Neptune's Pride: The Aussies Strike Back

[Jason]

Right guys and girls, we're looking to get the next game of Neptune's Pride underway, and the more bodies we have the better.

Last time, Konrad started out by attacking everyone, getting a thorough beating, and then while everyone else got bored of pounding on him and wandered off to fight amongst themselves, he built his empire back up and eventually conquered MNDF in an epic battle around my former home planet. Lance was quickly betrayed by his countryman, and I was locked in an epic tactical and diplomatic battle with MNDF for most of the game, finally losing out when I went away for the weekend and came back to find half my territory in his possession.

This time round, we've already got Archangel throwing his hat into the galactic ring, and we're looking for more!

"But what is Neptune's Pride (http://np.ironhelmet.com)?" I hear you ask...

Simple. It's a browser-based game, so there's no system requirements to meet, and it's a very slow-paced game, so you only need to log in once a day to keep up to date on what's happening (although you might find yourself doing it a lot more once things get going!).
The game will all be set up for us by Lance, so there's no need to pay anything, and whilst it looks a little overwhelming at first, it's actually a deceptively simple game, and you'll be invading your neighbours in a matter of days. ;)
I can highly recommend this to anyone who meets the following criteria:

You like strategy games
You enjoy invading Australians
You enjoy repelling invading Australians
You're a conniving, untrustworthy, devious backstabber who'd betray their own mother to win.
You're just looking for a good game to pit your wits against other gamers!


Now, the finer points of the rules are still being worked out in this (http://www.mature-gamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12657) thread, but this one for now is so we can drum up a little interest and find out who's playing. Feel free to post in here if you're playing/considering playing, or even just got a few questions. :)

[Konrad]

I'm absolutely playing! But sir, I have a question.

What is it you ask?

Will this be awesome? WAIT! Don't answer that.

IT WILL BE AWESOME.

[MyNameDidntFit]

It will. More awesome than you could possibly know.

[Archangel]

Indubitably.

[Lance]

Unfathomably.

[Archangel]

Assuredly.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Oh shit. Arch. Last time this happened we were awake until some ungodly hour... that was... madness.

[Archangel]

And we did it on steam, so all the glory was lost. I think that is the single most disappointing thing in my life.

[Lance]

Ok guys and girls - last chance to join.

So far its

Jason
Konnie
MNDF
Archie
Me

I, unfortunately, have to choose the amount of numbers Before the game starts, so once it begins there's no jumping in.

I'll be creating the game 10/07/10 - 3 days from now - so get in while the going is good - I mean, its FREE - and the winner gets bragging rights! Who wouldn't want to play? :D

[Jason]

I've decided. Archangel shall now be known as Archie. :lol:

[Konrad]

Hold off on adding me to that. While I'm busy, I could have been playing ALL this time. You're all lazy bums and have waited until the very last week of my sitting at home studying like mad. Come Monday I have a college entrance exam. After this, I plan to spend a month not sleeping, drinking, watching the sun rise, being in all sorts of love and you'll see even less of me. I don't plan to be "home" for days at a time, so I doubt ill be able to maintain any sort of galactic empire.

[Archangel]

Eh, if we've got free player slots, it doesn't make that much of a difference does it?

Every now and then you might be able to jump in, and if not then it gives us all something to obliterate and conquer for the lulz.

I've decided. Archangel shall now be known as Archie. :lol:

That's what it ends up as on every other board. Even when I'm using Archangelicus. Most folk don't even know how to pronounce it right, but they still come up with Archie. /sadface.

[MyNameDidntFit]

I still maintain that Archy is better, even if no-one else thought so.



... and Konnie, wasn't your plan going to be 'go afk' anyway?

[Jason]

After what it did for Rob last time, it's sure as hell going to be my plan!

[Konrad]

Round 2 is just going to be everyone AFKing for a month. The real battle will be of who can combat his curiosity the longest and not check up on how the AI is doing.

[Jason]

I'm pretty sure the game will check the IPs and notice that at least three of the players are Australian, therefore making the AI for those players massively aggressive and possibly drunk.

[Konrad]

Sigh... Whatever happened to the good ol' Polish stereotypes?

I liked it better when we were drunk and rowdy, than pussies.

[Archangel]

No such time ever existed. You all just started claiming you were drunk and rowdy, because you knew no one would look at Polish history beyond the 20th century.

[MyNameDidntFit]

I liked it better when we were drunk and rowdy, than pussies.

Then you shouldn't have rolled over for the Germans :p

[Nonsequitur]

I'll probably try and get in on the next round. In the mean time I'll see if I can figure out how it works.

