5275 Master / Apprentice

[Ashgar75]

Lords and Ladies of Alamaze,

It seems that due to some Elven Traditions and Customs, the little people and the people of the trees were feasting and expressing our gratitude for the gifts that we have received. In our celebrations, we appear to have missed much of the last negotiations. We did notice upon returning from our festivities that much has transpired. It appears that we have offered some affront to the Lord of the Rangers as he has declared on us. We used caution in preparing for his aggression.

While our Fallen brothers the Dark Elves seem hard pressed by the horde, we can only hope they have the fortitude to resist and remain in the lands of the living for a while longer.

To the Lord of the Amazonians and your allies the Illusionist, we have noticed that you have offered us no hostilities and we ask that we can continue that tradition with a NAP for the next three cycles. We hope to leave you free to pursue your endeavors while we deal with hostilities directed our way. Let us know if this would be acceptable to you.

To all, good hunting.

Lord of the Elves.

[Ry Vor]

I just wanted to ask for opinions on how both the Master / Apprentice and the forum only diplomacy with agreements limited to three turns is working out. 

1) Are apprentices getting good coaching?  Is this two man team format good even if it was experienced players?

2)  Is this the best solution to bring both anonymous and full diplomacy players together?

[The Painted Man]

Greetings, all! Just a quick note: the Magistrate for the Ranger is visiting foreign lands and will have limited ability to converse. Something about a "big time difference" and "work". Nonsensical gibberish.

To our neighbors the Elves, ours was a protective move when no reply was received last season. We are happy to reverse it should you desire a safe southern border. Please let us know.

To the Barbarian horde: Good hunting!
To the Amazons: Good horsing!
To the Drow: Good luck!

[Strylian]

I just wanted to ask for opinions on how both the Master / Apprentice and the forum only diplomacy with agreements limited to three turns is working out. 

1) Are apprentices getting good coaching?  Is this two man team format good even if it was experienced players?

2)  Is this the best solution to bring both anonymous and full diplomacy players together?

I am learning a ton in the Mentor Game. DuPont is a Bohemian Rock Star. But also I am very appreciative that most of the experienced players go out of their way to help teach. Much appreciated. 

I Also think the team format would be a blast. One that allows unlimited offline communication between partners with some communication on the boards for arranging trades etc.

[Strylian]

As a matter of fact if you started one I would join. Maybe we can require to join as a team.

[Ashgar75]

I just wanted to ask for opinions on how both the Master / Apprentice and the forum only diplomacy with agreements limited to three turns is working out. 

1) Are apprentices getting good coaching?  Is this two man team format good even if it was experienced players?

2)  Is this the best solution to bring both anonymous and full diplomacy players together?

I am liking this format.  Draugr is teaching me tons.  He is teaching me where the Ranger has his Pop centers and his military.  He is teaching me what lvl his wizards are and the movements of his emissaries...........  Ok, Draugr wouldn't betray his ally like that, but he could if he really wanted to teach about betrayal. hahahaha.  

My mentor (Rellgar) is doing very well.  I am sure I am making choices he doesn't fully agree with, but he made it clear from the beginning that it was up to me who we hit and where we went, and he would help advise me on the best way to achieve what I wanted.  I think their knowledge of other players helps as well.  Every player has a certain style and the experienced players play against the player as much as they do against the kingdom.  Rellgar is great at helping me learn a bit about some of the Mentors.  

I think this format would work for team games as well.  2 person teams with diplomacy being limited is a nice twist.  The down side to the diplomacy aspect is that NAP's work, but they also telegraph your moves.  Refusal to give a NAP tells someone you mean them harm etc.  I think Diplomacy could be better handled if it was done via the orders and not in game but that isn't an option because it would cost a lot more money to do some reprogramming.  Given what you have to work with, you are making it the best it can be.  Each game can be somewhat customized when it comes to diplomacy and the variety is nice.  

just my thoughts.

[Wookie Panz]

I just wanted to ask for opinions on how both the Master / Apprentice and the forum only diplomacy with agreements limited to three turns is working out. 

1) Are apprentices getting good coaching?  Is this two man team format good even if it was experienced players?

2)  Is this the best solution to bring both anonymous and full diplomacy players together?

