StarCraft: Shadow of the Xel'Naga - Day 7

[Zar Peter]

Yeah, Zombie Pixe!
My assimilated villager! Go for gold!!!!

[Zombie pixe]

haha, ZP if you had a mantle, I think it was passed to another ZP this game

Lets not get my hopes up just yet, there is a very large probability that he did not have the artifact, or that a villager passed it to a protoss.

[Eita]

The villagers awoke, quaking in fear. They all knew what had transpired that night. Another of their number was dead, killed by the Zerg if the screams were any indication. All were filled with incredible dread as the Marines brought the dead body into the town square. Instantly, they knew who the Zerg had killed. Hap_hazard was dead. It was later revealed that he was the keeper of a great and powerful artifact, which was taken from him at his death.

Of course, none of the villagers knew it at the time, and even upon their grisly deaths still had not learned that grisly knowledge. Revelation to those higher-up the chain of power however learned quite quickly.

As one, the Protoss thought one thought, prompted by a surge of power greater then most had felt before. We have run out of time. The Zerg have succeeded. Brothers, you know what we must do. Moving as if choreographed, the Protoss Strike Force revealed itself, letting their disguises fall.

The Terran Marines prepared to open fire, before another revelation revealed itself. Zombie Pixie, last of the brood burst forth from his... borrowed skin. He looked like a monster from the depths of hell, and lodged within his chest, granting him immense power was the Xel'Naga Crystal.

Immediately, the forces of the Dominion opened fire. The enigmatic Protoss however stood their ground, trembling with fear. It is worse then we imagined... To the fleet we must go. The storm has yet to clear, but the aliens had one other way back home. A small warp gate, that led only to the Carrier group.

They almost made it.

The lone Zerg however was far too first for any of them. With one mighty leap, he landed square in front of the building where the Warp Gate had been built. With but one swing, the ancient lives of several Protoss were ended, their armor falling like wet paper to the Xel'Naga enhanced blades. All but one.

The Terrans fared no better. The Marines were killed first. It was almost a merciful act, for at least they died quickly. The villagers had no such luck. A few grabbed weapons and attempted to kill the monstrosity, but the chitinous armor was such that it seemed to laugh as the bullets pinged off of it. The Zerg spent much time killing the last few villagers, stretching out their deaths, soaking in the screams as if it were sweet ambrosia.

With their lucky respite, the one Protoss who had survived threw itself through the Warp Gate. He was the Executor and within him was the rapidly fading mind of the Juditicator. Or perhaps it was the other way around. They were such a mysterious people that even in this record it is unsure which. Meanwhile, General Duke made his own escape. In the past seven days, he had worked long and hard, and finally found a pocket in the storm. With a mighty blast, his small ship burst into sky, arriving at his Battlecruiser a short time later.

As for that one Zerg, well, it had time. If his people won, then very well. When the storm passed it would give the crystal to the Hive. If they failed, he would hide himself and wait a time. Eventually the Broods would break through. They always did.

----------------------------------------------------

End Results: The Zerg have won the game with but one player left. The Executor and Judicator of the Protoss have barely escaped to tell their people what had transpired. General Duke lived on to lead the Dominion in battle for a time after. All remaining villagers were ruthlessly slaughtered.

[Saint Nil]

Go Team Zerg!!!

[hap_hazard]

Sorry, guys.

Doseki - I didn't tell you 'cause you were the only one who could contact the villagers and not get insta-killed the next night.

Passing to Zombie Pixe was a stupid move. Should have passed to Griever, but I was told to scry him, so I though maybe Doseki knew something about him that I did not...

Sorry, marines. Let you guys down.

[Freshmeat]

Good show, Zerg, regardless of whether this was the result of some sort of clever ploy or the villagers simply being a little disorganized. A bit of clarification would satisfy my curiosity.

I think the artefact win condition worked rather well. When compared to the regular win condition, it's probably a little easier to accomplish, but it's a cool twist regardless. As it stands, the wolf factions probably have a bit of an advantage, although in this game that quickly disappeared when the baner protected Yspoch and - as luck would have it - Yspoch got attacked on the first night. From there on out things went bad pretty fast, and I'm fairly sure the villagers could've won this one without too much trouble after that. Still, losing one of the masons to the autolynch must've been a pretty painful blow.

I do think that the wolf factions were a bit too reliant on the recruiter being alive or not though. Since they only started out with 2 people, a dead recruiter could mean the difference between doubling their numbers or not.

But other than that, I think this went pretty well. I wouldn't mind to see a repeat of the artefact win condition in another game.

[Shadowcaller]

((Great Narration Eita!))

Player Role List (in some random order)

Spoiler

Show

Fleeing Coward - Judicator Amdor
Dragoon - Colonist
Saint Nil - Defiler
Zar Peter - Zerg Queen
LeoMan - Colonist
DemonicAngel - Colonist
Hap_hazard - Psionic
Low-Key - Marine
Yspoch - Marine
MadHatter - Colonist
Fin - Colonist (later converted into a infiltrator)
Aemoh - Psionic
Griever- Colonist
Deimos Hellfire - Colonist
Zombie pixe - Colonist (later converted into a Morphling)
Freshmeat_ - Psionic
Murska - Colonist
Emperor Demonking - Colonist
Leper_Kahn - Colonist (later converted into a infiltrator)
easyname - Executor Koronis

Now time for some questions:

1) Did you have fun playing the game?

2) Did you think the teams (and the game overall) were balanced?

3) What do you think could be improved in the game?

4) What did you think of the narration (the story fluff)?

5) Why do you think the game ended in this way?

6) Would you play this game (or an similar game) again?

