This is my first AAR, happy to take short questions/comments but not strategy advice. I'll normally be having a turn (or 2...) then posting, with the gaps increasing over time.
I'm avoiding (most?) game exploits, not using teleport, etc. I'm assuming the AI has been significantly improved.
Italics are aside comments to readers.
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Jordan slowly crept through the royal library, barefoot tiptoeing past the sleeping archivist as the moonlight bounced around the silver-edged books. Having recently turned 18, Jordan was legitimately able to access the royal histories, even if the king and queen rather that they remained untouched. Things were not so easy “in the old days” and the language matched the harsh conditions. Of course, things were not much better now, with war constantly on the horizon and allies threatening to become enemies. Jordan was also motivated knowing that Alexis, the youngest royal, would be insanely jealous. Reaching the locked shelves, and using the royal key received as a birthday present, Jordan unlocked the cabinets and reached in, past the dried rats-tail, green bear paw, and chipped midnight stone, to grab the first book.
Its spine cracked and pages smelling old, it was unlike the books in the recently constructed buildings. Undoing the protective bindings, Jordan turned the first page over, barely recognizing the scrawl that the young Celestan, the not-quite-eager-monarch, had used…
Day 1, of the rest of my life
My name is Celestan, this is my journal. I am the eldest child of Zekerebast and Kiloseevemee, dirt farmers with a fertile plot of land a few dozen metres long and a dozen wide. My life used to be hard but simple, the largest threat I faced was being beaten by my twin elder brothers each time we played “warlord” by the ancient ruined fort. My father’s father was a teacher, and we still have the tattered readers – my father is barely literate but words hold great meaning to me. They make sense. I like the idea of being a traveller, with just some books and no worries. Now look at me.
It began last winter. My life’s role was to take the goats out to find anything edible for them, so we can live off their milk and eventual meat. I like the outdoors. I cannot stand being inside for long. One of those days with the goats, we were caught by a sand-blizzard. It was rough enough to take the skin off and so we sheltered in caves. While the goats licked the fungal walls, I braved my fear and explored deeper and eventually found a great shimmering blue crystal, an ancient shard I learned later. Touching it, I experienced cold warmth across my body, a tingling lethargy that deeply scared me. But soon the walls seemed to pulsate and close in on me, so I quickly left it, trying to forget it. I later on went home with the goats, crystal unspoken. Nightmares of closing cave walls lasted for days.
Weeks later I was far south chasing vultures for their eggs, and got lost and deeply hungry. I feared for my life from the local bears, bandits and wolves. I curled near a long-dead tree. As I leaned against it, I wished with all my heart that it still bore fruit. Again the tingling lethargy filled my body, but this time spread from me, into the tree and into the land around. It was filled with verdant life, an area dozens times larger than the family farm! When I got home and told my family, my brothers scoffed, but my parents not so. With the few books we possessed, with tales of strange machines and magic, they said it sounded like the act of a channeller. Once they saw the verdant grassland they were convinced. They said great things will now happen, word of my power will spread, and strangers will feel threatened, so life will never be the same again.
My time is now. We will reclaim our lost heritage.
World: Xobril: Medium World, 10 Opponents, all Victory conditions, Hard Difficulty Creatures and minor Factions enabled, normal pacing
Sovereign: Celestan Tracker (goat-hunter), Attunement (crystal energy), Brilliant (lover of words) Insane (claustrophobic)
Faction: Zauberer Wanderlust, Educated, Resourceful, Influencial
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Well, if you can't beat them then you might as well join them!
Fall 169
While Relis rests, I have pushed on, finding an odd necklace that summons a powerful sand golem. Excellente. Would have been useful a few years ago, but now is also good. It's slowing me down a bit, so that gives Muvueratha time to catch up. I've sent my spider buddies down towards Rilis t support her, as that Caradoc looks to be quite difficult. Meanwhile, I think that I have spied someone's border ahead - I've will tidy and freshen up, and will see what they are like...
Oh, and the researchers have discovered a SECOND spell, one with a whole lot of flame. Works for me. I need to remind myself to ensure Ratek has been reading his brain books and can cast this spell as well to support my darling wife.
Spell acquisition seems a bit slow, and I've got 2 temples operating!
