What do you mean the title needs to be witty? Let's Play Fall From Heaven II!

[tribble]

THIS LET'S PLAY WILL NO LONGER UPDATE UNLESS SOMEONE VOLUNTEERS TO TAKE IT OVER. POST INTEREST IN DOING SO AND I WILL TRY TO FIND A WAY TO UPLOAD THE SAVE FROM MY FLASH DRIVE.

Greetings, Playground! We had a Let's Play of Civ IV a few months ago wherein you guys split up jobs of management amongst yourselves to run a civilization. I thought this was a brilliant idea, because it means that a bad player (such as myself) could run a Lets Play at a much higher skill level than he can actually play himself. So, let's hear about Fall From Heaven II.

FFHII is a fantasy mod for Civilization 4: Beyond the Sword. It features additional levels of strategic and tactical depth, including more diverse religions that allow for drastically different bonuses, much like the Gods of Old mod released along with Beyond the Sword, and a new resource called mana, which can be developed into one of 12 different resources by adept units. Multiple sources of the same mana resource do grant cumulative bonuses, so specialising is more useful than generalising. The other notable changes are that many units now have different attack and defense values, as if you needed another reason not to attack with archers, and that siege is made far more efficient. It would take a great many catapults to knock down a 50% defense city wall in Civ IV. It takes less than five in FFH.

So, the first order of buisness is to establish who will do what. We will need a Military leader to command troops, an economic leader to develop our home front, a diplomat to decide our stance with our neighbors, and a research leader to guide us on our chosen tech path. Tech in FFH is contained in several shorter but more specialised tech trees, so we'll have to choose in the short term whether to pursue better infantry or superior magic, for example. While we're taking volunteers for these roles, I'm going to look up the civs and their leaders for your perusal.

A-C
The Amurites are a civilization specialising in magic. Their unique unit is a longbowman with the ability to learn to cast fireball. They may have either an organised leader or a philosophical leader, but both leaders are arcane, which grants bonuses to magic-using units and makes it easier to produce such units.

The Balseraphs are a highly culture-focused civilization. They may either have a creative leader with the summoner ability, which increases the power of units summoned by magic-users, or an insane leader who has three traits, which change randomly. They have multiple unique units, most of which just add a small gimmick to other units. they tend to be strong late-game.

The Bannor are a religious-focused civilization. They have access to Decius, who is organised and has the raiders trait, which grants all his units except siege the commando promotion and doubles the amoun of gold he gains from pillaging. Decius is also a leader for two other civilizations, but there is only ever one decius. They also may select a charismatic, organised leader or a spiritual, industrious leader. Their unique unit requires a bannor-only civic to produce, and is essentially a cut-price champion.

The Calabim are vampires, and have the unique quality of benefiting from unhappy population. They have access to Decius, as well as a philosophical, aggressive leader, and a financial, organised leader. Their unique unit is vampires, which can eat population in a city in order to gain experience.

The Clan of Embers are Orcs. They start at peace with the barbarians (but research more slowly), and may either have a spiritual, expansive leader or an organised, aggressive leader. They are very strong early game, because they can convert barbarian cities. It will be important to minimise our score if we play as the clan, because if we are the highest-ranked civilization for too long, the barbarians will end the truce. Barbarians are far more dangerous in FFH than in vanilla civ.
D-K
The Doviello may either choose an aggressive leader who starts at peace with the barbarians, or an organised leader with raiders and the ingenuity trait. Ingenuity reduces the cost of upgrading units by half and increases starting gold by 50. The Doviello have an extra-strong warrior, and may upgrade units in enemy territory.

The Elohim are fantasy nepal. Their leader must have the defender trait, which is like protective on steroids, and will either have philosophical or creative. The Elohim may build the unique units and buildings of other civilizations in cities they capture from those civilizations.
The Grigori are an entire civilization of atheists. Their leader is philosophical and industrious, but may periodically change industrious into some other trait of his choice.

The Hippus are a civilization with massive specialisation in mounted units. They may take a leader with Aggressive/raiders or with Expansive and Financial. The Hippus recieve a free source of horse in their capital, so don't worry about not having access to horses. Their unique unit requires the "Guild of the Nine" Wonder to build, and is bought for a set sum instead of built with hammers.

The Illians worship the dead god of ice. Their leader aspires to ascend to godhood as the new god of ice. The illians can terraform their lands into ice, which they can actually build improvements on. In fact, their units gain strength on ice and tundra, and they gain two bonus food and automatic irrigation on ice tiles. They also have a series of rituals (world projects) that culminate in the ascension of their leader, creating a massively overpowered unit capable of killing pretty much anything.

The Khazad are dwarves. They are a late game powerhouse. Their leaders are both ingenious, and on top of that are either aggressive and financial or organised and industrious.

The Kuriotates have larger workable plots around their cities, more buildings to build in them, and a limit on how many cities they can build. Their leader is Philosophical and Expansive, and may change one of these traits periodically. (I never play as the Kurios, so I don't know which trait he can change. I do know that they tend to irritate their neighbors by having encroaching borders.)

L-S
The Lanun are an entire nation of pirates. It is vitally important to build as many cities as possible on the coast when playing as the Lanun. They can be led by two leaders. One is George Washington, with the added bonus of a tiny boost to diplomacy with female leaders because he is a bishie. The other is financial and has the raiders special. The Lanun can actually steal ships with one of their infantry units.

The Ljosalfar are wood elves. They may be lead by three leaders: one with Raiders and Defender, one with Spiritual and Creative, and one with Expansive and Arcane. Their archery units gain one attack strength, but they cannot train siege units. (you can get around this by completing the pact of the nilhorn world project and/or taking fire mana and building mages to create fireballs. The pact of the Nilhorn gives you three units that can bombard city defenses, and fireballs can also bombard defenses, although they are more slow than catapults.) The Ljosalfar may build improvements in forest without cutting down the forest.

The Luchiurp are dwarves who build robots. Both their leaders are financial, you may choose between industrious and defender. Golem units heal more slowly, and are immune to many positive and negative effects. They do not gain experience or level up.

The Malakim are a religious Civilization that profit greatly from founding the magical U.N, as their hero gets them an extra vote. (the UN uses a system of one civ one vote, rather than population representation.) They may have a spiritual leader who starts with creative but may change creative periodically, or Decius.The Malakim fight extra well in desert, which hampers defense for all units in this mod.

The Sheaim are the mustache-twirling villians. Both their leaders have the summoner trait. One has the Arcane trait, and the other has industrious. The Sheaim profit greatly from moving the world towards armageddon, and have a number of mechanics allowing them to do it faster. Their unique unit explodes on death, causing damage to all surrounding tiles. This is hard-countered by the Destroy Undead spell, which can kill this unique unit without allowing the explosion to proc.

The Sidar are so mysterious they bleed riddles and cry fog. Their units may transform into super specialists in a city if they reach experience level 6. However, these super specialists will be removed if the city is captured. Their leader is an industrious defender.

The Svartalfar are dark elves. Their leader is Arcane and has the raiders special. Their recon units gain one attack strength, and their summoned units cannot kill their targets. This may seem useless at first, but it ensures the experience goes to real units.The Svartalfar may also build improvements in forest without removing the forest.
Diplomat: Vauron
Warleader:Eldan
Economist:Gaius Maurius
Researcher:Kurgan

[Carecalmo]

This has my attention. Very much so, in fact. Unfortunately, I am have neither time nor talent for counselling. But I will be following.

Other than that, I have few contributions. Have you decided on a faction yet? While a number of the civilizations favor very specialized playstyles (Svartalfar and recon/stealth, Malakim and disciples - Khazad and non-magic) it might be more fun if you choose one without any glaring disadvantages towards one path - it might be easier to show off more than one side of the game that way. Of course, some of the specializations are quite fun to play, so that's also an option if people can agree on it.

[tribble]

This has my attention. Very much so, in fact. Unfortunately, I am have neither time nor talent for counselling. But I will be following.

Other than that, I have few contributions. Have you decided on a faction yet? While a number of the civilizations favor very specialized playstyles (Svartalfar and recon/stealth, Malakim and disciples - Khazad and non-magic) it might be more fun if you choose one without any glaring disadvantages towards one path - it might be easier to show off more than one side of the game that way. Of course, some of the specializations are quite fun to play, so that's also an option if people can agree on it.

Yeah, the entire audience gets to vote on which civilization and leader we pick. I've just edited a list of all civs and leaders into the OP, barring the mercurians (angels) and infernals (demons).

[Smiling Knight]

Huzzah! My most favoritest mod ever is getting LP'd! I will lurk happily and give advice if called upon, but will not take up a formal position.

To show off some of FFH's neater features, I would definitely pick a mage-heavy civ, along with one of the more interesting religions (aka not Runes or Empyrean). Perhaps an Ashen Veil Sheim or Octopus Overlords Balseraphs.

Now that I'm thinking about it, a Balseraph nations with crowd contributions could be hilarious. Each adviser could be a different aspect of Perpentach's mind.
ETA: for those not familiar with the mod, the Balseraphs are a nation of insane carnies lead by completely crazy archmage.


Tribble, the list of nations is very informative, but a little hard on the eyes. Could you add some spaces between each nation?

[tribble]

Huzzah! My most favoritest mod ever is getting LP'd! I will lurk happily and give advice if called upon, but will not take up a formal position.

To show off some of FFH's neater features, I would definitely pick a mage-heavy civ, along with one of the more interesting religions (aka not Runes or Empyrean). Perhaps an Ashen Veil Sheim or Octopus Overlords Balseraphs.

Now that I'm thinking about it, a Balseraph nations with crowd contributions could be hilarious. Each adviser could be a different aspect of Perpentach's mind.
ETA: for those not familiar with the mod, the Balseraphs are a nation of insane carnies lead by completely crazy archmage.


Tribble, the list of nations is very informative, but a little hard on the eyes. Could you add some spaces between each nation?

Righto, I will do this edit immidiate-like.

EDIT: I was planning on doing this LP on Noble difficulty, so don't be shy about volunteering!

[Smiling Knight]

The issue was not difficulty (I muddle through on immortal with the more op civs), but commitment: I don't want to sign up and then not follow through. I'd be happy to do write-ups on some the neat mechanics, such as magic or Armageddon, though.

[tribble]

oh, alright then.

Yeah, I was planning to do a marathon speed game on the biggest possible map size. Victories available to us in FFHII include:
-Conquest:Kill every other civilization
-Domination:achieve 80% of territory control and most of the population.
-Religion:found a religion and spread it to 80% dominance.
-Altar:build the final altar of the luonnatar. This requires, like, ten great prophets, but each altar is useful in and of itself. The altar victory is not available to evil civs.
-Build the tower of mastery. This requires control of at least one of each mana source. Because metamagic mana allows mages to return mana nodes to untapped status, thereby allowing the node to be built again as a different type of mana, it actually only takes four or five nodes.
-Culture: achieve legendary culture in three cities.
I think that's it, correct me if I missed anything.

[Cogwheel]

Always wanted to play this mod, but BtS never cooperated.

Balseraphs, definitely.

[tribble]

Always wanted to play this mod, but BtS never cooperated.

Balseraphs, definitely.

