Who Won the Scenario Ark?
My understanding is that the scenario ark is a possible outcome; every epic game presents another. Regardless as to whether we view the scenarios as official, we can contemplate how the world order works out in that set of events.
EVERYTHING below is a spoiler; Ill be talking about the specific outcome of the scenarios so please do not read until you have played every scenario.
One assumption I make below is that PLAYER WINS every scenario played. That is, we dont say The Lanun lost because when I played, I lost the scenario and never played it again. No, we assume the player wins. After all, the player can start over, reload, etc!
However, we do know that there are many ways to play each scenario. Ive played each once and read through some of the threads, but of course our outcomes and possibly our views will depend on how these were played. Also, please note Im just writing this from memory, and I may be forgetting some important stuff.
Here is my first thought:
My understanding is that the scenario ark is a possible outcome; every epic game presents another. Regardless as to whether we view the scenarios as official, we can contemplate how the world order works out in that set of events.
EVERYTHING below is a spoiler; Ill be talking about the specific outcome of the scenarios so please do not read until you have played every scenario.
One assumption I make below is that PLAYER WINS every scenario played. That is, we dont say The Lanun lost because when I played, I lost the scenario and never played it again. No, we assume the player wins. After all, the player can start over, reload, etc!
However, we do know that there are many ways to play each scenario. Ive played each once and read through some of the threads, but of course our outcomes and possibly our views will depend on how these were played. Also, please note Im just writing this from memory, and I may be forgetting some important stuff.
Here is my first thought:
Spoiler :
Biggest winner
Lanun Falamar. Falamar becomes the de facto leader of a very large alliance that saves the world both from the Sheaim and the Illians. He appears to be the leader so emerges as a political power.
Big Winners
Decius, either Calabim or Malakim I played the Malakim so I may not know the full Calabim side, but Decius appears to turn whichever side he is with into a major power and participates in stunning victories over the other side, along with a variety of other powers. I put them slightly below Lanun/Falamar because I think Decius has caused some internal rifts within his people.
Mercurians I probably put the Mercurians third, but still a big winner. Their purpose is to defeat the Infernals, which they accomplished, apparently decisively, in Lord of Balors.
Medium winners
These are not in any particular order:
Balseraph Oddly, the Balseraph under Keelyn seem to fight with the winning side, usually the good guys, and have a number of scenario wins. The fate of the Balseraph may also depend on the outcome of the Momus. Ive heard that Perpentech can be defeated in this scenario (it didnt happen for me). However, we can argue that the Balseraph are better off under Keelyn anyway.
Hippus I considered putting them into the big winner bucket; I think they won pretty much every scenario they are in, which is a lot! In addition, they do establish themselves as a major power, and under Rohanna they are well led and aligned to now powerful Lanun. But the loss of their capital and the treacherous death of Tasunke puts them in this bucket for me.
Mild Winners
Bannor I thought about putting them in the medium winner category. They win a lot of scenarios, help defeat Hyborem, help defeat the orcs, and help Falamar. So I think the Bannor emerge as fairly powerful. However, they lose their capital in Blood of Angels. Even more important, I get the impression they are viewed as a second tier power in these victories. The Bannor seem to be the Bannor, going through adversity, but coming out well.
Elohim It seems that the Elohim stay as a major power for good, and the analysis around their peace treaty with the Infernals indicates that they are still a powerful force. However, they do not seem to benefit from the wars, and face a lot of personal tragedy, felt by both of their leaders.
Khazad Winners in Against the Wall, they dont have much other presence. They dont appear to be a world power, but they seem to have won a victory
Neutral
Amurites We may want to view them as winners not fighting in a war is usually a good thing, you usually come out better. Obviously, though, the Amurites arent what they used to be! Conversely, I think they get by with not fighting given that they defeated Mulcarn the first time.
Svaltalfar - I think the elves were the hardest for me to place. I have to admit I dont know all of the endings to The Splintered Court. The unification of the elves appears to be a good thing, but clearly the elves do not emerge from Splintered Court in great shape. However, they still are powerful politically. I put the Svaltalfar above the Ljosalfar because I think the Svaltalfar do better in the Ljosalfar wins than the Ljosalfar do in the Svartalfar wins. (I hope this paragraph makes sense!) they also get beaten up in Wages of Sin.
Minor Losers
Clan of Embers Defeated in Barbarian Assault, I didnt get the impression this was a decisive defeat and Im sure they will be back.
Luchiurp Also difficult to place. They are on the winning side in quite a few scenarios, but they lose Barnaxus to the Hippus. If, at the end, the Luchiurp can get the pieces of Barnaxus back, I would put them as minor winners.
Medium Losers
Ljosalfar I think the Ljosalfar are in pretty bad shape no matter who wins the Splintered Court
Sidar They get pounded in Against the Grey, but fortunately for them Decius seems to leave them pretty much alone. It is clearly a defeat but I think they can come back at some point.
Calabim/Malakim Whichever one Decius keeps beating up. Possibly could slip into major losers, they do get pounded. But we have so many in that category, I thought they came out better than many who are there now.
Major Losers
Illians Totally defeated. They start as a minor power and end up totally defeated. The one positive they had is that the did leave a mark on the world, but it is all lost. They cannot be a political power in a world without rampant snow.
Doviello Same as the Illians They had an opportunity to be a powerful ally of the Illians, they can never be a power in a hot world and they know it.