Summer 170
Truly has this season been a time for battle.
For my wife, she met up with her support team, and the four of them thrashed the defenders of Weslaz. Ratek has mastered the fireball spell, and between them they make a powerful force. They will rest up, and then see what the new season brings. Where is Caradoc and his large army that he keeps boasting of?
Meanwhile, around my lands, Zach and two wolves killed a bear, my Thug defender of Risotto and two spiders killed a bear, and spider allies heading for Rilis slew a darkling! Furthermore, Arvix has come around and is leading a small mixed army on my far western front. They killed a bear, but after seeing a horde of spiders they have decided to retreat and heal back up as that bear did hurt each of them. But they will return to keep cleaning up the mess that Relias left me.
On the home front, we are heading towards a bounty of food. Not only have we discovered some delicious fruit in a hidden grove, but we are developing food in the nearby oasis all at once! Furthermore, hidden near the oasis, we have hired a wandering farmer, Ihasovial, who promises to increase our food yield by several units, which is useful as Shardosia is running several food farms and needs to invest in a granary as soon as possible.
As for me, I'm rolled over the border and pressed on towards where I think this goldenhanded man lives. I've yet to see any troops, although I taken out a bear, wolf and outlaw, so have a few scratches to deal with! Muvueratha should hopefully catch up in time for the battle!
Oh, and someone called Ceresa has a son. Good for her. Who?!
Summer 171
Summer is truly the slaying season! Back home, Zach has married an administrator woman of some kind, and she is now leading the far southern defence force against the occasional wolf and bear.
As for me, earlier on the year I masted a third magic, the ability to make my loyal allies move faster. Unfortunately for them, their legs moved faster but they get real tired every evening. I've used this on my little army, and on the slower ones with Rilis. On the positive, this means that when I was racing for Erasirvon, the capital of these yellow-tinged Gilden or whatever people, I got there JUST before their king did, so I was able tor ransack their city, then come over the walls and thump him in his camt just outside, and now we are progressing west. This time his wife was no problem, it was like a hot sword of the sovereign through butter. I've even started building around the fiery shard he ignored, to make my fireballs extra toasty!
Two easy battles. Note, a little exploit is if you defeat the sovereign beside their city, and then attack the city. You get the XP twice. I did not use this.
While I was doing this, my wife went back through the new kingdom and cleared up a few wolves and in closing in on an outlaw. Our cities there are a bit vulnerable, but once the road is built it will be safer. I think the best strategy is just for her to heal up a bit more, and then then she can launch an attack on Resoln while I betray our Northern Tarth allies and give them a bloodied nose.... and then a sword in the head.
As for the remains of Capitar, my spider allies are coming from one side, and my thug led spider army of 2 is coming from the other. Between the five of them, they should be able to take an low-defended city. Question is, where is Caradoc and his army hiding out?
Fall 171
My brother and this Gara woman make a cute couple - he even lets her go first and call it "her" army. What a gentleman.
The sentinels have really proved worthwhile - early game acquiring of NPCs, then several defences around my towns.
Meanwhile, now that the writing is on the wall, an Assassin called Nabaja wanted to join me. I was not sure at first, but then she mentioned how she likes spiders and so it was obvious she should lead my spider forces (they are not so good at self-leading and I dont trust that thug very much). Under her command, Orothr should fall very soon, while my forced mop up stragglers before they all come together. Then they can ambush that Tarth Pioneer. Poor chap wont know what hit him... until it hits him.
Spring 172Well, I found him! He was sneaking around the western border of new northern outpost. Tarth can wait, I can not leave him to wander around unmolested. His kingdom is gone, his reputation is destroyed, his end is near.
----Why didn't he attack my cities? They were undefended for 1-2 years and they are reasonably powerful!
Summer 172While I was chasing down Carados down, Rilis decided to one-up me and go take out Ceresa and those Rosoln wannbes. They were outnumbered two-to-one... was time up for them?
Of course not!
Rilis led the way as before, with Qayidd protecting her flank. Ceresa and her many soldiers definitely put up a fight, but they really did not stand a chance!
Winter 172The year ended well, I chased down those Capitar cowards and engaged them. At first glance, I actually thought they had a chance with some powerful looking warriors (and a set of twins of their own?)!