One definite vote for Balseraphs. If you know how to play BTS, you can play FFH, so sign yourself up for a job, people!

[Vauron]

Illians

I suppose I'll volunteer for the Diplomatic position.

[tribble]

One vote for Illians, and one vote for Balseraphs! Illians is winning due to the person voting for Illians taking a role.
Diplomat role is filled!

[Smiling Knight]

Vote for Balseraphs!

[tribble]

Two votes for balseraphs, and one for Illians. Tell your friends about this Let's Play, the more the merrier!

[Gaius Marius]

I am Canadian.


This means if we unleash the Might of Winter, I'm going to actually feel at home!! Illian it is!

If only we could actually rename our faction to "Canada"...


Also, I motion that since we are the followers of the One True God Who Walks Errebus, we should purge the world of all other false religions. Which means razing the Holy Cities as we conquer them.


(but it'll be nice to wait for the Balseraph and Mercurials to get in before. The more the merrier)

[tribble]

two for illians, and two for balseraphs. Illians are winning due to one Illian volunteering for a job. Maurius moves to rename our faction Canada. I'm okay with this myself, but it'll be up to majority vote and I want you to take a position, Maurius.

[Vauron]

(but it'll be nice to wait for the Balseraph and Mercurials to get in before. The more the merrier)

By 'wait for the Balseraph to get in' you mean the demon nation, not the evil clown nation, right? And yes, I'm aware that 'evil clown' is redundant.

Most of the reason I don't want Balseraphs to be picked is that I already have seen a lets play of them conquering the world.

[tribble]

Really? I'd love a link. That way I can hopefully avoid retreading comedic ground and whatnot.

[Vauron]

Really? I'd love a link. That way I can hopefully avoid retreading comedic ground and whatnot.

Sadly, I can not. It was a something awful lets play which was apparently never added to the lets play archive. If you have archives for the SA forums, you may be able to find it there in the lets play subforum. I'll check again when I can use something other than a wii.

[tribble]

Oh. Alright, then, thanks anyway.

[Eldan]

Hmm. No vote on nation, I've only played about a third of them, but I'd volunteer as war leader.

[tribble]

We still have two votes for Illians and two for balseraphs, with Illians winning due to our diplomat voting Illians, and because balseraphs have already been done, and plagiarism could make Perpentach come to kill me in my sleep.

On the plus side, we have a Warlord! We just need a research leader and an economist, and then we're off!

[Gaius Marius]

Or we could be named Quebec, or have our leader be named Mr Freeze?

People, we need a clear tiebreaker! Come on!!

Tribble, do you plan on trying any of the expansion modmods?

[Xefas]

I also vote for the Balseraphs. We'll show all those sane clownfolk whose boss. Consistent cognitive awareness of one's surroundings doesn't make you better than us!

[Gaius Marius]

I also vote for the Balseraphs. We'll show all those sane clownfolk whose boss. Consistent cognitive awareness of one's surroundings doesn't make you better than us!

I am really not sure about that. Yhea, insanity has perks, but what can you reply when an envoy accuse "Stop this, it's madness!"

I mean, it's not like we can be offended and start screaming at his for that. The most badass reply we'd give is: "Hum.. Yhea"

So change your vote. Go Illian :smallbiggrin:

[Kzickas]

I vote Lanun.

Do I get better odds for backing an unpopular faction? (Hey, it's the piratey thing to worry about)

[Eldan]

Well, the Lanun are cool. Especially if you play in an Archipelago world (I did it once, on maximum difficulty. It was fun.)

[tribble]

3 Balseraphs, 2 Illians and one Lanun (or two Lanun, if Eldan is casting a vote after all.) We still need a researcher and an economist, so sign up! They're the easy jobs, anyway.

[Gaius Marius]

I might be interested in either. What do each job entail?

[Eldan]

3 Balseraphs, 2 Illians and one Lanun (or two Lanun, if Eldan is casting a vote after all.) We still need a researcher and an economist, so sign up! They're the easy jobs, anyway.

Well, if we went Lanun, I'd have to go "Minister of Privateering", instead of War Leader. But no, no vote.

[Kurgan]

I say we go with Illians, and since the character portrait for our leader matches the avatar Matthew uses around here, I say we go with King Matthew of Canada.

I'd volunteer for a position, but I'm not 100% on my commitment time. Plus, I was never really good at this game, so most decisions I make would probably end up going against us rather than for. Still, if you need someone, I suppose I can fill the role of the Science Adviser until someone else comes along.

[tribble]

We have a placeholder scientist, and another vote for Illians. We now have 3 illians and 3 balseraphs. Illians are winning because the illians are taking jobs.

@Gaius: I outlined what each job does in the OP. The Scientist controls which tech we research and when, and the economist controls citybuilding, settlers, workers, etc. The economist also has control over the budget, choosing how much to allocate to research/money/culture. Many of these powers are subject to override by the warleader, who can demand a warrior be built in city X NAOW PLZ in case of emergency.

[Gaius Marius]

In that case, I will be responsible for the Canadian Economy.

Ice!! We need more ice! I'll try to freeze spendings, get our budget on a slippery slope and cool down the inflation.

...

Damn it, my professional deformation (CFA) is catching up with Batman & robin!!! :smalleek:

[Eldan]

Hmm. I guess we'll have to knock our enemies out cold on the battlefield. I'm cool with that.

[Gaius Marius]

So I guess we will all be chilling out together?

[tribble]

In which case we are off!
EPISODE ONE: THE WANDERING
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/3041/letsplay1.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/43/letsplay1.jpg/)

We begin at the dawn of the new age. It will be short. I don't know this matthew kurgan speaks of, so I just take the name Auric Ulvin.
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3285/letsplay2.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/15/letsplay2.jpg/)
And now, the choices begin. We have at our disposal a warrior, a scout, and our first settler. Our first settler has 4 move and increased sight range. Just south of our scout is a tribal village. Within city working distance of our first settler there is corn, two sources of wine, a raw mana node we can use later, and the Mirror of heaven. The Mirror of heaven grants a large amount of hammers and gold to a city that works it, and is a free source of sun mana if we build a road to it. Sun mana allows for limited terraforming that only really benefits the malakim, an AOE stun spell, and a very powerful summon only available to archmages. Unfortunately, it provides no passive bonuses. We could always trade it, though, people pay through the nose to get mana.

If we move two squares to the southwest, we will still have access to all these goodies, and also have a source of marble within working distance of our capital. However, we will have to found our city on turn 2, and we will not be situated by the river, which I understand to have health repercussions.
Action?

[Kurgan]

I'm no expert at this, but I do remember that barbarians are terrifying in this mod. We might want to start building as of turn 1. Just my 2 cents.

[tribble]

I just noticed the start screen doesn't include our short civilization description. Rest assured, the short version is Canada, and the adjective is Canadian.

[Gaius Marius]

How secure do you feel, my King, my God Ulric?

If you believe our people can survive another round homeless, then go grab all these ressources. These will provide us with a sound early economically-efficient techpath to research.

Are thes forest or jungle around us?

If we cover with snow forest/jungle, do they turn into ye average ice square, or something better/different?

(just trying to determine if we could chop down forest to give us an early edge in production)

[tribble]

How secure do you feel, my King, my God Ulric?

If you believe our people can survive another round homeless, then go grab all these ressources. These will provide us with a sound early economically-efficient techpath to research.

Are thes forest or jungle around us?

If we cover with snow forest/jungle, do they turn into ye average ice square, or something better/different?

(just trying to determine if we could chop down forest to give us an early edge in production)

IIRC, it turns into an ice square with a forest in it, for 2 food and one hammer. Will check in worldbuilder.

EDIT: Confirmed, we get an Ice square with a forest in it. 2 food and one hammer, so exactly like a grassland square with a forest.

Also, it's AURIC. not Ulric.

[Gaius Marius]

Also, it's AURIC. not Ulric.

Meh. A Winter-War-Wolf divinity, I think I could have been farther off than you, eh?

2F1H? Not bad at all. But crappy economical output if we don't build trade. Can we improve them with cottages?

If not, we will need to anticipate measures to secure trade income. Research and Treasury don't pay themselves, ya know.

I am open to suggestion people. We will turn this gold into an artic wasteland, you have my word on that.

[Eldan]

My Lord, we should secure the Mirror of Heaven, so that no enemy of Mighty Canada can secure this resource of abominable solar power. Furthermore, we should establish our National Igloo directly next to the river. We want a big capital.

[Kurgan]

The War Chief has a good point there, my God-King: Biggest igloo is best igloo.

[Carecalmo]

As far as I am aware, the river in itself is not detrimental to city health - floodplains are, but seeing as they have a tendency to occur mainly in deserts (which we won't be visiting anytime soon, if I understand his Coldness correctly), we should not be worried about settling near the river. In fact, rivers give a commerce bonus to tiles next to them to represent the easy trade access, I think.

We might want to move the settler into the Mirror of Heaven before settling, though. According to the ancient lore, the mirror is a huge basin of sand that's been turned to glass in ages long past by a magical event - perhaps at the start of the last Age of Ice, when the hated Bhaal, Angel of Fire, fell from the heavens.
The effect of this today is that if one stands at the edge, the glass will magically reflect the landscape for miles around. (in-game effect: it adds +7 to the visibility to the unit standing on it - and since FfH starting settlers start with a special promotion (extra visibility and movement) it might clear a LOT of the fog around us.)

[Eldan]

Really? Didn't know that one. But I don't think I ever even encountered the Mirror ingame, so...

[tribble]

As far as I am aware, the river in itself is not detrimental to city health - floodplains are, but seeing as they have a tendency to occur mainly in deserts (which we won't be visiting anytime soon, if I understand his Coldness correctly), we should not be worried about settling near the river. In fact, rivers give a commerce bonus to tiles next to them to represent the easy trade access, I think.

We might want to move the settler into the Mirror of Heaven before settling, though. According to the ancient lore, the mirror is a huge basin of sand that's been turned to glass in ages long past by a magical event - perhaps at the start of the last Age of Ice, when the hated Bhaal, Angel of Fire, fell from the heavens.
The effect of this today is that if one stands at the edge, the glass will magically reflect the landscape for miles around. (in-game effect: it adds +7 to the visibility to the unit standing on it - and since FfH starting settlers start with a special promotion (extra visibility and movement) it might clear a LOT of the fog around us.)

Oh yeah. Forgot about that effect. Heh.

I think you misunderstood what I was saying about health and the river, though. I was trying to say that if we don't settle near the river, it could have health repercussions, because fresh water grants a +2 bonus to health.

While we're figuring out where to settle, what say I move our scout onto that tribal village?

[Gaius Marius]

It's a matter up to the War Leader, I won't impede on his jurisdiction.

However, he probably figured out, as I did, that you would be ether of waiting to have at least one war unit nearby before disturbing a village. Also, if you explore around before contacting the villagers, they might yield you something more valuable than a lame short-distance map.

But that's up to the Honorable War Leader's wisdom.


(I think the books I've read about chinese organizational behavior is starting to rub off)

[Eldan]

His Honourable Generalness decides that the scout should visit the village, if we don't get it in the city radius. Otherwise, he should seek out the next hill. The warrior should definitely defend our national Igloo against ravenous barbarians.

