BotA Round 5 (Middle Earth): Lalapalooza vs AlexGreat

[lalapalooza]

TripleA Turn Summary for game: Lord of the Rings: Middle Earth, version: 1.6

Game History

Round :3

Purchase Units - Khand
            Khand buy 2 raiderCavalrys; Remaining resources: 0 PUs;

Combat Move - Khand
            2 raiderCavalrys moved from S. Ithilien to S. Brown Lands
            1 warWolves moved from S. Ithilien to Dagorlad
            2 raiderCavalrys moved from Rhovanion to Anduin East Bank
            4 raiderss and 2 xbowInfantrys moved from S. Ithilien to N. Ithilien
            2 raiderCavalrys moved from Khand to N. Ithilien
            1 raiders moved from Harad Road to S. Ithilien
            2 raiderss moved from Harad Road to N. Haradwaith

Non Combat Move - Khand

Place Units - Khand
            2 raiderCavalrys placed in Khand

Turn Complete - Khand
            Khand collect 10 PUs; end with 10 PUs total

[lexgreat]

TripleA Turn Summary for game: Lord of the Rings: Middle Earth, version: 1.6

Game History

Round :3

Purchase Units - Dwarves
            Dwarves buy 3 axeInfantrys; Remaining resources: 0 PUs;

Combat Move - Dwarves
            1 phalanx moved from Lonely Mtn. to N. Dale
            1 zepplin moved from Lonely Mtn. to Celduin
            1 axeInfantry moved from N. Dale to Celduin
            1 axeInfantry moved from Withered Heath to N. Dale

Combat - Dwarves
            Battle in Celduin
                Dwarves attack with 1 axeInfantry and 1 zepplin
                Neutral defend with 1 spearInfantry
                    Dwarves roll dice for 1 axeInfantry and 1 zepplin in Celduin, round 1 :  0/1 hits
                    Neutral roll dice for 1 spearInfantry in Celduin, round 1 :  0/1 hits
                    Dwarves roll dice for 1 axeInfantry and 1 zepplin in Celduin, round 2 :  1/1 hits
                    Neutral roll dice for 1 spearInfantry in Celduin, round 2 :  0/1 hits
                    1 spearInfantry owned by the Neutral lost in Celduin
                Dwarves win, taking Celduin from Neutral with 1 axeInfantry and 1 zepplin remaining. Battle score for attacker is 3
                Casualties for Neutral: 1 spearInfantry

Non Combat Move - Dwarves
            1 zepplin moved from Celduin to N. Dale

Place Units - Dwarves
            3 axeInfantrys placed in Lonely Mtn.

Turn Complete - Dwarves
            Dwarves collect 14 PUs; end with 14 PUs total

[lalapalooza]

TripleA Turn Summary for game: Lord of the Rings: Middle Earth, version: 1.6

Game History

Round :4

Purchase Units - Saruman
            Saruman buy 2 orcss and 1 urukhai; Remaining resources: 0 PUs;

Combat Move - Saruman
            2 orcss and 1 urukhai moved from Isengard to Westfold
            1 urukhai moved from Westfold to Wold

Non Combat Move - Saruman

Place Units - Saruman
            2 orcss and 1 urukhai placed in Isengard

Turn Complete - Saruman
            Saruman collect 11 PUs; end with 11 PUs total

[lalapalooza]

Rather boring turn for saruman!

[lexgreat]

I dont know, I like the map, but the balance feels wrong. Goblins rich, Saruman dirt-poor, other nations actually useless (dwarves, Dale). Zeppelins and cannons for dwarves are very strange choices, these are not warhammer-type dwarves. A strategy game needs compromise, I am not attached to the idea that it has to be as in the books, but goblins should not be able to take Lorien so easily. Dont say it could not happen in a full blown war, but I feel they would need a balrog at least. The Eastern nations feel ok and well done, their mobility is authentic. Gondor feels stretched, also authentic. I think the main prob for me is that Rohan, Dale and Dwarves (who should have a stronghold in the Blue Mountains as well as in the Iron Mountains) never will be more than a very, very limited local power. Against a good opponent. Rhun is a bit similar. Saruman as well.

