Types of MP Games

[Robert]

Perhaps it's a good idea to define a list of all active played MP games, with a short description.

I'll launch with a list and some descriptions, please help me to complete the list.
It may also be good to give comments on the different types of games, to learn from each other what kinda games are interesting to play.

- Diplomacy Games (Diplogames)
Long lasting games, spread over multiple 'sessions' with 6+ players. Role playing and story telling is an important part of the game. Players try to produce some kind of a realistic alternative history and back their in-game actions up by story telling and background reasons. Players aren't eliminated and it's being tried to keep the game interesting for all players till the end. Loyalty to the game is an important part of the game.

- Ladder games
Short 2 player games with elimination of the other player as the one and only goal. A win gives points for the so called 'ladder', a scorelist of all involved players.

- Democracy games
A game in which a group of players runs a civilization. Together these players discuss the actions and reactions in the game. Oftenly different players are assigned as different players or ministers. The game is mostly played on a pitboss, one turn at the time. Games are played both in Single Player modus (against the AI) or in MP player modus where different groups of players run different civilizations.

- Team Games
Games with 4+ players, spread over teams holding 2-3 members. Mostly started through the Gamespy lobby. The goal is to eliminate the other teams and to become the dominant team.

- ....

[rah]

RAH games.

MP free for alls with very few additional rules.
One session games that usually result in most players eliminated or obvious that they will be shortly.

[Dominae]

Re: Types of MP Games

- Ladder games
Short 2 player games with elimination of the other player as the one and only goal. A win gives points for the so called 'ladder', a scorelist of all involved players.

I haven't been on the Civ4Players Ladder for a while, but when I was most ladder games were either teamers or ffas (ctons).

[rah]

And as Eyes will repeat to anyone that's still foolish enough to listen, CIV IV is not really that good for ladder duels.

He joined us for one of our normal 5 person game.
He immediately started complaining about all the settings.
Declared war and harrasssed every other player in the first 10 turns. Then whinned that everyone was out to get him ???????
Then when the odds started to catch up with him, claimed that normal speed was too slow, made for newbs, and proceeded to retire. It was F*ing hilarious.
Obviously Eyes is a bit weak on the diplomacy aspects of a real MP game.

Then afterwards sent me an ICQ asking if we really played those settings or if it was just a joke for his benefit.

But that's the beauty of CIV IV, you can set it up however people want to play.

[bantams]

Most C4P Ladder Games are Medi Teamers, CTONS and UltraQuickCiv Anc OCC and a few Renny OCC games not many 2 player games :P a few Duels pop up now and then When TommyNT gets bored though

[Krill]

CS is wrong wrt Ladder games...as is Dominae claiming that a CTON is and ffa. A CTON is an ffa where it is illegal to communicate with any other player; it is purebuilding/warmongering skills that let you win, along with what land you get.

Most ladder games aren't duels, last time I checked they were teamers (I haven't played CIV MP for 7 weeks...), and any era could be played, but anything from industrial on is rare to see. Teamers range in anything from 2v2 to 5v5, with the occasional 6v6

[Hercules]

I keep seeing all these terms in Gamespy:

Ladder,

FFA

Teamers and now CTON

so it is useful to have an explanation.

So can ladders have a two person or more team against one other team. And is it mostly or totally Pitboss based?

FFA?

CTON

I know I could search but this is easier and with friends.

[Robert]

Can you guys please formulate how ladder games should really be described? Then I'll copy/paste it into the first post.

If you want to have me include other types of MP games, please just formulate it how it should be so I can copy/paste it!

[Krill]

FFA is a Free For All, every man for himself, anything goes...

CTON is teh same as FFA, but with no diplomatic contact between the players (in game or out of game) so no tech trades, no open borders, not ganging up on the stronger player etc.

A Teamer is anything where there are more than one person per side. Verty rarely are there more than 2 teams in a game, number of players per team are 2 to 5, anymore than this and teh game become very laggy.

All these are simultaneous turns, pitboss games do happen on the ladder, but normally you have to go to the ladder forum adn sign up for them before they start (IIRC)

[Hercules]

Thx for explanation.

[CanuckSoldier]

Hmmm, it has been awhile since i visited here :P Just when I don't visit someone wipes the dust away in this forum :P

As to what a ladder game is......

I think that it is best described as any MP game(no AI..ever, except when a player gets dropped and AI take over is on) that is designed to come to a conclusion in a 4-6 hour time frame.

Specific game styles vary with the fads, but anything from a 1v1, ffa, cton, and teamers are played, mods are also starting to be played, such as Ultra Quick civ. The key though is that since these are all human games, they have to be fun(meaning war most always plays some part) and they have to come to a conclusion in one sitting. While we do have continuing ladder epics, they are planned in the forums not in the lobby.

Therefore, ladder games are always on Quick(or UltraQuick) speed. The maps are designed for equal starts and small enough for the number of players to ensure contact, and some fun war tactics. Although not so close that there isn't a good build up phase.

What the ladder was designed for in the first place was just to provide a framework for competitive but fair game, that people don't quit when they start to lose.

The Ladder is as much a real time social group as it is a fan site, unlike SP fan sites, we live in the GS lobby, it's part of our culture. You won't find our forums as active as SP forums, as many of the 800 players(current stats) never visit them, since it's very easy to "learn the ropes" simply by asking ladder vets in the lobby and in game chats.

Sorry if there isn't a one line answer to what a ladder game is....but it's not that simple :P

CS

[ldeska]

I will post few types of games we play in our KAC club:

1. KAC Cup settings: 1 vs 1, normal speed, Prince level, anonymous, no huts, no barbs, always war, no tech trading, LD_Mirror_Inland_Sea2 map script, turn based mode, tt medium, 250 turns limit.

2. Galleons game: 1 vs 1, normal speed, Prince level, no huts, no barbs, always war, no tech trading, Mirror map script with Wide Continents option selected, turn based mode, no limit on turns count, players might attack each other when he/she has Galleon (so Astronomy is the key). Players play on separated continets, so naval warfare is the key here (later air superiority is very important and finally the one who has MORE NUKES )

3. Just like Galleons game, only with one major difference - players might attack each other from the very beginning, no rules on that. Then trireme and galleys are very important

4. Just like No 1 (KAC Cup game) but without TT and without turns count limit - lifitng of turns count limit is really changing the game - science is much more important because you can't win on points after 250 turns.

The most important is that we have no quitters, and there is no such rule as in c4p games that you have to play you game from the beginning to the end. In our club games might be saved and finished later if accidentally you have to finish your game at once or you have technical problems... even games with 6 players (3 vs 3) was played in this way - we are a group that know each other so well, that there is no problem to set up and finish such game.

[Deity Dude]

Originally posted by CyberShy
Can you guys please formulate how ladder games should really be described? Then I'll copy/paste it into the first post.

Ladder games aren't a "type" of game but a scoring system and not a very good one at that IMO.

[Krill]

That's either a bad troll or you're an ignorant fool.

[CanuckSoldier]

Originally posted by Deity Dude


Ladder games aren't a "type" of game but a scoring system and not a very good one at that IMO.

It may not be a "type" of game, but it definitely is a style of playing. Exercised by the only community of MPers. And why I agree that Cases Myleague isn't the best designed scoring system for a multifaceted game like Civ, it is free, and has a good set of tools for both players and Admins.

CS