Remembering PRESTAGS

Look what I found

a blast from the past (I also found the access codes too). I don't know where disk 1 is though.

I don't have a working computer that accepts these disks anymore ... 

That is not a watch...

It does not even tell time! (https://www.prestags.com/2019/06/fabulous-1980s-tech.html) This is a watch!

I sometimes wonder that if the Amish did not exist, Spetz would found them, with 1980's tech (enough to have Empire playing on a Mac Classic) and 1950's theology (only Catholics need apply). Just because the tech is old, it does not mean it is the height of good design - it was just the best we could do at the time. Just like counters and hex grid maps are pretty cool and still have a place in the mouse of one of the readers of this blog, they are not the final word on wargaming.

Just because you have the inferior Russian jets in this counter mix does not mean you ignore all possible future improvements. uyou play on and flan for the FUTURE, because the FUTURE is coming much sooner than the PAST!

Watches can show world maps, modern or old these days. Does it make them less virtuous? No, but they can and will get better. And if you want your watch to tell the time, and now just dumbly show it, you should be allowed to say "OK Google, what is the time?"

 

Well done Thygo!

I noticed this morning that Thygo has romped into second place with some super arthropod blogs/photo shoots and a commitment to keep Paul and Python from dwelling on overseas politics

Well done!

I would like to see some critique of Advanced Tactics Gold in the next few days. Can we teach an old dog (Paul) new tricks (something other than EDEE)?

Coolness of Advanced Tactics Gold

Ever wonder when the next turn is coming? If you buy Advanced Tactics Gold through Steam, and "friend" your other players, you get a popup when they start playing so you can get into position for the turn. You can even put Steam on your phone so you can keep tabs when away from the laptop so you know to be ready in 20 minutes!

The game itself takes some practice to get control of and a very long time to master. The AI is a brutal teacher, as Thygo is finding out!

Early in the game you have to explore and take neutrals. Sounds familiar?

Then you have to take on the AI. So far, just the same.

Then you get pasted! Yep, the AI is that good. The AI can really hurt you, even when fighting a two front war.

... even after it has lost its capital to your ally!

So who is ready to play a modern adaptation of Empire?

 

He thought he was Jane Fonda!

Pathetic! Then again, a bit more interesting than the generals in EDEE.

Starts with a whimper

Not my usual start. Very humble!

Python Magnus Omnia Vincit

Kansas has capitulated in Advanced Tactics Gold (Empire on Steroids).

You guys should give this a go. It is fun, easy to play, loads of options that gives lots of opportunity for asymmetric strategies and you get through turns really fast.

There is even a YouTube for people who cannot read.

 

It costs US$30. Perfect for a friend's birthday present: http://store.steampowered.com/app/310390/

Long Weekend EDEE

The current EDEE has myself as THE ONE.

I have got off to a difficult start.

First, two of my cities (including the Capital) looked like they were on the Coast, but turned out to be on an inland sea. This has slowed the famous Python diaspora.

Second, I have met Python almost immediately. I captured two of his cities, only to discover two generals in support. This means Python has started very close to me. No sign of the Teller Machine yet. I hope he is far away.

The Whipping Boy is whipped

Peace in our times!

The Department of Family and Whatever are heartbroken that they must now grow their own food!

Genius Python, Birthday Cakes and Unidentified Bugs

The genius Python Magus has rescued the Zen Book and brought it back to a new life. Linux lives on in my household!

Preloaded with EDEE, and poppies for Anzac Day, what more could I want.

By visiting my parents in Canberra, and returning before the end of the long weekend, I managed to score two birthday cakes for myself.

Both cakes convey my age in their own way.

For number 3 daughter, a highlight of Canberra was trying to identify a new bug we have never seen before. We don't know why one had such a long 'tail', and the other one didn't.

Prestags Quiz: identify this bug!

Python In Trouble Again

Python is in trouble again.

Very early in the current game, the Paul-Thygo alliance achieved East-West, one of Python's own victory markers.

Not long afterwards, the Paul-Thygo alliance achieved (collectively) half of the cities. This is Python's decisive marker, unless the opposing side is within about 25 cities of the half way mark. I don't think this is the case, because there were still many neutrals, and the vast majority will be (and have been) taken by the Paul-Thygo alliance.

Yes, Python is in trouble again.

The last game was a defeat for Python, and the thought crossed my mind that perhaps the era of Python's great diaspora strategy was over. I used a new leap frog strategy, that did appear to result in more territory being taken by me in the explore phase of the game before serious combat. One game is not a sufficient sample, however if Python loses again it may be that the era of the leap frog strategy has arrived.

One of the peculiarities of the current game is that there are large oceans, and even smaller stretches of water between islands and continents are longer than 10 squares (the movement allowance of a transport). This makes air power even more important, and I know I have invested in a larger than usual airforce which has definitely slowed down Python's attempts to attack over oceans.