[lalapalooza]

Its definitely not a perfect map, and even though its gone through a great number of iterations and balancing tweaks it still has some problems. Having said that, watching expert players on this map I have seen both good and evil win in a fair fight.

The flavor of the map is such that it might not be that appealing to LOTR fans, but given the original map size/territory configuration, I do think the current power set-up is justified. If Saruman is too strong he can just overwhelm Rohan. If Rohan is made more powerful to compensate, then it creates the problem that their mobility and power can disrupt the balance elsewhere.

In regards to Dale/Dwarves, there’s a way to get them to be more than just always on the defensive, but it requires the Elves to help. The beauty of this map is that it allows the player the combination of 2-3 nations working together to take down one big one.

But I agree that at first blush the map does not seem entirely balanced, and only with repeated play does its depth become apparent.

[lexgreat]

I definitly want to stress that my remarks are not about overall balance. I totally agree that both sides can win.

[lalapalooza]

I think you’re up ;)

[lexgreat]

I am, but not before kid asleep ;)

[lexgreat]

TripleA Turn Summary for game: Lord of the Rings: Middle Earth, version: 1.6

Game History

Round :4

Purchase Units - Freefolk
            Freefolk buy 2 archerss and 3 lightCavalrys; Remaining resources: 2 PUs;

Combat Move - Freefolk
            1 lightCavalry moved from Tharbad to S. Dunland
            1 lightCavalry moved from Tharbad to S. Dunland
            1 lightCavalry moved from Tharbad to S. Dunland
            1 lightCavalry moved from Cardolan to S. Dunland
            3 archerss, 2 hobbitss and 2 spearInfantrys moved from Cardolan to Eregion
            1 spearInfantry moved from Tharbad to Eregion
            1 spearInfantry moved from Tharbad to Eregion
            1 spearInfantry moved from Tharbad to Eregion
            1 archers moved from Tharbad to Eregion
            1 lightCavalry moved from Bree to Eregion
            1 lightCavalry moved from Bree to Eregion
            1 catapult and 1 spearInfantry moved from S. Downs to Cardolan
            1 hobbits moved from Shire to Minhiriath
            1 spearInfantry moved from Bree to S. Downs
            1 spearInfantry moved from Fornost to Breelands
            1 spearInfantry moved from Fornost to Breelands
            1 archers moved from N. Dunland to S. Dunland
            1 spearInfantry moved from N. Dunland to S. Dunland

Combat - Freefolk
            Battle in S. Dunland
                Freefolk attack with 1 archers, 4 lightCavalrys and 1 spearInfantry
                Neutral defend with 1 spearInfantry
                    Freefolk roll dice for 1 archers, 4 lightCavalrys and 1 spearInfantry in S. Dunland, round 1 :  2/1 hits
                    Neutral roll dice for 1 spearInfantry in S. Dunland, round 1 :  1/1 hits
                    1 archers owned by the Freefolk and 1 spearInfantry owned by the Neutral lost in S. Dunland
                Freefolk win, taking S. Dunland from Neutral with 4 lightCavalrys and 1 spearInfantry remaining. Battle score for attacker is 0
                Casualties for Freefolk: 1 archers
                Casualties for Neutral: 1 spearInfantry

Non Combat Move - Freefolk

Place Units - Freefolk
            2 archerss placed in Tharbad
            3 lightCavalrys placed in Bree

Turn Complete - Freefolk
            Freefolk collect 21 PUs; end with 23 PUs total

[lalapalooza]

TripleA Turn Summary for game: Lord of the Rings: Middle Earth, version: 1.6

Game History

Round :4

Purchase Units - Mordor
            Mordor buy 3 orcss, 2 siegeTowers and 2 trollss; Remaining resources: 0 PUs;

