Recommended turn order based on play times:

looking for a partner or two partners to play in the tourney either 2 v 2 or  3 v 3

== Next 2vs2 Tournament ==
A proposal has been made to get some small, symbolic and nice prizes for the Tournaments: that would be the same system as for the 2017 PBEM Duel Tournament. Optional donations would be open and would serve both to collect money for the prizes, but also to fund the 3D models of the Shadow Demons for the community expansion (see details on the link).
Triumph might also contribute with some AoW: PF related prizes. We'll see later.

We now have 10 teams who expressed interest, the last two are:
- rockem4053 & Elio
- mahimka & Retromancer

Players without teams that I know of:
- Loki
- SleepingDog
- $eeR
- phirpo
- rrrrookie
- Longinus
- personian
- Melciar

Registrations should open next week but will remain open probably for 1.5 months.

== 2017 PBEM Duel Tournament ==
11 players donated some money for the prizes of this tournament. 98€ were collected and a proposal has been posted on the forum for the amount for each prize.
As we already know the first three players (gab, Jean, me), we can draw the lucky prize now and give it to a non-top 3 player. I plan to do that next week and I plan to use the website http://www.randomresult.com/t... to have an independent system to prove the person was selected randomly (please feel free to propose another one, the ones Skuns used for his tournament are in Russian so not easy and I'd prefer a non-Russian website ).
Thanks to IIaanor's efforts (with an independent artist), we have a nice, hand-drawn, picture to put on a t-shirt or a mug for the winner.

== Balance ==
v1.25 is available on the beta branch and should be updated soon to include the Rapids' change that adds areas of normal rivers into rapids, to limit their length. A bug with Hide Out starting researched will also be corrected.

Reminder: opinions are required on:
- 4 options to boost Engineers
- find solutions to fix the "No city economy",

I'm without a team as well & would enjoy doing some 2x2 or 3x3 games....

== Next 2vs2 Tournament ==
Two games are open if some want to train for the Tournament:
2vs2 practice (organised by phirpo)
2 vs 2 Out of Tourney (vs Skuns & Kruel, who apparently don't plan to join the Tournament)

The settings for the Tournament have been proposed here: http://aow.triumph.net/forums... Please check them and comment them now! It will be too late after the Tournament starts.

The proposed rules are also proposed in the same thread: http://aow.triumph.net/forums... />Please check the proposal for the class/race choice in particular.


Players without teams that I know of:
- Fluksen
- Loki
- SleepingDog
- $eeR
- phirpo
- rrrrookie
- Longinus

== Balance ==
The changelog of v1.25 has been published.

Opinions are required on:
- 4 options to boost Engineers
- find solutions to fix the "No city economy", i.e. the fact that you can survive with no or few cities, just by clearing sites

== Misc ==
Check out the interview of The green elephant (Jean de Metz + Melciar) to learn some tricks for the next 2vs2 Tournament! Interview of Jean de Metz & Melciar - 3rd of the 2016 2vs2 PBEM Tournament (part 1)

And read the excellent Stronghelm Globe newspaper by Fluksen, BBB and Rhaeg: It contains among other things an interview with DreadReaper, with some insights into his live MP play.

I'd like to play on a  2vs2 team

Loki44 joined !!

Time to open new games to train for the oncoming tournaments!!
You can create new 2vs2 games through the menu Games / Create Game.

== Next 2vs2 Tournament ==
Reminder: the balance mod will be used together with the Strong Defender Normal Reward mod.
I'd also like to use the Shadow Realm Community Expansion in the tournament, probably with a map size adjustment (to take into account the +50% area due to the Shadow layer), whenever the expansion is ready and a balance patch is published in the balance mod (so probably not before round 5 or something).

We already have 7 teams interested, the last ones being (+ I heard of another probable team):
- Marcuspers & DreadReaper
- Jean de Metz & Hellbrick

Players without teams that I discussed with:
- Fluksen
- Loki
- Kruel
- Skuns453Lirik902
- SleepingDog
- $eeR
- phirpo

== Balance ==
One topic that might be considered for v1.26 is discussed on the forum if you'd like to share your opinion: Balancing Flying and Floating units

phirpo joined !!

SleepingDog joined !!

