Play Now Login Create Account
illyriad
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - I've Been Robbed!
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedI've Been Robbed!

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1234>
Author
 Rating: Topic Rating: 2 Votes, Average 5.00  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
Rill View Drop Down
Postmaster General
Postmaster General
Avatar
Player Council - Geographer

Joined: 17 Jun 2011
Location: California
Status: Offline
Points: 7078
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Mar 2013 at 23:15
Hora, my understanding is that the change you describe was _planned_ but never implemented.  I have tracked diplo units a number of times in the past year using the method described in Vanerin's post and it has worked quite well.
Back to Top
The_Dude View Drop Down
Postmaster General
Postmaster General


Joined: 06 Apr 2010
Location: Texas
Status: Offline
Points: 2396
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Mar 2013 at 00:06
Anytime diplos are launched, the attacker accepts risk of loss/confession/detection.

It's more about what the defender will do in retaliation.  "Proof", then, is only relevant to justify the retaliation.  So "evidence" is not important to convince the attacker, but instead to convince the defender's allies to support retaliation.
Back to Top
Anjire View Drop Down
Postmaster
Postmaster
Avatar

Joined: 18 Sep 2010
Status: Offline
Points: 688
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Mar 2013 at 00:31
Tracking:

A few things to keep in mind while tracking diplomatic units.

There is a built in wobble to their displayed movement on the global map.  You can see this in effect if you refresh  your map a number of times over and over as the unit will appear to jump about.

The closer to your city the unit you are tracking is the less accurate your trajectory/vector will be.  So it is important to follow and track for as long as your able to though after an hour or two you will have narrowed the options down to a very concise path.  This following and tracking is hardest for dwarf players due to the slower speeds of dwarven units but that is where your alliance/allies/friends/contacts come in.

The unit you want to send to track a diplomat unit leaving your city is an advanced spy unit because it has a 4 square visibility radius and is usually the fastest unit your race has with visibility.

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

When following and tracking the further away from your city your can follow it and track it the more precise your trajectory/vector will be due to the above mentioned wobble affect.  Usually, it only takes a good hour or so of following to be able to pin point the likely sender at which point you can take a number of different actions to verify your suspicions.

The first area to go over is to ensure as exact a reading as you can.  My method is to ensure you have map grids on to help in your accuracy.  Just remember that the grid lines fall at the .5 distance of a map square.   The next thing is that you want to record the diplomatic unit at the smallest zoom level (0) so that only one map square appears on your square.  This will limit the affect the built in wobble has on your accuracy.  At full zoom(25) the wobble can jump the unit around by as much as 2 full squares.  At the smallest zoom the wobble will account for no more then +/- .1 in your reading.   To record the reading I will position my mouse following the moving diplomat and wait for the tick of the second hand to hit :00, :15, :30, :45 seconds.  I will then record the position of the mouse at that time estimating to the nearest tenth.  

I created a google spreadsheet to record these numbers so it will calculate the slope of travel and speed of the unit for me.   With this information, I can then enter in future times and predict where and when the unit will be on the map. You can then spread to your alliance members/allies/friends/contacts to help with tracking/following said diplomatic unit.   So, even if I were to lose track of the unit for a small amount of time it is easy enough to pick up again and follow given a few data points.  

You can also use the trajectory to eliminate any need to track closely because many times there are no cities for lengthy amount of times that the unit comes close to.  The other thing this allows you to do if you have access to the master city list is to find out any cities that have a similar slope to the unit you are tracking.  