Combat Move - Mordor
            1 orcs and 1 trolls moved from E. Emnet to Eastfold
            1 trolls moved from E. Emnet to Anorien
            2 nazguls moved from Anduin East Bank to Anorien
            1 nazgul moved from Anduin East Bank to Eastfold

Combat - Mordor
            Battle in Anorien
                Mordor attack with 2 nazguls and 1 trolls
                Gondor defend with 3 towerGuards
                Units damaged: 1 nazgul owned by the Mordor
                Units damaged: 1 nazgul owned by the Mordor
                Mordor win, taking Anorien from Gondor with 2 nazguls and 1 trolls remaining. Battle score for attacker is 12
                Casualties for Gondor: 3 towerGuards
            Battle in Eastfold
                Mordor attack with 1 nazgul, 1 orcs and 1 trolls
                Rohan defend with 1 castle and 4 fortificationss
                Units damaged: 1 nazgul owned by the Mordor
                Mordor win, taking Eastfold from Rohan with 1 nazgul, 1 orcs and 1 trolls remaining. Battle score for attacker is 8
                Casualties for Rohan: 4 fortificationss

Non Combat Move - Mordor
            2 orcss and 1 siegeTower moved from S. Mirkwood to Anduin East Bank
            2 trollss moved from Dol Goldur to Anduin East Bank
            3 trollss moved from N. Brown Lands to Wold
            13 orcss and 5 siegeTowers moved from S. Ithilien to N. Ithilien
            5 orcss moved from Minas Morgul to N. Ithilien
            3 trollss moved from Wold to Westfold
            2 nazguls moved from Anorien to E. Emnet
            1 nazgul moved from Eastfold to Westfold

Place Units - Mordor
            3 orcss and 1 siegeTower placed in Dol Goldur
            1 siegeTower and 2 trollss placed in Minas Morgul
            Mordor undo move 2.
            Mordor undo move 1.
            2 trollss placed in Dol Goldur
            3 orcss and 2 siegeTowers placed in Minas Morgul

Turn Complete - Mordor
            Mordor collect 33 PUs; end with 33 PUs total
            3 units repaired.

[lexgreat]

TripleA Turn Summary for game: Lord of the Rings: Middle Earth, version: 1.6

Game History

Round :4

Purchase Units - Rohan
            Rohan buy 1 heavyCavalry and 3 spearInfantrys; Remaining resources: 0 PUs;

Combat Move - Rohan
            1 lightCavalry moved from Helms Deep to Eastfold
            1 lightCavalry moved from Helms Deep to Eastfold
            1 lightCavalry moved from Helms Deep to Eastfold
            1 spearInfantry moved from Helms Deep to Eastfold

Combat - Rohan
            Battle in Eastfold
                Rohan attack with 3 lightCavalrys and 1 spearInfantry
                Mordor defend with 1 castle, 1 orcs and 1 trolls
                    Rohan roll dice for 3 lightCavalrys and 1 spearInfantry in Eastfold, round 1 :  1/1 hits
                    Mordor roll dice for 1 orcs and 1 trolls in Eastfold, round 1 :  0/1 hits
                    1 orcs owned by the Mordor lost in Eastfold
                    Rohan roll dice for 3 lightCavalrys and 1 spearInfantry in Eastfold, round 2 :  1/1 hits
                    Mordor roll dice for 1 trolls in Eastfold, round 2 :  1/1 hits
                    1 spearInfantry owned by the Rohan and 1 trolls owned by the Mordor lost in Eastfold
                Rohan win, taking Eastfold from Mordor with 3 lightCavalrys remaining. Battle score for attacker is 6
                Casualties for Rohan: 1 spearInfantry
                Casualties for Mordor: 1 orcs and 1 trolls

Non Combat Move - Rohan

Place Units - Rohan
            1 heavyCavalry and 3 spearInfantrys placed in Helms Deep

Turn Complete - Rohan
            Rohan collect 10 PUs; end with 10 PUs total

[lalapalooza]

TripleA Turn Summary for game: Lord of the Rings: Middle Earth, version: 1.6

Game History

Round :4

Purchase Units - Goblins
            Goblins buy 1 bats, 7 shooterss and 4 stabberss; Remaining resources: 0 PUs;