Sheaim They seem to be losers in about 58 scenarios, they are always getting the bleep beaten out of them. Clearly Tebryn is decisively defeated in the Black Tower. However, Os-Gabella may still be significant.
Totally destroyed
Infernals Defeated in their home plan by Basium and his allies
Grigori Defeated in Blood of Angels, they never seem to come back. While many others have lost cities, the loss of Cassiel seems to me to be a disaster. Cities can be rebuilt, empires can respawn; but I just dont think the Grigori can remain what they are without Cassiel. I am aware that Cassiel tries to remove himself from their management, but I do think his presence was a key to their society.
Greatest Defeat
Kuriotates While the Grigori may never be same without Cassiel, I think the Kuriotates are totally destroyed without Eurabatres. They dont come back in other scenarios and I think the Kuriotates are done for good.
Lanun Falamar. Falamar becomes the de facto leader of a very large alliance that saves the world both from the Sheaim and the Illians. He appears to be the leader so emerges as a political power.
Big Winners
Decius, either Calabim or Malakim I played the Malakim so I may not know the full Calabim side, but Decius appears to turn whichever side he is with into a major power and participates in stunning victories over the other side, along with a variety of other powers. I put them slightly below Lanun/Falamar because I think Decius has caused some internal rifts within his people.
Mercurians I probably put the Mercurians third, but still a big winner. Their purpose is to defeat the Infernals, which they accomplished, apparently decisively, in Lord of Balors.
Medium winners
These are not in any particular order:
Balseraph Oddly, the Balseraph under Keelyn seem to fight with the winning side, usually the good guys, and have a number of scenario wins. The fate of the Balseraph may also depend on the outcome of the Momus. Ive heard that Perpentech can be defeated in this scenario (it didnt happen for me). However, we can argue that the Balseraph are better off under Keelyn anyway.
Hippus I considered putting them into the big winner bucket; I think they won pretty much every scenario they are in, which is a lot! In addition, they do establish themselves as a major power, and under Rohanna they are well led and aligned to now powerful Lanun. But the loss of their capital and the treacherous death of Tasunke puts them in this bucket for me.
Mild Winners
Bannor I thought about putting them in the medium winner category. They win a lot of scenarios, help defeat Hyborem, help defeat the orcs, and help Falamar. So I think the Bannor emerge as fairly powerful. However, they lose their capital in Blood of Angels. Even more important, I get the impression they are viewed as a second tier power in these victories. The Bannor seem to be the Bannor, going through adversity, but coming out well.
Elohim It seems that the Elohim stay as a major power for good, and the analysis around their peace treaty with the Infernals indicates that they are still a powerful force. However, they do not seem to benefit from the wars, and face a lot of personal tragedy, felt by both of their leaders.
Khazad Winners in Against the Wall, they dont have much other presence. They dont appear to be a world power, but they seem to have won a victory
Neutral
Amurites We may want to view them as winners not fighting in a war is usually a good thing, you usually come out better. Obviously, though, the Amurites arent what they used to be! Conversely, I think they get by with not fighting given that they defeated Mulcarn the first time.
Svaltalfar - I think the elves were the hardest for me to place. I have to admit I dont know all of the endings to The Splintered Court. The unification of the elves appears to be a good thing, but clearly the elves do not emerge from Splintered Court in great shape. However, they still are powerful politically. I put the Svaltalfar above the Ljosalfar because I think the Svaltalfar do better in the Ljosalfar wins than the Ljosalfar do in the Svartalfar wins. (I hope this paragraph makes sense!) they also get beaten up in Wages of Sin.
Minor Losers
Clan of Embers Defeated in Barbarian Assault, I didnt get the impression this was a decisive defeat and Im sure they will be back.
Luchiurp Also difficult to place. They are on the winning side in quite a few scenarios, but they lose Barnaxus to the Hippus. If, at the end, the Luchiurp can get the pieces of Barnaxus back, I would put them as minor winners.
Medium Losers
Ljosalfar I think the Ljosalfar are in pretty bad shape no matter who wins the Splintered Court
Sidar They get pounded in Against the Grey, but fortunately for them Decius seems to leave them pretty much alone. It is clearly a defeat but I think they can come back at some point.
Calabim/Malakim Whichever one Decius keeps beating up. Possibly could slip into major losers, they do get pounded. But we have so many in that category, I thought they came out better than many who are there now.
Major Losers
Illians Totally defeated. They start as a minor power and end up totally defeated. The one positive they had is that the did leave a mark on the world, but it is all lost. They cannot be a political power in a world without rampant snow.
Doviello Same as the Illians They had an opportunity to be a powerful ally of the Illians, they can never be a power in a hot world and they know it.
Sheaim They seem to be losers in about 58 scenarios, they are always getting the bleep beaten out of them. Clearly Tebryn is decisively defeated in the Black Tower. However, Os-Gabella may still be significant.
Totally destroyed
Infernals Defeated in their home plan by Basium and his allies
Grigori Defeated in Blood of Angels, they never seem to come back. While many others have lost cities, the loss of Cassiel seems to me to be a disaster. Cities can be rebuilt, empires can respawn; but I just dont think the Grigori can remain what they are without Cassiel. I am aware that Cassiel tries to remove himself from their management, but I do think his presence was a key to their society.
Greatest Defeat
Kuriotates While the Grigori may never be same without Cassiel, I think the Kuriotates are totally destroyed without Eurabatres. They dont come back in other scenarios and I think the Kuriotates are done for good.