I hereby sign myself and Dreadreapr up for the 2v2 tournament. 
Our team will be called King Reapers

$eeR joined !!

== Next 2vs2 Tournament ==
Other teams I've heard of, in addition to the 3 listed last week:
- ElLobo & Earl
- Olop & Gilafron

Players without teams that I discussed with:
- DreadReapr
- Fluksen
- Loki
- Kruel
- Skuns453Lirik902

v1.25 might be ready in about 2 weeks, then the tournament would start in 2.5 months (early September). Registration would be open for about 2 months, starting in 2-3 weeks.

== Balance ==
@Zytozid: if you mean you can transform just 1 hex into river and keep the 2 adjacent ones to rapids, yes it's true but you can still be attacked by land or with your opponent moving all around the rapids. Also, there is another change implemented in v1.25 that makes rapids no longer than 5 hexes, so you can't really create a big choke point.
These changes are confirmed for v1.25, check out the preliminary changelog of the version we'll use for the next 2vs2 Tournament here:
Th10b
Martyr have a specific tier parameter: they reach Expert at 70 XP instead of 35 XP and reach Elite at 140 XP instead of 70 XP. Regeneration is available at Expert (was Elite).

AD02a
Poison Domain can be cast on cities owned by the caster's allies (was only caster’s cities).

GC55
A new Avatar spell, “Terraform Blocked Rivers” (rapids) is available as a starting spell. It allows to terraform blocked rivers into (unblocked) rivers (when in domain) for 12 mana per hex

GC56
Path of xx (Frost, Decay, Life, …) abilities become strategic activable abilities giving the Path for 1 turn

GC50a
The True Resurect skill unlocks two spells : True Resurect (50 CP) which can affect any unit and Lesser True Resurect (25 CP) which can affect only allied units (was True Resurect costs 25 CP and can affect any unit).

GC07b
A new “Square Medium” map size is available: 89 x 89 (by comparison, Medium is 73 x 97).

Didn't know that so this is already much better. 12 mana is fine then.
But might allow to create a very easily defendable position, won't it? Maybe the target should not be a hex but one hex + all surrounding ones (if that is feasible), so you cannot as easily create choke points to your empire.

Ok, I didn't note that, sorry for the oversight.
Keep in mind that it will be usable only inside your domain. Basically the idea is to prevent starts where you're blocked by a rapid separating you from your closest independent city.

As mentioned before I am strongly against the avatar spell “Terraform Blocked Rivers” being so cheap. It should be more costly to cast away a rapid, at least 20 mana, maybe rather 40.

== Next 2vs2 Tournament ==
Some first elements on the teams I know of:
- Hiliadan & Gladis
- xlnt & IIaanor
- Markymark & Blackcat

And the people I know are looking for teams: Fluksen, Kruel.
Probably more information on that later, as I haven't been able to discuss with many people yet.

== Current 2016 PBEM 2vs2 Team Tournament ==
Cheer for the finale!! Coup de Grâce (gabthegab & Tussel) vs Bastards of the North (Ezekiel & AlXStormrage)!
I should publish soon the interview of semi-finalist The green elephant (Jean de Metz & Melciar).

== 2017 PBEM Duel Tournament ==
Check out the videos of Round 8 match, Hiliadan (Tigran Warlord) vs Marcuspers (Human Arch Druid):


Full playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playl... (3 videos will be released every day)

Round 9 (semi-final) about to start, place your bets.

== Balance ==
An article has been published with details about v1.24 (changelog and reasons behind the changes) and v1.24 has been released on the main branch of the balance mod.

These changes will be confirmed for v1.25 if no further feedback:
Th10b
Martyr have a specific tier parameter: they reach Expert at 70 XP instead of 35 XP and reach Elite at 140 XP instead of 70 XP. Regeneration is available at Expert (was Elite).

AD02a
Poison Domain can be cast on cities owned by the caster's allies (was only caster’s cities).

GC55
A new Avatar spell, “Terraform Blocked Rivers” (rapids) is available as a starting spell. It allows to terraform blocked rivers into (unblocked) rivers (when in domain) for 12 mana per hex

GC56
Path of xx (Frost, Decay, Life, …) abilities become strategic activable abilities giving the Path for 1 turn

GC50a
The True Resurect skill unlocks two spells : True Resurect (50 CP) which can affect any unit and Lesser True Resurect (25 CP) which can affect only allied units (was True Resurect costs 25 CP and can affect any unit).

