Ray the Wanderer Ray the Wanderer

Fellowship of the Ring Empire Thread

Fellowship of the Ring Empire Thread

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.”
476,662 views 2,185 replies
Reply #951 Top
I think I'll take both of your advice. I'll take the rest of this week off, and then try Maso. :)

It's kind of surprising how easy Crippling is when compared to Painful- not much of a difference at all. It's my understanding that Maso is an order of magnitude harder, though. I wonder if they'll add another level between Crippling and Maso?
~SDC~
[Message Edited]
Reply #953 Top
I wonder if they'll add another level between Crippling and Maso.
End of quote


I'm keeping my fingers crossed. SD did say that there will be a Nightmare level added for the Xpack. Doesn't make sense to make Nightmare harder than Maso as there are already very few Maso players as it is.

Once you can beat Maso a few times, you can win Crippling in your sleep.
[Message Edited]
Reply #954 Top
Can anyone recall the scale for the difficulty levels?

I believe Maso is now at 150. Painful at 100? Calkwalk at 7?

This scale was revised a number of times so I can't remember the current numbers.
Reply #955 Top
Do you mean the multiplier for scores, I don't follow . . . :notsure:

Posted by Avatar Frogboy - 6/10/2003 11:36:52 PM


The scoring system in 1.05 works something like the following:

You start out with score X which is based on the difficulty level that is based on adding the intelligence levels of the major races. There is also a slight bonus for being of the opposite moral alignment than your opponents by a certain year (so you can't go evil and then go back to being good later on to mess with it).

Then it gives bonuses for how many trade goods you got, how much of the tech tree you got.

Then it goes through each turn, looks at your population and then adds it up BUT with each value getting progressively smaller. That is, Population P is dividied by the turn to the Nth power. So eventually, your population won't add very much to your score. But the population bonus is relatively small.

It then looks at how much your economy produced by turn, similar to population.

Then it is multiplied by victory condition V. Where the max one is military conquest followed by alliance and cultural victory and then technology victory.

The bug in 1.044 is that the population wasn't properly adjusted and the scores got out of hand.

Staffa and a few others who have played 1.044 and have a really good scoring game, i could really use your saved game to test out the values.

We actually did test 1.044 over a period of days and the scores seemed relatively normal. It wa sjust under certain conditions that things got crazy. We want to avoid that in 1.05 so that we can focus on the Expansion pack after 1.05 is released.

The scores in 1.05 WILL BE HIGHER OVERALL than previous builds. This is partially to reward active players and partially to provide more room between players really challenging themselves and the rest of us

Regarding 1.09 I haven't seen any official scale (scoring wise yet)


[Message Edited]
Reply #956 Top
Thanks for posting that info, Cotal. I didn't know how the scoring worked. ;)

I'm going to cut and paste that post into a reference file in my galciv doc directory. :)

Where did you get that info from?

[Message Edited]
[Message Edited]
Reply #958 Top
Ok, ok I was fibbing my memory is shot to heck but my conscience is still functioning . . .

Use the search function (yop left) and type in " scoring" . . .
Reply #959 Top
Cotal... okay, I missed the part where you said "Posted by Avatar Frogboy". Guess I should have figured it out from that. ;)
Reply #960 Top
Cotal, I was referring to the AI's intelligence level. Here's an old post on Intelligence from Frogboy. I believe the Maso Intelligence is now at 150.

Intelligence

One of the things we did do during the release candidates is make the game much easier to win on the lower levels. We found that experienced strategy gamers would get creamed even when the AI was set to "fool".

But at the same time, at the medium to higher levels, the AI is much more intelligent than it was in the betas. In fact, the beta GalCiv AI was, well pretty crummy compared to the gold version in terms of intelligence (not saying the gold is "harder" to beat, but that the AI is more intelligent in how it behaves).

In the betas, each AI level simply increased the intelligence rating of the player by say 15 points. Here's the problem we had with that:

You'd play on "normal" and get a challenge and then you'd up it a level and get creamed. So a lot of the extra month of development was spend play testing and adding more difficulty levels.

So now each computer player can indvidually be set to the following difficulty levels:

[IntLevel0] 4 Fool
[IntLevel1] 14 Beginner
[IntLevel2] 36 Sub-Normal
[IntLevel3] 42 Normal
[IntLevel4] 50 Bright
[IntLevel5] 60 Intelligent
[IntLevel6] 65 Genius
[IntLevel7] 100 Incredible

With the corresponding intelligence being 4, 14, 36, 42, 50, 60, 65, 100.

We may tweak these or add more after released based on what you guys say.

