Arena mode settings

[cs2376jr]

I don't know about you guys, but I have preferred settings for play because I feel they are the most balanced. Here is what I've got-

4 player- this makes the game a bit longer, but it makes people fight for more hexes and set yourself up in the best positions is a lot harder making it a lot better for a highly competitive game play like arena mode.

don't use the kickstarter additions- they say in the rules that they haven't been play tested and that they may make the game unbalanced. From what I have seen it is fairly balanced other than the fact that macewen is generally not that good. I would hate to be selecting clan last and be stuck with the choice of mackenzie or macewen without the basic good port.

use clans- this one is sort of self explanatory. Not only do the clans make the game more fun, it makes the game more balanced being able to know a little bit of what your opponents want to do and leaving less luck to contracts, which there is already plenty in.

no static imports- import distribution is a large part of the game and when you take that out you are taking out a lot of the skill in the game.

use port tiles- clearly we need ports or else fergusson is completely useless and so is mackenzie. It is just a basic part of the game that adds strategy and detail, if you are able to use ports well, you will set yourself up well.

use scoring tiles- clearly you need scoring tiles so that there is more strategy to what you do during the game. You will make crucial moves rd2 and even more crucial rd3 that will give you glory as well as increasing you economy.

This is what I think we should use, let me know what you guys think!

[sprockitz]

I agree on all accounts. The only things I can even see being debated are the kickstarter and number players because everything else is for a beginner game.

I'd play with the kickstarters but as they were tested for balance, maybe better to leave them off.

[iliz sera]

macewen is generally not that good.

Hi cs2376jr,

As far as I explored the game, I agree with you that Clan MacEwen is not good, if don't want to say fairly that it is the weakest clan. If we are able to adjust this clan (I read that we still have hope to do so), what should we adjust? My idea is:
1) Remove the limitation of hops to make beer. Surely this one doesn't change as much because generally this clan needs a lot of grains, which are hard to produce or buy, so come to the second idea:
2) Increase the reward for each beer. Comparing with Clan Cunningham when each milk is sold with 8 coins, a beer needs 1 grain and only sold with 9. It is too weak for that reason. Perhaps, I think, at least 12 coins. Ideally, or to make it balance, we should make it 14.
3) Remove the grain or just "need 1 grain to produce beer, at most 3 beer at a time". This one would make MacEwen dominated, perhaps.

Hope to see your suggestion as you're one of the best players here in Clans of Caledonia (I watched enough to say that)

P/S: If you can, also suggest idea to play with MacKenzie and Campbell. I tried Campbell several times but unsure with the way to deal with it. For MacKenzie, the reward for wine is cheap as well I think.

[cs2376jr]

macewen is generally not that good.

Hi cs2376jr,

As far as I explored the game, I agree with you that Clan MacEwen is not good, if don't want to say fairly that it is the weakest clan. If we are able to adjust this clan (I read that we still have hope to do so), what should we adjust? My idea is:
1) Remove the limitation of hops to make beer. Surely this one doesn't change as much because generally this clan needs a lot of grains, which are hard to produce or buy, so come to the second idea:
2) Increase the reward for each beer. Comparing with Clan Cunningham when each milk is sold with 8 coins, a beer needs 1 grain and only sold with 9. It is too weak for that reason. Perhaps, I think, at least 12 coins. Ideally, or to make it balance, we should make it 14.
3) Remove the grain or just "need 1 grain to produce beer, at most 3 beer at a time". This one would make MacEwen dominated, perhaps.

Hope to see your suggestion as you're one of the best players here in Clans of Caledonia (I watched enough to say that)

P/S: If you can, also suggest idea to play with MacKenzie and Campbell. I tried Campbell several times but unsure with the way to deal with it. For MacKenzie, the reward for wine is cheap as well I think.

In the past week or two I have been playing around with macewen more and have found they are not completely horrible. Ideally you want the basic good port and a cheep, 3 hop contract, completing it round 1 for the jumpstart in economy. you will mainly just be producing wheat and cheese as well as money and maybe a dread or whiskey later in the game (rd3 or 4). Your suggestions seem very unreasonable. To be able to do as many beer as you want is way too strong. I would say that it needs to stay at 3, it seems right. More than that you could just complete fewer contracts and get high pointers converting wheat into a ton of money. Removing having to produce the beer with the wheat is also way too strong. To be able to just get a free 27 dollars is way better than any other faction and you could do that on most contracts. The main thing would just be to change how much money you get from a beer. 12 or 14 is way to strong, I would say just a one dollar buff making it 10 dollars a beer instead of 9 would make it a good enough faction to be playable in a few setups.

To play campbell and mackenzie-

campbell is actually fairly simple. (all of this is just a general for how to play them, clearly this can change due to situations, same with what I will say about mackenzie) Round 1, build factories with whatever basic goods you have ex. you start with a milk, you place a cheese. You will then also place a few workers for money income. rd2 you then build fields or cows (whichever one you need to produce to make your factories from rd1 effective, and then keep building workers. rd3 you can complete a contract or 2 if they are money effective and then keep you economy going. rds4 and 5 just focus on completing contracts

mackenzie is difficult. You probably don't even want to try them unless there is the basic good port in the game. You will get 3 wheat from that and then place down 3 distillery's. If you can, try and get a 4th distillery rd1 by buying a wheat or from you starting resources. rd2 you will sell 3 whiskey (most likely) and if you have a 4th, keep it on you board and let it age. Place 2 fields to produce your whiskey and place a few workers with your extra money. rd3 you will complete a contract or 2 if they are money efficient, if not, just keep your economy going. again, rds4 and 5 you will just focus on completing contracts.

I hope this was of great help for you and will take you game to the next level