The other side of the large ocean coin is that the land bridges in combat zones become much more important. Having analyzed these in the current game, I think the Paul-Thygo alliance has the upper hand in all of these areas.

Yes, Python is in trouble again.

Driving in the outback

Can a General go in a straight line for two turns, only changing direction for coast lines and see no sign of civilisation?

Apparently yes.

Fighting Back Hard

The Python is fighting back hard, but every turn my city lead increases. The nuclear devastation of Xenophon's empire is also growing, a record in this game I think.

And Python is now down to his last general, following the loss of this unfortunate general trapped on an island.

I have discovered a nasty little armada heading to one of the key conflict zones. Impressive, but too little too late.

 

The Tipping Point

I have reached the point at which the Python always claims victory: control of half of the cities.

In reality, I have more than half because of the reduction for nuked cities. And Python is not close either, because my battling ally Thygo still has a reasonable number of cities. So Python really is in trouble.

This game has brought out some different tactics. Python has opted for placing missiles above cities in an attempt to stop them being nuked. Not a very successful strategy, and most times he can't predict which cities I'm after.

The "missile shield" strategy was particularly strange when Python did it in an area subject to my invasions. Why would I nuke these cities, which I am about to capture? I can't figure this one out.

Where did the Python go wrong? I think it was two things. First, he abandoned his tried and tested diaspora strategy and put too much focus on attacking Thygo's home island. Second, he was too slow in taking out Thygo's empire. The Python was relying upon knocking out Thygo before I could rescue him. However, the brave Thygo forces have held out, and I am now reinforcing him well before the end of Thygo's empire. The Python will be on the defensive everywhere and on all fronts within a couple of turns.

Another new tactic was Python's unescorted bomber flights. Usually in bunches of four, he flies bombers to the front without any fighter escort. They are observed, and Python knows they are observed, and then they get picked off by fighters when they arrive at the front. Very strange.

A most enjoyable game, this one.

Weird Nuke and Sunset

I just found evidence of a weird nuke from Python. Not sure what he was trying to achieve.

A few quiet turns in store for the "great reset". This is where Thygs and I co-ordinate a few things before the totally surrounded Python fades fast into the sunset.

EDEE - Its all about the ecomomy

Although I do not have half the cities yet, I have flown an explorer through Paul's island looking for a TR city to nuke. (A strategy he taught me, although it is more to strike at the morale of the defenders than to reduce transports, for which the air force does a grand job.) What astonished me is all these low but useful cities producing nothing! Nilch! Nanda! Niente! Apart from Bakes Beans for the front.

Notice also the oil resource being ignored! In my empire, the oil resources are so heavily exploited that I could put every city under production. But I wait until they hit 100%, as they grow quickly below that level and slowly after.

Now Paul may claim that is a 105% city is only going to produce a plane every 11 turns, but multiply that by 30 and that is 3 planes a turn that Paul can only dream of.

The end is nigh. Might I suggest something different for a change:

Storm Clouds

A storm is on the way.

Last time Python accused me of photo-shopping. I wasn't. These are real too.

Lots of Birds

Big ocean, clear skies, lots of birds.

T-a-c-t-i-c-a-l

Highlights of the EDEE game so far

It has been a fun game, although I just do not have enough neutrals. Here are some highlights:

Got one!

I have been embarrassed to be down two generals and everyone else has their four. It could make it nasty at the end for me. But I am delighted to have taken out a cap carrying a sword of judgement this turn!

Hunting of the Bismark

Sword of Judgement loves launching raids deep into enemy territory. I guess it worked in the US Civil War, for which Sword of Judgement is a student. However, without real supply rules, it is pretty irrelevant in this game (unless he find my oil fields). That said, it does provide a bit of entertainment for my Battleship which is crawling up to the front line. So I am having fun "Hunting the Bismark". I have got to within four squares of him last turn, so I just might get him next turn. Notice how I am hiding behind a squall. The raider has become the prey!

Joh's Home Islands

Until the last neutral has gone, it is pretty irrelevant if you are capturing enemy territory, but it does provide a fair amount of entertainment during the more boring exploration turns. I do not know how big the second island is, but I seem to be moving in the right direction.

My home city is just off the top middle of the map. Joh's home city is in the top left of the small island. We just started too close!

An Answer to Sword of Judgement's Nukes

Do I have an answer to Sword of Judgement's Nukes? We find out next turn. I certainly now know where they are coming from, even if he dare not reveal a map!

 

TAC-TIC-CAL!

Paul's nuke has cleverly cut my island in half so that armour cannot cross from one side to another!

It clearly behooves me to build some engineers so I can make a road from one side to the other!

Also very tactical is that Paul and Peter haven't provided maps of their position. Probably because they haven't taken all the neutrals next door yet!