[tribble]

EPISODE1.2: THE SCRYING
I send the scout to investigate the village. We recieve gold.
http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/3041/letsplay1.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/856/letsplay1.jpg/)Not the best result, but it beats the tar out of a map.

Next, because it's essentially cost-free, I send our settler to look into the mirror of heaven.
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/3804/unled1xaq.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/717/unled1xaq.jpg/)Unfortunately, the surrounding terrain has far to many hills and trees for the mirror to be of use. It's odd that the mirror is here, in fact. Normally it's in a desert, which makes scouting with it much more efficient.
Now all we have left is to decide whether we send our settler back to where he spawned to build our city, or to burn a turn to get in range of the marble.Final voting begins now, so even if you've voiced an opinion before, say it again, and bold the important bit (river or marble).

[Eldan]

River. Too important for early cities, you can grab the marble later easily.

[Gaius Marius]

River, in the plain right next to you. 2 healthy source of food and trade, a powerful mirror for production, plenty of hills nearby for more production..

It's a good spot, with a good mix between production and general wealth. Marble can be sought with a future igloo or just mere cultural reach.

Plus, rivers automatically act as trade connections, which saves a lot of time and effort to link resources within our empire.

I don't remember if our troops have reduced penalty movement to move on snowy terrain, compared to the other factions? If so, we could try to minimize the # of road tiles to a strict minimum for strategic purposes.

[Kurgan]

I vote with the majority here and say build by the river.

[Xefas]

This is immensely entertaining to me. Has anyone ever made a video Lets Play, on youtube or similar, where they have four-five people sit around playing the same game of Civ 4 via council? That would be epic.

[Gaius Marius]

This is immensely entertaining to me. Has anyone ever made a video Lets Play, on youtube or similar, where they have four-five people sit around playing the same game of Civ 4 via council? That would be epic.

I make this vow: I shall run such a RP-heavy let's play of FFH this summer. My first LP ever, so I hope you will e forgiving.

The style and base story have been picked already, but as you will see, it won't mean that much.. Hehe.. It's gonna be... Meta.

In the meanwhile, I enjoy Tribble's let's play immensely. Let's watch the Wintergod conquer the world.

[tribble]

EPISODE 2: THE FOUNDINGhttp://img577.imageshack.us/img577/1566/fallp.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/577/fallp.jpg/)
We settle by the river, and walk out of the old era, into a new one. I've queued up a worker for now, but I haven't ended the turn yet, so Gaius may change the order in the city if he wishes. Available options for construction are a settler, a worker (current order), a warrior, a scout, or a palisade, which is the blind, crippled, mentally retarded brother of walls. Available techs include Agriculture, Ancient Chants, Cartography, crafting, fishing and hunting.
@Gaius: No, we do not get any kind of movement penalty or bonus for moving on ice, and neither does anyone else. Furthermore, your plan would only do anything against leaders with the raider trait, so it would be situational at best.

[Gaius Marius]

I suggest we wait until we reach a grade-3 igloo before building a worker. We dont have the technology to properly use it at the moment anyway.

Palisades will be useless for now, I therefore will fund the recruiting of another military unit. I suggest a scout unit for exploration, but I will leave that decision into the hands of our military leaders.

I request we rush the techpath to discover how to exploit our wine resources. These will give us a substantial early $$$ advantage, and combined with the food bonus they procure, we will soon have a buzzing igloo to stage World Icing.

For now, select a 2-food 1-hammer tile to work. I want to see our settlement grow as fast as possible. Our 2nd population member will work the mirror, for production value, and our 3rd will work the wine tiles in priority, for research and cash.

So, 2 military units to build. General, i invite you to select the units under your command.

[Kurgan]

Huh, been too long since I've played and I apparently don't remember too much. Which is the tech we need to actually cut down those forests that surround us on all sides? Might be useful to work towards that first. When I get back from work I'll load up the game just to remind myself of what each tech does, but for now, as master of science, I say go for what gets rid of trees so we can get hammers and farmland.

[Gaius Marius]

If memory serves right, in FFH, we need Mining to chop down trees. Kale wanted us to have terraforming abilities quickly.

I guess chopping trees will give us production bonus in the city. Maybe while we'll build our first colonist?

[tribble]

EPISODE 3: GROWTHCrafting will allow us to build wineries and leads to mining, so our sages begin to work on figuring that out. I distinctly remember using metal tools under our lord Mulcarn. So much has been lost, stolen by the hated Kylorin, curse his name. I change the production order to a scout, and bide my time. The governor immidiately reports a decrease in crime. (I mucked up the screenshot and missed the event:smallfurious:) It's rather troubling, we've barely had time to build a single house and there's crime? We have a population of six thousand, and most of those are the ragtag remnants of Mulcarn's army! Still, it's good that the problem is diminishing.
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/5840/seaho.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/5/seaho.jpg/)
After some time, our scout finds the sea. It's really a wonder the melting ice didn't drown the world. Along the way he finds an interesting plant, it grows in large pools of warm, shallow water and bears a sort of grain. He also reports schools of fish and shoals of clam in the sea, and reports another mana node.
http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/1656/injuredu.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/560/injuredu.jpg/)
While scouting to the north of our new home, our scout is injured by a wolf. He spends two weeks recuperating. It's a minor setback.

http://img860.imageshack.us/img860/7002/expanding.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/860/expanding.jpg/)
By the time he is finally ready to do his job, the borders of our new nation have expanded. We now have access to corn. Working the corn will greatly acelerate our growth. At our current rate, it will be 18 turns until we grow to population 2. If we work the corn, it will be twelve turns. It's up to our economist, but I wanted to make the option known. Switching to corn will delay our new scout by a turn, making us wait 3 turns to get him instead of 2.

[Gaius Marius]

Since we have one citizen working full time on the very production-oriented Mirrors, I agree that we should switch our production from the plain over to the corn if we wish to maximise our population growth.

(My God, my Winter Lord, can you please provide us with a screenshot from the inside of the city from time to time? I wish to know what kind of income and working tiles we have).

An alternative to switching from the 2F1H to the 3F tile is to go for the 2F2$ (wine) one. This will provide us with a generous boost in our research at marginal production efficiency. Oh, Alpha of All Wolves, please switch on that option and tell us how quickier we research technologies that way.

[tribble]

Since we have one citizen working full time on the very production-oriented Mirrors, I agree that we should switch our production from the plain over to the corn if we wish to maximise our population growth.

(My God, my Winter Lord, can you please provide us with a screenshot from the inside of the city from time to time? I wish to know what kind of income and working tiles we have).

An alternative to switching from the 2F1H to the 3F tile is to go for the 2F2$ (wine) one. This will provide us with a generous boost in our research at marginal production efficiency. Oh, Alpha of All Wolves, please switch on that option and tell us how quickier we research technologies that way.

no, we don't have one citizen on the mirror. We are still at one population. We can work the mirror, the corn OR the wine. I'll check the wine thing, though.
EDIT: Switching to wine acelerates our research by 8 turns, from 45 to 37. working the mirror instead of growth tiles will get our scout out next turn. I am very tired right now, but I will get you some screenies tomorrow.

[Eldan]

I say the Scout should go south and follow the river, around those mountains. Likely, it will run into the sea somewhere there.

[Gaius Marius]

If we still have only 1 population, keep it at the current production tile, and when the scout will be finished, switch to the corn.

I have to say, this starting position is really good. I think we are truly the Chosen People to stop Global Warming.

How ironic that it's Canada, of all people, which will stop this Melting of Polar Cap :smalltongue:

[Eldan]

Hey, we need to, otherwise, we'll use our 50% scale version of the white house and the national igloo.

[Gaius Marius]

I will keep funding the construction of military units after this scout, until further notice. High Warlord, please convey your wish as to what would be the best to build.

Let it be known that I won't fund the construction of a woker unit without us having already a military unit to chaperone it. They represent so much, I don't want us to risk them to barbarians.

[Eldan]

We need a second squad of warriors soon. While we haven't discovered any nearby dungeons or barbarian cities so far, barbarians are absolutely brutal. The first time a small army of orcs or lizardmen stands at our door, we want more warriors.

[Gaius Marius]

I tend to agree. We will need warriors to secure our worker base, our colonists and newly established igloos. The worst that happens is we upgafe them later on.

A scout is eventually obsolete (until you get hunters), but warriors will always be useful.

[tribble]

I say the Scout should go south and follow the river, around those mountains. Likely, it will run into the sea somewhere there.

The one we have, or the one we will have in 2 turns?

As for the ice caps:
http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/2446/icecap.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/580/icecap.jpg/)
We found them.

[Gaius Marius]

They are so small... :smallfrown:

We have to save them!! Think of all the poor wildlife there that won't survive further temperature change.

We need to save the BABY SEALS!!!

[Eldan]

And think of the Polar Bears! How can we establish cavalry units without them!

[Vauron]

While I am not speaking in an official capacity, I feel it would be ill advised to shirk our defenses and would like to note that barbarious forces likely infest this warming world. The world is not yet under the dominion of our great and glorious leader, so it may be more prudent to worry about our capital's protection. To be blunt, screw the seals.

I'm still terrified of the barbarians in this mod, speacilly the animals.

[Kurgan]

I agree with the sentiment that barbarians can be brutal in this mod. As the chair of research, I would like to put emphasis on getting archery technology after we obtain the ability to cut down the forests surrounding us.

That is, unless, someone has a better idea? I know archers are good for defense, but if something is obviously better and I am missing it, feel free to say so.

EDIT:
Ok, looked at the tech tree, and it looks like: Crafting -> Mining -> Archery
Now, a silly question, but it has been quite awhile since I've played, if a tech has two techs leading into it, do you need both to get it, or is it an either or thing? Both "hunting" and "mining" feed into "archery", which is why I ask. If the answer is a yes to that, then squeeze in "hunting" after we research "mining".

[tribble]

While I am not speaking in an official capacity, I feel it would be ill advised to shirk our defenses and would like to note that barbarious forces likely infest this warming world. The world is not yet under the dominion of our great and glorious leader, so it may be more prudent to worry about our capital's protection. To be blunt, screw the seals.

I'm still terrified of the barbarians in this mod, speacilly the animals.

Animals still don't invade culture borders. I'll do a little bit of play along your guidelines and post results soon.

[Gaius Marius]

It means you need both.

I'm all for archery, but with our actual (genuine) powerhouse of production value, I think we could field by ourselves a respectable force of warriors that we could eventually upgrade to archers.

However, it will mean little if it takes us until the sun's extinction to research these. Going for Calendar (to allow wineries) will produce a very, very respectable boost to our income and research, allowing us to go for archery quickier.

Archery is superfluous for now if we have 6 warriors to secure our borders.

[tribble]

It means you need both.

I'm all for archery, but with our actual (genuine) powerhouse of production value, I think we could field by ourselves a respectable force of warriors that we could eventually upgrade to archers.

However, it will mean little if it takes us until the sun's extinction to research these. Going for Calendar (to allow wineries) will produce a very, very respectable boost to our income and research, allowing us to go for archery quickier.

Archery is superfluous for now if we have 6 warriors to secure our borders.

Crafting allows for wineries in this mod. Wine is a very early game resource, and as such it's hard to gain extra benefits from. Heck, even in vanilla civ you want monarchy, not calendar, for wineries.

