(s10H(s0B&d@(s0S INITIAL SETUP INFORMATION FOR THE: SORCERER 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: BEING THE SORCEROR IN THE SECOND CYCLE OF MAGIC ISN'T HALF BAD. CLEARLY, MAGIC WILL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE ELEMENT, ESPECIALLY SEEING AS THE MILITARIES ARE GENERALLY SMALLER, AND POLITICAL ACTIVITIES MORE DIFFICULT. THE ONE DRAWBACK IS THAT MAGIC RESEARCH IS ALWAYS EXPENSIVE, BUT THE COSTS TO THE SORCEROR ARE AMONG THE LOWEST. THE SORCEROR KING OFTEN COVETS A FORMIDABLE CITADEL TO HOUSE HIS KING. GIVEN TIME TO DEVELOP, THE SORCEROR CAN OVERCOME THE RELATIVE POVERTY OF HIS STARTING POSITION AND RISE TO DOMINANCE. SPECIAL RULES FOR THE SORCERER KINGDOM: THE SORCEROR, AS A WIZARD-NAMED KINGDOM, ENJOYS AN ENVIABLE ADVANTAGE IN THE AREA OF FOCUS IN THIS SCENARIO: MAGIC. WITH SUPERIOR SPELL LISTS AND VERY LOW MAGIC RESEARCH COSTS, NO OTHER SPECIAL RULES OR RESTRICTIONS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THE KINGDOM. (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 CITY, HAVE A WIZARD PLUS AT LEAST ONE OTHER ARTIFACT, AND NO KINGDOM HAS A HIGHER POWER WIZARD AND YOU WILL GAIN: A POWER-2 WIZARD, A POINT OF INFLUENCE, A DUKE, AND 35,000 FOOD AND GOLD. SECRET VICTORY CONDITION: YOU SHOULD MAKE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO KEEP THIS BIT OF INFORMATION SECRET: WIN IF ANYTIME AFTER TURN 18 NO KINGDOM HAS A HIGHER POWER WIZARD THAN YOUR HIGHEST, YOU CONTROL 3 REGIONS, YOU POSSESS A WIZARD AND A KING CLASS ARTIFACT, AND CONTROL EITHER THE CITY OF ZABZANKA OR VIPERHEAD. (s12H(s0B&d@(s0STEAM VICTORY CONDITION THE SORCERER 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 GNOME 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 1164 THE KING HAS A BAD HEART WHICH ACTS UP IN PERIODS OF CRISIS. Major 1990 THE KING HAS RECENTLY SUFFERED ACUTE AMNESIA. HE IS NOT CERTAIN OF ANY OF HIS PAST. Minor 7813 THE KING HAS HEMATOPHOBIA: HE IS AFRAID OF BLOOD. (s10H(s0B&d@(s0S SORCERER GROUP DOSSIER: (s12H(s0B&d@(s0SÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ EACH SORCERER FULL STRENGTH BRIGADE CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING TROOPS: INFANTRY CALVERY ARCHERS 1100 LIGHT INFANTRY 100 LIGHT CAVALRY 200 SKIRMISHERS 400 MEDIUM INFANTRY 0 MEDIUM CAVALRY 200 BOWMEN 0 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 SORCERER VETERANS RECRUITS PLAINS 5.0 0% 0% -25% FOREST 7.0 -10% 0% -25% MOUNTAINS 9.0 -10% 0% -25% DESERT 8.0 0% 0% -25% MARSH 8.0 0% 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 1800 ** 5 2 ** 10 3 GOLD 1700 ** 15 1 ** 20 1 ** ** 25 1 ** ** ** (s12H(s0B&d@(s0SÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ MAGIC POTENTIAL: MAXIMUM ASSURED POWER LEVEL ATTAINABLE- 9 GOLD UNIT COST PER RESEARCH LEVEL- 8500 (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 SORCERER KINGDOM: POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS KING'S INFLUENCE GOOD LOCAL REGIONAL REACTION LEVELS GOOD EXPANSION AREA REGIONAL REACTIONS GOOD NUMBER OF HIGH-RANKING EMISSARIES BELOW AVERAGE TOTAL POLITICAL EMISSARY STRENGTH POOR SPECIAL POLITICAL ABILITIES BELOW AVERAGE SUMMARY EVALUATION AVERAGE MILITARY CONSIDERATIONS NUMBER OF BRIGADES GOOD INDIVIDUAL BRIGADE STRENGTH POOR REINFORCEMENT SCHEDULE GOOD QUALITY OF LEADERS VERY POOR MOVEMENT ABILITIES BELOW AVERAGE SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS POOR SEA POWER POOR SUMMARY EXCLUDING SEAPOWER POOR ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS INITIAL FOOD AND GOLD STOCKPILES BELOW AVERAGE BEGINNING FOOD PRODUCTION AVERAGE BEGINNING GOLD PRODUCTION AVERAGE POPULATION CENTERS' DEFENSE LEVELS AVERAGE GEOGRAPHIC POSITION GOOD TROOP MAINTENANCE COSTS EXCELLENT SPECIAL CAPABILITIES AVERAGE OVERALL ECONOMIC PICTURE AVERAGE ESOTERIC AND COVERT MATTERS ASSURED MAGIC LIMIT EXCELLENT RESEARCH COST EXCELLENT NUMBER OF WIZARDS AND ADEPTS EXCELLENT INITIAL POWER OF WIZARDS EXCELLENT AGENT POTENTIAL GOOD INITIAL NUMBER & QUALITY OF AGENTS GOOD SPECIAL COVERT CONSIDERATIONS AVERAGE SUMMARY OF MATTERS ESOTERIC AND COVERT EXCELLENT