GC07b
A new “Square Medium” map size is available: 89 x 89 (Medium was 73 x 97).

Imperium quitted!

== Next tournament ==
Based on the results of the poll, next tournament will be a 2vs2! Get ready! If you haven't a partner yet, you should start looking for one and training with him.
If you plan to participate, please contact me on the chat or by PM to tell me in which team, or if you're looking for a team, so that I can help people find partners by knowing who is playing with who.

== Balance ==
v1.24 will be released on the main branch as soon as Round 8 of the Duel Tournament ends.

Confirmed for v1.25:
GC26
Forbidden Sanctum's battle enchantment is Mass Bless / Mass Curse and Shock Missile cast every turn on a random enemy unit

Ti02
Tigran cities get +3 gold bonus (was 5)

GC55a
Blocked Rivers (rapids) are now generated only as small sections of rivers (about 5 hexes long), and not as long rivers

GC07a
Tournament size 65 x 73 becomes Tournament square 73 x 73

GC14a
Kwapa, Nashac and, Falenas get Awaken Spirit and 2 free points (was nothing in the balance mod and Befriend Animal in the official version)

Dr21c
Inject Mana Fuel has cooldown 3 and can be dispelled (was Once per battle and cannot be dispelled).

These changes are seriously considered for v1.25:
Th10b
Martyr have a specific tier parameter: they reach Expert at 70 XP instead of 35 XP and reach Elite at 140 XP instead of 70 XP. Regeneration is available at Expert (was Elite).

AD02a
Poison Domain can be cast on cities owned by the caster's allies (was only caster’s cities).

GC55
A new Avatar spell, “Terraform Blocked Rivers” (rapids) is available as a starting spell. It allows to terraform blocked rivers into (unblocked) rivers (when in domain) for 12 mana per hex.

GC56
Path of xx (Frost, Decay, Life, …) abilities become strategic activable abilities giving the Path for 1 turn

Also, the proposal on True Resurect (GC50) is being reworked to take into account opinions against it, so that it can make it into v1.25.

== Poll ==
Last few days to vote! In what types of tournaments would you participate if they were organized?
So far, 2vs2 is on top with 14 votes!

== Balance ==
Please note that the Strong Defenders Normal Reward (SDNR) mod has been released: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1374641017
It implements the following change, initially planned for v1.23: "A new setting is available for “Defenders Strength”: “Strong with Normal rewards”: Treasure sites do not give +50% reward value any more" which could not be implemented at the time. We now have found a workaround: this new mod reduces reward values when activated so that if you play with Strong Defenders, you have Normal rewards.
As announced earlier, this mod should be used in future PBEM tournaments (since it's actually part of the balance mod).

Confirmed for v1.25:
Ne06g
Ghouling Strike does not give any damage bonus (was +5 physical, +5 blight)

These changes will be confirmed for v1.25 if no further feedback:
GC26
Forbidden Sanctum's battle enchantment is Mass Bless / Mass Curse and Shock Missile cast every turn on a random enemy unit

Ti02
Tigran cities get +3 gold bonus (was 5)

Th10b
Martyr have a specific tier parameter: they reach Expert at 70 XP instead of 35 XP and reach Elite at 140 XP instead of 70 XP. Regeneration is available at Expert (was Elite).

GC55a
Blocked Rivers (rapids) are now generated only as small sections of rivers (about 4-5 hexes long), and not as long rivers
See screenshot, the frozen water will be replaced by rapids: https://www.my-league.com/gam... />
De06
Scorched Earth causes -50 race happiness with the race of the city on which it is cast

GC07a
Tournament size 65 x 73 becomes Tournament square 73 x 73

GC14a
Kwapa, Nashac and, Falenas get Awaken Spirit and 2 free points (was nothing in the balance mod and Befriend Animal in the official version)

Dr21c
Inject Mana Fuel has cooldown 3 and can be dispelled (was Once per battle and cannot be dispelled).

