balance.

Clint

[Clint]

Everything's cool. Close game. ;)

Clint (player)

[Blue Knight]

Argg -- yea but how's it going -- did the freeps bust into mordor :bash: , did the evils repel :fork: , hows angmar looking not to mention Corsairs/harad :stab: lands !! We need/want info !!

[Clint]

How come?! LOL :rolleyes: Planning our downfall? RFLMAO

IK capital falls this turn - the fight over Corsair land is still intense and the market is at 1s after a slight blip into 2 last turn for metals. Camps go up in the Misties, camps go down although Thranduil failing to threaten with over 70 Command twice in a row is a tad annoying.

Gotta go - work to do...

Anything more is too delicate.

Clint (player)

[kim]

Turn 18 is comming up and its difficult to say how this game will end. FP are slowly advancing into Mordor and DS are desperately trying to recruit dragons and slay as many armies as possible with curze/assassins. The main question is if we can knock out commanders faster than they can be replaced...before Mordor is completely conquered....right now its 10-15 commanders a turn we take out...

So we shall see, a very exciting game anyway :-)


KA

[Clint]

Yes, very close game.

Clint (player)

[Blue Knight]

So, over three weeks since last report -- have to had at least two turns run by then -- any news ??

[kim]

So, over three weeks since last report -- have to had at least two turns run by then -- any news ??

Hi,

Hehehehe...impatience are we ? :-)
The game is still at a complete deadlock. FP are now at the inner gates of Mordor, where we try to hold them outside FK capital and 3222, but we are nailing more and more characters each turn. I think we have targeted 16 for next turn :-)

To tell the truth I have no idea how this game will end. Its one of the wirdest and most interesting games I have played so far. I find it facinating how many troops FP can bring to mordor each turn, when we have kidnapped that many and keep on taking them out like a russian slaughterhouse, I think FP soon must run dry of new character names.....:-)

We shall get back when we have some more interesting to tell.....like when we lauch our counterattack and take out two-three FP nations within a five turn span :D


KA

[Blue Knight]

Told ya , Clint and Company will give you a fight you will never forget -- anyone that wants a real challenge should take um on -- best grudge team I ever fought against !!

[Clint]

Yeh it's a good game. We're on the FK capital this turn, but it's still a big old battle trying to break through into the heart of Mordor. Up north they keep putting up camps, and we keep taking them down. Their Em squads are being awkward but we're dealing with that. Economy is still down, but with food @2 this turn that should give the DS a much needed breather.

Clint (player)

[kim]

Well turn 22 was just processed today and it still looks very interesting.

We were all quite pissed after turn 21 was processed as the most important roll of the turn was a complete fumble roll. I dont know many times Sam had to rerun that turn :-), but a lot of doors in my house certainly had a good beaten :-) We had cought the FP agent squad with an 80 agent, and knew the company commander a 10 com / 30 agent as he was doubled. So two curze teams and many agents were sadly inactive this turn :-(

But we shall certainly rectify this following turn as we have full target list for all capable agents and curze teams. FP have still not reached FK or DaL capitals as we are successfully stopping them outside and taking out all commanders and armies each turn :-)
Down in corsairs nearly all Corsairs commanders has been killed, and now we will sweap throug and take back all his centers, while sieging his capital away along with emis. Meanwhile FP are trying out an attack aganist CL capital which they have visited twice now with their agent squad removing all fortifications. But they got blocked, so lets see how far they get.

And the best part, WiK capital at 1804 still holds. FP have now tried threatning it four turns in a row with four different armies. But Carn Dum is Murazors fortress, they know what happens to their family, chrildren, friends and pets if they surrender to the enemy....

[Clint]

For clarity we have been at the FK capital but met the odd dragon... :rolleyes:

As usual real-politik and reality are two different things... LOL :eek:;)

Clint (player)

[kim]

Hi,

Yeaa, turn 23 was pretty good for DS :-)
The threat towards CL capital turned out to be a NG HC army with warmashines, but a couple of nice placed assassinations and challengss took care of that army. And the joy was huge when Elladan finally met his destiny at CL capital, after he had just taken out Gothmog a 86 armycom at a city/castle 100% capital.

And next turn at least one more of the big Noldo guys will meet his fate, and then we see a new incomming army towards CL capital....uhhh we are so excited what that will be...havnt you learned the lecture ? :-D
Also FP are sending armies towards Harad now, and sieging his capital with agents. But the questions remains, can we catch their squad for a third turn is a row ? Well, we have some good ideas where they will be, lets see if we are right.

Other than that the situation is a still mate in Corsairs area and Mordor. Wave after wave arrives and we only have our dragons and agents to protect, some time they will get lucky like this turn when one powerful CL agent failed his target and NG mannaged to reach FK capital with a large army. Luckily he now does not have any backups :-)


KA

[Clint]

WK lost 2 MTs this turn and is very likely out but we'll see. Lots of fun. ;)

Clint (player)

[Blue Knight]

Any news -- been over 3 weeks and a turn or two has had to run :) !!

[kim]

Any news -- been over 3 weeks and a turn or two has had to run :) !!

Well, turn 27 runs tomorrow and all nations are still alive. I'm off for vacation in Valencia, so I will have to wait a week to see the results, but it seems like the DS agent/Curze superiority is beginning to change the balance. A couple of high level FP agents and a lot of FP characters are due to meet their createor this turn :-)

More news when I'm back....


KA

[Clint]

Nearly got the WK last turn - darn. Let's say the game is afoot. :D

Camp limit finally hit as well...