So now, you have sub-normal, normal, bright, intelligent and genius quite close together. I have not personally won with all the AI's set to genius on a medium sized map or higher. And incredible is just, well the AI gets lots of extra stuff.

Speaking of extra stuff, how do the resources get handled?

The intelligence ratings do two things: 1) They determine how much money they get from colonies.

So in pColony->CalcTaxesCollected() at the end it gets:
ulTaxes = ulTaxes * (40 + ulIntelligence);

So at intelligence = 60 (intelligent) it's getting the same from a colony as you. At Genius it's getting a bit more. And at incredible, all bets are off.

The other way intelligence matters is that it determines whether the AI is going to
a) Do a thorough analysis on what players are doing
b) Which AI scripts are available to use, and
c) Determines whether the AI is going to do anything about it.

Example:
An AI with intelligence 60 will be able to check out its sensor areas and see if you are building up for an attack, fortifying starbases, trying to culturally dominate it, etc. It will then have to roll to see if it is going to do anything about it. I.e. "Do I recognize this as a threat or am I too dumb to see this?". If it rolls that it is going to recognize the threat then it has to roll whether it's goign to actually do anything about it. And if it is going to do something about it then it rolls to see if it will tell the human player about it (if it's a human player that is the threat).

IF the AI FAILS the roll, the human player gets a message from the AI letting it know it's on to what it's doing. Otherwise it quietly lowers relations and prepares for a war.

If you play on say Genius, and build up star bases and ships in a sector you're planning to attack you'll notice ships from other sectors quietly coming in to fortify. Fighters shadowing your transports. Etc.

But on lower intelligence levels, none of this happens. Which is one of the changes. So when you get the game, on Fool and Beginner you should be able to play the game without getting creamed now. This is different than it was in the beta when fool was = Int 15 and the next one up was 30.

by Avatar Frogboy - 3/5/2003 4:02:14PM

End of quote

Reply #961 Top
Wow, I just checked EBZ's Metaverse score. He played 14 games on Saturday and Sunday! I would definitely like to hear speed advice from him.
End of quote


The master of the 15 minute game. To put it in abstract terms, Staffa would be using a sniper rifle from long range. One shot, one kill. EBZ would be jumping and rolling around in a close fight wielding two MAC-11 machine pistols. Lots of lead in the air, but damage all over the place.

I can lend little advice for getting the attention of the master, except for two things:

1. One must hate Altarians and never hesitate to kill them.
2. Members of GROSS are more worthy than others.
Reply #962 Top
I noticed that when you conquer a system with an existing trade route, you inherit that route if you have a spare trade slot. Do you all know whether this is intended or a bug?
Reply #963 Top
Hmmm, I need to check this thread more often...

Concerning my strategy. After I find someone that can beta test the saved game (1.09 Beta 3) that goes along with it, then after I make some revisions, I'll publish it on the board.
Reply #964 Top
I noticed that when you conquer a system with an existing trade route, you inherit that route if you have a spare trade slot. Do you all know whether this is intended or a bug?
End of quote


I had a game where an alien took over another alien's planate with which I had a route. The route was maintained. So it makes logical sense.
Reply #965 Top
I don't like the way that works. It gives you no incentive to defend your trade partners.
Reply #966 Top
#965 by Veteran vincible - 8/5/2003 5:30:25 PM
I don't like the way that works. It gives you no incentive to defend your trade partners.
End of quote



On the other hand we can assume that this planet trade partners still need the products it delivered before your took over. And if for strategic reasons you want to help your trade partner, there are other means.

If it's not a bug (which would be corrected), it gives more incentive to put money in spying: with the information on on the alien (enemy) trade routes you can choose to attack the planet that will hurt him the more and also benefit you by inheriting them (if you lost trade routes because of the war or had free slots). It might be helpfull specially since it wouldn't weaken other races that are not allied to your enemy and improve your relations with them because of the new trade.

All in all I think I like it. :)

~SDC~
Reply #968 Top
967 by Citizen Cotal - 8/5/2003 7:04:00 PM
I can't wait to have Trade Embargos against other AIs. Is that in 1.09 . . . ?
End of quote


Yes I think I saw that. But if I remember correctly, the AIs do not have that option.

~SDC~
Reply #969 Top
I can't wait to have Trade Embargos against other AIs. Is that in 1.09 . . . ?
End of quote


Trade Embargoes are already in 1.09. You can use them but AI is not coded to know how to use them as yet.
Reply #972 Top
You're gonna have to catch me again Ray, I closed the screen without getting your e-mail, so I don't even have that.