[Konrad]

Then you shouldn't have rolled over for the Germans :p

Pfft. I just spend the last month studying nothing but Polish history. I daresay your shit no longer has shit on my shit.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Why not get in on this round? It starts of rather slowly so you'll have plenty of time to get the hang of it ;)



/Edit: didn't see your post, Konnie. I'm afraid that whatever it is you claim your country did prior to WWII was pretty well erased by the war -- reputations only exist if they are maintained and, well, I wouldn't call that maintaining a good reputation :D

[Konrad]

My claims are war claims! Polish history sucked during the first war. It's the second war and after when it gets good. Until the eighties, when everyone is just like fuck it and starts drinking a lot and not doing shit cause it's communism and they'll get paid anyway.

Edit: And yeah, you should join in anyway. This is our second game, and we all learned it pretty quickly (except for Jassie who is British and didn't understand combat until it was too late) and had a blast.

[Lance]

Ok, so just so we're clear - Non is in this round, and Konnie's out? Or are you still sticking with us Kon?

[Konrad]

Put me in, ill jump on when I can. If this lasts a month like last time ill catch the end.

[MyNameDidntFit]

My claims are war claims! Polish history sucked during the first war. It's the second war and after when it gets good. Until the eighties, when everyone is just like fuck it and starts drinking a lot and not doing shit cause it's communism and they'll get paid anyway.
Whatever helps you sleep at night ;)

[Lance]

All right - well, if no-one else joins by this time tomorrow, I'll set the game up.

Any requests for rules? We're going to stick with the random names so we don't know who's who correct?

[MyNameDidntFit]

Yeah; no names, no solid alliances.

[Nonsequitur]

I'd be in if there is room. I've already started a random game with some random people, so if there isn't room this round no big deal.

[Lance]

I'd be in if there is room. I've already started a random game with some random people, so if there isn't room this round no big deal.

I've not created the game yet Non - and you can have up to 12 odd players, so there's plenty of room. Welcome to the game :D

[Nonsequitur]

Sweet, I just started a random game but I'll just add a new alias and hopefully figure this thing out in a hurry.

[Nonsequitur]

So when are we getting started? I've learned quite a bit in my current game and I think I'm ready for some action.

[Archangel]

I have a fleeting suspicion I shall be the noob of this match. It makes me uneasy.

[Lance]

Don't worry Arch, the learning curve is unbelievably easy - even Jase can play it ;)

I'm cooking a roast tonight for the family, so my night is pretty much full - but after that I'll set the game up - say in roughly 12 hours it should be right to go.

[Lance]

Game is set up people -

6 players (so if someone doesn't join we'll need to find another person before we can start)

Game: Here (http://np.ironhelmet.com/detail?game=9083426)

Pass: someonewilldie

I messed with the rules too - pay is still 1 pay/24 hours but I've gone with 'No Alliances', Large (32 stars per person), Resources are plentiful, 6 home star systems, and I've doubled starting infrastructure (10 Economy, 10 Industry, 2 Science instead of 5,5,1) and Starting Cash is $1000

Everything else is standard.

Welcome to hell people :D

[Jason]

Ah, this is going to be an unholy clusterfuck in about a week's time... :D

Just to confirm, are we using anonymous aliases in this one?

[Lance]

Yup - as much as we can anyways

[MyNameDidntFit]

Funny how we'll all know who Lance is :p

[Jason]

I can't work out if that's a good thing for him or not.

[Lance]

Probably not Jase - I thought of that too so I'll be first gone again :p

Although I did figure out how to quit the game as creator and re-join with a different alias, so once a few more have joined I'll re-quit, re-join with a different name and that'll fix things up

[Jason]

Ok, cool. And that won't leave us with an extra AI player?

[Lance]

Nope - in a sense it's a round about way of changing names (actually I may suggest that - it'd be easier to have an option to change name rather that re-quit and re-join)

[Konrad]

Well still be able to remember the one name that's gone and the one name that just appeared.

[MyNameDidntFit]

How will you know he just joined and not one of the rest of us?


PS: Hi, Konnie, we can all see who you are too :p this game fails at anonymity.


PPS: LOLRED.

[Jason]

I can honestly say I have no idea who anyone is, and will therefore be treating everyone as potentially untrustworthy.

[Archangel]

I have my suspicions, but shall reserve them until my hordes of darkness are descending upon your capital territories before I boast them.

In case I'm wrong. 'Cos I'll still be able to fall back to "Oh well, at least your dead."

[Jason]

From what little contact I've had with others, it appears that at least a few of you are taking a similar approach to me - picking a 'character' and acting through them. I guess the advantage of that is that even if we do figure out who's who, there's still loads of fun to be had.