Combat Move - Goblins
            1 shooters moved from Westfold to Eastfold
            1 bats moved from Isengard to Eastfold
            1 shooters and 1 stabbers moved from Wold to Westfold
            1 shooters moved from Fangorn to Westfold
            2 wargss moved from Anduin East Bank to Eastfold
            1 shooters moved from Gladden to Carrock
                  Goblins take Carrock from Elves
            1 shooters moved from Drimrill Dale to Gladden
            1 shooters and 1 stabbers moved from Lorien to Celebran
            3 wargss moved from Anduin East Bank to Westfold
            1 shooters and 1 stabbers moved from Celebran to Wold
            5 shooterss and 8 stabberss moved from Drimrill Dale to Moria
            1 stabbers moved from Drimrill Dale to Celebran
            1 trolls moved from Drimrill Dale to Celebran
            2 stabberss moved from N. Caves to Drimrill Dale
            4 shooterss and 2 stabberss moved from Celebran to Moria
            1 bats moved from Moria to N. Dunland
            1 shooters moved from S. Caves to N. Dunland

Combat - Goblins
            Battle in N. Dunland
                Goblins attack with 1 bats and 1 shooters
                Freefolk defend with 1 hobbits
                Goblins win, taking N. Dunland from Freefolk with 1 bats and 1 shooters remaining. Battle score for attacker is 2
                Casualties for Freefolk: 1 hobbits
            Battle in Eastfold
                Goblins attack with 1 bats, 1 shooters and 2 wargss
                Rohan defend with 1 castle and 3 lightCavalrys
                Goblins win, taking Eastfold from Rohan with 1 bats and 2 wargss remaining. Battle score for attacker is 10
                Casualties for Rohan: 3 lightCavalrys
                Casualties for Goblins: 1 shooters

Non Combat Move - Goblins
            1 bats moved from Eastfold to Westfold
            1 bats moved from N. Dunland to Moria

Place Units - Goblins
            2 shooterss placed in N. Caves
            1 bats, 3 shooterss and 4 stabberss placed in Moria
            2 shooterss placed in S. Caves
            Goblins undo move 3.
            Goblins undo move 2.
            4 shooterss and 4 stabberss placed in Moria
            1 bats placed in Lorien
            1 shooters placed in S. Caves

Turn Complete - Goblins
            Goblins collect 32 PUs; end with 32 PUs total

[lalapalooza]

Didn’t mean to be pushy earlier!

[lexgreat]

didnt take it that way, no worries.

[lexgreat]

TripleA Turn Summary for game: Lord of the Rings: Middle Earth, version: 1.6

Game History

Round :4

Purchase Units - Elves
            Elves buy 3 hobbitss and 3 hunterss; Remaining resources: 1 PUs;

Combat Move - Elves
            1 eagles moved from Rivendell to N. Caves
            1 hunters moved from Rivendell to Eregion
            1 hunters moved from Rivendell to Eregion
            1 hunters moved from Eregion to N. Caves
            1 hunters moved from Eregion to N. Caves
            1 hunters moved from Eregion to N. Caves
            1 hunters moved from Eregion to N. Caves
            1 hunters moved from High Mirkwood to Carrock
            1 hunters moved from High Mirkwood to Carrock
            1 hunters moved from High Mirkwood to Carrock

