FTA solution?

[Robomajor]

Hi guys..
It´s my first post. I wanted to make a topic about this here since the disorder in the game balance is HUGE.
The current system makes the game unplayable for last players (say in a 8player game).
I was thinking of a solution - adding more army/troops to the players that are lower in the ladder.
Something as a startup boost, they would place it at the end of their turn as usual. This should make them stronger, more able to defend and actually PARTICIPATE on the battle and not just wait to be squished/surrender.

Let´s say the bonuses would go something like this:
1st player +0 army
2nd player +1 army
3rd player +1 army
4th player +2 army
5th player +2 army
6th player +3 army
7th player +3 army
8th player +4 army.

I say that makes the eighth player way to overpowering. Just imagine if they had the cap raised as well as this. This would make versing them WAY to difficult. :S

[techgump]

I think we need to break the two issues down separately and first weigh in on how much each of the two advantages are worth.
these two separate advantages being:

1. 1st picks in starting location
2. People going first naturally have more men than the later.

To me, #2 is far more of an advantage in general than the first. In other words, I can be in a bad location or good location and generally still win if I go first. Therefor, the ability to have a MAN advantage generally far outweighs any starting location advantage.

Hence, the real issue in my opinion is the number of men first player have over later players during the initial 3-4 rounds. I believe lotusmonk, as I have posted similar before, is on a more correct path. The issue is how to compensate for man discrepancy. Allowing for last users to pick location first will not alone off-set that.

[Lopdo]

not this discussion again

[techgump]

haha, we are only trying to help make it better.

[lotusmonk]

thanks for acknowledging this fact techgump.
I was just trying to point out the problem and offer a suggestion that might or might not work.
I´m playing this for about 3-4 days but it´s becoming clear that if the FTA is not dealt with the game can be called "FirstPlayerWinsWars"
In all tactical board/card games that have tournament play there is some sort of a fix to this - two CCG from the top of my head:
Magic the Gathering - first player doesn´t draw a card at the start - quite limiting the array of hurt he can inflict
Warhammer Invasion - first player cannot attack first turn, he doesn´t draw cards as well - self explanatory

[Norman Bates]

Let´s say the bonuses would go something like this:
1st player +0 army
2nd player +1 army
3rd player +1 army
4th player +2 army
5th player +2 army
6th player +3 army
7th player +3 army
8th player +4 army.

If this were to happen, 8th would have the biggest advantage, because it wouldn't matter who you attack first, you would beat them. I think 8th should get 2 extra at the maximum.

[lotusmonk]

That´s true though.
So either give him the reinforcements *over the course of few turns*
(eg. First 4 turns he gets 1 additional army/troops/stack)
OR
make them unable to attack the first few (2) turns (defense and empty region conquering would remain the same).

[Lopdo]

how about last half of players get +1 troops in first turn?

[1N5AN3]

It would be nice.

[lotusmonk]

That sounds reasonable. In any case, when you try it out, we´ll see how it goes.
I guess you have a good enough feedback from the players through this forum