OOC Thread and Chatroom 2

[_Tristan_]

Sorry if I have been rather un-participative recently but things have come up in RL that have left me with a lot less time on my hands.

Plus, I have recently grabbed a copy of FallOut 3 and my computer game-time has been mostly devoted to scouring the wastes of DC post-nuclear armageddon.

Lastly, I might have managed to put spare some time to be more active in these boards if I had not been rather distraught by the way the whole Civil War matter was resolved. Ramses and I worked towards seeing a true PvP resolution of that conflict (even if it would have been a losing one) by attacking the summit, only to have our contenders back down from the challenge... I thought that this kind of thing was the crux of the game and I worked hard (or rather played hard) with Methodios to put him in a position where he would be in a position to challenge the powers that be, only to see that the state of things is in fact immovable. Once a Basileus, always a Basileus... Which does not reflect truly how historically Byzantine politics were at the times, with power struggles and short-lived reigns.

I am now struggling to find motivation to keep on playing, knowing that Methodios will die in a few turns and will not get a second shot. Playing his son will perhaps be even harder.

[Ituralde]

Since a large part of the conflict played out during my term as Megas I think there were enough opportunities to see real battle. Both sides had armies and fleets available to them to take a quick route to the other persons location. The land route was also an option. I don't think the Order of St. John would have stopped you and either way there could have been a battle.

The Civil War ended as it did, because both participants just sat in their respective towns for one whole Megas term.

[Ignoramus]

The problem I had was that it would have taken me a whole 10 turns to reach Egypt, and I was anxious to invade Italy. I didn't want to go after Methodios - I wanted others to do it for me.

[_Tristan_]

The problem I had was that it would have taken me a whole 10 turns to reach Egypt, and I was anxious to invade Italy. I didn't want to go after Methodios - I wanted others to do it for me.

And I had approximately the same problem, plus the fact that I would have been ganged up against if I had left the "relative" safety of Egypt.

"Fight on your homeground" was my motto and I hoped that heaping insult upon insult to Ioannis' honor would force him to make a move, alas, it was not enough.

And @Ituralde, while people (Order or others) may not have hindered my northwards moves, having a Hostile Megas in command was not exactly the perfect situation in fighting a war far from home (See the Vietnam War for example... No home support = no victory = debacle).

I'm just disppointed that the only thing devious Methodios ever considered doing in his whole life (bringing Ioannis alone or almost on an island under a flag of truce under pretense of peace parleys to wrest the crown off his head), that single challenge was not taken up.

I wouldn't have minded Methodios dying in that (almost) hopeless fight... It would have made much better sense than having the two heads of state forced into a white peace through some vote of the Senate, waiting for one of the two to die of old age.

I cannot believe how a ruler would allow his "heir" to defy him thus without lifting the little finger to bring him to heel forcibly. It is almost an invitation to more of the same.

But right now, seeing how things developed, even if I had the opportunity to throw the gauntlet in Ioannis' face once again, I'm not sure I would do it. It is not worth the effort...

And I'm not sure we'll have the required conditions anytime soon in game. We had almost the perfect set-up with the Ruler and Heir practically at each other's throats from the beginning.

I didn't expect to have others rally to me (Methodios has been too controversial for this) but not many answered Ioannis call to arms with any enthusiasm. So a 1v1 fight might have solved the situation, considering Ioannis had the Megas in his pocket : unlimited access to recruitment (both regular and merc) while Methodios would have had to struggle with his much depleted Crusader forces...

To sum things up, I think Ramses and I created a good confrontational situation (even if it was a losing one, as I stated earlier) in taking the Summit "hostage" and I felt let down that it didn't quite lead to a PvP fight.

I may be wrong but I think the slowdown of the game may come from this "Cold War" which has left everybody preparing for Armageddon and finally being left to witness a Charles Ingalls' happy ending (or almost).

Speak of an anti-climax...

[KnightnDay]

Well with the death of OK, the Basileus now has Constantinople under his control. And with several avatars about to disappear through "suicide", maybe there is a something to be had there. Was it really suicide? If so, were they forced into the act and is there more to this than meets the eye?

As the new kid in town with a bodyguard of 22, it's rather difficult for me to stir the pot without going way OOC. Seems to me one of the central characters has to drive our storyline. My $.02

[Ituralde]

I realize that the situation wasn't good for Methodios, but it was clear from the beginning that forcing a PVP battle out of a story, was not the best solution. The fact remains that both sides didn't invest enough into this Civil War, while the rest of the Empire was content to watch from the sidelines.

