PBEM#4: The Terra Epos

[Claus]

Emperor V:
I got the first test game back. I could open and play it, but again my name was set back to Kassandra, my workstation's name. And the file was labeled "Emperor_V_to_Emperor_V...".
Really strange indeed. Let's see if it is the same with the other test files.

[Rommel2D]

If you care to verify this, it looks like 'hot-starting' the game from the save replaces the first player's name with a field name from the .ini file. Loading the save from the PBEM menu in the game should keep the name as is.

[Claus]

Thanks for the hint.

I tested it and started the turn via "load game". Indeed, there was no Kassandra this time, so my machine didn't change the name. However, the game file I received was already labeled the wrong way, so we should test if the same way works for the computer which sends me my turn.

[sabrewolf]

so where is the game now?

[Claus]

Somewhere in the forum I read that MF Camillus has been on vacation this week. So I guess he will return tomorrow and then play his turn.

It's not too bad, though, because this has given Emperor V and myself the time to verify Rommel2D's idea: the last player in the group (in our case MF Camillus) has to load the game file the "traditional" way, ie he has to start Civ4 and then load the file, instead of double-clicking the email attachment. The same is true for me, the first player.

If we don't do it, then otherwise the program changes the first player's name to the name of the local machine.

[Emperor_V]

I've noticed that if I load the pbem instead of launch it fromt he save... most bugs,
like players name changes,
inability to change email settings
trade for first player and of course the dreaded
unable to compress data error

are no longer issues!

Maybe it's just me, and your just you and we'll be who we are and try to get along!

hehe

[Emperor_V]

I moved this turn along about 2 days ago.

[Rommel2D]

Originally posted by Emperor_V
I've noticed that if I load the pbem instead of launch it fromt he save... most bugs,
like players name changes,
inability to change email settings
trade for first player and of course the dreaded
unable to compress data error

are no longer issues!

Have you been able to trade as player 1 in a game? This was originally reported by someone playing hotseat, so I didn't think the save would play into it...

[Claus]

Well, I've tested this several times, but I couldn't verify this error. I tried to start in several ages, and all worked fine: I could trade maps, techs, border agreements etc.

However, I played those test PBEMs against myself, so if that player1-trade-bug has something to do with different workstations communicating, it's logical it didn't occur to me while testing.

[Emperor_V]

Well, scratch my theory... it seems it doesn't matter how you load it, I still have some bugs show up, haven't seen the player1 can't trade one yet though

[Emperor_V]

What happened to this game? Where's the file at?

[sabrewolf]

we should have mandatory tracker postings (eg 4000bc to xyz) so we always know the culprit .

and it gives some "easy" posts to all the newbs to quickly reach that prince level without spamming

[Ollywood]

hello fellow PBEM players,

I am trying to start a new PBEM and wondered if any of you enthusiasts are interested in joining in on that one as well next to your current game.

pls see this thread

http://www.apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=143603

[Emperor_V]

I sent this game along the other day... where is it now?

[Claus]

MF Camillus sent it to me. However, he obviously started it from within his email attachment, not "by hand" from the PBEM menu, so my leader name was changed to his computer's name again. I wrote him to send his turn once more, but until now I didn't receive a reply.

I could change back my name and just send it on, but I prefer playing with a "clean" file (in the end, this bug is the reason why we restarted the game in the first place).

Generally, we all could improve our communication between one player who sends a turn and the one who gets it. We know that for the time being there are those technical problems, so please don't just send your file away and then switch off. Check your mail instead or this site wether the following player has got it right.