[Lance]

I'm enjoying it thoroughly so far :D

[MyNameDidntFit]

As have I.

[Archangel]

Myself also.

It adds some flair.

[Lance]

... 2 under A.I - am I playing by myself now? :(

[Nonsequitur]

I'm still hanging in.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Aye, myself also. Though I can't say I've been exactly active.

[Jason]

Sorry guys. Obviously my trip ten miles down the road to live for four days in a field surrounded by drunk teenagers meant I was unable to access ANY internet for four days. That was hard work.

I'll be back now.

[Archangel]

Marvelous. I expected nothing less, sah.

[Lance]

Why do I get the feeling I'm being conspired against..... again....

[Jason]

If it helps, I'm not actively conspiring with or against anyone just yet.

[Archangel]

Why do I get the feeling I'm being conspired against..... again....

It's a conspiracy?


I kinda dunno who any of y'all are, so yeah... I don't think I'm conspiring against any of you. If anyone is conspiring, it'd probably be Corey though.

I know well enough how he rolls.

[Jason]

*nods*

Fortunately for us, he's probably concocted a scheme so ridiculously complicated that he's actually going to end up declaring war on himself. >_>

[MyNameDidntFit]

It's entirely possible that I'm conspiring against all of you.

[Archangel]

I'm not doubting it, believe me. The only question would be who you are, so I could stage an epic double-cross or the like.

Though, knowing you, your plan would anticipate a double-cross, and after my attempts to do so you'd flank me with an army of over 9000. I would not put it past you.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Preferably, I'd have someone else's army of >9,000 flank you, but that's just getting technical.

[Archangel]

That's precisely what I meant by 'an army'. I would never expect you to put your own men in unnecessary peril, my good man.

Apparently we've lost Mr K'Var just now, too. Amidst all this talk of conspiracy and deception, it is, perhaps, a poor time to find oneself absent.

[Lance]

Meh - weak, but to be expected from MNDF :p

[Archangel]

Sir, I am affronted!

At least half of this plan was my doing.

[Lance]

Hence why I attacked you too, so you didn't feel left out Arch :p Don't worry, I think you're both traitors

[Archangel]

It would have paid off better if you hadn't come on at such a preposterously early hour.

Still, you gotta give credit where credit's due. We got you to do half the legwork for us in invading K'Var. It's just disappointing Fewchor hasn't mopped you up on the West yet.

[Lance]

You know what's funny, it happened the same way MNDF betrayed me last time and cost him a hell of a lot for what should have been an easy victory. I have this habit of being around at random times, so you can never trust I won't be on at the right time :D

I still think the 3 of us having an straight up - all out war would have been far more amusing though :p

[Archangel]

If/when we go for our third game, I'll be happy to do so. Glory on the battlefield and all that. For the present, the opportunity for betrayal was just too good to pass up. I think I've got it out of my system now, though.

Mind, you are certainly making me pay for my treachery. I can run you down, but everything I take is going to be left a touch vulnerable at the rate we're going through ships. My science and industry level is through the roof though, so that's a bonus.

[MyNameDidntFit]

*waits for Fewchor to sweep in and destroy everyone with his fleet that consists of roughly the same number of ships as EVERYONE ELSE*

[Archangel]

Yeah, I'm kinda expecting that. His weapons skill has had a large increase, too. I am suspicious.

[Lance]

If/when we go for our third game, I'll be happy to do so. Glory on the battlefield and all that. For the present, the opportunity for betrayal was just too good to pass up. I think I've got it out of my system now, though.

Mind, you are certainly making me pay for my treachery. I can run you down, but everything I take is going to be left a touch vulnerable at the rate we're going through ships. My science and industry level is through the roof though, so that's a bonus.

I never die with out a fight! Ask MNDF about our last fight :D

I had a thought about the next round - I say we have a great big World War.
Gentlemen's agreement to No allies (even private ones), everyone has 10 days to get ready, then attack with whatever you have against everyone else.

[Jason]

Ah, that sounds very similar in concept to DEFCON, which we tried once, and while it worked, was great fun. Unfortunately it's a little buggy.

[Lance]

I say a world war in NP would be great fun :)

And Arch, you realize I'm going to fight right down to that last, bitter ship I have right? :D

[Archangel]

I wouldn't mind so much if you didn't have Fewchor backing you. And giving him weapons tech? For shame.

It's ok, though. Because I have lols on my side.

[Nonsequitur]

Ah, that sounds very similar in concept to DEFCON, which we tried once, and while it worked, was great fun. Unfortunately it's a little buggy.

Defcon is pretty fun but I've only played the comp. It's a shame that you found it buggy because it's fun for a game here and there.