These changes are considered for v1.25 and require more feedback:
Ro18
Corrupted Killers give Evolve into Lesser Shadow Stalker and +1 ranged strength to Scoundrels (was Evolve and Quick Learner)

AD02a
Poison Domain can be cast on cities owned by the caster's allies (was only caster’s cities).

GC50
True Resurrect costs 50 CP to cast (was 25 CP)

Wa11b
Scout Death March (new spell) can be researched for 140 RP, is tier II and cost 20 CP to cast (and directly makes Death March appear in  the research book). It has a similar effect to Death March but affects only T1 Irregular units in target friendly army: affected units gain additional MP equal to their maximum MP until end of turn, ose 50% of their current HP, get Cannot Regenerate and Cannot Heal until end of turn and Exhausted for 3 turns. Units with Exhausted cannot be targeted by Scout Death March.
Death March requires Scout Death March to be researched. Researching it costs 200 RP and is tier III (was 140 RP and tier II)

GC55
A new Avatar spell, “Terraform Blocked Rivers” (rapids) is available as a starting spell. It allows to terraform blocked rivers into (unblocked) rivers (when in domain) for 12 mana per hex.

GC56
Path of xx (Frost, Decay, Life, …) abilities become strategic activable abilities giving the Path for 1 turn

== Balance ==
v1.24 should receive an update on the beta branch next week. It should be released on the main branch in about 1 month.

Confirmed for v1.25!
GC27
Sunken City's battle enchantment is Frost Missile (cast every turn on an enemy unit)

Dr23
Dreadnoughts get +5 gold/Village

Ne01b
Stiffen Limb has a strength 13 Spirit check and cost 7 CP. If it fails, its target gets -12 MP for one turn (was no attack check).

Ne05i
Lesser Reanimate Undead is removed for heroes and Leaders and  Greater Reanimate Undead is renamed Reanimate Undead.

These changes will be confirmed for v1.25 if no further feedback:
GC26
Forbidden Sanctum's battle enchantment is Mass Bless / Mass Curse and Shock Missile cast every turn on a random enemy unit

GC50
True Resurrect costs 50 CP to cast (was 25 CP)

Wa11b
Scout Death March (new spell) can be researched for 140 RP, is tier II and cost 20 CP to cast (and directly makes Death March appear in  the research book). It has a similar effect to Death March but affects only T1 Irregular units in target friendly army: affected units gain additional MP equal to their maximum MP until end of turn, ose 50% of their current HP, get Cannot Regenerate and Cannot Heal until end of turn and Exhausted for 3 turns. Units with Exhausted cannot be targeted by Scout Death March.
Death March requires Scout Death March to be researched. Researching it costs 200 RP and is tier III (was 140 RP and tier II)

Ne06g
Ghouling Strike does not give any damage bonus (was +5 physical, +5 blight)

Ti02
Tigran cities get +3 gold bonus (was 5)

Ro18
Corrupted Killers give Evolve into Lesser Shadow Stalker and +1 ranged strength to Scoundrels (was Evolve and Quick Learner)

Th10b
Martyr have a specific tier parameter: they reach Expert at 70 XP instead of 35 XP and reach Elite at 140 XP instead of 70 XP. Regeneration is available at Expert (was Elite).

These changes are considered for v1.25 and require more feedback:
GC55
A new Avatar spell, “Terraform Blocked Rivers” (rapids) is available as a starting spell. It allows to terraform blocked rivers into (unblocked) rivers (when in domain) for 12 mana per hex.

GC55a
Blocked Rivers (rapids) are now generated only as small sections of rivers (about 4-5 hexes long), and not as long rivers
See screenshot, the frozen water will be replaced by rapids: https://www.my-league.com/games/273/downloads/screens/47398/273/152067389820180310_RMG-rapids-success.jpg

GC56
Path of xx (Frost, Decay, Life, …) abilities become strategic activable abilities giving the Path for 1 turn

De06
Scorched Earth causes -50 race happiness with the race of the city on which it is cast

GC07a
Tournament size 65 x 73 becomes Tournament square 73 x 73

GC14a
Kwapa, Nashac and, Falenas get Awaken Spirit and 2 free points (was nothing in the balance mod and Befriend Animal in the official version)

Dr21c
Inject Mana Fuel has cooldown 3 and can be dispelled (was Once per battle and cannot be dispelled).