Slitherin: I have no idea how the scores are calculated. I am not entirely sure that Pontius's advice of submitting losing scores is actually good advice, but, Pontius has rarely been wrong so I'll try subitting the dozen or so losing games I have kept and see what happens.

And mates: HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE NEW SORTING MECHANISM FOR THE METAVERSE!!!! Are Stardock and Frogboy heroes or what! I can see a new tactic: let's OWN the small map ladder. (As at 9.30am Monday) Ralegh is 5, I am 14 and Space Wombat is 25. And small maps are heaps of fun to play! The only thing is that everyone will soon swamp Tiny and Small and one would be in danger of dropping 100 places in a weekend I would guess. What do you reckon? Come on, give Small a chance!

Two of the French secret service were captured in NZ and tried. Basically the Franch then gave NZ a lesson in big country versus little country diplomacy and we handed them back to the French (it was either that or get locked out of European trade) on the condition they serve their sentence in the Pacific. They stayed on an island for a couple of months, she fell pregnant and they both returned to heroes welcomes in France; decorated by the government etc etc. Not exactly a high point in French international relationships, but you can see why they dont see anything all that bad about Saddam Hussein now!!

There are *some* OK American beers, but in the main they are very much like making love in a canoe.

Thanks for the heads up re map size Chris - I've been playing small as it suits my time commitments. I doubt that I can 'own' anything, but I'll keep plugging away on small. Cheers!

Space Wombat mate, aren't you excited?? You are number 25 in the world!!*

*Note: 10.15 EST

/me tries to read all the other threads to catch up on the goss.

Wow, some people take the guild thing very seriously, huh? I used to run defence in a TF clan, but I never had to defend my keg from pirates there. I only do that in real life LOL


Heh, the hard-core ppl oughta try this: www.progressquest.com

Great MMORPG, free, less than a meg to download, and as much guild warfare as here...

double post - eep
[Message Edited]

Slitherin,

Map size is becoming less of a factor so as mentioned above. Smaller maps would definitely be coming into fad.

The scoring difference between difficulties seems also to be narrower. Crippling seems to be the most efficient to me (Reasonably difficult but gives high points).

Population effects would figure less in 1.04 than previous versions. Go for Military victories.

I'm a Sydneysider, and I shouldn't admit this, but I actually like the Melbourne brews. Carlton Draught, Cold, all that good stuff. Hey, at least Australian beer's got some real alcohol, and it's served cold. How many countries can honestly say that?
[Message Edited]

Greg: Now why would New Zealand be upset over the harpooning of two Greenpeace rubber rafts? I mean after all, it's the only French naval victory this century. You gotta give em one don't ya? I mean these old mercantile empires gotta think they have some semblence of their former glory.

Thanks Chris, I needed that!! I'll get stuck into it! LOL

TheQuack: It doesn't matter - I'm from Melb, and am actually partial to a Redback (which is W.A., I think).

Pontius: you are on VERY dangerous ground here........

Hey, are you any relation to Fatso the Fat-Arsed Wombat? (sniff) I love that guy, I really miss him.

Who says aussies don't have culture, hmm? Next time someone says that, I'll knock their block off

Ha! I'm not sporty enough to keep up with Fatso! Although, I am a bit of a muddle-headed wombat at times (now there's a childhood reference if anyone out there's old enough....)

Does TheQuack imply a medical connection?

Well, I have to say that the only Australian beer one can find in my part of America is Foster's. I tend to go out of my way not to drink American beer, so I guess I'll just have to loot the good, real regional beer from yer empire! ARR!

Seriously, though, you nice ANZAC people can tell me what I am missing. I mean, really, if I want Japanese beer, all I get is Sapporo. If it is Aussie, I only have Foster's. I have more Mexican beer choices than I do German, Irish, Australian, or Japanese. And for Chinese beer, I have to go to a specialty resturant. No wonder I am looting my beer!

(Gerakken leaves the enemy thread, drinking a German wine.)

The remedy is quite simple.
Just join the ANZACS

All our ships are 'wet'.

I'll say they are. That's because we filled em full of cannonshot and sunk em.

