Tao Base: 3x2

[smacksim]

This is the development and turn tracking thread for Tao Base, a 3x2 game with binTravkin, Smack, and ChairmanSlick.

binTravkin has a holiday (Latvia) until Monday, so we won't be getting going until then. However, he's stated he wants a fast game, as do Slick and I. This leaves a few days for us to pick factions and negotiate the map.

binTravkin left this list of factions to choose from for his picks:

1.Morgan
2.Uni
3.Hive
4.PKs
5.Angels
6.Gaians

Since he's gone, and won't get to pick his second for balance, let's have him go first.

ChairmanSlick has posted some preferences in the 2x2x2 thread:

'How about CyCon + Hive
If not then CyCon + Pirates
If not then CyCon + Drones'

Round 1
binTravkin: Morgan
ChairmanSlick: CyCon
Smack: University

Round 2
binTravkin: Hive
ChairmanSlick: ?
Smack: ?

Round 2 Probable
binTravkin: Hive
ChairmanSlick: Pirates
Smack: Gaians

Map: Huge, random, but being debated.
Rules: ? Anyone have a nice set of 3x2 rules?
Game Options: Pods, geography visible, all victories, ?

As you can see, there's a lot left to debate. Let's finish discussing by Sunday so we can start the next day.

-Smack

[ChairmanSlick]

i would definately prefer a large map rather than huge.

In terms of other setting, have all victory conditions ON

Pods On

Survey OFF

AVERAGE: worms, rain, sea etc.

Cycon + Hive would be much prefered, but ah well.. pirates is cool.

As i said before i'm easy. I think rules go without saying except that u CAN use the stockpile bug

but every thing else is disallowed.

Maybe reverse engineering can be allowed aswell?
i don't know.

[binTravkin]

Hiya, Im back & I sign in here!:D

Morgan + Hive seems quite weird, but I can go with that!:b:

Why it is so little activity here?

Because I have Hive as 2nd?

Oh, come on!
Take PKs & hit the Governor seat
Take Angels & steal ever tech with EG
Take Drones & have any SP you want
Take Believers & spawn like there's no tomorrow
Take.. whatever & ..

Well, if you still think its disbalanced, give me Angels & you can take hive..

Lets make our 2nd & go on to playing
About prefs -> I can play with any, except I want to have as little ocean as possible!

Post your opinion & votes
:doitnow!:

-bin

[ChairmanSlick]

i said "pirates is cool" -- so i don't believe that is the hold up... i thought the game was currently being made... not sure tho.

as i said before, i'll play any setup so if your waiting for us all to agree or something - Don't!

Just set this **** up and surprise me, the only definitive being my factions // Pirates][Cybernetic Consciousness

-- Looking forward to it boys-

Out.

[smacksim]

I was merely waiting for binTravkin to come back from Janis and consoling his country on their way out of Euro2004. We are ready to go then? Turn 1 will be out in an hour.

-Smack

[smacksim]

Ok. Here we go.

Tao Base: A 3x2 Smax game

Huge, pods-on, 30-50 water, medium erosion, medium fungus, dense clouds. Look first, all victories.

Rules: So far, we all agree to play with 'standard' rules, but this can be further negotiated if need be. See below.

Turn order is:

binTravkin
1. Morgan
2. Hive

ChairmanSlick
3. Cycon
4. Pirates
5. *Angels

Smack
6. University
7. Gaians

*The Data Angels are AI.

Rules proposals:

Chairman: Stockpile yes. Smack says: yes
Chairman: reverse engineer? Smack says: just not probe teams -> rovers.

I have not viewed the map in any way, so it could be a horrible start. Who knows? I think that if 2 of 3 of us agree to restart, we can do that, otherwise, make the best of it. :b:

We need to share emails. I'll PM you both with mine.
It would be good to share passwords as well, in case we need a replacement. I'm going to use no password for my turns. If you set a password, please share it with someone to prevent game stagnation.

I'm going to upload the first turn here for anyone curious. It's 2101 to the Morganites! Good luck binTravkin.

-Smack

TaoBase-binTravkin-2101 (http://apolyton.net/upload/view.php?file=48981_TaoBase-binTravkin-2101.zip)

[binTravkin]

Downloaded this, will be played today..

[binTravkin]

2101 sent to ChairmanSlick

Sorry for delays -> had to resolve some private problems..

[smacksim]

s'ok by me. Hopefully Slick is still around.

[ChairmanSlick]

yeah, sorry bout delay aswell..

once we get going will be much quicker!

=== just one thing my factions are not together in turn order and this is in my mind kinda stupid. It will improve turn speed lots if they were together... is this possible?

