Official: PBEM or Regular?

[Method]

alright, i know we already had a poll about this, but it was unofficial, and now some new people have come. anyways:

PBEM Style - Several teams are formed, likely of about 5 people. Each team plays its own faction, and makes decisions within itself. The turn is mailed to teams like a regular PBEM game
Pros
- More fun, much better for role-playing purposes, more challenge
- Something new and interesting
- Lets people do what they want (IOW, if you want run planned in your own faction, you can )

Cons
- We may not have enough participants
- The whole joining process is more long-winded and not so simple.

Regular Style - Everyone plays together in one faction, and votes to make decisions. The president (or commissioner, provost, or whathaveyou) plays the turn every so often and posts it publically
Pros
- the opposite of PBEM's cons
- you can be sure we can have enough people

Cons
- Too easy VS the AI
- Compromises must be reached within the faction

and, i'll let this poll run. no expiry date

[Drogue]

Re: Official: PBEM or Regular?

PBEM

I agree with TKG's pros/cons except for one:

Originally posted by TKG
Regular Style:
Pros
- you can be sure we can have enough people

I don't think we will have, and we certainly cannot be sure. While it will need less people to work, we will probably get fewer, IMHO. And we can never be sure we will get enough.

And this is the big thing for me:

Originally posted by TKG
Regular Style: ...
Cons
- Too easy VS the AI

It was too easy last time, and if we do it again, we already have a forgone conclusion, we will win. Thus I think it would be much more fun to not know who will win before we start.

[Kassiopeia]

After some personal pondering, I've come to the conclusion that, my earlier opinions notwithstanding, we should give the suggested play style a go. The prospects of intrigue, the roleplaying, the tactics, all that - there is so much more depth on offer in the new play style. Especially if we opt to play with the expansion pack.

So, I voted "PBEM", and really hope that it'll work out. Maybe I can instead of playing become a neutral reporter or analyst or something.

[Static Universe]

I voted PBEM, although I'm not really sure what the differences are.

[Method]

well, ok. perhaps i should actually explain that in the first post

[Static Universe]

Originally posted by TKG
well, ok. perhaps i should actually explain that in the first post

Thanks for explaining.

I'm not so sure about PBEM now, for the following reasons:

1) I've never demo gamed before
2) My tactics are not the greatest for multiplayer
3) I won't have much free time for the next few months

Being on a smaller team only highlights my current weaknesses.

[Frankychan]

Voted PBEM, but I've never played PBEM b4. Additionally, would have to agree w/Static in that I probably won't be a 100% participant. Would probably be 50-75% participate.

[Kassiopeia]

Ah, I was kind of afraid of this. We are facing a risk that we won't get that much experienced players interested after all, and with all the not-so-experienced players shunning away from such a more play style (told you Drug ), we might end up with not enough participants.

However, I think that should this PBEM style DG not lift off, we could do it the normal way. However, remember, that the PBEM style is more interesting and exciting than regular. "It was too easy last time, and if we do it again, we already have a forgone conclusion, we will win. Thus I think it would be much more fun to not know who will win before we start." Thus, a new *regular* game might not attract much people from the *first* DG, who are sick and tired of the old system.

[GeneralTacticus]

I'd still participate in a second SPDG, but probably with rather less enthusiasm, and I'd definitely want us to find a way to handicap ourselves to try and reduce the 'human conquers all' syndrome.

[Static Universe]

Originally posted by Kassiopeia

However, I think that should this PBEM style DG not lift off, we could do it the normal way. However, remember, that the PBEM style is more interesting and exciting than regular. "It was too easy last time, and if we do it again, we already have a forgone conclusion, we will win. Thus I think it would be much more fun to not know who will win before we start." Thus, a new *regular* game might not attract much people from the *first* DG, who are sick and tired of the old system.

I have no problems with the PBEM style, but if there aren't enough people to fill out 6-7 teams, perhaps 2 or 3 teams might be possible?

[Hercules]

Three or four teams would be fine and would help turn rate. I voted for pbem style and smax.

[FlameFlash]

Write-in:

If we can get enough players where each team has at least three active players, I say PBEM... otherwise we should stick with regular.

[Drogue]

[QUOTE] Originally posted by Kassiopeia
Ah, I was kind of afraid of this. We are facing a risk that we won't get that much experienced players interested after all, and with all the not-so-experienced players shunning away from such a more play style (told you Drug ), we might end up with not enough participants. QUOTE]
True, but I'm unexperienced when it comes to PBEM, and I think its worth a go. So I might get slaughtered, but I want to have a go, and it's easier than starting a PBEM straight of, since you have some people to help and guide you.

Originally posted by Kassiopeia
However, I think that should this PBEM style DG not lift off, we could do it the normal way. However, remember, that the PBEM style is more interesting and exciting than regular. "It was too easy last time, and if we do it again, we already have a forgone conclusion, we will win. Thus I think it would be much more fun to not know who will win before we start." Thus, a new *regular* game might not attract much people from the *first* DG, who are sick and tired of the old system.

Exactly. Maybe with SMAX it might be a little different, but we all got a bit bored towards the end of the last one. Unless we can make it much harder, then I see little point in another regular game, personally. Though saying that, if it came to it, I'd probably still participate (how else will I become an Emperor )

[Micha]

PBEM. Never played that, but it sounds great to me!
AND: Some kind of CNN should be introduced again, but with reports from very different points of view. So a real "propaganda war" could start which would be real fun, wouldn´t it?

[Makahlua]

Write-in : agreeing with Flame Flash