Hello Sailor

I think I might have the dimensions of this game now. Now for a nearby neutral grab.

Breathing New Life Into EDEE?

Python has done very well in the current EDEE, although I still feel strong and I have the initiative in many areas. It will be interesting to see how the new "Snap-Betrayal" rules work to keep interest in the game alive. We are so used to this game now that we lose interest as soon as we 'sense' that one player has got ahead, even if their victory is months away.

The Python has launched another big attack on one of my islands, with two transports hiding under this wave of nastiness. I managed to get the one under the missile, so he will be weaker when he hits the shore.

A strange thing happened this turn. The Python has managed to get a bomber on top of a city. How is this possible? Why did the bomber not land? It must be that you can't land in a city on the turn you capture it, but I have not encountered this before.

 

North meets south by turn 21

This is an interesting game. By turn 21, one of my northern fighters is about to rebase at a southern base. (He flashed off for the camera. New stealth technology)

Otherwise this is an interesting struggle with several fronts that will be most entertaining this weekend. However, I am worried about my ally's profligacy. That big red number can only mean yet another victory parade in New Jerusalem followed up by a banquet and dancing for the senior officers.

My generals are still on a diet of porridge, except the one in intensive care who is hooked up to life support.

Endless Bragging Rights

The bragging rights on this will be endless.

I lined up Python for a Man on Man, General on General, showdown. This was the ultimate test for the Python: does he have what it takes?

The answer: No!

The Python fled like the pathetic coward he is. He will not live this down.

Indeed, this will be the subject of a t-shirt I think.

Jerusalem desolata est

Demetri has swept away not only my beloved capital city but my whole home island.

It brings to mind the lines from Byrd's motet setting of  Civitas sancti - "Jerusalem, Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, desolata est."

 

Civitas sancti tui facta est deserta.        Your holy city has become a wilderness.
Sion deserta facta est,                               Sion is made a wilderness, 
Jerusalem desolata est.                            Jerusalem has been made desolate.

and meanwhile the survivors weep as in Palestrina's Super flumina Babylonis

 

Enemy Capital

I have discovered Thygo's capital.

Liquid Gold - Lots of Liquid Gold

A signature Python EDEE game focuses on oil production. The more oil, the more cities are producing.

I notice that I did not lose any oil wells this game. I do not know if that was because of my HA near oil strategy, or whether my opponents focused on other things. In any event, a big green number means that my Marshall Plan will be well funded!

Berlin is in sight!

My EDEE strategy is to only explore near my front as distant targets are not worth the effort. After taking an island this turn, I have explored around a bit and am delighted to locate an enemy capital. This is definitely worth a risk - just for the psychological value.

Otherwise, I am being nastily pincered between the green and red forces on a continent that green and I have been fighting over most of the game. I am out of reinforcement options so I need to win the war elsewhere to save my general.

A tale of two Generals

Two generals, one island; Only one can survive! One is Sylvester Stalone, the other Danny DeVito.

I note that when you kill a general, you do not find it on your stats until next turn. This turn I hit a green city with a missile and was pleased to see a general blow up. I suspect they only have one hit when they are in a city. I am begging my opponents for intel...

Long gaps between turns

When I was young... you played more turns when work sucked. I fully understand how that has changed. When work gets hard now, everyone looks at the grey haired people and asks "What should I do?", and there are no one for the grey haired people to try the same trick with.

So when you get a turn, you need to savour it, play it slow, individually move the planes, or it will be over too quickly and you will be back at work! And this time, I needed a turn because the Manila Airport Taxi are scoundrels. Last time I got ripped off paying about $20 from the airport when the return journey was only $8. This time I intended to stand my ground, and I did. And I kept standing there until I agreed to a $50 taxi fare! On the right is my artist's impression of Manila Airport Taxi.

Anyway, when you are playing EDEE and your airforce bombs the enemy groups troops off the board, they are well served to look around to see what your enemy's production schedule is like. I found this oddity, and I do not know how to explain it. A very good city is producing "unknown". Is this like an Iranian nuclear reactor producing peaceful energy, or a government agent scanning Internet meta-data. I tried bombing it, but still got no answer. I politely ask my dear enemy: What are you up to?

At the end of my turn, I discovered a Tasmania shaped peach. If I can pluck this peach, I will get an East West connection and no longer be encircled. But dare I turn from the remaining neutrals to give it a go? I can take a peach and lose a game from here!

A Contest Worthy of Hardened Warriors

This round of EDEE has not failed to challenge. There is an intriguing battle here I am attacked from all sides. Earlier hopes for a wrap around have been dashed by sharper than usual neutral gobbling by his opponents. In the absence of neutrals in all but one direction, the only option is to try to contest enemy territory.

