Flat Rate Mixed Set is a Deus Ex Machina

[Beckytheblondie]

A Deus Ex Machina is described as an inept plot device to help an author release his/her protagonists from a jam. Translated as "God from the Machine", a deus ex machina is a solution that comes out of "the blue" when nothing else looks to save the characters. It is called a poor storytelling technique as the ending of the story is typically defined by this unexpected handicap. Perhaps a fairy godmother comes along to save the day, or perhaps, against all odds, trapped above a pit of sharks swimming in lava witha laser cutting the protagonist's rope...one of the characters finds a remote control in his pocket to stop the deathly machine and to call the police.

While I make up all these scenarios, I can think of none better than a flat rate mixed set. Four rounds go by in what is a very fun and close game, in fact, player 1 takes a small bonus and will probably hold it to win the game and then BAM! player two wins...

[natty dread]

Four rounds go by in what is a very fun and close game, in fact, player 1 takes a small bonus and will probably hold it to win the game and then BAM! player two wins...

Is this story based on true events?

[Beckytheblondie]

Four rounds go by in what is a very fun and close game, in fact, player 1 takes a small bonus and will probably hold it to win the game and then BAM! player two wins...

Is this story based on true events?

This happens all the time. I could look for a specific game, but I'd rather not. It would be too depressing. The past is such a gas! In fact, this story typifies most flat rate games I've seen!

In fact I may copy and paste this thread into the chat boxes in games I lose this way. Read it as:

Congratulations good sir or madam, you have been offered a hand by God. Either that, or your author is just too lazy. Regardless, cheers on the win!

[elfish_lad]

Hmm... what about a Bi Deus Ex Machina?

You are playing along as described above and after his first three spoils your opponent drops a BAM! on ya. But you were wise, shrewd and calculating. You survive and you are in the midst of rebuilding when your opponent, after his NEXT three cards goes: BAM!.

The gods Thor and Mars hammer you to death.

Six spoils. Two bams. Kick the deuce out of the machine.

[nippersean]

I thought deux et machina was a porno actress - however doesn't it depend on the map / settings - you get killed in Imperium Rumania and Poland etc., but in multi prison riot isn't it a porno actress again?

[Beckytheblondie]

Hmm... what about a Bi Deus Ex Machina?

You are playing along as described above and after his first three spoils your opponent drops a BAM! on ya. But you were wise, shrewd and calculating. You survive and you are in the midst of rebuilding when your opponent, after his NEXT three cards goes: BAM!.

The gods Thor and Mars hammer you to death.

Six spoils. Two bams. Kick the deuce out of the machine.

It's happened more than I would care to admit to even my doctor.

[Beckytheblondie]

I thought deux et machina was a porno actress - however doesn't it depend on the map / settings - you get killed in Imperium Rumania and Poland etc., but in multi prison riot isn't it a porno actress again?

She'll kill you immediately on the smaller maps, sure, but even on those big maps she's more lethal than she looks. On feudal, for example, she can give the bearer of her powers as much as an extra 6 troops per turn not to mention increased odds at taking a castle or village.

[natty dread]

If you don't like it, play no spoils or larger maps such as 2.1 or conquerman (lol). On those maps you'll hardly notice an extra 10 troops...

IMO it's just a part of the game. A good player pays attention to the spoil numbers and takes the possible cashes of his opponents into account and plans accordingly. Whenever I see any of my opponents with >2 spoils in a flat game I'll assume that they might get an extra 10 troops next turn... For example if the player has 3 troops against your border and has 7 due, you should prepare for the chance that there will be a stack of 20 next turn charging through your ranks.

That said though, I'm starting to like no spoils games more and more these days. Escalating very often degenerates into a simple card game, kinda like poker or go fish. On no spoils games, the individual structures and strategies of different maps really come into play, when you can't just depend on cards.

[elfish_lad]

Yes. I like the porno queen reference. It's an awesome ride when she is with you and nothing but jealousy when she is with your buddy.

[Beckytheblondie]

Yes. I like the porno queen reference. It's an awesome ride when she is with you and nothing but jealousy when she is with your buddy.

And, I believe there's a quote, "To my Uncle Victor belongs the spoils". My uncle regularly sees flat rate harlots.

