trupheus
Sounds like it's an issue with how bottom feeding functions, and not CLI (of which I completely agree with you, getting bottom fed sucks and feels hopeless). Thane has mentioned that he is open to suggestions on how to best address the bottom feeding aspect of the game. Probably should wait until everyone has had the CLI techs for a month or so and see what the combat actually looks like, because right now it's a combination of people with it (partial techs) or without it. You shouldn't be entitled to get the castle back whenever someone hits you. Giving an individual kingdom more autonomy is a good thing and will ultimately attract more players. Having a game state where every attack you make is 100% of the time met with 2 attacks against you (unless you're part of the large alliance of kingdoms) is not one that will have people stick around, which is ultimately the goal.
I don't agree at all with the option of choice being gone - you have a choice to be aggressive and attack (and be rewarded by the CLI mechanic with protection from pre-re), or you can be more passive and farm it out while leaving yourself exposed to hits. Each has positives and negatives, which each person has to weigh for themselves. There are many choices in how you manage your kingdom as well - building ratios, army composition, magic/no magic, etc. If someone wants to be a pure caster then they are opening themselves up to be easy castles - something they can overcome by managing a more well-rounded kingdom. If your friends attacked and failed, they should be punished for it - and they will have to evaluate what went wrong and adjust going forward.
I've gotten demolished a couple of times this round already (some BF's, some pre-re swarms), but these changes are all new and we should play out the round and see how things go.