My most promising attack on Little Finger's island saw troops landed under massive air cover. The shock and awe air assault has removed all enemy armies.

I had no answer to a revolutionary tactic by Petyr Baelish to build a glowing green zone by nuking a wall around one of his cities (destroying my armour in the process). Notice all my armies - everyone failed! This means lots of buzzing around in planes while the transports go back for more! (Ignore the submerged sub hovering outside the Transport Building City - I photo-shopped than in.)

Meanwhile, the neutrals that will win the game are turning green. I know that my opponents do not share my obsession for gobbling neutrals, but I see that as more important than even defending an island early in the game.

Who every holds this neutrals in the next 6 turns (in my humble opinion), will take this game. And I am not even on the map yet! I have transports leaving key fronts to try to get here. How much oomph have the greens got in the fog of war area?

Twelve Tee Shirt Problem

Euler solved the seven bridges of Dresden problem, but I wonder if he could solve my twelve tee shirt problem. I have unpacked my summer wardrobe and have 31 tee shirts. This is excessive and is causing stacking problems in the wardrobe. I have decided to reduce to twelve, but which twelve? Perhaps a reader can help?

Keep

• Boys Weekend 2011. Must keep, even if just as a gardening teeshirt
• Oakvale Capital (green bottom left). They retrenched me. Never forget. Never forgive.
• The lonely mountain (middle cream) - from Paul - must keep
• Blue and Gold (bottom right) - I won a grand final wearing that shirt
• S&T  - Spartans Phalanx advancing
• Tintin et Milou
• PRESTAGS multicolour right bottom.

Go

• Istanbul (blue top right). It should be Constantinople or Byzantium!
• Boys Weekend 2013 (maroon with cream vinyl of every PRESTAGS piece). Too tatty.

Uncertain

• Darth Vader - Star Wars without Anikin this December threatens to be boring
• 7 nerd tee shirts - I only need a couple.
• Cricket Australia (top right) and my prize for being Ashfield Cricket Club person of the year - but we lost the Ashes
• Raphael (right, blue, brown, white, black) - For a JS library, but I do not really like the colours
• CSIRO (left right top) - OMG, its full of stars

HELP!

Good Boss, Bad Boss

My boss brought cakes into the office yesterday afternoon.  This caused me to reflect on the different behaviours of bosses. Perhaps readers can add their own comparisons.

Good Boss

A good boss brings cakes for his staff.

Bad Boss

A bad boss brings conjunctivitis and lanyngitis for his staff

• 
• 

 Good Boss

A good boss leads his staff to verdant pastures of opportunity

Bad Boss

A bad boss ensures the verdant pastures are glowing green before his staff arrive

Good Boss

A good boss has his staff bomb Syria

Bad Boss

A bad boss has his staff bomb Syria.

Pathetic Boss

A pathetic boss has his staff bomb Syria if it would please his mates.

There actually are reds under the bed!

Francois Xavier was converting a city in the EDEE game when he got a pleasant surprise.

Upon inspection, there was this Petyr Baelish chap in a red uniform who was cowering under his bed. He is now assisting Frankie's secret police with their inquiries.

I note this status display indicates that someone has captured one of my generals. Who was that?

Dangerous Situation

Oops, this is not how I planned to end my turn.

You can have too much of a good thing

And I am not talking about spicy shrimp with tecino (cured pork) spring rolls

nor of elephant clams baked in garlic and butter

but instead in EDEE when your two huge continents fuse into Pangaea, and your transports become temporarily useless. I will imitate Paul and build some canals through here, but in the meantime my transports have to sail a long way around.

Perfect start for Empire

A quick game of EDEE is a good game, and after a perfect start like this, it should be quick. Two big continents on my doorstep, lots of great cities, all armies off the home island and a green number, all after two turns.

Time for us to start planning the next game!

New role, new toy

As I have told you earlier, I have been asked to head to the Philippines to head up an office in Manila. I do love my old job, and will miss it, but alas when you get too much grey in your hair, people expect you to swan around and make all the decisions for them!

Anyway, after a tiring day of reading resumes, talking to corporate lawyers (who want you to believe it is really simple to set up a company in the Philippines, while at the same time really tricky, so that you will use their services), writing summary reports to the directors (whom to the best of my knowledge have no intention of giving me any direction at all), and dealing with consuls (how is it the day I decide my nails are a bit long, I visit the US Consulate and set off the metal detector with forgotten nail clippers in my pocket - no really, I don't want to take hostages with these nail clippers, Mr Marine) , I finally get home for a bit of take.

A road warrior need a road warrior toy and the best road warrior toy has EDEE installed!

Coming at you Peter!

Oh Dear 2

I found my first green general, and had a general of my own nearby. My general took on the enemy general and lost, but the enemy general did not survive a subsequent armour attack. The Thygs has become reckless with his generals. Hubris.