(s10H(s0B&d@(s0S INITIAL SETUP INFORMATION FOR THE: GNOME KINGDOM GAME 3, SECOND CYCLE OF MAGIC GENERAL NOTES Congratulations, my Liege, on leading our people into this new Age. Only the most brilliant of our allies and adversaries have met your level of achievement. Now they stand to aid or hinder us in our greatest challenge yet: to regain the might of the kingdom as it was before the Humans imposed their sufferance, and then rise again to new heights, reshaping all Alamaze in the mold of our ways. This task will be more difficult in every way than were our earlier travails. The Humans now control each city, and have strengthened their defenses well above prior norms, so that military conquest will prove difficult. In addition, their citizens are more difficult to move politically. Their outlawing of magic means research will be more expensive. Our economies are not as productive due to their high tariffs. Trade with other kings will most likely be more vital than ever. New powers are rumored to have formed in the land, such as we have not before encountered. Even the kingdoms with which we were familiar have, in their isolation, developed new methods of accentuating their strengths. All the artifacts of which we once knew have been lost or hidden by the Humans, yet new legends of powerful items never before uncovered have surfaced in the centuries since the last Age. Five strong unions have formed among the races subjugated by the Humans. Our Kingdom is a cornerstone in one of these. Working closely with our allies in planning against our mutual enemies will be more important than such strategy was to your noble ancestors. In addition, two more loosely aligned confederations have formed, each comprised of two of the unions. Such confederations may well work toward an epic victory, and we must give consideration to what roll our kingdom will play in such grand plans. Because of all these things, my Liege, I would advise more caution than your bold nature might otherwise dictate. All matters of thy kingdom will require greater planning and strategy. More than ever, early miscalculations must be avoided. Yet I have no doubts that your wisdom will again lead us to victory, oh Great King! KINGDOM SPECIFIC NOTES: THE GNOMES HAVE SEVERAL HIGHLY DESIREABLE ATTRIBUTES AT WORK FOR THEM. THESE INCLUDE A VERY SOUND GEOGRAPHICAL TERRITORY, RICH POPULATION CENTERS, AND A HIGH PROFICIENCY FOR MAGIC. IN ADDITION, THEY ENJOY SOMETHING OF A "SLEEPER" ROLE, AS FEW KINGS WILL BE AS CONCERNED WITH CURTAILING THE GNOME'S ACTIVITIES AS THEY WILL BE WITH SEVERAL OTHERS. YOUR RICH GOLD FLOW WILL ALLOW YOU THE MAGICAL RESEARCH THAT WILL BE NEEDED TO BOLSTER YOUR OTHERWISE WEAK TROOPS, OR MIGHT BE APPLIED TO STRENGTHEN THE GNOME'S POLITICAL CLOUT. ALL IN ALL, THE GNOMES WOULD APPEAR TO HAVE AN EXCELLENT CHANCE FOR VICTORY. SPECIAL RULES FOR THE GNOME KINGDOM: THE GNOMES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN INCREASING THEIR WEALTH. THEIR ADVICE ON ECONOMIC MATTERS AND THEIR BUSINESS PRACTICES ARE WELL REGARDED. AS SUCH, WHENEVER ANY KINGDOM ISSUES AN ORDER TO INCREASE GOLD PRODUCTION AT A POPULATION CENTER, THE GNOME KINGDOM WILL RECEIVE 500 GOLD PER ISSUANCE. SUCH AMOUNTS WILL APPEAR IN THE ECONOMIC REPORT UNDER GOLD FROM OTHER SOURCES. GNOMISH EMISSARIES ARE ESPECIALLY CRAFTY, IF NOT PARTICULARILY CHARISMATIC. AS SUCH, THEY RECEIVE A 15% BONUS WHEN ORDERED TO INCITE REBELLION (ORDER #320). IN ADDITION, IF THEY ARE HELD AS PRISONERS, THEY MAY ATTEMPT TO FREE THEMSELVES THROUGH A SPECIAL ORDER: #385- ESCAPE. JUST PUT THE EMISSARY'S ABBREVIATION IN COLUMN A. THERE IS A 33% CHANCE THE EMISSARY WILL FREE HIMSELF IN THIS WAY. GNOMES ARE ADEPT AT CONCEALING THEMSELVES IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. BECAUSE OF THIS, WHENEVER A