Re: Olympia Question

From: bonar@math.rutgers.edu (Doug Bonar)

Date: Thu, 04 May 1995 00:00:00 +0000

In article <D7rM05.CqF@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> gl8f@fermi.clas.Virginia.EDU (Greg Lindahl) writes:

> In article <CTSO17-280495090104@ctso17.comm.mot.com>,
> Mark Common <CTSO17@email.mot.com> wrote:
>
> > I just have this problem in that it seems like this should be closed game.
>
> Some people think so, but I don't.
>
> You can still build a ship and head for the edge of the map. While you
> may end up in charted lands, there are *many* good castle sites left
> out there.
>
> You can also contact one of the established alliances and volunteer
> your services. They know about good castle sites, and might welcome
> someone who'd be willing to add to their power.
>
> If you don't want a castle, but would like advanced magic skills, then
> you have many more options.
>

I have to disagree with you Greg.

First, perhaps right now in Olympia one could start a faction, build
or buy a ship and get to a site that was not too crowded by
established groups.  But, unless the world grows in size or large
factions start dropping out of the game, that won't always be true.
There will come a time when the world in crowded.  In any case,
a person starting now in Olympia is at a serious disadvantage.  Not
only do they start in competition with much larger groups, but they
have to spend their early turns getting to an area where they
can start to establish themselves.  I'm not trying to say that
an established group shouldn't be more powerful than a new faction,
but just to point out that simply because the world is not too
crowded now (in your opinion) does not mean that Olympia perhaps
shouldn't be closed to new entrants.

Second, What is there for a new faction to do?  Perhaps I am being
overly concerned with wanting to be good at something.  Maybe
people play Olympia not so that they can play one of the leaders
of the world, but so that they can play a sergeant in someone elses
army.  But I don't.  I don't have to be the best at what I do.  On
the other hand, I like the feeling that my character is of more
importance than simply as a resource for the big/established players.

> >Is the only way to achieve in this game to conquer other players?
>
> Depends on what your goals are. You can certainly grow powerful
> without taking offensive action, but you may have to fight
> defensively.
>
> -- Son of Oleg, ruler of all the castles on Tollus

Doug
	Who is still waiting for a game where you can play a merchant
without also (necessarily) playing a warrior captain.

References

Olympia Question
CTSO17@email.mot.com (Mark Common)
Fri, 28 Apr 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Olympia Question
gl8f@fermi.clas.Virginia.EDU (Greg Lindahl)
Fri, 28 Apr 1995 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Olympia Question
CTSO17@email.mot.com (Mark Common)
Fri, 28 Apr 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Olympia Question
gl8f@fermi.clas.Virginia.EDU (Greg Lindahl)
Fri, 28 Apr 1995 00:00:00 +0000