[Murska]

Sure was fun, and I, while not having much experience or anything, do think it would be pretty balanced. Villagers got lucky on the start, though.
Story for the win, Starcraft is my all-time favourite over ten-year-old strategy game ever. :P

I was lynched pretty early for no reason, so I have no idea what happened after that. But it seems that some miscommunication took place.

And sure, I'd replay this. Perhaps join the great Protoss! MY LIFE FOR AIUR!

[Leper_Kahn]

Yes! Despite I was never even influenced by the zerg I'm so glad they won! I play zerg. <.<
For the swarm!

P.S. I'd love to replay this.

[Shadowcaller]

When I get some more answers on the questions I will hepefully be ready with the trophies. I could need some help on this one thought...

[Yspoch]

1) Did you have fun playing the game?
Yes, I had.


2) Did you think the teams (and the game overall) were balanced?
Hmm, hard to say. We (Terrans) had an optimal start and still lost while (I think) doing not much wrong. See question 5)


3) What do you think could be improved in the game?
The only "problem" the game has, ist that the outcome can be very random as soon as the terran scrier dies. Maybe the terrans could also get up to two (depending on sice) recruitments to turn villagers into marines?

Random thought: You could use not one but more artifacts which all have to be in the hands of the bad guys (from the same team) for them to win.

4) What did you think of the narration (the story fluff)?
Very nice, congratulations!


5) Why do you think the game ended in this way?
21 Players

3-5 Zergs
3-5 Protoss
4x autolynched

Leaves 7 Colonists/Marines and one of them can't even hold the artifact.

For this particular game I blame the autolynches.


6) Would you play this game (or an similar game) again?
Sure.

[Fleeing Coward]

1) Did you have fun playing the game?
Sort of, would probably enjoyed it more if I weren't focusing more on ACII and laughing at the seed cadets behind their back for most of the game.


2) Did you think the teams (and the game overall) were balanced?
Pretty balanced although it is slightly biased to the wolves if the 2 sides decide to cooperate to a certain extent but at he same time it could also grealy favour the villagers if noone accepts recruitments/the recruiter dies early.

3) What do you think could be improved in the game?
I'd say give the recruitment ability to the team rather than an individual, failed recruitments don't count but give a cooldown between recruitments regardless of success.

4) What did you think of the narration (the story fluff)?
Was quite nice although I never really got into Starcraft so I didn't understand some parts (always prefered turn based games and rpgs to rtses)

5) Why do you think the game ended in this way?
I'd agree with Yspoch here, autolynches lost the game for the Terrans, the fact that the zerglings listened to our kill suggestions in the end helped too.

6) Would you play this game (or an similar game) again?
Probably

[Shadowcaller]

Well my next game is unfortunate not going to be based on starcraft, its going to be based (slightly) on the Japanese mythology.
It is only going to have one werewolf team but still have "idol-winning condition". It is not going to have any reqruitment either.

In small games such as this every player is quite important and when the terrans lost 4 players they want in for a hard time. I'm suprised that they managed to resist this far actually.

Thanks for the comments by the way, I will use them to improve the game overall.

[Zombie pixe]

Wow, I won...?

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

@ Freshmeat_ : it was a bit of both, I tried to stay as low as possible, but I had to be very lucky not to get scried. I would put it down to luck, and a little expirience too. Im not as pathetic as I used to be, though I still lack motivation in a game where i am a villager.

Questionair:

1) Did you have fun playing the game?

Yes, it was enjoyable and as a wolf, there was the constant speculation of the location of the artifact.

2) Did you think the teams (and the game overall) were balanced?

Im not sure, i would say that either of the wolves teams could be crippled should they lose their power roles early in the game. But overall i would say it was ballanced

3) What do you think could be improved in the game?

Somehow the wolves should be made less vulenrable at the start of the game, possibly more artifacts as sugested?

4) What did you think of the narration (the story fluff)?

Yeah, that was cool. Well done guys.

5) Why do you think the game ended in this way?

Because i was incredebly lucky! Sure, I was laying low, but that can only work for so long...

6) Would you play this game (or an similar game) again?

Certanly

[hap_hazard]

1) Did you have fun playing the game?
Yes.

2) Did you think the teams (and the game overall) were balanced?
The teams were balanced, but there were too few players.

3) What do you think could be improved in the game?
Assuming the same number of players, less wolves.

4) What did you think of the narration (the story fluff)?
Cool.

5) Why do you think the game ended in this way?
The rapid loss of Marines and a really big mistake.

6) Would you play this game (or an similar game) again?
Yes.

[Emperor Demonking]

1) Did you have fun playing the game?

Yes, I did it was great.

2) Did you think the teams (and the game overall) were balanced?

Yes.

3) What do you think could be improved in the game?

Stop the reliant on the masons.

4) What did you think of the narration (the story fluff)?

Do be honest with you, I don't read it.

5) Why do you think the game ended in this way?

Because the game relied too heavily on the masons and they made the wrong descision.

6) Would you play this game (or an similar game) again?

Yes, but I'm not fussy.

[Yspoch]

<snip>
5) Why do you think the game ended in this way?

Because the game relied too heavily on the masons and they made the wrong descision.

Care to elaborate?

[Shadowcaller]

The zerg won, (I just had to show this image)

[Zombie pixe]

Wheres my Damn trophy!

[Shadowcaller]

Wheres my Damn trophy!

I'm not allowed to answer that question.

[Zombie pixe]

[Saint Nil]

I have to agree with Zombie Pixie on this.

Zar Peter and the Marines got one, why not us?

[Shadowcaller]

Working on it.

Edit: Protoss are difficulty to draw (and so are hydralisks...)

[Zombie pixe]

Ehum!

*Taps foot expectantly*

[Shadowcaller]

<.<
>.>
At the end of Stories of Kyoun... (Sorry, end of school)

Edit: Or at the beginning, depends.

[Zombie pixe]

Ok... I will let you off for now...