Sorry,m I should have qualified my statements. I do think that was a good game. But if you look at the results on the stats page, Normans have soloed 5 times vs. the other two only once each.

But I also don't think that there are real lines for Normandy or Norway to follow to get at one another. And England doesn't really have access to the neutrals.

each side have different advantages and disadvantages.

However, with all the Normandy wins, I believe future players will take that as a sign, similar to how Russia can be typically seen under fire nowadays despite earlier being seen as the best power.

Huh, didn't realize Norway started with an army at Hadrian's Wall.

Makes life as England even more difficult.

That army serves no purpose but to annoy England, I think it should be reconsidered.

Just gonna jump in here...
Norway has a HUGE advantage if he gets along well with England. lol. I am playing one right now, England gave me ALL of Scottland, and is offering me Flanders... after this year, I will be at 8 centers. I have a shot at winning, and its only the third year.

im the only person to have own as england, huzzah!

I think the only bad thing is, that England and Norway have a big problem in not getting into fight because of this Wall Unit....
It's much easier to peace with normans and fight with england for norway, so it will often get a sandwich?

Upon playing it again, I really do agree that the Normans are unbalancedly good. There was good English play, and Norway was a little sloppy (at game's end, Sweden was still neutral, maybe he didn't realize the neutral forces needed dislodging), but there's not much you can do against Normandy.

I will report soon :)

Normandy is extremely over powered.

I'd like to try it again and hopefully not be Normandy again, anyone in for a gunboat?

Cough Cough. 7 center, about to be 9 center if all works out, Norway saying, Normandy can get his ass kicked on this map, all it takes is a smart England and smart Norway.

Yeah, as I look at it, the main way Normandy gets pwned seems to be if Norway decides not to be immediately aggro'ed on England.

Its possible, but not when Norway comes at England full force and England is forced to divide her units leaving 2 for the 4 man Norway and 2 for the 4 man Normandy. (after first year)

Normandy has the advantage with so many English sc in close proximity guaranteeing the capture of a second capital.

For Normandy to loose its all reliant on Norway offering an alliance to England,

Hi all. Glad you're all enjoying the variant, although the outcomes in different measures.

Without giving things away I'm currently playing 3 games of 1066 at the moment and have drawn all 3 nations. This has been good as I've been able to test certain strategies and found what's been said here to be true.

When developing the game with Tadar we decided it was important to give an opportunity for anyone to equally win. In real life 1066, there was no "Free Cities Passage" and it would've been next to impossible for the Normans and Norwegians to go to war. But with FCP and the various sea territories its very possible (and in fact I've seen in two games so far Norwegians shooting down FCP for attacks on Flanders which have really put the Normans on the back step.

The game is designed to give good balance. I think tt is right. Normans are considered more 'powerful' now, but as English and Norwegian players wise up to this I see the odds falling for the Normans (just like Russia in Classic.)

Of course though, if we get 3 months down the track and the Normans are still consistently whipping butt, I expect we'll revise the variant to improve gameplay (I did this for Mate Against Mate when it became obvious one player was way too weak and two players way too strong - its got a much more balanced interface now as a result.)

But thanks all for the feedback. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

thank you all for your feedback, it means a lot to us!
it's true England starts with little options but Diplomacy-ing, and Normans have a slight advantage..
but I agree with tt612 and TheAmbassador, let's wait and see what happens: sometimes being the power in the strongest position is not an advantage as you have the board against you.
the only way to discover it.. is playing it!!

I like this variant. its pretty fun. now I just need to get something besides Norway...

Heh, butterhead, I keep drawing Normandy. So I like to think the stats actually show how awesome *I* am, not Normandy as a power.

We should play, so you could be Norway and me Normandy...again.

I played Norway three times in a row and headed straight at Normandy every time and it never worked out for me. But the HW unit constantly tempted me into splitting as Norway and Normandy came straight at me guns blazing every time.

Anyone up for one?

ill join

Moi aussi.

http://vdiplomacy.com/board.php?gameID=1014

Well Normandy is still winning most games, but we're now seeing both the Norwegians and English winning a few games, which is great. (especially the game I just had against gun master and butter head which became of England vs Norway with the Normans knocked out!)

Hopefully this trend continues. It is a fun map, but I do think the English player has it the toughest. Particularly in gunboat games.

The last 3 games I have played has lead me to believe that Norway is the strongest player followed by Normandy in a tight second.

The only thing that separates Norway and Normandy is that Winchester is closer to Normandy.

However if it comes down to a 12 sc Norway and an 8 sc Normandy, then with or without Winchester, the game goes to Norway eventually.

I think England can win here :) http://www.vdiplomacy.com/board.php?gameID=936
But it was a though diplomacy thing... :)