I'll have an udate in a couple of hours or so, I have to visit the dentist. There's some good news, and some bad.

[tribble]

EPISODE 4: THE RANGINGThe Good News is that we found a village.
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/362/foundone.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/38/foundone.jpg/)
And another.
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/4576/moarvillages.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/146/moarvillages.jpg/)
and another.
http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/3977/whatluck.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/840/whatluck.jpg/)
and ANOTHER.
http://img860.imageshack.us/img860/412/yetagain.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/860/yetagain.jpg/)
The bad news is that our spoils amount to a lot of gold we cant use yet, a map, and some experience. however, that experience puts our scout at level 3, with a little help from some wolves and things.
More good news, our city has finally grown to size 2!
http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/3457/ourfaircity.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/819/ourfaircity.jpg/)


And yet more good news, we've had a breakthrough in the art of knocking rocks together.
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/9672/praiseallah.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/52/praiseallah.jpg/)

We also finished another scout, who I sent to look to the west. The first two I paired for their safety. In the southwest, there's a decent location for a city, once we have the bronzeworking finesse with which to clear the jungle.
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/3050/niceplaceh.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/64/niceplaceh.jpg/)
The bad news is that I've found our first neighbors. We have yet to make contact, but I can see them.
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/4685/yellowis.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/8/yellowis.jpg/)
I await further input on pretty much everything.

[Vauron]

Can you tell which nation it is yet?

"My Lord, reports have come speaking of a civilization to the south. Little information has been gleaned as of yet. I suggest that we gather information about our apparent neighbors. Perhaps they shall be intelligent enough to kneel before the Winterborn. Should they need to be knelt instead, I think it wise to wear a thin facade of peace before your mighty warriors break them."

[Castaras]

omg someone else who plays fall from heaven II eeeeeee!

Well. Technically I play Rise From Erebus. Which is Fall From Heaven II except with more awesome stuff.

The AI is still awful though. Multiplayer's fun.

*bookmarks and reads through*

And it looks like the neighbours are
either the Bannor (paladins) or the Good Dwarfs (can't remember their names)

[Eldan]

"My Lord, reports have come speaking of a civilization to the south. Little information has been gleaned as of yet. I suggest that we gather information about our apparent neighbors. Perhaps they shall be intelligent enough to kneel before the Winterborn. Should they need to be knelt instead, I think it wise to wear a thin facade of peace before your mighty warriors break them."

"I agree with Lord Vauron. Our mighty clubs shall meet their puny foreheads."

[Gaius Marius]

As soon as we hit both 3 of population and an army of 3 warriors, I will approve of the construction of a worker unit to go farm the corn and vine the wine.

My God Auric, please remember us if we have new building options. Let's see if we can have some infrastructure... But that would be ice-ing on the cake...

Edit: I forgot. While building said worker, please exploit the mirror, the corn and the 2-2 wine. It's time we focus a little more on income for research.

We will have to pay for upgrading these warriors, ye know.

[tribble]

And it looks like the neighbours are
either the Bannor (paladins) or the Good Dwarfs (can't remember their names)

You are incorrect. It may be because imageshack is bad or something that you cannot tell, but that colour is Yellow. The bannor are light blue and all the stunties are shades of beige. The only yellow civilization is the Malakim.

EDIT: Money will not be a concern regarding upgrades in the immidiate future. We have a treasury of over 500 from all those villages. I might have preferred a settler or free worker, but whatever. That said, we don't start with agriculture, so we need to research that before exploiting the corn with a worker. We will be able to take advantage of the wine, though, as soon as crafting is complete.

[Gaius Marius]

Then exploiting the wineyards is kind of a priority, agreed. Mucho $$!!

Talk to the Honorable Minister of Research. I just provide him the funds he need, not of any goals. But agriculture would be nifty indeed

[Castaras]

You are incorrect. It may be because imageshack is bad or something that you cannot tell, but that colour is Yellow. The bannor are light blue and all the stunties are shades of beige. The only yellow civilization is the Malakim.


Doh, me having a stupid moment. I meant the Malakim instead of Bannor. But yeah, couldn't quite tell whether it was yellow or beigey.

[Kurgan]

Yeah, building up farms on those tiles could be worthwhile. I'm fine with putting off archery for a bit to research Agriculture. Believe we might still want to get up to mining first for wood cutting, but besides that, farming the land seems reasonable.

[Gaius Marius]

I have no problem with woodcutting. It's definetly a must to discover.

But agriculture would give us quite the growth boost... hmm... I'm kif-kif. So I'll vote to keep the path to mining for now, then we'll see.

We should decide of a few goals to research, and then re-evaluate our priorities when we reach them. That way, we can know what research paths has been revealed to us.

[tribble]

EPISODE 5: FIRST CONTACThttp://img196.imageshack.us/img196/7291/decius.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/196/decius.jpg/)Turns out the civilization is the Malakim, led by Decius. Decius is one of the most warlike leaders in the fluff, being one of the only explicitly military leaders, but he is actually a better pacifist than the people who are supposed to be, due to his totally bro attitude about us refusing to concede to the "gib tech plz I report you HUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUE" shenanigans he and every other leader in this mod do. Decius is the only leader who doesn't froth at the mouth when you tell him no.

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/3553/luckyjerk.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/42/luckyjerk.jpg/)
Unfortunately, he has Yggdrasil, which is probably the best unique feature in the game.
I steal a village he should have grabbed long ago. Take that.
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/2818/wellnuts.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/36/wellnuts.jpg/)
Some guy by the name of Herodotus lists the most advanced civilizations of the world. We do not even make the list.
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/2729/atleasthesabro.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/89/atleasthesabro.jpg/)We recieve a messanger from someone calling himself Flauros of the Calabim. He seems trustworthy, I just wish his music wasn't so horrible.
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/5329/finallyo.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/232/finallyo.jpg/)
And we have FINALLY researched the high science of stone tools. I set our sages to work on the problem of putting seeds in the ground next. Estimated time to completion is forty turns. The time it would take to research mining (and thereby woodcutting) is ninety turns.

Also, I didn't take a picture of it, but we now have three warriors in our capital. I started the production of a worker, but I can suspend this to work on more military soon, if you prefer.

Also, we should be very leery of early war with decius. Yggdrasil makes him very, very potent in the early game, and having the guardian of pristin pass this close to our capital worries me. If pristin pass activates and the gargoyles decide to target our land, We might survive, but that's pretty much it for our chances of being important. Gargoyles are a midgame unit buildable only by the Luchiurp, whose entire gimmick is having stronger units then equivalent-tech neighbors. They have drawbacks, of course, but Gargoyles versus warriors will not end well for us.

[Gaius Marius]

Our God is wise in many ways. Inagtee that the natural wonder is too precious to leave into the hands of the Malakim... ... But on the other hand, the Mals are fun to have in the world. Apocalypse is cool, up to a point.

[tribble]

Our God is wise in many ways. Inagtee that the natural wonder is too precious to leave into the hands of the Malakim... ... But on the other hand, the Mals are fun to have in the world. Apocalypse is cool, up to a point.

1st bold: What

2nd bold: You're thinking of the Sheaim. The Malakim are almost nauseatingly good.

[Gaius Marius]

My autocorrect fails me again. Inagtee --> I agree with 2 typing mistakes. Bloody iPhone.

You are right, I confused the Malakim and Sheaim. Exterminate away!!!

[tribble]

My autocorrect fails me again. Inagtee --> I agree with 2 typing mistakes. Bloody iPhone.

You are right, I confused the Malakim and Sheaim. Exterminate away!!!

That will be difficult, because they probably already have a heavy population advantage from Yggdrasil, and we're still at warrior tech here.

[Kurgan]

Well, if we want to attack them, we could always tech up our army first. Maybe something like:
Agriculture -> Mining -> Bronze Working (for axemen) -> Masonry -> Construction (for catapults)

That way, we still have our farms, the ability to cut down forests and jungles, walls, plus the already mentioned units.

[Gaius Marius]

Let's look at what advantage we have, that we could exploit.

- No spellcasting (too early).
- No military force of real consequence beside 3 warriors + scouts. I won't consider essential self-defense units as part of our military.
- Production powerhouse
- Reasonably good income.

We could focus on production/income to build a settler, while we research the technologies mentionned up-there. We sent it with the 3 warriors close to the Malakim, and it will be used as a forward attack base to stage the assault. Also, we will have a close retreat position.

Finally, we're going to colonise this spot eventually, so might as well do it now and take a strategic advantage over someone we know will become our ennemies. I say our scout priorities finding the best spot to get the advantage over them.

In the event we fail, this outpost will be our first line of defense in a bloody, brutal war.


But that is, I believe, a decision best taken by our Glorious Military Leader, for He designs the strategy... :smallamused:

[Eldan]

My suggestion would be to hold back from a war this early. You don't win a war with warriors, especially if the enemy is some distance away. Why? BEcause they take ten turns or more to walk there and by the time you reach them, you are already running into archers.

Wait for either faster or stronger troops.

[Caustic Soda]

Have you used Stasis yet? Having everyone else spend 20-odd turns with no production could give a major leg up, whether you rush or not. Also, if you decide to do a rush that isn't super early, you may want to go for the Priests of Winter, since they have high strength and can summon high-strength, expendable elementals.

[Gaius Marius]

I agree that we are in no position to wage war right now, but it doesn't mean we can't develop ourselves optimally for it when it'll come, for it will come.

An outpost will help our development anyway, and if we make sure we have reasonable income, we shall have technologies in time to upgrde our army properly.

I like the idea of rushing for priests. Let our enemies face the punch of our Winter God first-hand

*ba-dum tish*

[tribble]

But that is, I believe, a decision best taken by our Glorious Military Leader, for He designs the strategy... :smallamused:

Eldan is not the deity here, I am. The he should be lowercase.

[Gaius Marius]

Eldan is not the deity here, I am. The he should be lowercase.

Indeed, my apologies for you are as jealous as you are powerful and sexy. I bow to ask forgiveness, oh Winter Warlord of Wolfes

[tribble]

It has been 70 turns since the last update. Much has happened.
EPISODE 6: THE WITCHES
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/4472/lolangel.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/27/lolangel.jpg/)

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/3307/braceforfireballs.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/843/braceforfireballs.jpg/)
We encounter the Bannor, led by an angel of Junil. For some reason he's pretty well disposed towards us. Due to our inability to assign a state religion, he should make a good neighbor. Note the Pyre of the seraphic, however. The Bannor start with fire mana, and this pyre means any and all adepts they create will have access to the blaze spell. Brace for fireballs if we have to fight them.

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/9504/damngobbos.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/37/damngobbos.jpg/)
Goblins harass our land. It's irritating, because that would have been a good farming tile, too.

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/7083/roflsl.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/638/roflsl.jpg/)
We find yet more villages. they continue to be useless.

