The Dustbin

[PepeSlitherine]

Thanks Pete! I hope to play the next Digital League too.

[gamercb]

Thanks for all the hard work Pete.

Despite the trashings I received in my battles it was funny playing all the different armies.

[Najanaja]

As always, an exemplary job by Pete. And some very sensible leadership through the cheating debate.

[SimonLancaster]

Good job with all the new players, dropouts and the cheating scandal. Looking forward to October.

[CONSTANTINIX]

What is nice to see is that changes to certain armies changed their records dramatically between pre-nerf and post-nerf making them quite normal. One that has for some reason got through under the radar is the later Arab Conquest army. The undrilled, superior, protected veteran spear are very cheap and the reason for its above average record to date. Any chance we could increase the cost of those veteran spear?

For having played the Arab conquest army, I can only confirm that the veteran muslim spearmen unit is cheap for what it does, strong unit by itself and capable of enduring heavy punishment for several turns if outclassed (rarely) or outnumbered due to their high moral . And you have 13 of them in a large army selection : to meditate ...

[pompeytheflatulent]

I think what makes the later Arab Conquest army shine is the supporting arms: A strong wing of cavalry and two veteran dalami foot. Take the earlier Arab Conquest army in a historical match-up against Arab (City) with its 36 point lancer spam, and the limitations of just having veteran muslim spearmen becomes painfully obvious. If you just HAD to nerf veteran muslim spearmen though, the easiest way would be to go the route of hirdsmen - 60 points, some armor(about a third of the way between protected and armored I believe).

[pompeytheflatulent]

Another way of looking at things: match a 54 point veteran muslim spear against a 36 point defensive spear, the veteran muslim spear costs 50% more points, with a 25% win, 5% lose chance each impact and melee. Doesn't seem so game-breakingly overpowered now does it? And with enough units engaging, some of the veteran muslim spears will inevitably roll that 5% lose chance. (Or if you are really unlucky like Sennacherib this season, have a veteran muslim spear straight up lose a one-on-one fight with an average shieldwall).

[Stefano63]

Many, many thanks for your great job.

Ciao

XLegione/Stefano63

[DanZanzibar]

Thanks Pete from another new player to the league. I enjoyed it a lot and appreciate the work you put in. I know it’s not a little.

[Doyley50]

Many thanks for all the effort you put into the tournament to make it such a great success.

[stockwellpete]

Here is the schedule for Season 9. The basic league format will be exactly the same (e.g. 10 players per division, players choosing 4 armies etc), except for the Biblical section. We will be trialing pantherboy's suggestion of giving players a choice between 1200pt or 1600pt armies in the Early Middle Ages section with a view to rolling it out right across the FOG2DL in Season 10 . . .

Season 9 (starting October 1st 2020)

Classical Antiquity – all matches 1600pts

Late Antiquity – all matches 1600pts

Early Middle Ages – either 1200pts or 1600pts, default is 1200pts

Biblical – will be reorganised into divisions of 6 players, playing paired games, consisting of historical match-ups chosen by myself based on the Rise of Persia module, all matches 1200pts. No TT Mod armies will be used.

Themed Event – hoplite warfare, all matches 1600pts - this will possibly be the last themed event and it will be replaced as soon as High Middle Ages becomes available, hopefully in time for Season 10.


The provisional schedule for Season 10 (starting February 1st 2021) looks like this, provided the 1200/1600pt trial is successful in Season 9

Classical Antiquity – either 1200pts or 1600pts, default is 1600pts

Late Antiquity – historically themed with a restricted choice of armies, either 1200pts or 1600pts, default is 1600pts

Early Middle Ages - either 1200pts or 1600pts, default is 1200pts

Biblical – 6 players per division continues, either 1200pts or 1600pts, default is 1200pts

High Middle Ages - either 1200pts or 1600pts, default is 1200pts. This is provided we are able to open this section, otherwise the Themed Event will continue for one more season.

Please note, in addition, from Season 9 onwards players will not be able to choose any army or allies that they have used in a previous season and players will be discouraged from surrendering matches prematurely when the scores between the two players is less than 15%.

[Swuul]

Please note, in addition, from Season 9 onwards players will not be able to choose any army that they have used in a previous season and players will be discouraged from surrendering matches prematurely when the scores between the two players is less than 15%.

I like the idea! However, is there a "cool-down" or something, so that you can choose the same army for example after five or ten seasons (else, presuming there will be dozens of seasons still, eventually one will run out of armies from which to choose)?

Also, if an army was chosen in the past with an ally, can that combo be selected in reverse order? As an example, I have played Samnites with Etruscan allies, could I choose Etruscans with Samnite allies in the future?

[stockwellpete]

I like the idea! However, is there a "cool-down" or something, so that you can choose the same army for example after five or ten seasons (else, presuming there will be dozens of seasons still, eventually one will run out of armies from which to choose)?

Just the next season. I won't have time to check everyone's selections going further back than that.

Also, if an army was chosen in the past with an ally, can that combo be selected in reverse order? As an example, I have played Samnites with Etruscan allies, could I choose Etruscans with Samnite allies in the future?

Not the Samnites or the Etruscans as the main army or as the allies in the next season.

[kronenblatt]

I like the idea too.

Question though: How strict is the "army" definition? Truly army list or wider?

Let's say I had Roman 199-106 BC previous season, can I then have Roman 219-200 BC this season? Or does it make all Roman armies in that section/era unavailable to me?

[stockwellpete]

I like the idea too.

Question though: How strict is the "army" definition? Truly army list or wider?

Let's say I had Roman 199-106 BC previous season, can I then have Roman 219-200 BC this season? Or does it make all Roman armies in that section/era unavailable to me?

No, all Roman armies will be ineligible for you. You will be told in the instructions to choose an army from a different nation each season and I will give some examples too, because it can get confusing with some armies e.g. Arab early medieval or Viking/Viking Ireland. Before the season starts I will provide clarification.

[stockwellpete]

Here are the new Biblical Tables and charts designed by Anders (hidde) . . .

Biblical A-F Tables Paired Games.jpg (441.36 KiB) Viewed 1890 times

Biblical A-F Charts Paired Games.jpg (497.72 KiB) Viewed 1890 times

[random27]

Thanks ,pete , i ve found in this league all what i love in sports
Count on me for next season

[Karvon]

If the default is 1600 but I've opted for 1200, does that mean I have to play 1600 if that's my opponent's preference?

[stockwellpete]

If the default is 1600 but I've opted for 1200, does that mean I have to play 1600 if that's my opponent's preference?

Yes.

[Cunningcairn]

Thanks Pete that sounds great. I will have to rethink my options for armies with the new point allocations. It's like a new game