Civ4 Newbie Here...

[FlameFlash]

...though I hope folks remember me after not logging in for two years. An errant email from some old CTP friends got me back here, I've been dying to try out Civ4 MP.

Long story short on my long absence, Mac died, got Intel Mac, Intel Mac hates old Mac games (CTP, SMAX) and I was lazy to try to set things back up.

Back in the saddle and time for a game. Got Civ4 BtS from Steam so I'm good to go (Mac gaming is dead.)

Just got SMAC/SMAX from eBay too, but I'm so rusty there (like I'm good at Civ4 ) I thought I might just play the latest incarnation instead. (CtP is still in the mail.)

Read a little about Bitboss and the like. I remember being excited that CivIII can turn into an RTS game with simultaneous turns, is it similar here with that if it's a live MP game (Never got a chance to play CivIII MP either...)?

Too late in the weekend for a live MP (though I'd like to try one of those set up) how would one join a 'bitboss' game?

[snoopy369]

"Pitboss" (PTBS, persistent turn-based server) ...

Basically you have to find a game, or form one of your own If you form a game of your own, you (or someone else in the game) must have a computer that's online 24/7 or close. You then use the pitboss exe (same dir as your civ4/civ4bts program file) and create the game from there just as if you were in the civ4 main screen; you just have to decide if it will be internet (on gamespy lobby) or direct ip. If you go direct ip you should probably have a dyndns address unless you have a static ip (dyndns.org , it lets you set up a dns entry like snoopy369.dyndns.org that always redirects to your current ip).

I have a partial document in my sig that explains some of it.

[Keygen]

Glad to see you back FlameFlash after that long absence

I'm setting up a PBEM or PTBS (PitBoss) game soon and it would be great if you would join in.

[GeoModder]

OMG, FlameFlash, is that really you? How's the family?
If you're still into that, I think Hercules is dying to get a BtS PBEM started. Might pop into one myself.

[snoopy369]

I might well join as well. I could possibly host one, though it would be my third game, but that shouldn't matter (haven't I said that before...)

[FlameFlash]

Originally posted by snoopy369
"Pitboss" (PTBS, persistent turn-based server) ...

Basically you have to find a game, or form one of your own If you form a game of your own, you (or someone else in the game) must have a computer that's online 24/7 or close. You then use the pitboss exe (same dir as your civ4/civ4bts program file) and create the game from there just as if you were in the civ4 main screen; you just have to decide if it will be internet (on gamespy lobby) or direct ip. If you go direct ip you should probably have a dyndns address unless you have a static ip (dyndns.org , it lets you set up a dns entry like snoopy369.dyndns.org that always redirects to your current ip).

I have a partial document in my sig that explains some of it.

You might as well have just written to me in Italian.

Originally posted by Keygen
Glad to see you back FlameFlash after that long absence

I'm setting up a PBEM or PTBS (PitBoss) game soon and it would be great if you would join in.

I'd love to join in, this PTBS concept is very intriguing, just worried I won't be able to connect to it.

Originally posted by GeoModder
OMG, FlameFlash, is that really you? How's the family?
If you're still into that, I think Hercules is dying to get a BtS PBEM started. Might pop into one myself.

Yep, it's me. They're doing great. Wife just had her wisdom teeth taken out and son's about to start kindergarten.

Originally posted by snoopy369
I might well join as well. I could possibly host one, though it would be my third game, but that shouldn't matter (haven't I said that before...)

Awesome, this is starting to feel like old times...

[snoopy369]

If you're in Minnesota, maybe Rommel can come over and explain it

Well, hrm. Let's see if we can get a few more. PTBS games are nice in that they're simultaneous turns, so you can have 6-8 players easily still play a fast moving game.

Any more takers?

[Wittlich]

Sure, I'm up for another game.

[FlameFlash]

Cool!

[Nugog]

What length turn timer are you looking at?

[GeoModder]

24 hours of course.

[Nugog]

Ok - with my job 36-48 works better for me - especially at the moment - sorry - count me out of this one

[GeoModder]

It's not like I'm the only one with a say in this. Just wait on what the others say, as they may like a longer delay too.

[Wittlich]

Meh, I'm easy either way; even one of the games I'm in that is an 16 hour timer (The Iliad) seems to work fine with me...but then, since I'm still plugging away at San Francisco State University, I really don't have a busy life at the present. I might change my tune come next spring when I graduate and start pounding the pavement in search of my second career!

[FlameFlash]

I'm happy with anything 24 or greater.

[GeoModder]

And since FF is the initiator, it is considered his game. So Nugog, come back, the drones need you!

[FlameFlash]

Originally posted by GeoModder
And since FF is the initiator, it is considered his game. So Nugog, come back, the drones need you!

My game? Well, hope everyone will help settle on the settings though, I haven't even played through all the new features of BtS yet! (Though I'm loving the corporations... oddly the SP game I'm playing now doesn't have a single marble resource anywhere on the map.)

[GeoModder]

A few tips: skip on Abe, the Dutch and Sitting cattleBull, allow free choice of religions and enable only researched tech trading.

[FlameFlash]

Tech brokering I understand the negatives of, but I take it Abe, Dutch, and Sitting Bull are unbalanced?

Free choice of religions... so Christianity could kick in where Hinduism normally would?

[snoopy369]

If I'm hosting the game i'm going to make calls on some of the settings

I'm fine with free choice of religions, and tech brokering. I'd rather actually have random civs, than specific ones... would people be okay with that? We could also do a custom random option, ie "only BtS civs" if you wanted to do something amusing like that.

36 hour turn timer is acceptable, as long as you don't mind me being a bit aggressive with the convert-to-AI if someone goes awol (misses several turns in a row, around 3, without posting that they're away).

[FlameFlash]

Sounds good to me on the AWOL issue, with 36 hours it's understandable (and hoped) that everyone can check in ever-other day.

Only BtS civs would be fun, keep things fresh, that's for sure. Ai or no AI to start?

What kind of planet? I'm disappointed with the continents setting while impressed with the archipelago and pangea maps (balanced versions of course a must), perhaps with low water so there's more land to go around.

[Wittlich]

Random BtS civs are fine with me. I'm easy concerning any type of rules that we play with.

[Nugog]

Originally posted by snoopy369
36 hour turn timer is acceptable, as long as you don't mind me being a bit aggressive with the convert-to-AI if someone goes awol (misses several turns in a row, around 3, without posting that they're away).

Can you convert to AI and then back to a player?

Just asking as I will be away from this Thursday till the following one...

I can ask someone else to cover me though.....

[Nugog]

Random Civs are fine with me.

I presonally prefer to have a couple of AI around - but either way really.........

I am happy to play on whatever setings are decided upon.

[snoopy369]

Yes, you can always swap from AI to player and back again. I won't start the game until you get back if you're in it (unless you can get a replacement player).

Random BtS civs, or random BtS leaders (including new leaders for old civs)?

Just to clarify, can everyone who's interested post here?

[snoopy369]

AI wise I prefer no AI in multiplayer games. They are somewhat unbalancing as if you start next to them (unless it's Monty) you generally have a distinct advantage...

[RobWorham]

If I'm not too late!!

[Nugog]

I am in - and working on a replacement player.....

[Nugog]

Replacement Player confirmed - I am good to go!

[FlameFlash]

Most certainly in!

I like the idea of BtS leaders/civs being in the possibility if that's fine. If it's easier to just do random BtS civs then go that route however.