Jotunheim:Utgard AAR

[Arryn]

Originally posted by Norfleet:
Where's your sense of motivation and love of the game?

Do a word count on my Posts in this (AAR) thread and then think about just how silly that question is ...

[Norfleet]

Maybe. But you haven't showed anything of the sort since you got back from Mexico.

[Arryn]

Turn #41, Late Summer of Year 4
Biting off more than I can chew?

Part 1 of 2

Rimdriva's Acashic Record ritual upon Arnbeg reveals two magical astral sites: a Painted Cave (1 pearl), and a Maze (2 pearls).

Marignon defeats over a score of amazons to retake the indy province of Polgrave.

Swanuth the Firbolg, in command of 20 Jotun spearmen and 8 vine ogres, attacks the independent farmlands of Helmshire, defended by 2 commanders, 10 heavy infantry, 23 fanatics, and 22 archers. Joining in the battle is commander Theag with 5 troglodytes and a bodyguard of 4 vine ogres. The trogs carve a swath of death through the center of the indies, despite being the target of unrelenting volleys from the enemy archers. The combination of the firbolg and trogs proves to be irresistable and the indies soon rout. Only a half-score fanatics, infantry, and archers escape the field, only to be hunted down and killed later.

Vanheim, with over two-score troops, easily slaughters Caelum's four PD in Emryc.

Ualgo (carrying a Sceptre of Authority), in command of a company of 19 Jotuns plus a bodyguard of one vine ogre and one Jotun axeman, together with the priests Albrecht and Geiserek (carrying Sceptres of Authority and with one vine ogre apiece as bodyguards), attacks the mountain province of Banded Hills which Vanheim defends with only 4 PD, 8 archers, and 8 black hawks. The enemy archers rout immediately after releasing but a single volley, and the Jotuns eliminate the PD and hawks with contemptuous ease. My victorious priests raze the Vanheim temple.

My wyrm Jorgun finds only 5 PD hiding in the Ulmish forest of Dendra Nigra, which soon become a very light snack.

My prophet Grymis, commanding 23 Jotuns, plus a bodyguard of one Jotun axeman, attacks the Ulmish forest-covered mountains of Validun, which is defended by 2 commanders of Ulm, a priest (PD), 3 infantry of Ulm (flail), 1 heavy infantry, 18 raptors, 9 slingers, and 5 crossbowmen (PD). Only 2 infantry of Ulm and 9 raptors escape my Jotuns, who suffer no losses of their own.

Bove, commanding 26 Jotuns, attacks the Ulmish mountains of Bergamum, along with the priest named Erkeborn (carrying a Sceptre of Authority and with a bodyguard of one vine ogre and one Jotun axeman). The defenders number 1 priest (PD), 3 nightmares, 4 amazons, 1 sapper, and 6 crossbowmen (PD). Bove single-handedly kills the nightmares and sapper, and 3 of the amazons fall to the advancing Jotuns, who lose of their number (mainly due to wounds sustained in earlier battles). Only a single amazon escapes to carry word of their defeat back to Ulm. As my troops raze the Ulmish temple they discover a Copper Cliff yielding magical gems (1 earth and 1 fire).

Orion and his Eternal Knights are in the employ of Vanheim, and located in the province of Welrydh (NE of the Pillar of the World). These very powerful mercenaries, which I absentmindedly neglected to hire at my peril Last month, now threaten to recapture Banded Hills and possibly cause me much further mischief. I can only hope that Vanheim commits another strategic mistake (greater than my own in not hiring Orion) and directs this formidable force against Mictlan instead of against me.

My realm grew by another 15% this past month, but I am stretched dangerously thin. I am gambling on the timidity of my opponents, a little luck, and my strong PD to hold on to these gains. It is not a strategy that would work were my opponents more aggressive or had more foresight.

Other activity of note in the world:

• Atlantis takes Aole from Vanheim.
• Vanheim takes Fucan from Atlantis.
• Vanheim takes Sleepy Mountains from Mictlan.

Turn #41 overview (1174x1002)

My researchers achieve mastery of the fourth level of Alteration and the eighth level of Construction magics, and expect to achieve mastery of the fifth level of Alteration by the end of the month.

