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yammahoper -> RE: OK, I've added a bid field! (7/22/2004 1:59:33 AM)
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Aftre our first few times playing EiA, we gave up on bidding and eiher drew from a hat or bid on each nation using 0ne through seven. People who bid the same roled for resolution.
Bidding does not need to be used at all. It certainly is not intended to be an intricate part of the game, though if people bid high, it would become so. I have never seen a bid over 40, which was for Russia, and Russia both won that game and became the first non dominant power to achieve dominace (our dreaded Russian/French alliance game, won by the man who introduced us to the game of Eia, and always a brilliant player). The way the required victory point totals vary from nation to nation (330 for Aus, 400 for Fra, 370 for GB, 320 for Pru, 325 for Sp, 335 for Ru and 315 for Tu) means diferent levels of aggression and terms of peace can be handled. France needs to stay at war almost continually to win (there are 40 eco phases in the game over the 10 years, and VP's are only awarded then, so Fr needs 10 each phase to simply stay in the running...for those who have not played the game, the Political Status table is self adjusting. The higher you are up the table via winning battles and wars then the further you fall during the adjustment phase, and will continue to fall untill in the nuetral zone, where 7 VP an eco phase is the rule).
Quick math will show what a nation needs to average to win in ten years, though I have never seen a game last the full 120 months before someone won. When to declare war, when to win battles, when to gain the political points for conquering Minor Nations, when to gain a few points with an alliance...all relate to political staus and the earning of VP. Go on a hot run of 15 to 13 VP a phase for four to seven phases and you take a nice lead, and even TURKEY can do this. In fact, Turkeys lead becomes even larger because of the reduced points needed to win. The answer if this occurs? Have Austria of GB beat up Turkey! Anyway, I have seen every nation except Spain and Prussia win (Spain was usually an UMP in our table top games).
BTW, all these VP totals to win assume you are using the ability to manipulate your economy for more money and manpower, which results in a negative adjustment on the Political Status Table (but gives extra money and manpower for building stuff as you super heat your economy), or slow your economy and loose money and man power, which results in a positive adjustment on the Political Status Table (as you spend more money on your nations infrastructure and less on the war machine). With this rule, nations like Turkey, Spain, Prussia, Russia and Austria can battle their way into the Dominant Zone on the Political Status table, gaining 9 VP an eco phase minimum, and STAY there without fighting at all, just manipulating there economy. The nations on the fringe of the map, like Turkey, Spain and RUssia, can use this tactic most effectively, fighting a few minor nations, conquering them, then sitting back, negative manipulate thier economys, and build their armies. Sooner or later, France or GB will HAVE to come for them, typically by (if France) bum rushing them, or (if GB) paying an ally to to it for you.
yamma
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