[binTravkin]

It is, of course possible, but see if your factions are not connectable -> the first is 7th in the turn order & the second is 1st in turn order or somesuch..

If they truly aren't connectable, we should remake the scenario!:(

No use playing with split factions - the same as having 1 more player..

[smacksim]

I thought I set it up like binTravkin is talking about, IE you have the 1st and 7th factions, so will be in order normally.

-S

Let me know if we need a re-roll. I'm on a lot these days.

[ChairmanSlick]

I played my CyCon turn and isn't my pirates turn suppose to be next??.

here is the attached turn (played) ... i'm confused tho -- did u say that morganites have first turn? It tells me that the next turn is morganites and to enter password etc. for them.

i don't know how this works.. if it need a reshuffle = please go ahead.

Also could we have contact established between our factions? (if not i guess its ok) ; (

and if i could have lasers prototyped and some free minerals for starting base i will be happy.

don't go out of your way tho.

[ChairmanSlick]

woops forgot to attach it...

[smacksim]

I'd better restart with the proper order then. Will be an hour or so.

-S

[smacksim]

I had no problems with the turn order when I tried it out from the earlier save. Couldn't use the above because of password.

So I made a new game. It's turn to Morganites. If we run into the same turn-order problem, we might wanna get a more experienced CMN to set it up. I thought I knew what I was doing, but apparently not. :D

[ChairmanSlick]

i wouldn't mind a restart... this land is totally crap.

1 vote Restart...

[ChairmanSlick]

turn to smack btw

[binTravkin]

crap yeah, but too much restarts already!

And in previous game I got both my factions on islands

I vote - no restart

[smacksim]

This does seem to slow to get started. You both seem much more active over the last few days, which is a good sign that we are now underway.

-Smack....going to play the turn now.

[smacksim]

2102 -> binTravkin and the Morganites

I forgot to not take Cent-Eco with the University, seeing as I could have gotten it from the Gaians. Whoops!

As per usual rules for 3x2, yes you can contact your second faction. No, you can't contact other players until you meet them.

Didn't give ya any extra bonuses ChairmanSlick. No lasers. This was started 'blind', not from a scenario. Totally random to me too. I have an island with one faction and a nice continent area with the other.

If you really really want to restart, we can of course. But it looks like votes are 2:1 against. I'll change my mind if your start was truly horrible.

-Smack

[binTravkin]

Well, he can't tell us, because, I dont think, he's gonna show us a pic..;)

yes you can contact your second faction

I can't :(

[binTravkin]

Is this determined by MY alpha.txt or YOUR?

I always thought that contacts depend on game creators/starters Alpha file..:confused:

[smacksim]

I thought so as well. Darsnan convinced me that each players alphax.txt is read completely. So perhaps you have checked off the '1, ;If 1, players may contact any faction in an MP game' or however it reads. Maybe you changed it to 0?

You should be able to contact.

[binTravkin]

Smacksim, Please resend!:(

[smacksim]

Resent. What happened?

[binTravkin]

Hotmail filtered your 1st file, but where exactly did you send it?
to xxxivantravkin@hotmail.com?

If yes then re-send to
xxxjohngrassy@yahoo.com instead
without xxx, of course!;)

[smacksim]

Hope the third time is the charm. I'm sending from a legit email server, so it shouldn't be filtered. Who knows. I'll also post it to the thread, just in case. Here's 2101. I'll append the 2102 that I have in just a sec

[smacksim]

2102

If that 2102 isn't proper, just play on from 2101. Those are the only Tao saves I have.

[binTravkin]

I got it in Hotmail - AOK!
2moro will sent forth, you can delete those attachments!:b:

[ChairmanSlick]

i played the turn (pirates), and then it went to UoP (which is not apart of my Alliance). Thus, i think we have a recurring problem.

I should have pirates and then ---> CyCon (not UoP)

also... when i played as pirates, they did not have contact established with CyCon. I thought that this problem was rectified as well??

i'm confused. :(

[binTravkin]

the contact problem lies in your alphax.txt, but we should restart if the order is not right!

You can ask Smack to upload alphax.txt, so you can get it corrected

[smacksim]

Guys, I don't know what the problem is. I'm going to ask Googlie to set this up for us. I'm sure I'm doing everything fine....can't see the error. I'll get back to you when I get a proper CMN for our game.

-Smack

[Googlie]

Okay - ready to go (just playtesting a few turns to make sure that Uni gets their free tech, etc etc)

I took the liberty of disabling the Empath Guild (you know that's a cause celebre of mine for PBEMs) as well as giving the Angels the HSA (which removes the +4 probe problem)

Let me know if this is a problem

I'll PM each of you your password, and hang the Hive's turn here

[smacksim]

Thanks Googlie. You're the best.