Have any of you played Ogame?
http://www.ogame.org/
It's supposed to be a bit like NP but more persistent and more in depth. I was going to give it a shot but got distracted by real life.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Hmm, that looks quite good. I'll take a look when I have some free time in the next week and, if no-one else has, let you know what I think.

[Archangel]

Yeah, I've played it. PLF Forums had an alliance going. I kinda stopped playing after Sovvy did, MNDF.

Not a bad game, when you have multiple participants. Decidedly longer than NP, though.

[Nonsequitur]

Well that does it for this game. I've been counting and calculating the last few days to see if I would actually win or just lose most of my ships. What ever decides the battle outcome of NP is kinda unpredictable but I just wanted the game to end so I went for it.

It's been fun and thanks for killing each other off for me.

[Archangel]

Cheap victory, I say.

There was no plotting. No backstabbing. No glorious tactical maneuvers.

For shame. (Which is to say, good victory)

[MyNameDidntFit]

What ever decides the battle outcome of NP is kinda unpredictable but I just wanted the game to end so I went for it.

It's actually simple math ;)



I knew it was a bad time to go on a drinking binge, but alas, I'll just have to live with missing the end :(

*tips hat to Seq*

[Nonsequitur]

You'll have to let me in on that math. My garrison of 3 wiped out 24 of arch's ships without losing a man. That bugged me every time I started plotting the end. It all worked out for me in end so... Would be nice to have a game that had no one go under AI control, but I'll take my wins how ever I can get them.

[Archangel]

The combat is turn based. Defender always has the initiative.

[Nonsequitur]

The combat is turn based. Defender always has the initiative.

I get that but wouldn't that mean that a force of 9 could resist around 70 attackers?

[Archangel]

If your weapon skill was 70, sure.

[Lance]

Good work on the win Non. I can take small credit for it, since I provided you with the ton of weapon tech needed to even things out :D

[MyNameDidntFit]

Basically Seq, each 'turn' your fleet destroys a number of ships equal to your weapon skill (+1 when defending). The other force then does the same. This repeats until one side has been annihilated.

So... example:

A force of 100 vs 120 will be my example, with weapons tech of 25 for each.

The 100 are in defence so the first 'turns' would go as such:

100 destroys 26 (25+1) ships of the 120, leaving 94.
The 94 destroy 25 ships of the 100, leaving 75.

Repeat until one is dead.


/Edit: so, 1 ship in defence with 25 weapon skill could defeat a force of 26 ships that were attacking.

[Nonsequitur]

Good work on the win Non. I can take small credit for it, since I provided you with the ton of weapon tech needed to even things out :D

For sure. I actually looked for a way to not include your systems in my 20 star grab, but in the end I just wanted to win.

Edit - Thank MNDF I think I get it. It still seems a bit screwy but I can see how my 3 ships pulled it off.

[Lance]

You took mine? I didn't even notice - I was dead in the water, so I just gave up lol

[Nonsequitur]

I took everything I could reach and likely take in a short period of time. I was convinced to the end that Arch would marshal his fleet once I made a move and intercept me. Fortunately it appears that everyone was as tired of the game as I was,

[MyNameDidntFit]

I was just too drunk to do anything at that time.

[Lance]

I was just too drunk to do anything at that time.

This is a reasonable excuse for an Aussie, you're forgiven :lol:

[MyNameDidntFit]

Aye, I think I logged on about half-way through my carton of bourbon but, with the other half of the carton between then and now, I really don't recall :/

[Nonsequitur]

Aye, I think I logged on about half-way through my carton of bourbon but, with the other half of the carton between then and now, I really don't recall :/

I timed my attacked based on the drinking habits of Paul Hogan. Looks like the gamble payed off.

[Lance]

I timed my attacked based on the drinking habits of Paul Hogan. Looks like the gamble payed off.

:lol: +rep

[Jack]

This sounds like it was fun. Posting in epic bread for the sake of a notification of when the next one is starting.

[Daggers]

This sounds like it was fun. Posting in epic bread for the sake of a notification of when the next one is starting.

Agreed, I'm intrigued lol

[Lance]

Hmmmmm

2 more to add to the list

Are the oldies up for another game? I have 2 more I can create and with potentially 8 people it should spice things up a bit more I think?

[Archangel]

Yeah, I'd be in for another.

[Jack]

Yeah, I have absolutely no idea so if somebody wanted to add me on MSN and tell me from the ground up what it is, I would be very appreciative. :p

[Jason]

I'm game. Maybe I won't have 2 days where I can't get to the computer right as I'm attacked from two sides this time. :P

[Konrad]

Ah, I probably still don't have the time to keep track of the game but if you're looking for an AFKer, feel free to count me in. :p