Only problem is that two of their team did not think so and ran for the hills!
Carrodus was left with a diminished army and was obliterated, he did not stand a chance!
Why did some run and the rest charge? Seems like a suicidal sovereign to me. Surely in most cases its an all or nothing? Their total attack and defence was pretty comparable to mine, what a shame.
Fall 173
After many long months of trekking, Rilis and I came together in the remains of one of these guys castles. I dont remember whom, it's been a long decade of war.
We sent the word, and the final war began, Ulierias might only be a farmer with a hand full of stones, but he sure lay the smack down on that Pioneer of Tarth.
Soon after we charged across the border, all seven of us, and took Tarth's capital with little problem.
Rilis was hurt slightly, but nothing in comparison to the pain to their 5 defenders! Ayoozuudu basically rolled over and begged to be killed, he knew Tarth had no future and we obligingly obeyed.
Spring 174
Well, we moved onto Tarth's second wee town and razed it to the ground, it smouldering ruins warmed by heart. Enough of the chattering peasants I say, lets go hunt down this Tarth woman.
We did, and she charged us. We spent so much time deciding how to kill her (sword, spear, fireball, etc), that we did not notice her run up and throw herself on Rilis's spear. Rilis was unhurt, and she quickly died. Very anti-climatic really, although Rilis said we can try and fix that. What shall we call our next child?
SUMMARY
Overall, the game played very similar to 1.1 betas. More stable, but the AI seemed hardly to have changed.
Clearly I went on an offensive strategy, I think I had to, and a Tech strategy, how could I resist?
I avoided the easy abuses and yet it really was not hard, even on hard. If Ridiculous is the only challenge, then that really IS ridiculous.
Did I have a too easy start? Well the location/position was reasonable, even with no buildings but shard and soil. Picking up Rilis early on was a bonus, but was not essential. I barely touched equipment besides many boots, and of course that sword. I think the sword and Rilis both need to be toned down. The opponents did not collect goodie huts, most did not defend their town, and there seemed little Intelligence in their strategic behaviour. Some built a second city by the time I was on my eighth. What more can I say.
I may do another AAP some time later, perhaps 1.25 or even 1.3, but these really suck up time! Cheers all for reading.
Well done, DalamarNZ! I've got to applaud you first of all for reviving the Elemental Fiction board. We really need more storytellers, and so your thread here is quite the welcome addition. But beside that, the story was great on its own merits. I do love the fact that most all of your characters had personality. It's far too easy to treat your heroes as simply game pieces, and you did an admirable job avoiding that. I also must add that I was impressed with the humor you were able to inject into the story. "Poor chap won't know what hits him... until it hits him" is classic. The only thing I was disappointed about was the story with Jordan. When Jordan was shocked to see her own name in this "ancient" book, I thought that maybe you were setting up a really neat mystery to be resolved. It sounded like Jordan didn't even know her own parents, and she was beginning to uncover her own heritage. Of course, following through with that idea (in the epilogue?) would not be an AAR, per say, but it would have added a very interesting and enjoyable twist to the story. If you didn't want to go down that route, then I would have suggested rewording Jordan's response so that she wasn't quite so shocked to see herself in the annals of history. But nonetheless, great AAR with good characterization and writing! Thanks for taking the time and energy to put together this AAR. Commendations, good chap!
Hi IronKaiser,
Thanks - having it sit there uncommented on for 3 weeks was a bit demoralizing actually!
The story with Jordan is really bittersweet - the point of starting on a large world with many opponents was to make it a LONG game, long enough for Jordan to grow up, etc. But it was just far too simple, the game is still too easy to beat.
And if I had gone north rather than east at the beginning, it might have been shorter, and then shorter still if I used all the ways of abusing the game rules. As I say above, if 1.3 that the only challenge is still just Ridiculous then the game is the one that is ridiculous! It was clear about the top of this page that the game was pretty much over, thus the writing greatly diminished.
So Yes, I had so many ideas for twists and turns (as you hint at half-correctly) but as usual the game was over far too quickly. I'm a tabletop gaming GM, so I'm used to creating twists and characters! I'm thinking of once 1.3 fully comes out, of deleting this AAR and then starting it again with the same beginning section and seeing how it goes.
Thanks again for your comments
~ Michael
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