I just don't want you to feel unhappy with the game, or somehow blame the things that happened on the playerbase. The conditions might have been good, but looking at the outcome they apparently weren't good enough. That doesn't mean we have wasted our last chance to have a Civil War in this game or that the position of Basileus has not been weakened by it. It was a stalemate and nobody was willing to resolve it, and that's why nothing happened and the Senate decided to end the farce. If the participants disagree they are free to start their war again.

Once the holiday lull is over I am confident that we will see more action. I have plans for my next avatar, so I would not count the whole game lost or anything. I think the whole Ioannis-Methodios incident was a nice first step, from the period under Aleksios where peace between all nobles was unquestionable, because we had outside enemies to turn on. This will slowly shift to enemies within the Empire and the recent conflict has been an important step in this.

Cheers!

Ituralde

[ULC]

I just hope TC can get those Avatar's queued up so I can pick my already! I'm all geared up and ready to go

[TinCow]

The Library is being completely updated to reflect the numerous changes that have taken place recently. For convenience, I am listing all of the changes here. Please point out any errors or omissions you notice.

Moved to Inactive List (lose their provinces and oaths of fealty are cut):
Ioannis Kantakouzinos (Kagemusha) - Provinces (Yerevan, Dyarbakir) given to his Lord, Pavlos Chrysovergos (Ituralde)
Nikiphoros Manouelitis (Warmaster Horus)
Lisas Attaleiatis (00jebus) - His Lord (Ioannis Kantakouzinos) is also going inactive, so his provinces (Trebizond) is given to his Lord's Lord, Pavlos Chrysovergos (Ituralde)

Komnenodoukai Changes:
Loss of two members results in a three person house. Tiblisi given to Andronikos Komnenos (woad&fangs). As two middle members were removed due to inactivity, the oaths are considered re-sworn within the house to fill in the gaps, resulting in Comes, Domestikos, and Hypatos.

Order of St. John Changes:
Deaths and inactivity have reduced them to a three person house. Despite an official announcement that Armatos ek Naksou (Cecil XIX) was no longer the Grandmaster, the oaths have not been resworn and thus he remains the highest rank of the Order of St. John. Oaths automatically re-sworn to fill the gap caused by the death of Vissarionas ek Lesvou. Antiokheia is given to Vartholomaios Ksiros (Rowan).

The Accord Changes:
Death of 2 out of 3 members essentially makes it a non-entity. Since it was described to me initially as an unofficial alliance and not really a House, I will mark it as ceasing to exist and will put its remaining member, Apionnas Vringas (AussieGiant), as unaligned unless given other instructions. Apionnas Vringas gains control of Bucharest, as Klimis Dokeianos (GeneralHankerchief) was still sworn to him when he died, and I cannot find a will for him. (Correct me if I am wrong on this.)

Ilios Korakas Changes:.
Vakchos Tzetzis (Smowz) swore an oath to Methodios Tagaris (Tristan de Castelreng), but it was rejected at that time due to the Civil War. While that part of the Civil War is now over, the oath has never been resworn, so Vakchos Tzetzis is considered unaligned. The imminent retirement (death) of Nikolaos Aristenos (YLC) will result in further changes. Methodios Tagaris gains Kosmopolis. Nikolaos Aristenos gains Durazzo.

Asteri Changes:
Ammonathas Kalameteros (KnightnDay) swears to Andreas Dermokaitis (Marcus Agrippa), but remains landless.
Andreas Dermokaitis (Marcus Agrippa) swears an oath to Zigavinos Vasilakios (rossahh).
Zigavinos Vasilakios (rossahh) switches his oath to Magnetios Kalameteros (Zim).
Magnentios Kalameteros (Zim) swears an oath to Savvas ek Militou (Andres).
Savvas ek Militou (Andres) swears an oath to Aleksios ek Ikoniou (Northnovas).
Aleksios ek Ikoniou (Northnovas) swears an oath to Ioannis Kalameteros (deguerra).
Savvas ek Militou (Andres) dies (Arta given to Ioannis Komnenos (Ignoramus) by will), and an auto-oath is sworn between Magnentios Kalameteros and Aleksios ek Ikoniou to fill the gap.

The resulting house caps out at a Dux, with the potential for Megas Dux/Exarch if Ammonathas obtains land and the House remains stable for 10 turns after that point.

Misc changes due to deaths:
Constantinople given to Ioannis Komnenos (Ignoramus)

[Rowan]

Sorry if I have been rather un-participative recently but things have come up in RL that have left me with a lot less time on my hands.

Plus, I have recently grabbed a copy of FallOut 3 and my computer game-time has been mostly devoted to scouring the wastes of DC post-nuclear armageddon.

That pretty much sums up my situation as well. I'm hoping to participate more now that I have a glorious 9 days off from work!