Combat - Elves
            Battle in Carrock
                Elves attack with 3 hunterss
                Goblins defend with 1 shooters
                    Elves roll dice for 3 hunterss in Carrock, round 1 :  1/0 hits
                    Goblins roll dice for 1 shooters in Carrock, round 1 :  1/1 hits
                    1 shooters owned by the Goblins and 1 hunters owned by the Elves lost in Carrock
                Elves win, taking Carrock from Goblins with 2 hunterss remaining. Battle score for attacker is -2
                Casualties for Goblins: 1 shooters
                Casualties for Elves: 1 hunters
            Battle in N. Caves
                Elves attack with 1 eagles and 4 hunterss
                Goblins defend with 1 castle and 4 shooterss
                    Elves roll dice for 1 eagles and 4 hunterss in N. Caves, round 1 :  1/1 hits
                    Goblins roll dice for 4 shooterss in N. Caves, round 1 :  2/1 hits
                    1 shooters owned by the Goblins and 2 hunterss owned by the Elves lost in N. Caves
                    Elves roll dice for 1 eagles and 2 hunterss in N. Caves, round 2 :  1/0 hits
                    Goblins roll dice for 3 shooterss in N. Caves, round 2 :  1/0 hits
                    1 shooters owned by the Goblins and 1 hunters owned by the Elves lost in N. Caves
                    Elves roll dice for 1 eagles and 1 hunters in N. Caves, round 3 :  1/1 hits
                    Goblins roll dice for 2 shooterss in N. Caves, round 3 :  1/1 hits
                    1 shooters owned by the Goblins and 1 hunters owned by the Elves lost in N. Caves
                retreated to N. Caves
                Goblins win with 1 shooters remaining. Battle score for attacker is -10
                Casualties for Goblins: 3 shooterss
                Casualties for Elves: 4 hunterss

Non Combat Move - Elves
            1 eagles moved from N. Caves to Eregion

Place Units - Elves
            3 hobbitss and 1 hunters placed in Rivendell
            1 hunters placed in High Mirkwood
            1 hunters placed in Rivendell

Turn Complete - Elves
            Elves collect 19 PUs; end with 20 PUs total

[lexgreat]

what is really annoying is how the goblins hit with every extra roll. takes a huge toll.

[lalapalooza]

TripleA Turn Summary for game: Lord of the Rings: Middle Earth, version: 1.6

Game History

Round :4

Purchase Units - Haradrim
            Haradrim buy 1 oliphant, 2 rafts and 1 spearInfantry; Remaining resources: 2 PUs;

Combat Move - Haradrim
            1 raft moved from S. Gondor Coast to Anduin Mouth
            1 spearInfantry moved from Tolfolas to Anduin Mouth
            1 spearInfantry moved from Anduin Mouth to W. Osg.
                  Haradrim take W. Osg. from Gondor
            4 corsairss, 4 oliphants and 3 spearInfantrys moved from S. Ithilien to N. Ithilien
            1 caravel moved from S. W. Central Sea Zone to Anfalas Coast
            1 raft moved from S. E. Central Sea Zone to N. E. Central Sea Zone
            1 raft moved from Umbar Coast to S. Gondor Coast
            3 spearInfantrys moved from City of Corsairs to Umbar Peninsula
            3 caravels, 3 corsairss, 5 galleons and 6 spearInfantrys moved from S. W. Central Sea Zone to Andrast Coast
            3 corsairss and 6 spearInfantrys moved from Andrast Coast to Andrast
            2 caravels moved from Umbar Peninsula Coast to S. E. Central Sea Zone
            2 caravels moved from Bay of Harad to Umbar Peninsula Coast

Combat - Haradrim
            Battle in Andrast
                Haradrim attack with 3 corsairss and 6 spearInfantrys
                Gondor defend with 1 castle, 4 fortificationss and 2 towerGuards
                Haradrim win, taking Andrast from Gondor with 1 corsairs and 4 spearInfantrys remaining. Battle score for attacker is 2
                Casualties for Haradrim: 2 corsairss and 2 spearInfantrys
                Casualties for Gondor: 4 fortificationss and 2 towerGuards

Non Combat Move - Haradrim
            1 raft moved from Umbar Coast to S. E. Central Sea Zone

Place Units - Haradrim
            2 rafts placed in Umbar Coast
            1 oliphant and 1 spearInfantry placed in City of Corsairs

Turn Complete - Haradrim
            Haradrim collect 24 PUs; end with 26 PUs total

[lalapalooza]

Like I said, those goblins love manflesh! And elven flesh even more so!

[lexgreat]

Very authentic game, lol