Desert plots I can take or leave. They were interesting but not massively impacting. However, I am GREATLY pleased that they changed the smithore game. Before, the winner simply came down to who was able to buy from the store in month 11. 4th place became 1st 80% of the time, and almost all the other games it was 3rd b/c 4th had somehow not had enough money to buy out. At least now, it is interesting and the outcome is in doubt up to the end.

I would hazard that machinus left because he felt he had broken the game as much as he could. He had climbed his Everest.

First, let me say that I had been able to host games. Then, all of a sudden a few days back, I was unable to host again. I am not certain if this corresponded w/ the latest update. I am running off XP, and nothing else has changed. The 6260 port is still listed as ok in my router settings. Ideas?

Peoples' abandonment ratings are frequently misleading. In the starting days, game crash was way more common than it is now. It still happens, but with FAR less frequency. As a result, I don't know if people who have abandons are just early adopters or actual rage-quitters. I propose that the current abandon totals be wiped clean so that we may make more informed decisions of who we play with.