The Cheapest Trick in the Book!

[AreaOfEffect]

Originally Posted by K

Unless it's far into the science-fiction future of the late game, no one can hold off vs. two human opponents.

Untrue. I've done it. I've seen other players do it. In some cases a couple of chump players is not that much harder then fighting one half-decent player. No offense.

[chrispedersen]

Early in the game its not particularly difficult to defend 2:1 or even 3:1.

So long as you have established choke points, and they don't have the type of troops that afford them stealth or flying opportunities.

In the early game, even if you're opponents do have these types of troops, dominant early rush players can quite possibly hold off the determined efforts of two or more opponents.

For example, EA-Mictlan could hold off EA-Yomi, LA-ulm probably with not much difficulty, and probably could win.

That being said it really does suck being ganged up on. It might be cool to have a game set up entirely by Private Message
where the host does not play.

Only vet players allowed. Only the admin would know which players were in the game.

I'd probably be willing to set up such a game. Although I might make it ABM =P.

[K]

Originally Posted by AreaOfEffect

Untrue. I've done it. I've seen other players do it. In some cases a couple of chump players is not that much harder then fighting one half-decent player. No offense.

Ummm, right. I'll concede that it is not impossible that any number of incompetents can be held off in ideal chokepoint situations in the early game and the ganged-up on player can go on to win.

That doesn't refute the fact that the easiest and cheapest and MOST successful tactic is to simply double or triple-team opponents. I don't care how good you are: as long as your opponents are even half-competent, you will lose or be so crippled by the win that by the middle game you have effectively lost.

Exceptions don't disprove the rule.

[AreaOfEffect]

If we are talking about your chances at victory, well then yes, you will likely be unable to win. Exceptions will exist. Possibly more often then you think. I just didn't like the absoluteness of your quote.

I'm personally not a big fan of the whole choke point thing by the way. In most cases I'd rather out maneuver my opponent then hold him in some Mexican standoff. That's why my castles are more likely to guard magic sites then they are to guard a worthless canyon. If an opponent uses castles at choke points against me and the castle doesn't protect anything worthwhile, I generally move on. It always surprises them that I don't behave exactly like the AI.

[Executor]

Originally Posted by AreaOfEffect

I'm personally not a big fan of the whole choke point thing by the way. In most cases I'd rather out maneuver my opponent then hold him in some Mexican standoff. That's why my castles are more likely to guard magic sites then they are to guard a worthless canyon. If an opponent uses castles at choke points against me and the castle doesn't protect anything worthwhile, I generally move on. It always surprises them that I don't behave exactly like the AI.

If you're being double, triple, 5 vs 1 teamed ( ), it's best to sit back in your forts and wait until the enemy tries to storm you. After that, you make a counter offansive.
Or/and hold the line on one side, while eliminating the weakest enemy on the other side. Always try and concentrate all the fire power you can spare on one single enemy.
Works best from my experience, and I had a lot of those situation.

[archaeolept]

I've prevailed in a 5 v 1 set-up; but, in general, of course, being double teamed should at least knock you out of the running.

[Zeldor]

Baalz is right, being a vet gives you a red flag. There will surely be other ones that will do diplomatic attempts to try and organise smth againt a vet Well, unless you are llamabeast

Also behaviour in old games means a lot. If you tend to go AI when things start to go bad, you may be sure that you will get attacked only for that reason in one of the next games. It's really basic psychology. And invader will prepare nice big show of fireworks, to try and convince you to go AI and let him win fast. Same goes the other way round - someone who fights till the end has smaller chances of being attacked, unless he is really outnumbered.

Executor:

I have a practice in that now. I somehow got into me vs. everyone else situation. Some people went AI, including those that had to be my vassals and blockers from other players. I wasn't really prepared for that and it will be tough job. Map really doesn't promote small controlled fronts [and there were some bugs that complicated my situation].

[Baalz]

Originally Posted by DonCorazon

In MA Chron I was surprised you actually made no diplomatic efforts either before or after being attacked. It was initially 1 on 1, til Nehekara jumped on. In that case though I saw you had a rainbow vs my awake SC, and figured low MR made Ulm attractive to Illithid spam, even with those painful crossbows and bladewinds to mow down my chaff. I would have attacked whoever the player was in that match up.

heh, I did negotiate extensively...with Nehekara. He reversed his position at the lat second to attack me instead of you because he decided MA Ulm was a bigger threat than MA R'yleh long term. I (apparently correctly) assumed there was no point in negotiating with you...

[Executor]

Originally Posted by archaeolept

I've prevailed in a 5 v 1 set-up; but, in general, of course, being double teamed should at least knock you out of the running.

I think I'm the winner here, 9vs1.

Originally Posted by Zeldor

Executor:

I have a practice in that now. I somehow got into me vs. everyone else situation.

Me and you both my friend.


Err, Baalz, correct me if I'm wrong but you gave me an ultimatum, you won't do diplomacy with me unless I attacked Don Corazon, and I did try and contact Atlantis in order to revise my option but he went AWOL, and as strong as Nehekhara is, going solo against Rlyeh from the start would result in a total disaster, or a very long and hard victory that would probably cost me the game.

[DonCorazon]

Originally Posted by Baalz

I (apparently correctly) assumed there was no point in negotiating with you...

Not necessarily. I probably would have had less fear fighting Ulm in the endgame than Nehekara - with its high MR units and amphibious capability, not to mention Executor is no pushover