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They visited Molestown up here in the North.
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Let's remember this is a test game, not a championship. Actual bugs will be fixed, or errata published. Please try the things that are new to Maelstrom and not focus too intently on winning. I'm not sure we said this game will go for completion, and shouldn't be approached that way.
Try not to brush off too quickly what has been said - this is essentially 4th Cycle, not an add-on to 3rd Cycle. So for example, the balance between gold and supply will be different - you might be trading gold for supplies instead of always the opposite. You may decide not to plan for a turn 6 blitz to your second region. You may confront a stubborn defensive kingdom. You will see some Red Haired Step Children become preferred kingdoms, and some kingdoms in The Choosing knocked down a peg.
All along we have determined to not interfere with The Choosing as we do Maelstrom, which can exist side by side with The Choosing. But game play will be different, not iterative.
Mike has pounced on most reported actual bugs, and I have given some preferences for a couple adjustments, and the largest of these he has done from what he originally committed to do are big: automatic game creation like in The Choosing, a New Valhalla for just Maelstrom, taking on the political adjustments and the new PC Improvements come to mind, in addition to any actual bugs in the test which have been few.
I have suggested some last changes, like an adjustment to Rule of Law, but he is way over the original agreement.
What will be wonderful is playtesters posting overall impressions so some hiatus players may be inclined to rejoin the community.
Also, to facilitate that and new players, I am trying to allow CAPCHU and a couple questions to replace the manual administrator approval process to join the forum, so any new players or potential new posters, you should be able to be active immediately with registration.
We're coming up on turn 6, so please playtesters give a thoughtful, several paragraph review of Maelstrom and don't feel one order that went astray should be a focus when you do, please. Hope you are enjoying!
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01-28-2019, 08:53 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-28-2019, 08:53 PM by Ry Vor.)
(01-28-2019, 08:00 PM)Calidor Wrote: They visited Molestown up here in the North.
I'm into Martin's "Fire & Blood" presently. It's a bit like Silmarillion to Lord of the Rings. Be ready to inhale about 20 characters in the first few pages.
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Will do, Ry Vor, but I have a reported bug, I reported here, should I send it through support? The program isn’t acknowledging my starting temple in my capital, so I can’t test for gift? Only issue I can see as far as my SA setup so far. 
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(01-28-2019, 09:57 PM)PTRILEY Wrote: Will do, Ry Vor, but I have a reported bug, I reported here, should I send it through support? The program isn’t acknowledging my starting temple in my capital, so I can’t test for gift? Only issue I can see as far as my SA setup so far.
I can't tell you or others if a specific reported bug is going to be fixed by next turn, or at all - in which case there will just be a different understanding on how things work. That said, Mike has been fairly heroic in fixing anything amiss, but as I said, everything here is about enhancing the Alamaze experience, as best the two of us can do with limited resources. We really need the 12 play testers to give testimony to Maelstrom and encourage and embrace new and returning players, or if it's thumbs down, so be it.
What we need to hear is that review of Maelstrom and perhaps Alamaze overall if needed in order to move ahead. So I am asking all 12 players who asked to play in this test to take some time and thought and decide if you would want to encourage old players to return, or not. They are going to read this, and that will matter more to them than what I send them in an email.
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(01-28-2019, 09:57 PM)PTRILEY Wrote: Will do, Ry Vor, but I have a reported bug, I reported here, should I send it through support? The program isn’t acknowledging my starting temple in my capital, so I can’t test for gift? Only issue I can see as far as my SA setup so far.
Clear your browser cache. I logged in as you and the website worked fine for me.
Since this game is a test, if the order entry website displays a warning about a particular order, go ahead and leave it in. We need to test the java program that generates the kingdom turn reports to see if it catches the error. The website only presents warnings to the user, you can leave a bunch of errors in and see if the java program detects the issues or not.
For testing, I would like to see various conditions like for example, trying to raise regional reactions to Loyal when you don't have Tight Control (should fail with both website and java program). Also, test again when you have Tight Control and both should work. Also, declare another kingdom an Ally who already has friendly in your region to test if he goes to Loyal or stays at friendly (should stay at friendly).
About the Rule of Law situation, Rick has given me his preferred way of fixing the issue but it's a bit complex to do in the code so it may take me a while to get done correctly. Not the java program which I can do in about 15-20 minutes but rather the order entry website which is the bottleneck. Fore the website, I have to change the HTML, PHP, and SQL database tables to accommodate the new Rule of Law changes which is a bit of work to do.
For the new Rule of Law coming up, I'm going to try to do the version where a kingdom would have to pay 10% of the kingdom-controlled pc production in the region so the costs for controlling regions will be relative to the size of the region itself. I'll try to get that done sometime this week but no promises right now.
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Awesome UM.. I’ll try to raise reaction this turn and see if program running right, should not go to tight control, not enough populations.
RyVor: do you want us to do a right up on our kingdoms and likes/dislikes and post here?
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Okay so I am a returning player and had about 5 friends who played Alamaze back in the day when you would receive a paper map. Maelstrom is fun so far. Being able to play any kingdom in any region is amazing. The new customization choices, should stay 10 points, is great as well. The new features allow for people to build and play on the fly.
The cost coming down makes the game a better sell. It used to seem expensive compared to say a new console or pc game. This new game needs a larger pool of players. Currently diplomacy games really stink. It quickly becomes a who made a mega alliance and those who do not make quick friends are quickly erased. I am excited for a team game on the new map and an anonymous game as well.
I have told my friends to come back once Maelstrom is fully running and the bugs are gone. Two will be held back currently by their federal government jobs but two think thy will give it a shot.
Taken as a whole this game has the chance to be super entertaining. I am excited to see my email turns even tho the paper envelope on the first turn was so cool.
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I am perfectly happy to do a write-up. We are covering bugs and preliminary thoughts over the first few turns and testing some things (like those UM suggested). However, to really get a feel for how a kingdom will develop, I will need at least 7-8 turns, maybe a couple more. It will take at least that long to even think about the bigger buildings, to see how economics will play out, how well big armies will fare, how politics will work (or not work) against the tougher PCs of opponents, etc. I know people are eager to move on to more games, but let's spend a few more turns to give helpful feedback. This will be helped if everyone will actually use the Ready Button and keep this game moving.
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(01-29-2019, 04:42 AM)VballMichael Wrote: I am perfectly happy to do a write-up. We are covering bugs and preliminary thoughts over the first few turns and testing some things (like those UM suggested). However, to really get a feel for how a kingdom will develop, I will need at least 7-8 turns, maybe a couple more. It will take at least that long to even think about the bigger buildings, to see how economics will play out, how well big armies will fare, how politics will work (or not work) against the tougher PCs of opponents, etc. I know people are eager to move on to more games, but let's spend a few more turns to give helpful feedback. This will be helped if everyone will actually use the Ready Button and keep this game moving.
Exactly. I think until at least turn 12 or so. It will take a long time at least to build and maybe test the legendary castle
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