Re: Olympia and Game Theory (LONG)

From: rcb@kaiwan009.kaiwan.com (Robert Christopher Butchko)

Date: Wed, 25 Oct 1995 00:00:00 +0000

In article <46jups$4ac@runner.ccr-p.ida.org>,
David desJardins <desj@ccr-p.ida.org> wrote:
>Well, I suppose I knew that entrance to Hades could be gained through
>graveyards.  That's slightly more information than is in the rules, but
>only just barely.
>I think the advantages that some players have were gained almost
>entirely by (1) hard work, and (2) organized cooperation.

As much as it pains me to voice agreement with anything Mr. Desjardins
says, I must agree that the AOO-faery lock was 1) a strategy 2) not
without risk 3) which worked.
If they had met competition for control of faery, they could have been
thwarted or severely reduced in force.  They could have found that
faery was not valuable (if those damn elfstones didn't open gateways,
how much use would faery be with intermittent and unpredictable
ingress/egress?), or they could have found it too hard to hold.  (If
the game favors the attacker, why hasn't faery fallen?  Proposed
answer: lack of resolve or skill on the part of those who would attack.)
The faery interstate has given the AOO access to easy pickings everywhere.
Many players, yours truly included, have gone to very remote areas
to find that the AOO have already looted the lairs and such.
   Another factor in AOO success is that it is, honestly, very big,
and, somehow, well-disciplined.  I don't suppose that was easy at all,
although, in a game, the small burghers are probably more willing to
turn a blind eye to the "evil ones" than may be true in "real" life.
   Congrats, AOO, faery worked, and the risk paid off.  Now, let's all
get over it and do what we can with the rest of the game.
   Quick gripes: Everyone who complains about sequential ordering
of hidden location IDs- what else should Rich have done?  Should we
be required to search every province with a small chance of even
being told something might be there, or is there a less obvious way
of getting such knowledge.  Should search work better, or is there
another solution to sequence?
   Final opinion: Beasts should not be able to attack or defend
structures in any way.  Breed beasts should require religion.  The
castle defense bonus should be raised _far_ above that of a good
helm and strong armor.
-rcb

References

Re: Olympia and Game Theory (LONG)
srt@sun-dimas.aero.org (Scott Turner)
Wed, 18 Oct 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Olympia and Game Theory (LONG)
desj@ccr-p.ida.org (David desJardins)
Tue, 24 Oct 1995 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Olympia and Game Theory (LONG)
srt@sun-dimas.aero.org (Scott Turner)
Wed, 18 Oct 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Olympia and Game Theory (LONG)
desj@ccr-p.ida.org (David desJardins)
Tue, 24 Oct 1995 00:00:00 +0000