Interest in MP AU Course

[ZargonX]

This poll is to gauge interest in an Apolyton University "Intro to MP" Course. The tactics and playstyle for MP are very different from the standard game, and it can be quite overwhelming/confusing for players when the first join in. Should Apolyton University tackle a basic course to help ease people into this different format?

Discuss!

[UnOrthOdOx]

Sure I'm up for it. I'm still working kinks out of Civ IV MP.

[fed1943]

Yes. I am very interested in learning.

Best regards,

[Snotty]

sounds like a good idea, as for implementation?

[Smellycowsquid]

I would like to learn.

[Arrian]

I've played a little (team) MP lately and have enjoyed it.

The connection issues are a PITA, though.

In order to give it the AU treatment (AARs and such), we'd have to play at a very un-MP pace. Part of the MP experience is learning how to make the critical decisions quickly (and learn what options to turn on/off to speed things up!).

-Arrian

[ZargonX]

My thinking on the course would be the creation of a pretty basic map with 4 players. Players could then group together based on availability and all have a go at it. Afterwards, since everone will have started in the exact same situation, people can analyze what worked, what didn't, and figure out how to improve from there.

Perhaps a 2 player situation might make it easier for people to find partners, but I'm not sure...

[Arrian]

2v2 on a team battleground map...

But doing AARs is going to be difficult. To do it right, we would need to agree to pause the game for a few minutes every 20 turns or so to give us time to take some screenshots and notes...

-Arrian

[ZargonX]

I think that would be reasonable. Keep the turn timer on in order to keep the "pressure" up, but schedule pauses for notes/screenies every so often.

[MadDjinn]

sounds fun.. I've been thinking of MP for a bit, but would only join into a game where I know the others are 'sane' per se...

[Krill]

Whatever you do, don't make it competitive...or you will get a lot of ladder players joining and that just ain't fun.

[ZargonX]

Nope, this is not about competition; it's simply about learning.

[joncnunn]

I think the Multi-Team Democracy games are a good enough intro to multiplayer games.

[Krill]

And you would be wrong. MP, nd PBEM are incredably different. The time constraint blazing forces each player to play their turn under makes someone act very fast and make very quick decisions, instead of having a day to think about what they ought to build next in a single city...

[fed1943]

Thanks, Krill.

Your two lines and a half lines post told me clearly what MP (and

other ways of play) are.

Speaking as one, for me:

No MP (not fun to me);

I already play DG (several persons in one civ) but, if one more

is created here, I will join;

I also will join a game with one player=one civ and civs allied

in, let's say, two or three groups; but the time for each move

must be enough to not force the player to move while looking

at the watch.

Best regards,