My realm has:

• __10 Dominion max.
• __27 Temples
• __45 Provinces converted
• 1418 Treasury.
• 2145 Income. (+148)
• _664 Upkeep. (-2)

• 39 Provinces controlled (border provinces listed below)
• Isurian: Dom=1, PD=10, Unr=5
• Helmshire: Dom=4, PD=0, Unr=20
• Saeborea: Dom=7, PD=20, Unr=4
• Ultima Typhia: Dom=9, PD=20, Unr=1
• Well of All Waters: Dom=10, PD=17, Unr=0
• Arnbeg: Dom=5, PD=10, Unr=9
• Betane: Dom=-1, PD=0, Unr=10
• Banded Hills: Dom=-1, PD=0, Unr=27
• Dendra Nigra: Dom=1, PD=0, Unr=22
• Clon: Dom=-1, PD=10, Unr=1
• Validun: Dom=1, PD=0, Unr=11
• Kratas: Dom=1, PD=20, Unr=1
• Wold: Dom=-3, PD=10, Unr=0
• Bergamum: Dom=-3, PD=0, Unr=17

Gem income is:

• +11 Fire (19)
• +_7 Air (17)
• +14 Water (19)
• +_8 Earth (08)
• +30 Astral (28) (includes 20 Clams)
• +_3 Death (13)
• +12 Nature (12)

Magical knowledge (stars denote schools being researched):

• 7-Conjuration*
• 4-Alteration*
• 7-Evocation
• 8-Construction
• 6-Enchantment
• 5-Thaumaturgy
• 0-Blood Magic
• 304 RPs (of 408 available at labs)

To be continued in Part 2 ...

[ April 19, 2004, 01:24: Message edited by: Arryn ]

[Norfleet]

You've mentioned that you feel stretched a little thin. Perhaps, in order to avoid the feeling of biting off more than you can chew with both hands, you should seriously consider your rapid response capability. While your armies appear to be meeting with victory, armies are not terribly mobile.

Looking over your research situation, I see you can build any item you want, if you can scrounge the forgers, and your gem economy is reasonably healthy.

Do you have any Air mages of any level, and perhaps a Water+Earth mage? A Bane Lord equipped with a Wraith Sword, flying boots, and Jade Armor will give you that rapid response ***-kicking you need, at a bargain price, that can be upgraded for better asswhooping through the use of a lucky pendant and/or Wraith Crown. Perhaps you should get one today?

[Arryn]

Originally posted by Norfleet:
While your armies appear to be meeting with victory, armies are not terribly mobile.

Indeed. Unless the army is composed of angels, or better yet, a vastness.

Do you have any Air mages of any level, and perhaps a Water+Earth mage? A Bane Lord equipped with a Wraith Sword, flying boots, and Jade Armor will give you that rapid response ***-kicking you need, at a bargain price, that can be upgraded for better asswhooping through the use of a lucky pendant and/or Wraith Crown. Perhaps you should get one today?

My best air mage is 3A, which I am bootstrapping to 5A by items which I am building. All my best commanders already have flying boots, so that aspect has been taken care of (part of the reason why my armies are taking no or very few casualties).

I lack any W+E mages, which makes making the Jade Armor a bit hard to do. Do you have a suggestion for fixing this, besides spending gold to buy mages until I get lucky? (I am able to forge the alternative combo of Stymphalian Wings and Boots of Quickness, but it will take me a few turns to amass the gems.) Another problem is my anemic death gem income (which should be somewhat remedied in the next couple of turns by the orders I'd already issued for turn 41 prior to my recent hiatus from the forum).

[Graeme Dice]

Originally posted by Arryn:
Do you have a suggestion for fixing this, besides spending gold to buy mages until I get lucky?

Well, there's always jade amazons, which are just about my favourite independents to find. I second the bane lord choice, as they are extremely good at what they do.

[Arryn]

Originally posted by Graeme Dice:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Arryn:
Do you have a suggestion for fixing this, besides spending gold to buy mages until I get lucky?

Well, there's always jade amazons, which are just about my favourite independents to find.

---

Thanks for the tip. Alas, I haven't found any as yet, nor have I observed any of my opponents fighting any indy ones.

I second the bane lord choice, as they are extremely good at what they do.

Indeed they are. Which is why I already have one (Ashsoul, who's currently sitting in Jotunheim).

[Norfleet]

Buy mages until you get lucky is always a reasonable deal. You could always use more research. Even if you don't get the one you want, you're still increasing your research output.

[pole_shift]

Indeed they are. Which is why I already have one (Ashsoul, who's currently sitting in Jotunheim).

hmmmm... "Ashsoul" eh?

I think I would change the name.

(try saying it 3 times quickly)

[ April 19, 2004, 20:02: Message edited by: pole_shift ]

[Arryn]

Originally posted by pole_shift:
hmmmm... "Ashsoul" eh?

I think I would change the name.

(try saying it 3 times quickly)

I like it just fine as is. It suits him, I think.