*Sigh* once again my dislike of beer freezes me out of the conversation. Now where's my Pinot?

Welcome TheQuack: can I be stupid and ask what 'TF' stands for?

And does Cataleptic have a social life at present? He hasn't played or posted for awhile.

Pontius, we seem to be compared to J4 by some or vice versa: check out J4's latest thread.

Haha I went to a bar here in DC that boaasted 500 different types of beer, including beers from such well known beer drinking nations as Colombia and Jamaice - but NO Aussie or Kiwi beer.

Fortunately I have made some friends at the embassy and so I can get a small supply of the "good stuff".

And Chris - dont even start me off on wine. In Virginia (where I live) it is ILLEGAL to transport more than a dozen bottles across the state line (this law is supposed to change soon, I think they found it was unconstitutional). Virginia wine (2nd best wine region in the US they claim) is mediocre at best; truly awful for a good part of it. Rampant generalisation ahead: Americans are not great wine drinkers, for most, wine comes as either "red" or "white". Mostly they drink it by the glass (as in just one glass) - it isnt uncommon to go out with 2 or 3 Americans and only have one bottle of wine for an entire meal!

You are not serious. Surely you mean 1 bottle of wine PER PERSON for an entire meal?? We've gotta get you out of there... You must be making big bikkies to suffer in Virginia.

Fortunately I get to go to Europe a lot, where they DO know how to have a proper meal

Chris - Only if I can be stupid and ask what "Pinot" stands for (some sort of wine, from, uh, somewhere. I think...)

TF = Team Fortress (mod for Half-Life). My modem was too laggy to do any sniping or offensive stuff, but I liked setting up explosive traps for people trying to grab my flag. That, or pull the pin, run up, and give them a nice bear hug. Ah, the good old days.

At least lag isn't a problem here.

Slitherin - I remember enough that I know I should remember who the muddle-headed wombat was, that's all.

No, no, no medical connection implied. Purely spiritual. We need pioneers to take his message to the stars.

Pinot Noir; it's a variety of wine; tends to be a nice smooth red.

Myself I like a big Aussie red - give me a cab sav any day

(actually not *any* day - I am in a period of abstinence due to SERIOUS over-indulgence on Saturday night....)

Greg: You need to take a trip clear across the country to the #1 wine region in the world. The good stuff comes from Napa/Sonoma/Mendocino. They all give tours and tastings. Ohhhhh boy that is a fun trip if you like wine.

I liked setting up explosive traps for people trying to grab my flag. That, or pull the pin, run up, and give them a nice bear hug.

Oh boy, oh boy. Hey TheQuack, have we got a job for you! The snappy sheep gambit was fruitless after they were fleeced, the ANZACs have pretty much all walked the plank, but there is one last strategy we could explosively employ.

Pontius: are the wine areas all near SanFran? I would like to have a holiday in the States soon and someone told me the wine area around there is great. I have only heard of Napa Valley though.

Hmm. Belay that TheQuack... the suggestion may be construed as in bad taste. :notsure:

Hmm. I suppose you're right. Shame...

Hang on, I just remembered something from Monty Python - the exploding animals! Is it still politically correct to do that nowadays? If not, I can just go back to rigging detpacks to kegs.

Oh, btw I'm happy with Quack, TheQuack's just a formal title

You're a genius. If you are Pure Evil, exploding rabbits is a heap of fun. And, G.R.O.S.S. love to round up the cute little critters for their "games". *Shudder* Maybe keep rigging the beer barrels AND put some bunnies on a leash and... Well I'll leave the details to you. Just a suggestion- there are now 2 heavy hitters in G.R.O.S.S., with Gerakken usually too tipsy to get any games in. Perhaps target You Know Who before He Who Shall Not Be Named.

I am on my way to be King Rat of the small maps with TWO entries. Love the scoring system now. And I tried out being Pure Evil and it felt GREAT. Drengin's loved me, but then put the knife in without warning after I started stacking combat transports and rangers next to their planets. Suppose that was unsubtle of me. Destroyed the suckers anyway. Only thing is the music for PE drives me crazy.