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/5600/ohcomeon.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/830/ohcomeon.jpg/)This is Tebryn Arbandi. He wants to destroy the world, and incidentally is kind of a ****. He strikes me as the sort of man to sacrifice men in the goriest way he can think of by the thousand. Also, that hat needs more feathers.

http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/8026/noonewilleverknow.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/708/noonewilleverknow.jpg/)
Skirting Tebryns' land, our scout finds a tomb.
I'LL ROB IT! NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW!
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7073/iguesstheywill.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/137/iguesstheywill.jpg/)
Oh. Apparently someone will know.
I try to juke the spectre, but because the barbarian AI is a cheating bastard it doesn't work, and our scout eventually runs out of continent. Before he is killed, however, I encounter a most... distasteful civilization.
http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/4024/nerdb.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/841/nerdb.jpg/)Yeah, you're definitely crucified on a glacier.
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/3452/orcsy.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/194/orcsy.jpg/)Meanwhile, some orc has delusions of grandeur, and thinks that she is the leader of a civilization.
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/2292/reallysheelba.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/24/reallysheelba.jpg/)
We are very much amused.
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/6377/goddang.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/217/goddang.jpg/)
Meanwhile, I am hampered by confused visions of the future, probably catalysed by the interference of mana between the mirror and my own powers as ascendant God of Winter. I personally smelt some of the gold in our treasury into a device to better harmonise the energies gathered and magnified by the mirror with my person. It works, but I wonder why I'm the only one in this bloody city who knows how to do it. Did stupid disease ravage the Illians when Mulcarn fell?

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/8118/youmustbejokin.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/19/youmustbejokin.jpg/)
You have got to be kidding me! I've been building practically nothing but warriors and this Sabathiel still has more military than I do?!?

In other news, I forgot to screencap the Agriculture completion popup. You're not missing much, the early game techs are some of the most irritating and badly-reasoned pieces of Romantic blather I have had the displeasure of reading. Here's a shot of our city to make up for it.
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/6181/ourcity.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/198/ourcity.jpg/)
Currently, I'm working on a granary in our capital. The game is bugging me to build a second settler. We finally have a corn farm and at least one winery. I can't recall if the one on the hill is finished and am too lazy to look. On another topic, this is the second worst luck I have ever had in this mod, surpassed only by the time my starting settler spawned RIGHT UNDER the guardian of Pristin Pass. We've scored eighty bazillion villages, and gotten nothing but gold, experience and a couple of maps. Not a single technology or worker to be found. Yeah, I'm kinda ticked.

[Gaius Marius]

Aren't the Amurites the ones who killed Your previous incarnation?


KILL!! PILLAGE!! BURN!! BURN THE WITCHES!!!

[Vauron]

"For the time being, it would be wise to focus our wrath on a single target. As such, until we are more secure, I advocate we only go to war with a single civilization. Preferably, the target will be close to our cities, allowing quicker reinforcement of the troops. Oh Glorious One, unless another target is more feasible to conquer quickly, I suggest that we break the Malakim first. To better facilitate the conquest of other civilizations, we should keep them in a state of 'Not yet at War', which some might foolishly refer to as 'peace', until such time as we are ready to pick the next target.

[tribble]

Aren't the Amurites the ones who killed Your previous incarnation?


KILL!! PILLAGE!! BURN!! BURN THE WITCHES!!!

I am not Mulcarn come again. I am the heir to his sphere.

Vauron is voting to prioritise the Malakim. There's a lot to that idea, the biggest factor being the existence of the Sheaim, who, being a pack of mustache-twirling babyeaters, will pump the Armageddon Counter and thereby ruin our diplomacy with neighboring Good-aligned nations. Because of that, we may have difficulty maintaining negotiations.

However, the General says not to pursue a war with warriors, and I agree.
EDIT: Also, the Amurites are far away. It will be a long time before a push against them is feasible.

[tribble]

So is the general consensus to just continue as I was, and make another update when warranted?

[Vauron]

Basically, yes. At least diplomaticly, I can't speak for the others.

[Gaius Marius]

Yup. You are doing quite well

[Kurgan]

Just piping in to say I am in agreement with the others here.

[tribble]

EPISODE 7:THE BEAR ASCENDANThttp://img21.imageshack.us/img21/8666/bouttime.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/21/bouttime.jpg/)
We finally discover the art of grubbing in the dirt for rocks. I waste time researching a little bit of masonry before I remember we need bronze working to build axes.
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/6776/copperx.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/231/copperx.jpg/)
This is the nearest source of copper. Seizing it would provide a massive boost to our military, giving all melee troops +1 to their strength. That's kind of a big deal when most of the world is at wooden clubs. Also, we can take advantage of the rice and marble in addition to the copper, providing our society with a healthy boost and ensuring the growth of the city. I somehow forgot that Gaius agreed to the creation of an outpost earlier, so I didn't build a settler yet. Rest assured that will be my next action.

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/1102/atleastwemadethelist.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/830/atleastwemadethelist.jpg/)
Well, at least we made the list this time.

http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/1874/fudginafrica.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/691/fudginafrica.jpg/)
In a distant land, our scouts locate a jungle with excessively rich deposits of gemstones. I'm including this because it sounds like Africa.

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/3416/bestdamnmusic.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/96/bestdamnmusic.jpg/)
Our scouts cross paths with a charming fellow. His court plays the best music I have ever heard.
(META: it is really rather shocking that we're outperforming Falamar, given our mediocre prominence in the world. Usually he spreads like a fungus from hell and founds an empire of eight cities by the time the rest of the civs are happy to have two cities.)

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/8131/damnitj.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/705/damnitj.jpg/)
DAMNIT. Our researchers encounter a setback.
http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/4867/veryfunny.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/593/veryfunny.jpg/)
...Which is promptly resolved. This is so funny I forgot to laugh.

http://img807.imageshack.us/img807/6209/perversity.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/807/perversity.jpg/)Meantime, crime increases in our city again. I find it perversely amusing, given the governor's reports back when the city was founded.

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/710/omfgcz.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/31/omfgcz.jpg/)
You have to be kidding me! I've gotten nothing out of those damn villages but money and I'm STILL being outdone by somebody in terms of bank accounts!?
http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/4680/robotsz.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/801/robotsz.jpg/)This is Garrim Gyr of the Luchadores. Apparently they are midgets who build robots to defend them with the awesome power of wrestling.

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/1845/suchafloozy.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/841/suchafloozy.jpg/)
Our scouts encounter an elf dressed like one of the Garduk streetwalkers styling herself Queen Viconia. She is so blatantly untrustworthy it's painful.

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/8003/yesyesyesyesyeeeees.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/824/yesyesyesyesyeeeees.jpg/)And finally, something wonderful happens.

Also in this episode, I built the Deruptus Brewing House offscreen by clearcutting some of the forest. This should help our research, especially if we can seize that rice.

[Gaius Marius]

We have to put celebrations in your name!!

(do we get anything beneficial out of da stazzz?)

I say we create something special in the name of Ulric Auric. For this is an occasion!

Maybe a special unit? A hero? What special unit we can try to rush for?

[tribble]

We have to put celebrations in your name!!

(do we get anything beneficial out of da stazzz?)

I say we create something special in the name of Ulric. For this is an occasion!

Maybe a special unit? A hero? What special unit we can try to rush for?

We got a golden age. I already built the Deruptus brewing house, which gives a percentage bonus to the commerce of its city and gives me two sources of delicious ale, which is a luxury resource.

And it's Auric. Auric!

[tribble]

I will be producing a settler and moving him to take advantage of the copper next update. Please do respond to the thread after each update, even if it's just "stay the course, we're doing fine".

[Vauron]

"stay the course, we're doing fine".

Unless something big happens, I wont have new instructions until we kill whoever it is near Yggdrasil. So dam the torpedos and full speed ahead!

[tribble]

EPISODE 8: THE BARBARIAN KINGhttp://img825.imageshack.us/img825/5889/orthus.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/825/orthus.jpg/)
Orthus, the barbarian king, makes a dramatic entry just south of the orc lands. Or at least it would be dramatic if it wasn't for the fact that he couldn't possibly be any farther from a civilization he's going to actually attack. Sheelba has the barbarian trait, which means that as long as she is not in the lead on score, she will be at peace with the barbarians. Orthus will probably kill himself on a competing civilization, but in the unlikely event he does come up here to Canada, we have more than enough warriors to deal with him.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/1618/forthehordeii.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/19/forthehordeii.jpg/)
Immediately, Sheelba casts For the Horde, and gains a massive military boost at the cost of never researching anything ever again. I'm exaggerating, but on a map this size she can forget about putting money towards research with that much military scattered all over the map. I think she's hoping to get orthus with it, but I'm unsure if orthus can be converted like that.

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/5233/morereligiousthanosama.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/855/morereligiousthanosama.jpg/)Our scout encounters an angry-looking midget. He strikes me as a deeply religious person.
(Arturus Thorne is a stalwart ally-if you have the same religion as he does (which is always runes of kilmorph, the most face-gnawingly dull religion in the game bar none.). If you don't have the same religion, your relations with him will take a massive hit (-7). To put this in perspective, he will be almost twice as upset if your religions differ than if you burn one of his cities to the ground. It's just as well we can't assign a state religion.)

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/882/optionsforresearch.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/3/optionsforresearch.jpg/)We have completed bronze working and masonry. I want to make sure we want to go ahead and rush construction now before I start on it, because in the time it takes to rush construction we could have two lesser techs. Ancient Chants, in particular, would be nice to have, since it leads to mysticism, which will allow the temple of the hand building, which terraforms our lands into ice. This is kind of like getting the effects of the Genesis ritual from the early game onward. Actually, with the bonuses Illians get for fighting on ice and tundra, it is better.

Also, I am going to a family reunion that is going to last for the next week starting tomorrow, so I won't have access to FFH. Ergo, this is the last update until next week.

[Kurgan]

I'm not too picky about the way we do our tech, if you guys think of something better than what I'm thinking, I'm ok with changing how we do things a bit. Ancient Chants and Mysticism sound solid, especially with the whole turning our territory into a winter wonderland thing they have going for us.

Also, have fun at the reunion.

[tribble]

I'm not too picky about the way we do our tech, if you guys think of something better than what I'm thinking, I'm ok with changing how we do things a bit. Ancient Chants and Mysticism sound solid, especially with the whole turning our territory into a winter wonderland thing they have going for us.

Also, have fun at the reunion.

Will do.:smallbiggrin:

Would you like me to list the effects of each tech as they become available? I realise this sounds, like, rude or condescending, but I'm in earnest, and can't think of another way to phrase it.

[Kurgan]

No offense taken, I can see what you are getting at. What I initially meant when I was saying I am willing to change if someone has a better idea is that I am not going to say "my way and nobody elses'", if that makes sense. I suppose something like "I'm flexible".

I am somewhat aware of what each tech does, and what they provide, but I was never the best at taking in the big picture. I really do not mind seeing the effects, especially since you and the others seem to have more knowledge on this mod than I.

[Gaius Marius]

I heard our priest are pretty powerful, so why not going toward these?

[Cieyrin]

Squee, Fall From Heaven 2! I've read so much about this mod but haven't gotten to play it, do to only having the original Civ IV and that for Mac, which the mod isn't compatible with, anyways. :smallfrown:

I vote we research towards Mysticism for Temples and Priests of Winter. I'd like to see spellslinging sooner than later. :smallbiggrin:

[bebosteveo]

Good game, great mod. The AI has a bit of trouble with all of the new and advance options, though.