...If you want, you can goto chat, and drop me a message with it again,a nd this time I'll bounce a e-mail back to ya as soon as I get yours.
[Message Edited]
Reply #973 Top
Cotal,

Your posts in the GROSS thread have apparently made the pirates blush. :D

My friendly advice for you is not to get involved in a war of words with them. It's pointless.

Post more in our Fellowship thread where your presence is so much more appreciated. :)
Reply #974 Top
Pay the Space Pirate

Decent

“They’ll pay. They’ll pay.”

“Boop tic tic beep?”

“Yes, Max, find a secluded spot on this horrid planet.”

An unmarked corvette descended into a quaint grove of trees. For the next 39 minutes and 24 seconds, it sat there peacefully.

The Halls

The CEO of the Fellowship was in the middle of his corporate briefing. Excellent timing for the pirate’s arrival.

“Obviously we have increased output by five percent, but our returns are a meager four point seve...”

“Excuse me, Master Ray, those numbers are not quite precise. You see...”

Shutup, Gengsta! These are based on my own calculations!” The head wizard tipped his mighty staff in Gengsta’s general direction.

“Oh... uh... please excuse my... er... I see! Yes. Those numbers are... um... compelling, Master Ray.”

A red sphere of energy suddenly flashed in the back of the great hall.

“Die wizards! DIE!!!

“Oh not again.” Gibbie rolled his eyes.

“Kit! Sheesh!” Theoden dropped his head upon his hands.

Cotal stood on her chair to see over its high back. “What’s this?”

“It’s just that goofy pirate again,” Vincible replied.

ZZZZZZZZZT!!! ZZZZZZZZZT!!! Kit flashed his modified electric prod twice. His face was twisted into a dreadful smile, drool dripping from the left corner of his mouth.

“Yes! Let’s all laugh. Let’s... have some fun. AAAAAAAAAAAA!!!” Kit charged the wizards with his new weapon leading the attack.

Most sat calmly in their place. A few raised their arms to block Kit’s charge with a simple barrier spell. The room was perfectly silent except for the raider’s footsteps and the AC/DC eeking from his earphones.

ZZZZZZZZZT!!!

GYAK GYAK GYAK!!!” Cirrhosis fell to the ground, twitching like a fish out of water. The entire room rose, wands, swords, and other Middle Earth weapons at the ready. Kit took one swipe at the fallen ones head.

“The first strike! Soon you will all be shaven!” Kit hurled himself at Theoden.

The wizards tried spell after spell, but of those that would even let loose, none struck the mad pirate. Warriors charged once it was obvious that magic would do no good.

AAAAAAAAAAAA!!! Your best is no match for me!” Three droids made their presence known with laser blasts deflecting the skilled swings of the warriors. The droids stayed close to their master, protected by his spell shield.

Theoden, Vincible, Gengsta, H5O, Josh, Ricbayer, Gibbie, Michael, Mad Prophet, Theleb, Miles... one by one they all fell, a swash of skin having been revealed upon their heads.

“Ray, you I love you.” Kit’s entire body was shaking at this point. “Since I’m Evil, and this is all an Evil plan, I am obligated to reveal its entirety to you.” Kit lunged at the grand wizard. Mere nanometers from Kit’s electric prod, Ray’s mighty staff was ripped from his hands by three laser bolts.

ZZZZZZZZZT!!!

GIYG-GIYG-GIYG-GIYG!!!” The last wizard fell to the floor. A swift stroke marked Kit’s greatest victim.

“Oh... the plan. I suffer from short-term memory loss. Sorry, RayBaby.”

“Indeed you forget.” a voice called from behind Kit.

“Oh no, my sweet. I saved you for last.”

“Do you expect me to join G.R.O.S.S.?” the witch asked, defiance beaming from her warm eyes.

“No, Mrs. Cotal. I expect you to die!” Kit strapped his favorite weapon to his back and reached for a Super Blast Water Soaker on his side. “Scream, witch! SCREAM!!!” The crazed marauder chased the screaming woman out of the Fellowship Halls, into the infirmary, out of the infirmary, into the courtyard, out of the courtyard, over to the Prancing Pony, away from the Prancing Pony. She was thoroughly drenched, but had not melted one inch. Kit put away his Super Blast Water Soaker.

“You alone have survived the whirling of this dervish. My Lady, I bid you farewell.”

The pirate disappeared in a collapsing red sphere. Off in the distance, a flickering light ascended into the stars.
Reply #975 Top
First I'm knocked unconscious, now I've been scalped by a mad pirate.

I might have to write a story that paints y'all in a bad light... ;)

~SDC~