Ray the Wanderer Ray the Wanderer

Fellowship of the Ring Empire Thread

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Fellowship of the Ring Empire Thread

from Stardock Forums
The Prancing Pony

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Smiling to himself, the old man stood.

“Come round the Fellowship Halls tomorrow morning and I’ll show you around.”
475,447 views 2,185 replies
Reply #51 from Stardock Forums Top
Yeah, I kinda anticipated that when I saw the gap close after his last submission.

I'm in maintenance mode now after cranking to hit 40 games. Played the GOTM for a different flavour.

Will probably move up a gear by playing Crippling next.

The Metaverse is a marathon so pacing myself is important.
Reply #52 from Stardock Forums Top
C'mon vincible, you know you belong to this fellowship of geeks :)

And we also have serious gamers here who are challenging ourselves against the hardest levels.

Gengsta and myself play Maso and we would love to have another Masochist in this empire (even though pure Masochists would probably never do very well in this Metaverse).
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #53 from Stardock Forums Top
-Incoming Transmission-

Greetings, I am Cos Palpatine, leader of the Republic. I am here to propose an alliance between our civilizations. I feel this will greatly benefit our governments mutually, and perhaps help to start the formation of a bond between the great theme empires.

-End of Transmission-
Reply #54 from Stardock Forums Top
Cos Palpatine,

Is the Republic still at war with GROSS?

We have friendly relations with GROSS (and most other empires for the matter) and would not want to declare war on them just to honor this potential alliance.
Reply #55 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm sure that arangments with GROSS could be made if we were to sign an alliance. Them being on friendly line with your government, perhaps it would be beneficial to the possibility of a peace treaty. Also them being a theme Empire, it would also bode well for a theoretical Confederation of Theme empires down the road.
Reply #56 from Stardock Forums Top
Wise words, Cos Palpatine.

The locality empires are threatening to overwhelm Meta and it is only logical for theme empires to stand together.

The Confederation of Theme empires is a great idea and one I would certainly support.
Reply #57 from Stardock Forums Top
I have sent a request to the GROSS for an armistice treaty, and am currently waiting their reply. I will keep you posted.
Reply #58 from Stardock Forums Top
(The dark side of Gerakken pays a visit:)

Fogman, as the official second in command of GROSS, I will let you in on a secret. We are survivors. Fighting our way from a very small empire and suffering a lot of setbacks on the way, GROSS has grown larger than life because none of the other former big guys thought we had what it takes.

Now everyone guns for us, because we not only made it to the top, but we have staying power. Fighting us is optional. One day, we too will fade. But not before we have made a awe-inspiring mark on the Metaverse. And a big mark it has been so far. So you can fight the Power if you wish, but you will be consumed by it. Don't be another fly we have to swat aside. It is obviously not quite our time yet. Can our end be hastened? Probably. Can you do it? I don't know. I am curiously awaiting the empire that can consign us to the history books. But, sad to say, that will probably happen after we have lost the will to fight. We are not just big, we are GROSS. :HOT:
Reply #59 from Stardock Forums Top
"Trolls", shivered the young lass, "ugly, smelly, and wretched creatures.... We do so dislike them".
"Yea", chimed in the little boy, "butcha forgot stupid, they're always stupid too".
"All that may be true, but they can still cause great pain", intoned the old woman.
"That's quite true", Agreed the young woman, "I wish they weren't so evil but there's nothing you can do to stop them".
"BAH!" said the old man, "Trolls, moles, rabbitholes... you have nothing to fear from them".
"Oh?" questioned the old woman, "what makes you say that you cantankerous old coot?"
"Listen to him", replied the jolly fellow, "in this he knows what he speaks of".
Various chuckles and sounds of disbelief come forth...
"The secret of destroying a troll has long been known", said the old man, "I'm surprised you'd ask".
"If I may", broke in the warrior, "what our evasive friend is trying to say is that trolls cannot stand the light of day, turns them to stone similar to the rocks in their heads".
"Just expose them", he continued, "whereupon they are no longer a threat".
Reply #60 from Stardock Forums Top
Hey Ray better get cracking on games; Pontius just bumped you to third place He has his friends post for him to keep you busy while he is of cranking away on gigantic boards-- just like a pirate I tell ya.
End of quote


I discovered all the medals are pewter inside anyway. Cheap devs. What a disappointment.
Reply #61 from Stardock Forums Top
Regarding your site bunker Idea Ray: I think it far more important for a theme empire to keep up threads here than a locality. Paguma hit the nail on the head. "We don't have to do anything, Canadians see the empire and join." Lame if you ask me. I've seen that the United States can kick alot of butt. I don't need a USA USA USA empire in a video game to prove it. A locality empire is the easy, "I don't wish to think or be creative, lets just hide on our website and not contribute anything meaningful to the community" way out. If we all did just that, the metaverse would be borrrringgggggg. And I quite frankly wouldn't be here. So regardless of what you guys do, Keep a presence here.

Reply #62 from Stardock Forums Top
Ray: G.R.O.S.S. has stopped pounding the Empire into oblivion for the time being whilst my mates vote on whether to let them live or finish the job. A temporary Armistace holds whilst the crew votes.