GNOME GROUP ENDS ITS MOVEMENT IN A MOUNTAIN AREA, IT WILL MASK ITS SIZE AUTOMATICALLY, WITHOUT REQUIRING THE USE OF A SPELL OR ORDER. (s10H(s0B&d@(s0S YOUR FIRST GROUP BEGINS AS YOUR MOST POWERFUL AND IMPORTANT GROUP. IN ADDITION, SHOULD YOU EARN YOUR ESO OR QUALIFY FOR AN APPEAL TO THE GODS (EPIC GAME ONLY) THERE ARE POSSIBLE AWARDS THAT ONLY GO INTO YOUR FIRST GROUP (SEE GENERAL RULES). (s12H(s0B&d@(s0S EARLY STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE: CONTROL AT LEAST ONE REGION AND A PC IN THE TALKING MOUNTAINS AND YOU WILL GAIN: A POWER-2 WIZARD, THE LOCATION OF THE PORTAL FROM RUNNIMEDE TO THE TALKING MOUNTAINS, TWO GNOME BRIGADES, A PRINCE, AND A WARLORD. SECRET VICTORY CONDITION: YOU SHOULD MAKE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO KEEP THIS BIT OF INFORMATION SECRET: WIN BY HAVING AT LEAST FOUR EMISSARIES OF RANK DUKE/DUCHESS OR PRINCE/PRINCESS, BEING SUBSTANTIAL OR BETTER IN AT LEAST FOUR REGIONS, OWNING AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT CLASSES OF ARTIFACTS, HAVING AN ACTIVE AGENT/FANATIC OF LEVEL-9 OR HIGHER AND AN INFLUENCE OF AT LEAST 21. (s12H(s0B&d@(s0STEAM VICTORY CONDITION THE GNOME KINGDOM IS PART OF THE SECRET SOCIETY. YOU MAY CLAIM A TEAM VICTORY IN THE SECOND CYCLE OF MAGIC IF YOUR KINGDOM, TOGETHER WITH YOUR TWO TEAMED KINGDOMS, CONTROL SEVEN OF THE TEN REGIONS OF ALAMAZE. JOINING YOUR KINGDOM ON THE SECRET SOCIETY ARE THE SORCERER AND THE RED DRAGON. EPIC VICTORY CONDITION THE DARK EMPIRE AND THE CULT OF CHAOS TOGETHER FORM THE SINISTER LEAGUE. THE GUARDIANS OF TRUTH AND THE ORDER OF JUSTICE COMBINE TO FORM THE REALMS OF LIGHT. IF EITHER THE REALMS OD LIGHT OR THE SINISTER LEAGUE CONTROL 9 REGIONS AT A TURN'S END. EACH KINGDOM IN THE WINNING SIDE WILL RECEIVE 2000 BONUS STATUS POINTS AND WIN THE CAMPAIGN. HOWEVER IF NEITHER OF THESE EPIC ALLIANCES ACHIEVES EPIC VICTORY PRIOR TO TURN 30, AND NO OTHER POWER HAS ACHIEVED VICTORY, THEN THE SECRET SOCIETY WINS, PROVIDED IT CONTROLS AT LEAST TWO REGIONS. IN WHICH CASE EACH OF ITS MEMBERS RECEIVE 3000 STATUS POINTS. *** SKELETONS *** The following skeletons, if revealed, will have detrimental impact on your influence and on regional reaction in some regions. (s10H(s0B&d@(s0STYPE CODE DESCRIPTION Minor 5624 THE KING WEARS A MAGICALLY CRAFTED MASK TO HIDE HIS UGLINESS. Major 7548 THE KING HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THE ASSASSINATION OF HIS FATHER. Minor 9982 THE QUEEN HAS A SERIOUS DRUG DEPENDANCY. (s10H(s0B&d@(s0S GNOME GROUP DOSSIER: (s12H(s0B&d@(s0SÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ EACH GNOME FULL STRENGTH BRIGADE CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING TROOPS: INFANTRY CALVERY ARCHERS 400 LIGHT INFANTRY 0 LIGHT CAVALRY 100 SKIRMISHERS 1000 MEDIUM INFANTRY 200 MEDIUM CAVALRY 200 BOWMEN 100 HEAVY INFANTRY 0 HEAVY CAVALRY 0 EXPERT ARCHERS 0 GUARDS INFANTRY 0 ELITE CAVALRY 0 HORSE ARCHERS EACH BRIGADE OF RECRUITED TROOPS (RECRUITS OR VETERANS) CONSISTS OF: 1000 LIGHT INFANTRY 0 LIGHT CAVALRY 0 SKIRMISHERS 800 MEDIUM INFANTRY 100 MEDIUM CAVALRY 100 BOWMEN 0 HEAVY INFANTRY 0 HEAVY CAVALRY 0 EXPERT ARCHERS 0 GUARDS INFANTRY 0 ELITE CAVALRY 0 HORSE ARCHERS (s12H(s0B&d@(s0SÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ TERRAIN COMBAT ADJUSTMENT: MOVEMENT TERRAIN TYPE: POINT COST GNOME VETERANS RECRUITS PLAINS 5.0 0% 0% -25% FOREST 7.0 0% 0% -25% MOUNTAINS 5.0 15% 0% -25% DESERT 7.0 5% 0% -25% MARSH 8.0 -10% 0% -25% SEA 5.0 * * * Vs. POP CENTERS * 5% 0% -25% NOTE: VETERANS AND RECRUITS FIGHT WITH THE SAME VALUES IN ALL KINGDOMS. THEY MOVE ACCORDING TO THE KINGDOM'S MOVEMENT TABLE. THEY CONSUME FOOD AND GOLD AT THE SAME RATE AS THE KINGDOM-NAMED BRIGADES. GROUPS AT SEA FIGHT ACCORDING TO FLEET NUMBERS AND QUALITY IN THAT SEA. (s12H(s0B&d@(s0SÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ RESOURCE CONSUMPTION ** REINFORCEMENT SCHEDULE: PER BRIGADE: ** _________________________** ** TURN # BRIGADES ** FOOD 2000 ** 5 2 ** 10 2 GOLD 2000 ** 15 2 ** 20 2 ** ** 25 2 ** ** ** (s12H(s0B&d@(s0SÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ MAGIC POTENTIAL: MAXIMUM ASSURED POWER LEVEL ATTAINABLE- 6 GOLD UNIT COST PER RESEARCH LEVEL- 9000 (s12H(s0B&d@(s0SÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ NOTES ON THE SUBJECTIVE RATINGS FOR THE SECOND CYCLE: Over fifty criteria which comprise the characteristics of each Kingdom have been evaluated in designing and balancing the Second Cycle. Exactly where your Kingdom falls along many of these lines will be divulged below. Much of the work which went into the second cycle involved balancing the potential of each Kingdom. The ratings will be broken down into several elements of play, with a numeric rating converted into a subjective phrase. These rating phrases were arrived at by establishing a mean and standard deviation for each criteria, and then assigning the appropriate phrase. Throughout, the following scale is used: SUPERIOR 1.75+ STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE MEAN EXCELLENT 1.00+ STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE MEAN GOOD .40+ STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE MEAN AVERAGE 39+ to .39- BELOW AVERAGE .40- STANDARD DEVIATIONS BELOW MEAN POOR 1.00- STANDARD DEVIATIONS BELOW MEAN VERY POOR 1.75- STANDARD DEVIATIONS BELOW MEAN What this is intended to relate to you is that there is no "puffing" of any ratings: if you have a superior rating in some area, another King almost certainly has a VERY POOR rating there. On the other hand, if you think your Kingdom looks horrible in a certain area, yet it's evaluation is BELOW AVERAGE (rather than VERY POOR), then you should be clued to reevaluate your perception of the strength of other Kingdoms in this area (ie, they probably are not as strong as you suspected). For each area, take the rating for "Summary" with a grain of salt. It will involve some weighting of the factors in that category, but could give a misleading final evaluation. For example, in the military section, a Kingdom whose troops are quite good in combat may be summarized as only average miltarily because of poor movement capabilities and light reinforcements. In any case, the evaluations are only intended to allow you to frame your Kingdom's beginning characteristics against those of the other Kings. SUBJECTIVE RATINGS FOR THE GNOME KINGDOM: POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS KING'S INFLUENCE AVERAGE LOCAL REGIONAL REACTION LEVELS EXCELLENT EXPANSION AREA REGIONAL REACTIONS BELOW AVERAGE NUMBER OF HIGH-RANKING EMISSARIES AVERAGE TOTAL POLITICAL EMISSARY STRENGTH AVERAGE SPECIAL POLITICAL ABILITIES GOOD SUMMARY EVALUATION AVERAGE MILITARY CONSIDERATIONS NUMBER OF BRIGADES GOOD INDIVIDUAL BRIGADE STRENGTH BELOW AVERAGE REINFORCEMENT SCHEDULE AVERAGE QUALITY OF LEADERS POOR MOVEMENT ABILITIES BELOW AVERAGE SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS AVERAGE SEA POWER BELOW AVERAGE SUMMARY EXCLUDING SEAPOWER BELOW AVERAGE ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS INITIAL FOOD AND GOLD STOCKPILES GOOD BEGINNING FOOD PRODUCTION BELOW AVERAGE BEGINNING GOLD PRODUCTION EXCELLENT POPULATION CENTERS' DEFENSE LEVELS AVERAGE GEOGRAPHIC POSITION EXCELLENT TROOP MAINTENANCE COSTS AVERAGE SPECIAL CAPABILITIES GOOD OVERALL ECONOMIC PICTURE EXCELLENT ESOTERIC AND COVERT MATTERS ASSURED MAGIC LIMIT GOOD RESEARCH COST GOOD NUMBER OF WIZARDS AND ADEPTS GOOD INITIAL POWER OF WIZARDS AVERAGE AGENT POTENTIAL GOOD INITIAL NUMBER & QUALITY OF AGENTS GOOD SPECIAL COVERT CONSIDERATIONS GOOD SUMMARY OF MATTERS ESOTERIC AND COVERT GOOD