I am not in the alliance game this time out but do like them very much.  I'm in the 5280 forum only diplomacy and I would say it is going well.  This type is one of the easiest to fill as it's middle of the road, diplomacy wise.  We are seeing a lot of trash talk, more from the new or returning players, as you might expect.  The down side to that is if you want to keep up with agreements on the forum you sometimes have to wade through many pages of trash talk and it takes time.
Having diplmo only every three turns does help to keep the game moving and those third turns are active with people scrambling to make agreements.  We have quite a few 2 position alliances, some with new players, some with old.  There was an early drop by an experienced player for unknown reasons.
It seems that the diplmo may help the newer players and give them some time to develop, especially if they can get a couple of naps or an ally.  The 3 turn limit on nap duration gives a lot to the flexibility of the game.  You can still attack just about anyone, but you may have to wait for a three turn nap to end.
This format may be more favorable to the magic positions as they are less likely to get hammered really early than in a silent game.  We ran turn 10 and except for the player that dropped very early without any combat everyone is very much alive and seems to be having fun so far.

[Ry Vor]

I just wanted to ask for opinions on how both the Master / Apprentice and the forum only diplomacy with agreements limited to three turns is working out. 

1) Are apprentices getting good coaching?  Is this two man team format good even if it was experienced players?

2)  Is this the best solution to bring both anonymous and full diplomacy players together?

I am not in the alliance game this time out but do like them very much.  I'm in the 5280 forum only diplomacy and I would say it is going well.  This type is one of the easiest to fill as it's middle of the road, diplomacy wise.  We are seeing a lot of trash talk, more from the new or returning players, as you might expect.  The down side to that is if you want to keep up with agreements on the forum you sometimes have to wade through many pages of trash talk and it takes time.
Having diplmo only every three turns does help to keep the game moving and those third turns are active with people scrambling to make agreements.  We have quite a few 2 position alliances, some with new players, some with old.  There was an early drop by an experienced player for unknown reasons.
It seems that the diplmo may help the newer players and give them some time to develop, especially if they can get a couple of naps or an ally.  The 3 turn limit on nap duration gives a lot to the flexibility of the game.  You can still attack just about anyone, but you may have to wait for a three turn nap to end.
This format may be more favorable to the magic positions as they are less likely to get hammered really early than in a silent game.  We ran turn 10 and except for the player that dropped very early without any combat everyone is very much alive and seems to be having fun so far.

Those are good points and what I was hoping for, Wookie.

[Strylian]

I just wanted to ask for opinions on how both the Master / Apprentice and the forum only diplomacy with agreements limited to three turns is working out. 

1) Are apprentices getting good coaching?  Is this two man team format good even if it was experienced players?

2)  Is this the best solution to bring both anonymous and full diplomacy players together?

I am not in the alliance game this time out but do like them very much.  I'm in the 5280 forum only diplomacy and I would say it is going well.  This type is one of the easiest to fill as it's middle of the road, diplomacy wise.  We are seeing a lot of trash talk, more from the new or returning players, as you might expect.  The down side to that is if you want to keep up with agreements on the forum you sometimes have to wade through many pages of trash talk and it takes time.
Having diplmo only every three turns does help to keep the game moving and those third turns are active with people scrambling to make agreements.  We have quite a few 2 position alliances, some with new players, some with old.  There was an early drop by an experienced player for unknown reasons.
It seems that the diplmo may help the newer players and give them some time to develop, especially if they can get a couple of naps or an ally.  The 3 turn limit on nap duration gives a lot to the flexibility of the game.  You can still attack just about anyone, but you may have to wait for a three turn nap to end.
This format may be more favorable to the magic positions as they are less likely to get hammered really early than in a silent game.  We ran turn 10 and except for the player that dropped very early without any combat everyone is very much alive and seems to be having fun so far.

Those are good points and what I was hoping for, Wookie.

Hey Wookie. I reseamble that remark. LOL

[The Painted Man]

Greetings, all! Just a quick note: the Magistrate for the Ranger is visiting foreign lands and will have limited ability to converse. Something about a "big time difference" and "work". Nonsensical gibberish.

To our neighbors the Elves, ours was a protective move when no reply was received last season. We are happy to reverse it should you desire a safe southern border. Please let us know.

To the Barbarian horde: Good hunting!
To the Amazons: Good horsing!
To the Drow: Good luck!

Lord Elf,

We eagerly await your reply as to if you would care for peace or if our well-laid defenses are to be tested. They will pass, I assure you. Peace would be more... peaceful? Elven? Midget-esque? At any rate, love and hugs as always, unless you mean to invade. We're currently practicing the Ceremonial Elven Bro-Hug in hopes we get to use it. It would be much more fun to test the barbarians in battle than for the forces of good (hint: that's you and me) to go to war.

El Rangerito