Pitboss Diplomacy Game

[deity]

Get a test going right now and start proper when we get the patch.

[Rasputin]

So interesting reading all this.

I havent played any MP games in Civ4, so looking forward to my first taste.

Please be aware that i suck at the game itself, never play above Settler level in SP, but i do enjoy the Diplo style.

So if you looking for a challenge i probably shouldnt play.

if we all playing for fun then i will play.

[Robert]

We play for fun.
And the weaker nations can allie up with stronger nations.

It's both fun and competition, but competition should never be a stand in the way for the fun.

Glad that you're in!

1. CyberShy
2. Heraclitus
3. Toni
4. Pinchak
5. OzzyKP
6. MMC
7. Rasputin
8. Deity
9. Beta
10. Whip[lash
11. Rasputin

[Heraclitus]

Originally posted by CyberShy
It also founds 1 or 2 cities, right?

No it dosen't.


Like I've said people before refusing the classical start, just start a game with it and see for yourself what it is like.

[Heraclitus]

Originally posted by deity
Get a test going right now and start proper when we get the patch.

I agree with diety. We should start a test right away (when we have enough people), in this fashion we can see how slow/fast the thing is. It would also allow us to work out any issues. It might also give the people involved a feel for how much time it takes, and what pace of turning they can still keep up with.



Many of the regular diplo players dont like my suggestions to speed up the game, but remember we have to compromise. A blazing game even if it seemed slower to us, would be just as fast in game, it would mean some periods get skkimed by. Even the standard speed is too quick and a bit rushed, the lowest I'll usually go is epic. But even Epic takes forewer in pitboss.



People we have to compromise on this.

[Rasputin]

so anyone up for a game today ?

[Heraclitus]

Originally posted by deity
I would like Mara speed but 10-12 hour timer = 2 turns a day (breakfast and dinner)

I don't know how 10-12 works out with 18 players accros the globe. If people with experince have seen it work I'm all for it.




Hey guys what if we arrange a "session", a day and time when we get together and complete our early turns as often as possible? That could be another way to speed up the start.

[Heraclitus]

Originally posted by Rasputin
so anyone up for a game today ?

Like start up a pitboss game? Or are you just bored?

[OzzyKP]

Originally posted by Heraclitus

I think that if we want this to work we should either:

a) Use the advanced start feature
b) Start in the Classic era
c) Play 200 turns like a normal diplo game. But to reduce the head ache of cooridnating 18 players. We divide the group into 2 worlds (one old world the other new- these in game groups would be synced up with time zones). Once we reach 200 turns (that will take two sessions) we get someone to merge the two games (possibly using the world builder). And have us use the "scenario" made in this fashion as the basis for the pitboss game.

d) Do 200 turns in a normal diplo game. And get 18 players to connect properly and come at one time.

Ok, Ozzy's time to fix stuff. Cause I'm a thinker.

20 hour turn timer sounds good to me.

Advanced start, I'd very much oppose this.

Classical start... eh, not something I'd like to go with, but I'd be open to it. I also agree with someone's point that it'd help some of the more novice players who aren't good at picking opening tech paths in games.

As for the two games & merge idea... is it even possible to open a Pitboss save in WorldBuilder? I don't know how to do it in MP, and I'm not sure if Pitboss is different. If that step is possible then it could be done. Units, cities, tile reveal, etc is contained in text format in the world builder save. If you know what you're doing, editing the text is often quicker and easier than going through the world builder. For some things world builder will be needed though. I think 200 turns is too much though, if we did it, it'd have to be less. The more complicated the game got, the messier the merge would be.

Getting everyone together at one time for a session just isn't practical.

Another idea, if we can queue up our moves and if we can adjust the turn timer then we could speed things along quite nicely in the early part of the game assuming everyone coordinates a bit.

The early part of the game is just hitting enter anyways. So we could play through normally with 1 turn every 20-24 hours until everyone settles their first city, sets their city build, picks a tech to research, and puts their scout/warrior on auto-explore. Once everyone does that we change the turn timer to like 1 minute. Wait like 10 minutes and we'll jump ahead 10 turns.

Then we could put the timer back to 20 hours for a turn or two to give people a chance to reassess the world situation, change queues, adjust the path of their units, and then do another 10 quick 1 minute turns. The turns will auto-advance, and everyone's queues will cycle through. We could really do this at any slow point in the game assuming everyone appropriately queues themselves up.

I agree on waiting till the patch for the full game and I agree with running a test to try it out.

[Blackdragon921]

My buddy at work Pinchak told me about this game.

I would very much like to join. This will be my first diplomacy game, but Pinchak informed me about how it works.

So, count me in please.

[Heraclitus]

1. CyberShy
2. Heraclitus
3. Toni
4. Pinchak
5. OzzyKP
6. MMC
7. Rasputin
8. Deity
9. Beta
10. Whip[lash
11. Rasputin
12. Blackdragon921

Welcome aboard. Please note that this is an experimental Diplo Game, its the first Pitboss game.

[OzzyKP]

Why is Raz on the list twice?

[Heraclitus]

Cyber added him a second time.

1. CyberShy
2. Heraclitus
3. Toni
4. Pinchak
5. OzzyKP
6. MMC
7. Rasputin
8. Deity
9. Beta
10. Whip[lash
11. Blackdragon921

[Pinchak]

As one of the only people here who has pittboss AND diplo experience, here are my professional opinions.

1. Huge map. 2 or perhaps even 3 contenants. Maybe even divide the civs up according to ethnicity. All the oriental civs on one contenant, all the europeans on another contenant, etc... At any rate, a player created map would be best so as to avoid tundra starts and other civ screwing occurances. I would LOVE to create the map, but I also want to play.

2. Epic speed. Using anything faster takes away from the diplo style, while anything slower would be AGONY.

3. Eight hour turn timer, then switch to a twenty-two hour timer. The eight hour timer means 3 turns a day, and people can easily que up in the begining. However, once things progress past that inital stage, some will only be able to play their turn once a day. For pittboss, this is the norm. Trying to rush the game with shorter timers leads to people missing turns.

4. Regarding double moves, I would love to think the honor system will work, but then again I know better. There WILL come a time when someone will accuse someone else of exploiting the system to gain an advantage. I would vote for a hard fast rule, such as the 12/12 rule mentioned earlier.

5. The "diplo" rules should be changed to accomidate not only pittboss, but also 18 civs. We are entering uncharted territory here, and thinking it through now will save us headaches later. Things like tech trade, voting requirments, story requirments, etc... I think there is a real danger of this game deteriorating into a standard pittboss game considering the sheer number of players and the number of players new to diplomacy games. I cannot emphsise enough how important it is that all participents read the offical manual , and agree to participate in storytelling and voting!

[Heraclitus]

A very good post. I agree with most of the stuff that was said in it.