Ops, didn't realise questions are stickies. A certain newly empowered mod feel free to un-question this ;)

MPE comes with an extremely easy to use modding tool, so I propose that we develop our very own new mod, lead by yours truly of course, I think I have several pages of ideas and 40 of the best unit graphics files culled from other mods stashed somewhere from before AoW1 distracted me
:^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^) just kidding

In all seriousness MPE is a very sensible conservative mod that only makes moderate improvements and includes multiple bugfixes or engine alterations like the enemy dominion visibility and production overflow.

Perhaps the biggest argument in favour of MPE use is that there is absolutely no downside. The mod installs itself with a separate game .exe and fileset, so you can play both 1.4 and MPE PBEMs without ever having to switch, in the same way that you can play both AoW1 and AoW2.

Even the PBEM wrapper recognises aow2 and MPE as separate games like it recognises AoW2:SM and AoW2:WT and AoW1 as separate

I'm in. But it means all players must install MP Evolution 2.0.4.209?

No preferences regarding maps, maps vs. user created vs. stock. And no preferences regarding race or anything else. As my kids preschool teacher used to say... You get what you get and you don't get upset. :)

To be honest, I've actually never customized a Wizard in all the years of playing AoW:SM.

Ja, but that's the default install from http://aow2net.azurewebsites.net/, no need to fiddle with extra patching.

Hmm, another thing the mod does it that no-one ever starts with an (initially) useless spell like Dispel Magic - you always get a useful spell like a summon, enchantment, etc

I'm reading map descriptions from aow2, for 4-5 players there's a good number. I have no idea how good the random maps are, I wouldn't mind trying that either.

Another question comes to mind. Do you guys prefer small, medium, large, huge?

To start out, let's not play XL maps, but L are ok. I think S or M sizes are preferable for the first aow2 game for me in a while.

Sounds good. There are 4 maps for 5 players and 31 for 4 in aow2 heavens, but randomising is also an option - I've left the thread without my preferences on purpose I didn't want to bias the results, even light preferences are ok to say.

Usually desgined maps have balance driven wizards, perhaps we could do this: full customisation when randomising and choosing an assigned wizard when playing a designed scenario?

I don't care about customising wizard at all, but I will go along with it if you want to do that.

I prefer 5 players, obviously, but the number of available players may be lower than that.

Good news! Questions aren't automatically stickied. If you look, the stickied threads have a reddish hue, while question threads have a more yellow hue (and non-question threads are green).

And that's just as well, since I don't think I can convert a thread from question to non-question.

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To the thread's main topic: according to Mimo, random maps can be horribly unbalanced (or not). I'm going to sit out for now, while I assimilate the new position.

I've chosen a random map from the scenarios, I haven't opened it up but swolte, the designer, claims that it's balanced despite being asymmetrical. I remember his name, should be reliable. It's a small map.

Notes:

DIPLOMACY?
Map is designed with everybody at War. Storywise, nobody should like eachother and everybody has their own motives. Of course, diplomacy and backstabbing are part of this game, so everything is allowed! As long as you remember that there can only be ONE winner...

SKILL REQUIRED?
Yes, yes and yes...
As usual with Swoltmaps, the world is alive and animals and thugs will roam the lands, attacking all that is undefended and weak.
Traveling alone can be dangerous!

Also, there are a lot of targets, some of which may be way over the top at the early stages. Heed the warnings and you can blame it all on yourself...
You start off pretty weak and slow (to prevent early rushes), so you may have to get used to that as well.

IMPORTANT: The map has a special condition that he who brings the Key to one of the four Giant Gates wins.

If anybody doesn't like that idea just say so and we'll go with another one!

Choices:
1. Dwarves, 3 earth/3 fire
2. Undead, 3 death/3 earth
3. Humans, 2 life/2 air/2 water
4. Archons, 6 life

I'll choose last but I'd prefer to play something else than archons that I've just played if possible.

I could feel my grin getting bigger as I read your post, and it culminated when I reached this line.

Totally, completely, and definitely unrelated question: Does conquering an opponent's capital around turn 20 count as early aggression?

Undead please!

No preference, but since Arnuz doesn't want Archons I'll take them to make his choice easier.

Humans as a neutral race should have a relationship advantage, but Swolte has probably taken that into consideration... Book makes it sound like this is a map we've played before. Wish I had his memory!

It has at least two different games threads here. Looks like you played it about 7 years ago. Southern and I played it about 2 years ago. It was memorable in that Southern smashed through some guards and took my home tower, catching me completely off guard. It forced me into taking the actions that ultimately won me the game.