Re: ME-PBM Late Joiners

From: Patrick F. McGehearty <patrick@convex.COM>

Date: Wed, 12 Jul 1995 00:00:00 +0000

In article <3t8cs7$moo@diplomatic.passport.ca>,
Larry Bundy <lbundy@passport.ca> wrote:
>As a neutral I have always joined early. On the other hand, the opposition
>never left me a choice. Eventually (by turn 10) it's join or die. How
>Corsairs lasted that long is either his skill or the others lack of it,
>IMHO. ;-)

Perhaps so.  It being a grudge game, we felt it much more important to
be sure that we had the upper hand vs the other team than to keep a neutral
from building up too many victory points.  Given some comments here, I
have decided that the moral victory of having a FP win is not enough.  To
prove our skill and gain full bragging rights, we also need to prevent the
Corsairs from taking one of the top three places.  Since the game is not
over, we have a good chance at doing that.

Some background for those who care:  Around turn13 it was starting
to become clear that we (the FPs in the game) had the upper hand, even
though our front line states were still losing characters to DS agent
action.  By this point, we assumed the Corsairs were in league with the
DS, but figured there was no rush to deal with him.  Between then and
turn17, several DS nations quit or went bankrupt without much direct
help from us.  On turn18 the Corsairs went FP, but we don't consider him
our ally, so we're going after him.  As of turn19, he is still barely in
first place, but he already losing popcenters, and character/army losses
will start soon.  I expect him to fall out of the top three next turn,
or possibly the turn after.  Of course, by spending time on the Corsairs, we
give the DS more time to find the One Ring and win that way (which I figure
is about the only way they can win now, assuming most of my team stays with
the game).

Actually, in the 2950 game, it is relatively easy for the Corsairs to play
the waiting game.  If South Gondor and the Quiet Avenger go after each
other in the early game, neither is really ready to pick a fight with
the Corsairs, leaving them free to build up a decent economy and power base.
If one side does a sudden collapse, then changing to the other allows a
good shot at a sneak victory.

This strategy represents a fundamental flaw in the victory conditions of the
game in my opinion.  Maximum results are obtained by playing the game of
"why don't you and him fight", and using your own forces for cleanup work.
However, that's the way they are, so in the future, I will assume that any
neutral which has not declared by around turn 10 or 12 is either already
committed to the other side, or trying for the sneak win.

- Patrick McGehearty
patrick@convex.com
Dunadan Rangers (game 5, ME-PBM2950)

References

Re: ME-PBM Late Joiners
Kevin McGee <kdmcgee@aol.com>
Thu, 29 Jun 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: ME-PBM Late Joiners
dcd@nasa.kodak.com (Dennis DeYoung)
Thu, 29 Jun 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: ME-PBM Late Joiners
lbundy@passport.ca (Larry Bundy)
Mon, 03 Jul 1995 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Re: ME-PBM Late Joiners
Kevin McGee <kdmcgee@aol.com>
Thu, 29 Jun 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: ME-PBM Late Joiners
dcd@nasa.kodak.com (Dennis DeYoung)
Thu, 29 Jun 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: ME-PBM Late Joiners
lbundy@passport.ca (Larry Bundy)
Mon, 03 Jul 1995 00:00:00 +0000