[AAFitz]

If you don't like it, play no spoils or larger maps such as 2.1 or conquerman (lol). On those maps you'll hardly notice an extra 10 troops...

eh...not even I will play many flat rate games on 2.1. They really can decide it, even on that map, which is swayed by very little actually. Flat rate is best on teams, where taking someone out for the cards becomes an art, and while the luck may still decide it...there is great fun until it does.

[ooge]

Hey thats the only way lousy players like myself win games.....

[Beckytheblondie]

If you don't like it, play no spoils or larger maps such as 2.1 or conquerman (lol). On those maps you'll hardly notice an extra 10 troops...

eh...not even I will play many flat rate games on 2.1. They really can decide it, even on that map, which is swayed by very little actually. Flat rate is best on teams, where taking someone out for the cards becomes an art, and while the luck may still decide it...there is great fun until it does.

You raise a good point. In team games it can play both ways, of course an opponent's mixed set can severely harm your doubles team in round 3, but a strong team can use spoils to their advantage later in the game.

[hwhrhett]

how is getting a set of cards in a game that has cards unexpected?

a deus ex machina is a solution that comes out of "the blue" when nothing else looks to save the characters.

if a mixed set popped up in a no cards game, i think that would be 'out of the blue'....

[elfish_lad]

If a mixed set popped up in a no cards game, i think that would be 'out of the blue'....

Oh. Now THAT would be fantastic.

Player About to Lose: "Uh... Elf? What the hell just happened?!?!"
Triumphant Elf: "Deus Ex Machina baby, Dues Ex Machina!"

Right on.

[Serbia]

In fact, I think they should program a new setting - get ready for this one, it's epic.

GLITCH GAMES.

You're in a no card game, and suddenly, out of the blue, your opponent gets 5 cards to cash.
You're in an escalating game, and the value is 12, and suddenly, your opponent cashes a set worth 50.
You're in a flat rate game, you cash in your mixed set worth 10, thinking you'll roll your opponent, but what? It's only worth 1 now!

Glitch Games would be the greatest. They would make it TRULY random, and just screw with your head worse than anything else could possibly do. With the exception of a donkey flying through the subterranean mountains of Truketkhandi while chewing on the arm of an ice cream cone singing "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town" and your head suddenly itches and the first thought that comes to your mind is "I wonder what ever happened to Princess Di's mother, and is she still classy?"

[safariguy5]

If you don't like it, play no spoils or larger maps such as 2.1 or conquerman (lol). On those maps you'll hardly notice an extra 10 troops...

IMO it's just a part of the game. A good player pays attention to the spoil numbers and takes the possible cashes of his opponents into account and plans accordingly. Whenever I see any of my opponents with >2 spoils in a flat game I'll assume that they might get an extra 10 troops next turn... For example if the player has 3 troops against your border and has 7 due, you should prepare for the chance that there will be a stack of 20 next turn charging through your ranks.

That said though, I'm starting to like no spoils games more and more these days. Escalating very often degenerates into a simple card game, kinda like poker or go fish. On no spoils games, the individual structures and strategies of different maps really come into play, when you can't just depend on cards.

I've run into mixed set in the 1st 3 rounds. There is no way to plan around that. The player will probably take a bonus, an insurmountable territory advantage, and eventually, the game. I agree with the above that flat is best in teams.

[AndyDufresne]

set in the 1st 3 rounds. There is no way to plan around that. The player will probably take a bonus, an insurmountable territory advantage, and eventually, the game. I agree with the above that flat is best in teams.

Right...I used to play Caribbean Islands with Flat Rate, until the early mixed set just made too many games chaotic. But sometimes I don't find a crazy chance like that in my games...


--Andy

[xelabale]

In fact, I think they should program a new setting - get ready for this one, it's epic.

GLITCH GAMES.

You're in a no card game, and suddenly, out of the blue, your opponent gets 5 cards to cash.
You're in an escalating game, and the value is 12, and suddenly, your opponent cashes a set worth 50.
You're in a flat rate game, you cash in your mixed set worth 10, thinking you'll roll your opponent, but what? It's only worth 1 now!

Glitch Games would be the greatest. They would make it TRULY random, and just screw with your head worse than anything else could possibly do. With the exception of a donkey flying through the subterranean mountains of Truketkhandi while chewing on the arm of an ice cream cone singing "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town" and your head suddenly itches and the first thought that comes to your mind is "I wonder what ever happened to Princess Di's mother, and is she still classy?"

PJ did that to you? Wow...