Freeciv for windows needs Civ2MP veteran Beta testers!

[CapTVK]

At the start you're usually done in a couple of mins. Log in make your moves, explore, build a city -rinse&repeat-. Later on as you're empire increases in size and complexity it will take about 5-10. During those turns you can get aquainted with the micro management features. Automated settlers, patrols and goto's will come into play (units set on an enemy city will also attack it). If you grow into super empire size. It really comes down on how much you want to automate or micromanage by hand.

[atawa]

I cant commit to a game that I have to play every day but might be able to usb if needed.

[rah]

Hmm is this like an on-line pbem game? but without having to e-mail the saves.

[CapTVK]

Rah,

"On-line pbem"? Hmmm... Yes, that would be one to look at it. But unlike PBEM The game doesn't ground to a halt if a single player forgets to move. All players move at the same "time", 24 hours in this case. If you forget a turn, no biggie. But neglecting your turns too long will put you behind.

I do think it has shades of an online RPG. What we basically do is playing Civ2MP with a ridiculously long timeout (24h*). You simply log with the client, do your stuff, chat with other players online to strike some deals and log out again.



* The 24 hour period has been set arbitrary. It could just as well be set to half a day (12h), a week (168h timeout) or even longer.

[Hydey]

That actually seems like like good idea, it might enable more people to play civ games.

[rah]

So if I'm reading that correct, in your 24* situation, you're playing one turn a day?

[Ming]

Hmmm... that might make it intersting for many large civiliations MP games. You set it for an hour, let everybody micromanage their civs and move their hundreds of units... and let the turn advance after an hour. Since you would busy during that time, and with no real wait then... it might be fun, vs waiting 3 hours between turns while other people move

[rah]

That's what I was thinking and why I asked the question.

[CapTVK]

Originally posted by Ming
Hmmm... that might make it intersting for many large civiliations MP games. You set it for an hour, let everybody micromanage their civs and move their hundreds of units... and let the turn advance after an hour. Since you would busy during that time, and with no real wait then... it might be fun, vs waiting 3 hours between turns while other people move

Yes, that's the way the system works. Move or no moves, the game advances one turn after 1 hour. Although 1turn/hour also implies everyone could play a turn every hour of the day!

One turn per day is easier for everyone due to timezones.

[Hydey]

So you couldn't play 1 turn per hour for say 6 hours, stop the game and restart at a later date ?????

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Hydey
So you couldn't play 1 turn per hour for say 6 hours, stop the game and restart at a later date ?????

Of course not.

The one turn per day works because every player has time to move before the moves are resolved, regardless of timezone. With lesser move times you'd have to arrange everyone to be online together, like always. The advantage of this structure lies in mitigating that hassle. The disadvantage, of course, is that games take roughly 16.4 years to finish.

[rah]

Yeah, I was hoping it was more like Hydey suggested, so you could get in 6 turns at a time. One turn a day would drag it out a bit much.

[Ming]

I think he's saying that it does work the way we would want. As long as everybody is on line at the same time, you could set it for an hour, play three to 6 turns, and then pick the game up again when everybody else is on line.

[CapTVK]

Originally posted by Ming
I think he's saying that it does work the way we would want. As long as everybody is on line at the same time, you could set it for an hour, play three to 6 turns, and then pick the game up again when everybody else is on line.

Yes, such a system would work in theory. If I understand correctly, what Hydey is saying is that you I) play 6 one- hour turns during the day; II) save at the end of turn 6; III) wait 18 hours and IV) reload the savegame and continue from there.

Another solution would be for the admin to set the timeout to 24-6=18 hours at the end of the 6th* turn and set it back to one hour the next day. That way players could still log in and check the score at leisure.



* In this case there would be a '7th' turn that would last 18 hours. 1+1+1+1+1+1+18=24 hours

[Cyrion]

I think you're talking about 2 different uses of the system:

1) the use for pbem-like games, where you can "enter" your turn at any time during a given day (or other duration, of course)

2) the use for "real" MP games, where the people are online at the ame time; it could then be interesting for the endgame, where the turns are really long (even without Slowthinker ) because all the players could then play there turn "simulatenously" during a given durtion without needing to wait till the others' end of turn.

Is my summary correct?

And if yes, then both uses could be interesting, in their own different way!