Clint (player)

[tshuiatt]

Turn 27 and you finally hit the camp limit.

That seems a little late I would think.

Tim

[Clint]

Hi guys, the GM team conceded yesterday to the might of the Praetorians.

Overall out-played and with a mixture of bad-luck early and good play on your part meant that we couldn't get back into the game after an early bad start. Players were not as committed as they've been on the GM team so although we played well we didn't play as good as we have in the past. Add that with "assistance" from the forum on how best to defeat us and some excellent thought-play on your part and we're toasted... ;) So congrats to you all and good luck in future games. :D

Two challenges were key when we lost them - one against Khamul when we had the command items against him, another against Waren (an emi) when he recruited a dragon were particularly pertinent here I think. :o The Corsair not taking out 2135 when he had the chance cost us the South part of the map. The other challenge against the Corsair @ 2634 both saved that town, gave you troops and meant that 2534 didn't fall the next turn so that eventually gave you the southern game. With those two elements I think the game would have been different as the economic game in Mordor would have cost you long term we suspect.

I think we take Barad-dur in two turns time but it's not 100% sure and we're
just about to bring the NM and Eothraim (Celedhring etc known) back into the
game but SG and NG are too much in a bad way. Your 3rd squad was too much for us long term. :D Not sure what your character base is like overall now and that would be interesting to know. Too slow taking the WK out in the North (still trying to find the WK pc in the Iron Hills region btw!) :-)

If you want to chat or ask any questions that would be fine. So nice one,
well done and congrats to you all! Nicely played.

Clint (for the GM team).

[Blue Knight]

Hi guys, the GM team conceded yesterday to the might of the Praetorians.

Overall out-played and with a mixture of bad-luck early and good play on your part meant that we couldn't get back into the game after an early bad start. Players were not as committed as they've been on the GM team so although we played well we didn't play as good as we have in the past. Add that with "assistance" from the forum on how best to defeat us and some excellent thought-play on your part and we're toasted... ;)

Clint (for the GM team).

Clint ,

Sorry for being one of those assistance on the forum -- but your FP team is by far the best FP that I have ever seen in this game and even though I gave them a little insight on what to do against your team -- it still take a WELL ORGANIZED and comminative evil team to even have a chance of beating yours :) !! I still say -- if there is any team out there thats wants a game against the freeps with a Balls to the wall game -- they should play yours and if they aren't well organized or commanative they will lose !!

If I ever get back on a team like that -- Ben Shushan :) and Kevin Givens :) come to mind -- would love to play your team again !!

I think Clints Team should take on the first place team and give them a run for there money -- if they do then I definately think they deserve first place if they defeat Clint and his team as US2 did :) !!

[MartinD]

Too bad you are giving up now. I guess having your top agents taken out one by one was too much for you to handle. We knew you were heading for Barad Dur, so there were plenty of agents and curse squads that were waiting for you. Nobody on our team read any assistance as we used our own strategies, we use to. Khamul was 116 when he was challenged so i think you gambled and lost.

[Blue Knight]

Too bad you are giving up now. I guess having your top agents taken out one by one was too much for you to handle. We knew you were heading for Barad Dur, so there were plenty of agents and curse squads that were waiting for you. Nobody on our team read any assistance as we used our own strategies, we use to. Khamul was 116 when he was challenged so i think you gambled and lost.

If you talk to Clint , I don't think it is a matter of giving up as you state , but that he realizes that there intiative is gone and they realize the game is now leaning and going in your favor -- was the reason why our team won against them !!

Mike

[Blue Knight]

Congradulations to the Praetorians on their victory.

Yes -- Congrats -- Having Played Clint and Company in past , I know for a fact that to even win against him your team had to be very coordinated and communative !! So Well Done :) !!

Mike

[kim]

What on earth is going on. I go on vacation and when I get home half my games have ended....

Well, I didn’t expect this right now, but I knew that we had so much character control and emis constantly improving economy that we couldn’t lose it as this stage.

In any case probably the best overall game I have played. I really thought we were toast in the start when all your armies combined and advanced towards Mordor, but with powerful planning and coordination and well laid counter plans, we managed to survive the initial onslaught.

As for your analysis for key situations:

1) Khamul would have won 9 out of 10 challenges. Remember that your commander were injured down to around 20 health before the challenge, so Khamul won as he should :-)

2) The emis who you challenged had an encounter with a non-recruitable dragon at that time. It was another emis who recruited the dragon.

3) We know very well about your plan to attack DaL capital, and you would need an awful lot of characters and armies to even reach it. Three curze squads and a hell lot of agents would be at and around 3222/3323 following turn. And even if you reached it you would be met by at least one dragon army !!!
- First of all your agent at 3222 will be curzed, so your attempt to sabotage the tower would fail
- Another tower will be build at 3323
- Even with Dwarven ring of Power I really like to see you move 4700 troops evasively past two fortified pops and three armies including a 94 armycommander doing Stand and defend. Not even Dave Holt could pull off such a stunt or I would definitely puke my guts out....


My analysis for your play is that it was almost flawless the first 12 turns, based on the strategy you chose. A couple of unlucky agents rolls on our side, and you could have breached inner Mordor early and maybe have won this game. But your strategy is much based on all or nothing within the first 12 turns. As no emis/agent are named and curze is abandoned, then your military might needs to bring chaos and destruction to Mordor initially, if not FP cannot win once the character war starts to kick in and the DS economies have stabilized.

Uhhhh time flies...off to bed, have just returned from 32 degrees and sunshine in Valencia to 10 degrees and cloudy in Copenhagen :-(