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

Putting this all together:

On your own, even as a dwarf, you should be able to get accurate readings up to an hour or even two hours out from your city.  If you are able to, take a readings every ~10 to 15 minutes.  I would allow at least 5 minutes between readings though.  With these calculations of slope and speed you can then plot a very concise trajectory/vector.  This will let you inform alliance members, allies, friends and contacts that are along the path that the unit you are tracking is travelling.  Up to and including the exact path and time they will be able to see the unit traverse within their city view.  I have done this on numerous occasions with great success.  You can also have these players send out clouds of advanced spies to extend their scope if needed.  Finally, if there is enough time you can attach advanced spies to army units(I suggest t1 cavalry commander and t1 cavalry) and camp them along the path of travel so that you don't have to micromanage a flock of spies.  Using this latter method you can also have a number of players camped out to watch said unit come home to roost.    



Back to Top
Vanerin View Drop Down
Forum Warrior
Forum Warrior
Avatar

Joined: 05 Oct 2011
Status: Offline
Points: 418
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Apr 2013 at 05:00
Wow! That was very helpful Anjire. Thank you so much!

~Vanerin
Back to Top
Brandmeister View Drop Down
Postmaster General
Postmaster General
Avatar

Joined: 12 Oct 2012
Location: Laoshin
Status: Offline
Points: 2396
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Apr 2013 at 08:35
If you need to boost the speed of diplomatic units, you can embed them in a fast escort. A T1 cavalry commander with Forced March 10/10 also affects scouts and spies from the division's Diplomatic Contingent. Dwarven packsmen can reach 22.5 at top speed, and get a +15% from elven thoroughbreds as well. Equip light leather armor and a light spear for another +10% bonus, each. The division won't be elite--the diplomat counts as mixing troop types--but it will travel considerably faster than the slower diplomats. The max speed of that setup is just over 30, and a Keeper of Secrets at maximum Forced March is 27.5 squares per hour. You can tune the gear to precisely select the desired top speed.
Back to Top
Rill View Drop Down
Postmaster General
Postmaster General
Avatar
Player Council - Geographer

Joined: 17 Jun 2011
Location: California
Status: Offline
Points: 7078
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Apr 2013 at 20:39
One of the main problems of embedding diplos with troops is that you are then limited to being able to send out 5 sets from any given city.  Also you have to Attack, Raid or Occupy the destination square, which could be a little dangerous if someone has happened to land there in the meantime with their army.  They could take it amiss (and you could lose your diplos).  Not saying it shouldn't be done, but it has limited utility.
Back to Top
Brandmeister View Drop Down
Postmaster General
Postmaster General
Avatar

Joined: 12 Oct 2012
Location: Laoshin
Status: Offline
Points: 2396
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Apr 2013 at 20:55
It is one trick of many, and all tricks are worth noting.

A collision is extremely unlikely. If you managed it, you would almost certainly not kill anything with a pair of T1 cavalry, except perhaps unprotected harvesters. As to the potential loss of 2 soldiers and 1 spy, it's hardly worth noting. The battle report itself would prove that you dispatched your army while the square was still empty.
Back to Top
Rill View Drop Down
Postmaster General
Postmaster General
Avatar
Player Council - Geographer

Joined: 17 Jun 2011
Location: California
Status: Offline
Points: 7078
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Apr 2013 at 21:18
Someone with 60 skinners on a square would probably not be amused.
Back to Top
Brandmeister View Drop Down
Postmaster General
Postmaster General
Avatar

Joined: 12 Oct 2012
Location: Laoshin
Status: Offline
Points: 2396
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Apr 2013 at 21:53
Originally posted by Rill Rill wrote:

Someone with 60 skinners on a square would probably not be amused.

Someone with 60 unprotected skinners on a square is a fool.
Back to Top
Rill View Drop Down
Postmaster General
Postmaster General
Avatar
Player Council - Geographer

Joined: 17 Jun 2011
Location: California
Status: Offline
Points: 7078
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Apr 2013 at 23:02
You seem a bit quick to judge there.  Are you sure such a strong characterization is necessary?  I mean, it sounds good, but there could be a variety of reasons for that happening, such as calling back an army when you see another opportunity.  Many people use unprotected skinners when they are quite close to their city.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1234>
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.03
Copyright ©2001-2019 Web Wiz Ltd.