Re: AOO ghosts

Wallace (C.I.Cavanagh@qmw.ac.uk)
16 Oct 1997 15:38:05 +0100

In <19971016125052459.AAA162@arthur>, Andrew Penney wrote:
>Firstly I must say I am a newbie who didn't play in G1. As such I
>could be talking through my hat.
>
>However at the risk of restarting a ferocious debate, Why are there
>so many scaremongering posts in the times saying 'Oooh look out PLATO
>are the new AOO.'
>
>Guys we are playing a fantasy role-playing/conquest game. If somebody
>wants to be the big bad Evil Empire that mercilessly attacks
>unsuspecting peaceful factions then I say Great it makes the game
>more interesting. The problem as I see it was by utilising there
>knowledge of the gamme mechanics and an early build up of a startegic
>position, the AOO managed to dominate the game to such an extent that
>is become unpleasant and that critical word BORING for people to
>play. Especially newbies who got captured or killed a few turns into
>the game.
>
>Rich has implemented many new features designed to conteract this.
>Multiple starting cities, bigger map, slower movement for big armies,
>etc, etc. The ability to project overwhelming power at a distance has
>been drastically reduced. In short it is much harder to dominate the
>game and to this point there is no sign that PLATO will be able to
>dominate the game to the point where it is not enjoyable to play. 90%
>of the players will have been unaffected by the attack on the New
>Empire and even though the attack was devastatingly effective it was
>stoppable and I think we have all learnt some valuable lessons about
>the need for defense in key places and the vulnerability of port
>cities to surprise attack.
>
>Hopefully we have also learnt that knowledge is the best defence as
>the New Empire was very remiss in not noticing a build up of that
>size and preparing for the worst.
>
>The 'but you shouldn't attack people just because you can' arguement
>shows people have a very warped view of history. Especially feudal
>history. Territorial expansion is a natural tendancy in the real
>world and especially this game. Hey there is not much else to do. The
>only history in this world is what we create oursleves and we have
>just had our first real historic moment. May there be many more.
>
>Enough of the philosophy. If you don't like what PLATO did, don;t
>bleat about it in anonymous posts to the Times. Get an army together
>and do something about it but don't scare monger about the Evil AOO.
>

Hmm lots of good points and I agree with them all untill its my turn
to die ,only one Q are you linked to these "Bad" guys or really a
neutral observer , it would put you comments into perspective.

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