I agree with these latest suggestions. We must turn our focus to religious matters and spark the return of the White Hand. Such powers and magics brought the world to its knees once, and will do so again.

For those who don't know the mod there are (as I see) 5 major areas of technology. RELIGION, which makes various temples, priests, paladins, demons, and mystical rituals available depending on which religion we follow. (For us, this route lets us turn the land into snow/ice and send blizzards to wreak our opponents lands) MAGIC, which lets use create powerful mages and harness raw mana nodes, many of which act like typical civ resources in addition to providing a lot of fun spells. RECON, which provides archers, cavalry, rangers, and assassins as well as certain "nefarious" economic buildings like smuggling guilds. ENGINEERING/ECONOMIC, is a bit of an odd one. It provides things like taverns and aqueducts to boost the economy, castles to boost defences, siege engines, crossbowmen, naval ships, and chariots. MILITARY is pretty much your typical "make stronger infantry" route, but it also unlocks new metals which make stronger weapons for most military units.

[tribble]

http://www.gunaxin.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/farnsworth.jpgGood news, everyone! I've returned from a week of surfing and a half week of visiting all my relatives (although we just had a reunion) with a device that makes you read this post in my voice!

I'll update this post later with an update.

[Gaius Marius]

Huzzah! Not only is our God still alive, he makes me hear voices just by writing stuff!!!

[Cieyrin]

Image of Professor Hubert Farnsworth surfing...I'm not sure whether that's disturbing or amazing...

Anyways, yays, update soon! :smallbiggrin:

[tribble]

EPISODE 9: THE FIRST SNOWS http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/8797/statusupdate.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/189/statusupdate.jpg/)I return from dreams of heat and joy to see the world as it was when I left it.
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/9203/nosuprise.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/6/nosuprise.jpg/)
Some wiseguy decides to list everybody on erebus in order of military size. Unsurprisingly, the orcs are in first place.

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/7793/relationships.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/64/relationships.jpg/)
The stars auspice a time of improved relations for our nation, and everybody thinks we're just a tiny bit more of a cool kid.

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/9751/patria.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/32/patria.jpg/)
In other news, our scouts have located the remains of ancient patria. They are too far away to be of consequence to us for a long time.

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/9751/patria.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/32/patria.jpg/)

No sooner does our intrepid settler found our second city than do the new city watch spy a wild gargoyle. This can only mean that some moron has been having picnics underneath the guardian of pristin (or maybe it's actually supposed to be pristine, the spelling in the civilopedia is inconsistent) pass. Fortunately, the gargoyle does not attack.

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/5196/copperz.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/607/copperz.jpg/)
Hooray, we now have copper, with which we can make mighty blades of bronze. I'm not entirely clear on where we get the tin, which historically has always been the limiting factor in bronzeworking industry, but whatever. Mighty weapons! This is as good a time as any to tell you that I spent most of the treasury upgrading warriors into axemen and that we now have a much more dangerous force.

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/9572/mysticism.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/64/mysticism.jpg/)
Have I mentioned that the writers behind this mod flunk every philosophy and rhetoric class ever? The vanilla civ flavor text for the vanilla civ tech of this name made the exact same point as this massive paragraph and it did so in ten words. The text on animal husbandry is even worse though, partially because it's flat-out incorrect. Rants aside, this is wonderful for us. I let the current building in Garduk finish, because it was like two turns away, and then order the construction of a temple of the hand. I also change our government from a despotism and establish myself as God-king. It's pretty much the same, but now I have to wear a silly hat, and the people of Garduk work harder.

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4889/herebedragonscv.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/221/herebedragonscv.jpg/)
The jungle catching fire every which way tells me that Acheron the red dragon is living it up just south of our second city.


http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/4596/culturey.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/851/culturey.jpg/)
Some smart aleck makes a list of the most cultured civilizations and doesn't put us on it. I have him crucified.
http://img803.imageshack.us/img803/8744/iceplaceyouhave.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/803/iceplaceyouhave.jpg/)
The rites of the white hand are painstakingly worked out from apocrypha left over from the Age of Ice, and as the formulaic prayers of the old ways echo in the air, the morning dews congeal into a thick mist that spreads over the land and leaves permafrost in its wake. Until seeing the frozen plains of my youth, I hadn't realised just how homesick I was.

I am later informed that our production has been mangled by the freeze, although the illians are growing food much more efficiently.

Currently, we are researching Philosophy, which will enable The White Hand, a ritual that gifts us with Athos, Porthos, and Aramis (that's not their real names, but the nilhorn are already named for the stooges and I wanted to make a joke) the priests of winter, because I remember some people wanted them.

[Castaras]

I believe it's supposed to be Pristinus Pass. At least, that's what I've read everywhere.

[tribble]

I believe it's supposed to be Pristinus Pass. At least, that's what I've read everywhere.

ah, thank you for that.

[tribble]

We apologise for the delay, there are reasons, but I'm tired of making excuses.
EPISODE 10: THE WHITE HAND
http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/8062/yayresearch.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/834/yayresearch.jpg/)
A stroke of luck sees our research time on philosophy decreased by a third.

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/8155/pestilence.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/829/pestilence.jpg/)
Soon after, we suffer an attack of the plague at Garduk. Snow makes Illians "hot", for some reason, and we recoup the losses with ease.

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/4889/zombieskw.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/197/zombieskw.jpg/)
This screenshot was taken simply to show off the pyre zombie military owned by our rival Tebryn Arbandi. We're fortunate that it's him and not Os-Gabella, however, because she is an even worse neighbor than Montezuma, and quite frankly there is no counter for early pyre zombie rushes.

For those wondering what the big deal is, Pyre Zombies explode when they die, much like guided missles in vanilla civ, except they can also fight and gain promotions like normal soldiers. They are also immune to death magic and resistant to fire, the mainstays of caster-dependant civilizations (IE: the hated Amurites.) Our feasible options for fighting them include cavalry spam and a lot of tedious microcommand, Turn Undead, which will require life mana and three to five mages (meaning it's hundreds of turns away) and ascending to godhood, as Avatar units are immune to elemental damage. This last is an uber-late game measure, however, and I'd prefer to eliminate the Sheaim earlier, before all that fire particle effect crashes my computer.

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/5391/philosophyc.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/843/philosophyc.jpg/)
With Philosophy researched, I now have more elegant countermeasures against bigheaded smartalecks than painful execution. Painful execution is altogether more entertaining, however, so I resolve to stick with that while I immediately set Garduk to work gathering the apocrypha left behind by the now-extinct priests of Mulcarn into a workable dogma.

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/1778/refugeesr.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/18/refugeesr.jpg/)
I wonder why they are all the way out here, since there are a great many closer neighbors than Illia, but I consent to their pleas. The city suffers no setbacks of any kind by their addition.

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/2346/openborders.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/43/openborders.jpg/)
Faeryl Viconia requests open borders between our nations. It costs nothing in the way of diplomacy to refuse open borders in the first place, and open borders lead to snafus when your trading partners' enemy demands you cancel your deals with them, so I will always refuse open border agreements unless my audience advises open border agreements with a specific civ.
http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/1839/researchleaderboard.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/819/researchleaderboard.jpg/)At least we made the list this time.

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/9858/moreopenborders.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/707/moreopenborders.jpg/)Decius is trying to appear to valuable to destroy.

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/2480/goawayd.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/146/goawayd.jpg/)
Faeryl Viconia demands petty gifts. She's totally into me.
http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/8373/waaah.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/837/waaah.jpg/)
I heard somewhere that elf girls like it when you play hard to get, so I tell her no, and she throws a tantrum. Whether or not she thinks I'm funny, her heretical screechings about being "the winter queen" are hillarious.

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/1069/whitehandq.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/26/whitehandq.jpg/)
And that seemed like a good place to end this LP.

So, important things pertinent to this update: The Svarts are half a continent away, and militarily unimpressive. Faeryl Viconia is one of those grasping bullies who demands the clothes off your back in exchange for not being destroyed by her mighty army of three or four warriors. We have a source of horses just north of our cultural borders, and will need the horses to fight the sheaim with if we don't want to structure our entire army and choice of mana around life mages. We are recovering from our inauspicious start of two dozen villages and not a single free tech or settler.

[Vauron]

I heard somewhere that elf girls like it when you play hard to get, so I tell her no, and she throws a tantrum. Whether or not she thinks I'm funny, her heretical screechings about being "the winter queen" are hillarious.


Heretical elf. Is she close enough to be conquered after our currently designated victim? The Winter Court is nothing before the heir of Mulcarn.

[Kurgan]

Alright, so I've actually dug out my copy of Civ and played some Fall From Heaven II since I last posted on this thread, so I am slightly more informed than before on the research.

I am just curious, what have we got so far? I remember we are teched up enough for axemen and copper use in terms of military, and up to philosophy and working on animal husbandry now, but don't remember if we have anything else.

[tribble]

Heretical elf. Is she close enough to be conquered after our currently designated victim? The Winter Court is nothing before the heir of Mulcarn.

She is not, that's why I'm being so blaise about rebuffing her demands. I'll check the file and see what tech we have.

-agriculture
-animal husbandry (finished offscreen. I passionately hate the flavor text for being built on false premises, so I didn't take a pic. many apologies.
-Exploration
-Crafting
-Mining
-Masonry
-Bronze Working
-Ancient Chants
-Mysticism
-The purview of yer conundrums of Philosophy

We're researching Construction right now, because someone was calling for catapults. Of course, that's subject to override by Vauron if he wants. Our other options are Calendar, enabling agrarianism and plantations, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, cartography (enables map trading, border agreements, and pact of the nilhorn ritual), archery,smelting(reveals iron), sanitation (extra food from farms), education, knowledge of the ether, Way of the Wicked and Way of the Wise. Both of these last techs are dead enders for us, although other civs use them for stepping stones to four different religions.

[Eldan]

I was calling for catapults, my lord. Axes are fine weapons, but tearing down pallisades with them is tedious work. I also say we should get those horses as soon as possible. We could built another city there, if necessary.

[tribble]

I'd like to have a consensus from Vauron and Eldan on horsemen vs. catapults before beginning work on the next installment. Also, I want to know if Eldan wants Horsemen before declaring war on Decius. Having Catapults before that is a given, of course.

[Eldan]

What units does Decius have, exactly? In any case, catapults first. In my experience, horsemen are optional, while catapults are necessary. Horsemen are nice for quick attacks, guerilla warfare, breaking supply lines and raiding, but not really for attacks on towns. Plus, they are fast, so if you build them later, they can catch up with the main army later.

[Castaras]

Can't remember if the Malakim units changed much in RifE compared to original Fall from Heaven, but Malakim units are quite weak in comparison to other civis. They have reasonable cavalry, and their lightbringers can be interesting, and if they go for religion their world spell helps summon more priests. But otherwise, yeah, quite weak militarily. Strong economically though.

Take with a pinch of salt, though, either in Fall Further or Rise from Erebus or both, the Malakim changed drastically.

[Vauron]

Catapults first, I suppose.

[tribble]

Malakim units are pretty much all bog-standard, except that their camel archers don't require horses to build. They're an excellent civ at religion and economy, and if they get Chalid Astrakein (the Empyrean Hero) they pretty much own the overcouncil. Fortunately for us, it's too early for religion right now. To find out what units Decius has right now specifically, I'll need to agree to open borders and send a scout into his land. Should I do this?