[Googlie]

Transcend level, huge map, 50% to 70% land, average everything

Here are the custom rules:

[Googlie]

Turn order is:

bin Travkin
Hive
Morgan

ChairmanSlick
CyCon
Pirates

smacksim
Gaians
University

Passwords have been sent to all. Good luck, and enjoy

Googlie

[Googlie]

bin Travkin

HELLO - Anyone There?

[smacksim]

I know Googlie. I think binTravkin only plays during the school week....or something. (Smack crosses his fingers that a Pbem actually gets going)

[ChairmanSlick]

ya i'm here...

good work googlie and thanks.

turn waiting for bintravkin i presume... i'll give him a reminder email.

thanks again Googlie. most appreciated..

:evilgrin: GOOGLIE TO THE RESCUE... DA DA DA DARRR

[binTravkin]

download done...
upload expected in 24 hours

[smacksim]

2102 --> binTravkin. I emailed it and am also posting it here till I'm sure email is working for us

[ChairmanSlick]

:) YAY! ... we got through a turn finally!

[smacksim]

I know, it's amazing, huh?

binTravkin, can you play on weekends or not? I forgot to ask you last time.

[binTravkin]

binTravkin, can you play on weekends or not?

nope, but can play at rate 1turn/day at weekdays..:b:

[smacksim]

---> binTravkin

[ChairmanSlick]

if u can play 1/per day, where the hell is the next turn???

[binTravkin]

1 per weekday

[binTravkin]

But currently speeding up-> if I receive turn while being @work, can send forth in 5-20 mins!:b:

Turn is on your court, chairman!

[ChairmanSlick]

The turn you sent me was 2102!!! not 2103...

it has been over 1 month and this pbem has gone no where... get your act together BinTravkin!

[smacksim]

He might not have re-named it. Did you open and try to play it?

[ChairmanSlick]

yes, of course.

[smacksim]

2104 --> binTravkin

Would you guys post here when you've played the turn? I use webmail, so am not alerted when the turn comes in.

Also, I'll be vacationing these next 2 weeks, but should be online every day, just not every minute ;)

[ChairmanSlick]

where is the next turn??

---this is sooooooooo slow!

[binTravkin]

Turn sent

[ChairmanSlick]

turn to smack

[smacksim]

2104 --> binTravkin

[binTravkin]

onwards

[ChairmanSlick]

turn sent to smack

[smacksim]

2105 --> binTravkin

[binTravkin]

pickin up the pace, uh? :D

onwards!
..to victory!:cute:

[ChairmanSlick]

lol

back to smacksim...GW boys!:) :b:

[smacksim]

2106 --> binTravkin

[binTravkin]

SIm send me the right turn, not yours!:doitnow!:

Nevermind -> today my gaming time is over and I will not bring up SMAX till tomorrow around this time..

[binTravkin]

Hey, I delayed it a bit -> had to go to Obligatory Military Dienst to get rid of them

It's the last year you can be drafted in Latvia, so it'd be reeel shame if they get me this year

And I don't want the Army to ruin my life

I tend to think that in Latvia there's no use of army whatsoever -> only from border and security guards which are a separate organisation & much more efficient

So, I get three turns from Smack
1.the wrong one
2.the right one
3.the right one 2

I deleted the 1st and then, by mistake, the 2nd too & saved the 3rd to disc..
It still shows "Smack 2106"
Are you sure you're using a patched SMAX SmackSim?

Maybe youre loading this file in SMAC by mistake?

It's possible and can damage the game file!

If true we should return to 2105 and replay it..:(

[smacksim]

Originally posted by binTravkin
So, I get three turns from Smack
1.the wrong one
2.the right one
3.the right one 2

After you told me you recieved the wrong turn, I just sent the same file I'd sent before, then I re-named the save with your name and zipped it, and finally, I re-zipped my save and sent that, for what it's worth.

I deleted the 1st and then, by mistake, the 2nd too & saved the 3rd to disc..
It still shows "Smack 2106"
Are you sure you're using a patched SMAX SmackSim?

Maybe youre loading this file in SMAC by mistake?

It's possible and can damage the game file!

If true we should return to 2105 and replay it..:(

So did it work or not? You fail to mention that. What the file is named has nothing to do with how it plays. Did it?

If it didn't work, I'll replay the turn and then send it, as I indicated in my email to you.

[binTravkin]

Well, I must say something to you now

What the file is named has nothing to do with how it plays

It's true!

And I NEVER EVER look at the filename to decide whether I have received the right one or not:
I ALWAYS try to open it!

