All my opponents started in the Undergound

[Orphalesion]

Okay, so earlier today I started a game to finally try out how that World Seals victory works. I set up a relatively small game (3 opponents) and I actually selected Small Underground as one of the Realm Traits.

Then I started the game and as I often do I set out Scouts to the four corners of the map to what and whom I find. And they travelled turn after turn, and all they found was pristine, uninhabited wilderness...As I got close to exploring the whole map I started to wonder how many of the opponents would spawn in the Underground.

And well...all three Factions I ended up running into are factions with Underground Adaptation. Every single one, and they only came above ground pretty late.

Is this normal? I thought the number of Underground factions for most maps was set at about 1/3 of all factions?

 

[Wyrd Deofol]

Okay, so earlier today I started a game to finally try out how that World Seals victory works. I set up a relatively small game (3 opponents) and I actually selected Small Underground as one of the Realm Traits.

Then I started the game and as I often do I set out Scouts to the four corners of the map to what and whom I find. And they travelled turn after turn, and all they found was pristine, uninhabited wilderness...As I got close to exploring the whole map I started to wonder how many of the opponents would spawn in the Underground.

And well...all three Factions I ended up running into are factions with Underground Adaptation. Every single one, and they only came above ground pretty late.

Is this normal? I thought the number of Underground factions for most maps was set at about 1/3 of all factions?

Underground start perhaps?

 

[Orphalesion]

Underground start perhaps?

Good idea, but can't be, since I still started above ground. I literally had the whole obove-ground map to myself. I ended up deleting the game since it was too easy (just put a scout on each entrance to the underworld and the opponents are trapped in their small underground pockets)

I guess it was just a really weird coincidence?

 

[Blanch Warren]

I wouldn't say it's normal since you're the only person here whose ever reported it. I think some have noticed before that it can half of opponents, but not all.

 

[Leyrann]

Sounds like a matter of chance to me.

If one out of three factions is underground on average, then 1/3*1/3*1/3=1/27 games with 3 opponents all three of them start underground.

Also, if the game becomes too easy if you just put scouts on the underground passages... you could just play with the house rule that you don't use said somewhat exploit-y strategy.

 

[Orphalesion]

Sounds like a matter of chance to me.

If one out of three factions is underground on average, then 1/3*1/3*1/3=1/27 games with 3 opponents all three of them start underground.

Also, if the game becomes too easy if you just put scouts on the underground passages... you could just play with the house rule that you don't use said somewhat exploit-y strategy.

So it was just a really rare random occurrence? Cool.

And yes, I know, I should have done that. But the temptation was always there and the very knowledge that I can bottle all my opponents with just a handful of scouts already ruined the fun for me.
I really wish they'd bring back the feature from the older games where armies on different levels of the Underground entrance could fight each other. That would remove this exploit and my subterranean opponents could have fought their way to freedom.

 

[Mammoet]

I really wish they'd bring back the feature from the older games where armies on different levels of the Underground entrance could fight each other.

I think they can... can't they? Just doesn't pull in any other armies I think. Also might be the AI doesn't know about it

 

[Orphalesion]

I think they can... can't they? Just doesn't pull in any other armies I think. Also might be the AI doesn't know about it

Hmmm interesting. I don't really play MP, so I wouldn't know. But really the AI should be changed to know it.

 

[Wyrd Deofol]

I think they can... can't they? Just doesn't pull in any other armies I think. Also might be the AI doesn't know about it

Yes they can.

 

[Mammoet]

I don't really play MP

Me neither

 

[Thiend]

I think they can... can't they? Just doesn't pull in any other armies I think. Also might be the AI doesn't know about it

It definitely can, I've had it do that. Perhaps they can't declare war without units in the same layer? Like they need to have something within X tiles of something of yours, but different layers don't count?

 

[Orphalesion]

It definitely can, I've had it do that. Perhaps they can't declare war without units in the same layer? Like they need to have something within X tiles of something of yours, but different layers don't count?

That could be it. Hmmm I should have waited until that Dwarf got angry enough at me for building a city near his cave entrance.

 

[Ferrus Animus]

I have seen the same thing recently.

First game after Primal Fury had all 6 of the random AIs start in the underground, with being the only aboveground start and no setting to make them.
The second game after had only 1 of 3 AIs start underground, so probalby normal RNG.