Right now the War score stands G.R.O.S.S. (estimated) at about 130k whilst the republic stands at about 12k (they lost a couple members) That's pretty much total annhiliation. We are not without heart at G.R.O.S.S. We have housed their refuges in our war factories. And to combat boredom, we've given em some work to do.
Reply #63 from Stardock Forums Top
The Storm clouds gather as the menacing division over ideology screams to a peak. On one side the theme empires are gathering. TASTES GREAT!!! They all yelled. On the other side, the location empires gathered. LESS FILLING!!!

TASTES GREAT!!! LESS FILLING!!!! TASTES GREAT!!!! LESS FILLING!!!! Will this be metaverse war1. And which way will the hybrid empire Anzac fall? Will the Pirates join in or see this as an opportunity to dump their stock of a really bad beer on both sides? HMMMMMMM. Stay tuned.
Reply #64 from Stardock Forums Top
There are two ways to form the confederation,

A. One conglomerate is formed where each theme member has in their name a call sign for their house empire. EXAMPLE:
The member list would look something like this:

GROSS_Pontius
REP_LifeWish
FTR_Ray_The_Wanderer
etc.

and the senate could be hand picked by each joining empire, such as:
REP: me, and two others
GROSS: PBP and two others that he picks
etc.
To avoid getting an enormous senate, we would impose restrictions on how many could be put on the senate:

For example, An Empire on the top ten could have three senate members and 20-11 could have two and all others only one to avoid over crowding.

The callsign system could also be used so that after we disolve the cofederation and restart our individual empires we could go right back to the original design.

OR


B. Have a publicly stated alliance between all our theme empires and all individually try and take control of the meta against the locals.

Either way works, so think it over.

PS. Ray, I have entered negotiations for a peace treaty with GROSS.
Reply #66 from Stardock Forums Top
One again I find myself in league with Gensta. e have the best role-playing/ story writing group in teh metaverse, why dilute that? Again I would rather be small and disctinct than a large group without character. I am willing to support alliances (but not with empires which irresponsable or against our common interest), but I think we should steer clear of mergers.
Reply #67 from Stardock Forums Top
Hey Ray I got this great plan to rocket our empire back to the top of the chart. All we have to do is give Staffa, Pontius, and EBZero one way tickets to some tropical island with scantilly clad women and NO COMPUTERS.

Hmmm gorgot Gerakken may be around... perhaps I should not have said that...

Uhhh how's that private thread coming along? ;p
Reply #68 from Stardock Forums Top
I have to say, the posts by Mad Prophet were priceless. I loved those two exchanges. And ThelebK, the exchange between you and Ray was excellent, too.

Now the pirates that kept butting in. That's a different story. :p
Reply #69 from Stardock Forums Top
Nice suggestion ThelebK.

Did you notice that those three players contribute two-fifth of their empire's gross meta points? That is insane.
Reply #70 from Stardock Forums Top
It was worse when I was in Imperia Galactica, I guess I held 1/2 the empire score but that's the deal when everyone else is inactive.

I'm all for retaining our identities and doing our own thing but it would be good if the community of empires continue to interact in some way beyond the trashtalking.

I'll be restarting the Fellowship MMORPG here in our thread. Do jump in and continue the story after my post.
Reply #71 from Stardock Forums Top
Another Unusual Guest

The Fellowship trudged into the Council Hall.

“Why are we gathered at such an unearthly hour, Ray?” The Green Knight grumbled as he set his massive frame onto a bench.

Gengsta floated in behind Theleb, gleefully displaying his newfound powers at levitation. Dark rings on his eyes hinted at another all-nighter spent to master his next spell. The Mad Prophet laughed as he walked into the Halls, enjoying another joke shared by the little boy.

There was a collective gasp as the white beams of the light cast by the morning dawn illuminated a womanly figure next to Ray.

A striking lady clad in sliver elvin chain came sharply into focus. The half-elvish features and the distinctive holy symbol of Goddess of Healing left none in doubt that they were in the presence of the legendary CariElf, Saint to the Bug-plagued. Her platinum mace, the Bug-Squasher, nestled comfortably against her side, emanating the holy power stored within.

“Members of the Fellowship,” The observers snapped out of their reverie as her tinkling clear voice filled the Council Hall. “I bring you tidings of the greatest urgency.”

“The Fellowship must be roused to action”
Reply #72 from Stardock Forums Top
Besides our MMORPG, let's think of interesting things we can do in the Fellowship.

One suggestion is something I've seen in the EU2 board. A game with sequential players. Someone could start the game, hand it over to the next player to continue and so on. AAR and screenshots. Twists could be added to make things interesting eg. alternating players who would try to make things hard for each other.
Reply #73 from Stardock Forums Top
Sequential game would be nice!
One year at a time. Careful not to overplay your time limit.

Also we could have the 1 on 1 maso challenge. Haven't played that one yet. Another one is to fashion a mission that you can't destroy more than 15 enemy ships. Fastest victory wins.
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Reply #74 from Stardock Forums Top
How about setting different goals for the two players and see who would get to their objective first. They can sabotage each other, but players can set 10 sets autopilot instructions that the other player cannot interfere with. Stuff like that.
[Message Edited]
Reply #75 from Stardock Forums Top
Great idea, Gengsta.

Offhand I can think of allying with all races vs destroying races all but is it too unbalanced?

Maybe getting all minors killed by AI without direct intervention vs saving the minors (without cheesy walls).

It would be tough but interesting to think of a really balanced scenario that gives both players a real fun time!