[Vauron]

Does anyone who hates him constitute a clear and present danger if we were to open borders for a time to scout him? If the answer to that question is no, than open the borders for as long as needed to scout. That land is ours anyway, they just don't know it yet.

Incidently, why would I have override on research? I missed that bit a few posts ago, and am wondering why I would have authority over Kurgan's decisons. My understanding is that I mostly pick victims for Eldan. (I have a really bad grasp of tech, war, and only a vague grasp of economics in this game)

[tribble]

Incidently, why would I have override on research?

:Facepalm: My bad, I got you mixed up with Kurgan somehow. I'll open the borders.

[Kurgan]

I'm back, I agree with the others on going for catapults and then horses. I will also say that I am more than willing to share the spot of tech chief if Vauron or any of the others want in.

[Eldan]

Well, lets get on with this, then!

[tribble]

Well, lets get on with this, then!

Right, okay, next episode in progress. I'm trying not to burn myself out.
Also, I'm going to college in a few weeks, is it possible to port a saved game over to another computer? I don't need to know right now, but sooner is better.

[Castaras]

Copy the My documents folder bit with the saves in?

[tribble]

EPISODE ELEVEN: THE LAND OF THE SUN]http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/6899/priests.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/607/priests.jpg/)Priests. We have them. Nobody else does, yet. The Runes of Kilmorph and Octupus Overlords have been founded.

http://img814.imageshack.us/img814/5540/vampires.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/814/vampires.jpg/)
The distant Calabim are asking for open borders. This will not help us until we get some coastline and the sailing technology and even then we'd need open borders with everyone who has coast between the two of us.

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/8297/mixedbag.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/825/mixedbag.jpg/)
I get a scout into Decius' borders. He has Swordsmen, but about half his military is comprised of warriors. His swords may occasionally strike first, but our axes will have a chance to withdraw instead of dying, even in his borders. His villages along the river would replenish our coffers (which are finally depleted) if we pillaged them.
I'm making a very short and fast update to ask our leaders if we should go to war now or wait for catapults. Decius has planted a city right outside the borders of our second city, it's lightly defended now but it will be difficult to take later and could be a thorn in our side by the time we have catapults. We can defeat his armies in the field, even if we can't necessarily take cities.

[deuterio12]

The time for words has passed. This demands WAR! Pillage the countryside, cripple their economy, replenish our coffers and hopefully draw out their forces in the open where we may crush them!

Eeerrr, of course you should heed the advice of the random stranger instead of your trusted commanders.:smalltongue:

[Kurgan]

Well, on the one hand we have a city right on our border that we can take and lots of towns and villages we can plunder to fill our coffers. On the other, we have a war that will most likely end in a stalemate until we get some catapults on the field.

Lets toss the dice and go for it. At the very worst, we can set them back a ways by completely destroying their infrastructure.

Also, I can't quite make out what those resource tiles are right next to Golden Leane. What are they?

[tribble]

Whoa, meant to post and edited insead. The resources you were talking about were gem mines.

[Brian Shanahan]

Well, on the one hand we have a city right on our border that we can take and lots of towns and villages we can plunder to fill our coffers. On the other, we have a war that will most likely end in a stalemate until we get some catapults on the field.

Lets toss the dice and go for it. At the very worst, we can set them back a ways by completely destroying their infrastructure.

Also, I can't quite make out what those resource tiles are right next to Golden Leane. What are they?

Ye've priests of winter, no need for collateral, yet. The strength 7 Ice Elementals will wear anything down enough to even win with non-bronze warriors. And even then I'd go for some fire tossing mages before I'd consider catapults. By far the best thing you can have in FfH is mobility and Cats cancel that out immediately. I took out Eithne in Prince just using the three PoWs and a half promoted warrior.

Oh and by the way if anyone wants to point and laugh, I'm playing a Play by E-mail over here (http://realmsbeyond.net/forums/showthread.php?t=4715).

[tribble]

By far the best thing you can have in FfH is mobility and Cats cancel that out immediately.

We don't have raiders and we don't have horsemen yet either, nor do we have body mana. Mobility is kind of a moot point. I agree that with the raiders quality or body adepts the pact of the nilhorn and/or fire mages is vastly superior to catapults.

ELDAN GET IN HERE

[Eldan]

While I can't command production (I think), the Pact of Nilhorn is awesome . I recommend a mixed force of priests of winter and horsemen, on the attack. Stay mobile.

[Kurgan]

I'm fine with switching research from catapults to horsemen if that is the will of the War Chief.

[Gaius Marius]

On the mid run, I like the idea of fireball-backed ice elementals. It's so unlikely it makes me laugh.

Clearly, we are more clever than I suspected.

Greenlighting Horsemen production

[Brian Shanahan]

We don't have raiders and we don't have horsemen yet either, nor do we have body mana. Mobility is kind of a moot point. I agree that with the raiders quality or body adepts the pact of the nilhorn and/or fire mages is vastly superior to catapults.

ELDAN GET IN HERE

Horsemen with Conquest/Apprenticeship/Form of the Titan is more effective than siege units. 3 move units with 2 withdrawal promotions will be your collateral (and with Auric you're only 2 XP from a third promo), and also be able to outmove and fork any defence the AIs put up. Raiders is only so powerful because it makes the already overpowered mobile units irrestible as a means of force projection.

And with the Priests getting Ice 2 and combat promotions, the Ice elementals will beat almost any warrior, and have decent chances on Archers or bronze axes, at about 35% to win (depending on promotions, boni), but almost guaranteed to redline units. If you have sufficient warrior spam to back up the Priests you'll take down most civilisations early on. The fact that it is axes versus swords, just helps you even more, because no archers to defend. Though turn 378 is a bit late to be getting the Priests IMO. I'd have semi-beelined them after the worker techs calendar and mysticism (for a release on turn 150-200 on Epic at Prince, depending on hut luck).

Not saying that catapults won't work, just saying that everyting works better.

Also are you going to pull stasis before going in?

Finally what would be useful would be a current comparison of the power graphs and known units between you and Decius. Knowing what the opposition is and how you square up would be nice.

And definitely finally, all this talk has gotten me thinking about Succession Games again. Would anyone be interested in taking one on?

[tribble]

depending on hut luck).

This is a large portion of why we're so far behind. Generally, you can expect to get a tech or two out of the huts, or a settler, or at least a worker. If you've been paying attention to the let's play, we popped enough huts for three civilizations and got nothing but experience, gold, and maps.

[Brian Shanahan]

This is a large portion of why we're so far behind. Generally, you can expect to get a tech or two out of the huts, or a settler, or at least a worker. If you've been paying attention to the let's play, we popped enough huts for three civilizations and got nothing but experience, gold, and maps.

Getting money is good hut luck, and depending on where/when you pop it getting a named ogre off a dungeon is too!

Not sure what the figures at prince are (but IIRC the dungeon figures are overall 45% good, 55% bad) but at Prince/Monarch, where I play SP they are rare enough that they are remarkable. At Emperor, where I played succession games, techs were almost non-existent. Fact of the matter is though, for a unit available on Philosophy which is as highly powered should-be at least semi-rushed (a full rush on anything above Prince though will probably be economic suicide). When you know you've quick access to 6 str7 units, then you're not looking to augment them with much, you're looking for victims, and the only other consideration is having the economy ready for after.

[tribble]

EPISODE 10: THE FIRST WARhttp://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1679/gtfoazn.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/221/gtfoazn.jpg/)Almost immediately after declaring war, somebody loses their cool. I present an acquaintance of mine with an early birthday present and the next day a man mysteriously stabs himself in the back twelve times. It must have been one hell of a shaving accident.
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/7589/showdowni.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/651/showdowni.jpg/)We take decius's encroaching town without incident, and are soon confronted by his army of swordsmen. The priests of winter devastate them to the point that I'm wondering why I brought the axemen.
http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/7103/slavering.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/838/slavering.jpg/)http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/2808/getslaves.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/202/getslaves.jpg/)An illegal slave ring is suspected in the capital. I pay to have it investigated, and confiscate the slaves.
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/3666/greatengie.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/27/greatengie.jpg/)A brilliant engineer goes missing. I pay a disreputable looking fellow to bring him back alive and unharmed, and promptly put the man to work building a palace out of some dragon bones I found. He does it overnight, and I am very impressed. So are the Illians, everyone in the empire begins to work harder.(The bone palace is basically the taj mahal from vanilla, with an added bonus of protecting the city from magic to an extent.)

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/2346/openborders.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/221/openborders.jpg/)The Luchiurp are requesting open borders.
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/346/pillagingcrew.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/199/pillagingcrew.jpg/)
I figured I'd show you how I'm pillaging the countryside. Basically, three ice golems are enough to completely pillage a village, and decius hasn't got towns yet. This means I have unparalleled efficiency in my raid. I decide not to pillage plantations or gem mines, because those are annoying to rebuild.

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/4884/raidcomplete.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/62/raidcomplete.jpg/)
Soon, we've burned down every orbital village decius has and made ourselves quite rich on the way. Due to his lack of real defenders, I elect to take his cities.
http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/673/choices.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/853/choices.jpg/)One of our priests of winter has leveled up enough that he has the combat V promotion. There are no further promotions that will enhance his spellcasting, sad to say. I therefore leave it up to you, the playground, what to upgrade. It bears mentioning that he is one of only three units in the entire empire (and what do ya know, the other two are also priests of winter) capable of taking the command promotion and gaining a chance to convert defeated units.
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/5672/deciusfalls.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/143/deciusfalls.jpg/)Decius is phlegmatic about his defeat when I walk into his throneroom with the priests at my side. Until, that is, I put him in a cage to be taken to the dungeons at Garduk to be studied. I recall certain fragments of lore about a dragon in service to Mulcarn, indicating a lust for the blood of kings.

This seems as good a time as any to ask how you guys like the let's play so far. Importantly, we have defeated an empire, which means we can concuct the stir from slumber ritual once we research divine essence, which is kind of an endgame sort of tech. Stir from slumber grants us a dragon who gains massive bonuses on ice. Even without those bonuses, he's still a friggin' dragon. Also importantly, we have seized the Yggdrasil world feature. This will encourage growth throughout the empire by acting as both a happiness and a health resource.

EDIT: If you guys want me to, I can edit in episode names for the installments so far and also add episode names to future installments.

[Cieyrin]

I'm rather enjoying the LP and the slow march of the new Ice Age. I especially look forward to seeing our very own dragon burninating (or would that be freezinating?) the countryside. Good job! :smallbiggrin:

I also would love an episode index with titles, though only if it doesn't come to be a pain to name each one.

[Kurgan]

So far I'm enjoying the lp. For promotion, go for command if you want, I'm fine with whatever there really.

Also: Huzzah! One empire has already fallen to the Ice King!

[tribble]

oh, on the dragon, I just think this part bears repeating: it will be a very long time before we get him, and I mean longer than that. longer. looonger. almost there. there you go. that's about half as long as we have to our dragon.

Eldan will definitely have the say on what our priests take after combat 5. What's the point of a warchief if I don't let him make decisions?