And if it shows "Lord Smack of the Gaians 2106" all the time then I need you to replay the turn!

I NEVER complain before checking all and when I ask for a resend, that means I want a completely different file (replayed) unless other reason is stated (for example: "sorry deleted by mistake")

And I think that all of the PBEMers should do as I do:
check all and ONLY then say that the turn is wrong

I've met a few such who seeing that the filename seems somewhat weird immediately brings up Poly and asks for different file - it's stupid & I never do that!

So, please replay and resend
To me it seems most likely that you simply saved the file without hitting "End Turn" - happens to people who play much SP..;)

But if you replay and the problem persists, that means our versions of game are different..
I use SMAC/X 5.0 (aka "patched for Win 2000 & XP")

Awaiting input..

[smacksim]

Originally posted by binTravkin
So, I get three turns from Smack
1.the wrong one
2.the right one
3.the right one 2

Don't you think that would make me think you got the right turn after all? :rant:

I'll replay and resend. I just request that you be specific in regards to:

Were you now able to play the turn, or should I proceed to suggested step 2 (replay and resend)? Or is something else required?

The above quote is misleading, if in fact, you can't play it. Proceeding to phase 2. Hopefully we'll be back on track quickly.

[binTravkin]

Ok, ok

Now its ok!

Turn to Slick

[smacksim]

:ana:

[ChairmanSlick]

:scared:


ah, u boys...

turn to smack a few hours a go

[smacksim]

2107 --> binTravkin.

[binTravkin]

I need a resend - my mailbox overloaded & bumped it back..:(
Please resend!:unworthy:

[binTravkin]

Please resend!

[binTravkin]

Sent forth!

[smacksim]

I survived a MW attack and realized I should be advancing the year at the end of my turn

2109 --> binTravkin

all my base are belong to me

[Googlie]

Originally posted by smacksim
all my base are belong to me

Ah, Smack. I fear it may be lost on the newer players.

That was a classic, wasn't it?

G.

[binTravkin]

all my base are belong to me

Please explain!


2109 ------------> Slick

[Googlie]

LOL - it was the literal English translation of a foreign ( Korean?) review of the early smac game with some in-game quotes for the reader to see to get a "flavour" of the game.

One was the Hive. saying to the Uni (or something like that)

"All your bases are belong to me"

[smacksim]

2110 -->binTravkin

[ChairmanSlick]

hehehe, those crazy koreans -

when i play warcraft (I play it a lot - and that the national sport over there.)

When u ask a korean a quesiton like, hi, where are u from
the response is alwasy - ok
GG
meaning good game.

=) ALWAYS.. its funny

[ChairmanSlick]

Q. what is your name?

A. Ok


:hmmm:

[smacksim]

I thought it was from some other game, but yeah, it's a little older. Nonetheless it's a well known saying among programmers/the slashdot crowd. ThinkGeek even makes shirts that say:

'All your base are belong to us'.

Quite overdone. But it's still funny :lol:

GG Slick, GG

[binTravkin]

Turn fwd!
GG -> I suck at powerchart!:)

[ChairmanSlick]

turn back to smack

[smacksim]

2111 --> binTravkin

[ChairmanSlick]

ok, move it along Bini-boy.

[binTravkin]

Sorry for delays - illness struck me!

Turn passed on

[ChairmanSlick]

sorry to hear that bini, =)

good to see ur on the mend - turn to smack.

[smacksim]

2111 ---> Healthy binTravkin

[binTravkin]

2111 ---> Slicky!:lol:

Seems someone has done much techtrading..:cute:

[ChairmanSlick]

it says ive already played turn 11...

i'm really tired, i'll do it tomorrow

[binTravkin]

Hey, what's up?

[ChairmanSlick]

please resend appropriate turn please.
thanks mate

[binTravkin]

Ok, but that was the real turn!:confused:

Well, I'll try another time..

[binTravkin]

I now realise that Smacksim has sent me the wrong turn!

SmackSim, please send me 2112 not 2111!

[binTravkin]

I said 2112! :doitnow!:

Read the thread and see that 2111 has already passed!

[smacksim]

I resent the latest turn that I have, which is 2111, hoping you were wrong r/e the turns. I have no 2112. So it's back to Chairman Slick to produce a 2112 I guess.

[binTravkin]

2112 --> Slick

This time for reel!:D

AND it is 2112 in-game!

[binTravkin]

Well?

[binTravkin]

Seems we have to look for a replacement - I tried ICQing ChairmanSlick, but as soon as he noticed my message, he went offline..:(

EDIT: seems we haven't got his password, have we..?

In that case, game is over..:(