Comments on: Sceptre of Zavandor http://cheyne.net/blog/2010/05/sceptre-of-zavandor/ A minimalist blog, with a pretentious title, about strategy games. Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:46:37 +0000 hourly 1 By: Iain http://cheyne.net/blog/2010/05/sceptre-of-zavandor/comment-page-1/#comment-36202 Iain Fri, 04 Jun 2010 22:24:13 +0000 http://cheyne.net/blog/?p=671#comment-36202 Good point about rewarding skilled play, but Age of Steam is *way* better than Sceptre of Zavandor? I think it was the Faerie, but I barely noticed - the theme was utterly throwaway. Interesting that you think that Phoenicia is too short. I don't often see that criticism levelled at a game. I'll check out the JKLM site - thanks. Incidentally, I really enjoyed your Gods Playground session. It's way overtime for you to have a blog. You shouldn't keep the reports to yourself. :) Good point about rewarding skilled play, but Age of Steam is way better than Sceptre of Zavandor? I think it was the Faerie, but I barely noticed – the theme was utterly throwaway.

Interesting that you think that Phoenicia is too short. I don’t often see that criticism levelled at a game.

I’ll check out the JKLM site – thanks.

Incidentally, I really enjoyed your Gods Playground session. It’s way overtime for you to have a blog. You shouldn’t keep the reports to yourself. :)

]]> By: Michael Longdin http://cheyne.net/blog/2010/05/sceptre-of-zavandor/comment-page-1/#comment-36196 Michael Longdin Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:03:04 +0000 http://cheyne.net/blog/?p=671#comment-36196 If you get off to a poor start then it is hard to catch the leader. In the same way as a poor start in AoS makes it difficult to catch the leader. I don't mind this because it rewards good play. Out of interest, which character won. I'm guessing it was the Elf as this is often the leader at this point and is perhaps the easiest character to play. Outpost definitely has a runaway leader problem. Phoenecia is far too short to really develop any sort of strategy. SoZ sorts the runaway leader problem out and allows startegies to be developed over a period of time and is by far the most rewarding of the three. fyi JKLM has an on-line / pbem implementation of Phoenecia on it's interactive site. http://ellought.demon.co.uk/jklm/index.php If you get off to a poor start then it is hard to catch the leader. In the same way as a poor start in AoS makes it difficult to catch the leader. I don’t mind this because it rewards good play. Out of interest, which character won. I’m guessing it was the Elf as this is often the leader at this point and is perhaps the easiest character to play.

Outpost definitely has a runaway leader problem. Phoenecia is far too short to really develop any sort of strategy. SoZ sorts the runaway leader problem out and allows startegies to be developed over a period of time and is by far the most rewarding of the three.

fyi JKLM has an on-line / pbem implementation of Phoenecia on it’s interactive site. http://ellought.demon.co.uk/jklm/index.php

]]> By: Iain http://cheyne.net/blog/2010/05/sceptre-of-zavandor/comment-page-1/#comment-36194 Iain Fri, 04 Jun 2010 09:39:46 +0000 http://cheyne.net/blog/?p=671#comment-36194 In my single game, the positions did change temporarily in the run up to the finish as players saved for sentinels, but the final positions were the same as at the 45 minute mark. The second and third player positions _may_ have switched, but I can't remember. I doubt that it's a flaw in the game, but I take Rick's point that it will be tough to catch a leader. In my single game, the positions did change temporarily in the run up to the finish as players saved for sentinels, but the final positions were the same as at the 45 minute mark. The second and third player positions may have switched, but I can’t remember.

I doubt that it’s a flaw in the game, but I take Rick’s point that it will be tough to catch a leader.

]]> By: Michael Longdin http://cheyne.net/blog/2010/05/sceptre-of-zavandor/comment-page-1/#comment-36185 Michael Longdin Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:24:31 +0000 http://cheyne.net/blog/?p=671#comment-36185 I find it very surprising in SoZ that finishing positions were decided within the first 45 minutes. The nature of the set up favours some of the roles to start better than others and this would mean those roles always win which is certainly not the case as they seem pretty balanced all in all. This assymetric nature is what makes the game replayable. I find it very surprising in SoZ that finishing positions were decided within the first 45 minutes. The nature of the set up favours some of the roles to start better than others and this would mean those roles always win which is certainly not the case as they seem pretty balanced all in all. This assymetric nature is what makes the game replayable.

]]> By: Iain http://cheyne.net/blog/2010/05/sceptre-of-zavandor/comment-page-1/#comment-36184 Iain Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:39:29 +0000 http://cheyne.net/blog/?p=671#comment-36184 Got it. Yes, that sort of collusion isn't easy. Certainly in our game the finishing positions were set in the first 45 minutes. Got it. Yes, that sort of collusion isn’t easy. Certainly in our game the finishing positions were set in the first 45 minutes.

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