I'm glad you guys are having fun.

[Eldan]

Definitely Command. It rocks.

[Gaius Marius]

oh, on the dragon, I just think this part bears repeating: it will be a very long time before we get him, and I mean longer than that. longer. looonger. almost there. there you go. that's about half as long as we have to our dragon.

Eldan will definitely have the say on what our priests take after combat 5. What's the point of a warchief if I don't let him make decisions?

I'm glad you guys are having fun.

Do you mean it will take a Lot of tech research or a lot of time to build in a city?

Cause if it's the latter, nothing stops us from having a forgotten city that is pulling it's weight on a Legendary Project...

[bebosteveo]

Do you mean it will take a Lot of tech research or a lot of time to build in a city?

Both. You need to have about 80% of the tech tree completed before the option is unlocked and it still costs around 1000 hammers to summon.

[tribble]

What's our next objective, gentlemen? Acquire adepts? Try to beat the orcs in an early game war just to show off? Kill Sabathiel and take the pyre of the seraphic?

[bebosteveo]

Naturally, we must first consolidate and terraform our new holdings. Spread winter and the white hand back to where it belongs. Then, we must burn that pyre to the ground (figuratively speaking). The ammurites have shown a certain resourcefulness in the past and while they may not be on friendly terms with the banor, allowing them any potential access to the powers of the fire goddess would be foolish indeed.

[Gaius Marius]

Is striking and razing the Amurite civilization out of our reach?

They are crafty little men who play with thugs beyond their comprehension. They caused the end of the last Age of Ice.. I say we both take revenge and ensure a white future for our children.

[Vauron]

Silly me, forgot to suggest any course of action after we crushed whats-there-names. I advocate a few turns spent in consolidation, infrastructure, and things in that vein. After that, lets try to get all the named geographic features, starting with the Pyre. However, if we are in a position to conquer the Amurites, kill them first.

[tribble]

Is striking and razing the Amurite civilization out of our reach?

They are crafty little men who play with thugs beyond their comprehension. They caused the end of the last Age of Ice.. I say we both take revenge and ensure a white future for our children.

I admit, I loled. The Amurites are very far away. It's kind of a land war in asia situation at the moment.

[Vauron]

I admit, I loled. The Amurites are very far away. It's kind of a land war in asia situation at the moment.

Whelp, Amurites have now been downgraded to 'will die later'. Are the Sheim close enough to us to be feasbile? If so, kill them next.

[tribble]

Whelp, Amurites have now been downgraded to 'will die later'. Are the Sheim close enough to us to be feasbile? If so, kill them next.

This is probably an oppurtune time to crush the sheaim, as none of the other computer players are intelligent enough to counter the pyre zombie horde, meaning we'll need to do it sooner or later, and it does take a degree of specialization. I'm going to try for open borders so I can save a couple of scouts who got stuck on the other side of the sheaim lands. They're kind of powerful by now after all the animals, or they will be once we make rangers out of them. For now, I'll focus on getting our newly expanded empire in order and make an update once I've gotten it nice and cold.

[Gaius Marius]

Or we could befriend the Sheaim, have them focus their strenghts on other ennemies while we conquer the world. When we are ready, we pull the Sheaim's pants by knowing exactly what to do to crush them.

[Kurgan]

Nah, lets crush the Sheim now (or at least after we consolidate). Also, for research, anyone have a problem with doing the early techs for spellcasting after we get horsemen and catapults? A few adepts can be useful in any army.

[tribble]

After much procrastination, I bring you an update. It's smaller than I intended, but I'm going to college come tuesday and won't even have the option of working for a couple of days.

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/7830/freebard.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/641/freebard.jpg/)
It inflicts some unhappy faces, but the city is so incredibly content that it doesn't matter. I think I used the bard to start another golden age, during which nothing of interest happened.

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/3650/fancytree.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/199/fancytree.jpg/)It's rather strange, this tree. Pretty, though, so I have it moved to Garduk.

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/1702/theprophecy.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/10/theprophecy.jpg/)
A disheveled and crazed man bursts into my court, flinging guards about like ragdolls. Upon seeing me, he shrieks out a deperate message. I can sense the swirling energies of fate around this man, and immidiately know him for a true prophet. His message is troubling, however. I cannot allow this man to be taken seriously.
Fortunately, I am plagued by sycophants.
I pause after he finishes his rant and collapses, gasping to the floor. The tension in the room is palpable even to mortals. I then do something that my every instinct screams at me not to: I laugh. I laugh long and loudly at this prophet, and soon the bootlickers of my court begin to laugh as well, nervously at first, and then with abandon of their own.
That's one crisis averted for now, but the truth of the message worries me. I like the world.

http://img805.imageshack.us/img805/1384/whythankyou.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/805/whythankyou.jpg/)
The White hand captures a barbarian city and exterminates the last of the gargoyles while they're at it.
http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/7397/financef.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/829/financef.jpg/)
Upon reviewing the financial reports for our country I am most displeased. Acting as a God-King is costing me fortunes in maintenance.
http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/5034/cartography.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/818/cartography.jpg/)
Knowledge of the Ether has been attained by the general populace, so I choose to research cartography. Organising the Illians into City-States will go a long way towards saving money. I'll have to delegate for the time being.

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/1712/pirateborders.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/29/pirateborders.jpg/)
Falamar comes wheedling. I send him away.

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/5112/bullyinghussy.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/710/bullyinghussy.jpg/)
That orc, fondly imagining herself my equal or better, demands a tribute of horses. Her threats when I refuse are, ironically, slightly more subtle than that Faeryl woman's.

So, a note on Civic. Government offers several options, among them God-King and Cartography. God-King is bureaucracy, but with more maintenance cost from city distance and bonus happiness from a state religion (which we will never have.) City-States, our current system, drastically reduces maintenance cost for cities, but also increases war weariness and reduces culture output. Aristocracy, available with Code of laws, will grant two gold output from every farm...at the cost of one food output. The orthodox strategy is to run agrarianism with Aristocracy, because Agrarianism gives +1 food to every farm at the cost of -1hammer, and none of our farms will produce hammers anyway, lololol. Other options are Theocracy, which is useful for rushing the altar of the Luonnatar victory, which is unavailable to me as an evil leader. It's discrimination, I tell you. The final option is Republic, which is kind of like emancipation from vanilla with some added bonuses: unrest in rivals who don't run it, bonus culture, bonus GPP, and three additional happy faces in the six largest cities. However, it's notably lacking in reduction of city maintenance: Aristocracy also grants -40% maintenance from distance from the capital. This is half the distance cost reduction of City-states, which also reduces the cost for the number of cities, but the main attraction is the money from farms.

We need to decide now which of these to run, because they make a big impact and it's nice not to have to change them. Aristocracy, or Aristograrianism as the combo is called (aristocracy will pretty much wed our economy to agrarianism.) is only useful for a civilization with abundant farmland. The lands of the malakim, thanks to the river that winds through it so thoroughly, are pretty much nothing but farmland, with the occasional mine or plantation. Point is, we could profit from Aristocracy because of the land we took from Decius. Aristocracy also grants access to Royal Guards, which are both stellar city defenders and useful for defending against assasins, as they gain the guardsman promotion for free. City-States is a very solid civic up through the end of the game and it allows a lot more freedom than Aristocracy. Theocracy and Republic I have not experimented with yet. I do know that Republic can be imposed on all members of the Overcouncil (The goody-goody magic U.N., or more like League of Nations, because they use the apostolic palace defiance mechanic and therefore are ineffectual most of the time), but that doesn't matter much, because we're irrevocably evil and therefore ineligible to the Overcouncil, and I don't even know if Auric can join the undercouncil, being agnostic.

[Kurgan]

We cannot allow the cities too much independence, lest they begin to question their loyalty. Allowing each city to work autonomous from the capital it a bad idea in the long term. Therefore I must say no to keeping out kingdom fragmented as City States.

Aristocracy, however, could prove valuable, and though it will be more expensive to maintain our cities with it, this will be more than offset by the wealth coming in from our farms.

If we agree on Aristocracy, continue researching for Code of Laws.

If not, then I say we go for Construction (for catapults), then Archery (archers will serve us well if we ever are on the defensive, though I think we get the straight across 4 statted javelin throwers), and a magic school (perhaps unlock health or spirit mana, whichever is the one that harms undead [forget which it is]).

Also wow, 30% research capacity, that is a bit of a killer right there.

[tribble]

Okay, I'm really sorry about this, but it looks like the Let's Play has to end prematurely, because windows seven is, as it turns out, a [expunged] horrible operating system for computer illiterates who never work with the data in their computer, which means I don't get to run mods for games on it, or games off the internet, and at this rate I probably won't get to count on expansion packs off a disk working anymore either. Thanks, Bill, for abandoning everything that made your product worth buying. :smallfurious:

Seriously, being able to enter and edit program files via My Computer was a good thing, and it was the only reason to use windows anymore, since microsoft is better for people who just want an i-tunes library and a glowy typewriter out of their computer in pretty much everything.

If someone wants to take over the let's play for me, that would be great. I have the save on a flash drive, although I'm not sure if the version of FFH I'm running is current, being that patch notes include fixing a bug that made Dain the Caswallarns' favourite wonder the pagan temple, which is his favourite wonder the last time I looked.

Seriously, Microsoft would be doing themselves a favor if they shot everybody responsible for the last three operating systems and used the interface and organisation of Windows 98. Why would they change the organisation of a system their entire market knew already? It makes no sense. If I want a shiny gadget that only does the exact functions the designers foresaw in the exact way they foresaw, I'd buy a Mac.

[Cieyrin]

Sad day, I was enjoying this and looking forward to the emergence of the White Dragon.

Also strange that the mod failed when you upgraded. :smallconfused:

[tribble]

Sad day, I was enjoying this and looking forward to the emergence of the White Dragon.

Also strange that the mod failed when you upgraded. :smallconfused:

It's because my new operating system won't let me into program files. This means no mods for me. You want to build the White dragon, say the word (and recommend me a place to share the file) and I'll upload the save.

Yeah, my computer just became an expensive typewriter/clipboard. :smallannoyed:

[Castaras]

While I'd be unable to run your savegame specifically, I could start a Let's Play with Rise From Erebus rather than Fall From Heaven - same game, just quite a few adjustments and additions.

[Cieyrin]

It's because my new operating system won't let me into program files. This means no mods for me. You want to build the White dragon, say the word (and recommend me a place to share the file) and I'll upload the save.

Yeah, my computer just became an expensive typewriter/clipboard. :smallannoyed:

Don't have the base game, unfortunately. :smallsigh:


While I'd be unable to run your savegame specifically, I could start a Let's Play with Rise From Erebus rather than Fall From Heaven - same game, just quite a few adjustments and additions.

Color me intrigued...

[Castaras]

Color me intrigued...

Cieyrin. :smalltongue:

But yeah, if I do go for doing this LP (with tribbles permission, seeing as it'd be treading on his savegame's toes), I'll post up extra info and such. Would probably be less organised with people telling me what to do with everything rather than specific people doing specific advice.

[Castaras]

Alright, I made a new Let's Play... Here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=11713978).
Lemmie know if I missed anything out. ^.^