Re: Olympia--Worth it with AOO? From: cisco@src.honeywell.com (Cisco Lopez-Fresquet) Date: Wed, 01 Nov 1995 00:00:00 +0000 --Marc Maier writes: I'm interested in some informed opinion on Olympia. I've read the rules and would like to start playing. However, I have been reading here and elsewhere about this giant alliance called AOO that folks seem to think has "lock" on the games. I'd like to know the particulars of the situation and how it affects the prospects for new players. For me, the game is fun BECAUSE of the AOO. If the AOO hadn't stepped forward to claim the Bad Guy(tm) position, the game would have no purpose at all. My questions: Is it possible for new players, at this late date, to have a good gaming experience? By this I mean setting up a small realm and being able to beat on neighbors of like size in order to grow. Or does AOO's dominance make this impossible? Is it possible to enjoy playing while they hold all the goodies? Do they hold all locations or only the choicest ones? Only the choice locations. You really don't need to beat on people at all to grow, which is why without a visible threat like the AOO the game would be pretty boring. There is still a LOT of available land, space, and resources. Are there still provinces available for claiming, or do these AOO folks have most of 'em sewn up? If not, are they willing to tell new players where they might set up? Is access to Faery, Hades and the Cloudlands essential, or can one enjoy a somewhat truncated game despite AOO's dominance of these areas? I don't feel truncated at all not having access to faery, hades, and cloudlands. It certainly isn't essential. Answers to these questions are important to me because I'm reluctant to put the time and money into a losing proposition. Are new players doomed to exist on the margins with few avenues for development, or are there still opportunities for success? That sort of depends on what you want to accomplish. If you want to rule the world, the AOO will have something to say to you. If you want to run a small fiefdom, and quietly go about your business, the avenues are yours... I must say, all the complaints about these AOO people have made me think twice before signing up. I'd appreciate honest replies from players familiar with the current situation so I can separate fact from fiction. The complaints about the AOO come from factions (like mine! <g>) that have set themselves (for better or worse) as being publicly and vocally against the AOO. The reality is that if we didn't LIKE fighting, there really wouldn't be much to fight over. The ANM and the AOO aren't even on the same continents, for Atnerk's sake, but we fight anyway.... - the Crimson Sage (cisco) -- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- cisco@src.honeywell.com lope0019@maroon.tc.umn.edu ------------------------------------------------------------- An employer? Oh yeah - I do have one of those. I guess that means I have to use this space for a disclaimer. *sigh* -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Referenced By Up