New PBEM Game

[Jerh9e1k5]

Hello Everyone!

I'm pretty new to SMAC, been playing for about 1 1/2 months. Been getting used to some of my strategies and I think that I'm ready to take the plunge! I will be playing as the Peacekeepers, standard settings. I'm not sure how we go about getting someone to set up the game and manage the rules. I believe they're referred to as moderators. Anyone interested?

[dacole]

I'll play as the hive if you like, if we do a random map we may not need a cmn though if you want one we can certainly see if anyone is interested. Would we be useing the map of planet or a random map what type of research? (Blind stinks) also what size are we talking about here?

[Fosse]

I'm interested in Morgan.

[Googlie]

I can prolly set the game up for y'all

G.

[Minute Mirage]

I guess one more wouldn't hurt.

I could play as the University, assuming directed research, transcend difficulty and the 5.0 (XP) patch.

[t_ras]

ill take gaians and i think it might be interesting to wait for another 2 players. i;v never done a 7 humans games- might be slow, but will surly harder and interesting. what do you say?

[t_ras]

i have a friend who will play the spartans.

just need a believer....

[sammy1339]

I would be willing to play as Miriam on condition that the stupid rule where you have to declare vendetta against a faction against whom you have done successful, undetected probe actions not be used. I have never played a game in which I did more than one or two probe actions but I hate that rule and I think it would make Miriam kind of suck.
I am not sure if it is a problem but I am using the unpatched version of SMAC, since the patch won't work for me. I don't know if it is possible to have a multiplayer game between players that have the patch and ones that don't. If it's not, sorry to bother you.

[t_ras]

1) i think it is the most logical also.
2) i think it should work

please evry one post aproobing!

[Googlie]

The problem with the "probe rule" is that in PBEMs it's dealing with a bug.

In a single player game, when you probe a faction - or get probed - the player who got probed gets the message as to what action to take:

do nothing - stern rebuke - declare vendetta

In a PBEM it is the player who conducts the probe who gets that message, and Firaxis programmers have confessed that this is just a sloppy programming bug that never got cleaned up in subsequent releases.

Hence the generally accepted rule in all forums that the prober, who gets this message, always has to select the declare vendetta option against the probee

The victim, after all, can always restore truce, treaty or pact if he/she so wishes

But it is up to the players to select the rules under which they want to play, so voice your opinions

G.

[Googlie]

Originally posted by sammy1339
I don't know if it is possible to have a multiplayer game between players that have the patch and ones that don't. If it's not, sorry to bother you.

And, yes, it is possible. the necessity for all players to have the same version is absolute for IP games, but for PBEMs isn't necessary, particularly for ones where the CMN has started it through the scenario set-up

Scenario'd games carry within the .sav files the characteristics of the creator's alpha.txt and game .exe settings (even a mac user or linux user can play alongside other PC users) and I'd set this one up thru the scenario editor set-up, so it shouldn't be a problem

G.

[t_ras]

well then i guess will have to declare vendetta on probe...

any way spartans name is shaiko and mail: sr_rp@hotmail.com

my mail- martin_t@netvision.net.il

we're ready to begin whenever allthe others are

[Fosse]

I'm all set. E-mail is kylebenanderson@hotmail.com

I'm comfortable with the probe rule on, since if the prober doesn't want to be at war they can offer peace at the end of the their turn, debate it in e-mail, and it can be accepted at the probee's turn start.

Does the "nothing, rebuke, vendetta" message appear to the prober even if the probe goes undetected?

[Googlie]

Correct. The message is given for everything except
simple infiltration.

(And I've always had trouble with that even in single-player games versus the AI. Surely the essence of a successful probe is that it should be undetected, unless framing someone else (and that's another thing, when you do frame someone else, the victim of the probe always seems to declare vendetta against you as does the someone else)

Just sloppy programming, and too much trouble to correct after its release.

(I wonder if EA/Firaxis would ever release its code like Activision did yesterday for CtP2? I'm not holding my breath)

G.

[Googlie]

So we have so far:

Players:

PeaceKeepers, played by Jerh9e1k5
Hive .................................dacole
Morgan.............................Fosse
University.........................Minute Mirage
Gaians..............................t_ras
Believers..........................sammy1339 (with Probe warning rule disabled)
Sparta.............................Friend of t_ras (will he/she be joining 'Poly? In any case, I'll need an e-mail addy for sending the password, etc)

Settings:

I suggest with 7 humans a Huge map, 50% to 70% water (like the default Planet map and also earth itself), average everything, Transcend level, with the following game settings:



and with the following rules to govern in-game play:

*********************************************

> Multiple reloading of the game to try for different effects is forbidden. If a reload is necessary because of a game crash etc., an explanation should be posted to the turn administration thread.

> Multiple drops or orbital insertions using the right-click menu is forbidden. So is airdropping from outside a base/airbase, or after having moved (except on a magtube) using the same method. Using the 'i' key when you want an airdrop means you will automatically comply with these restrictions.

> Inserting Stockpile Energy into the build queue after a military unit is allowed.

> If a player employs a tactic that causes a state of vendetta, they are not allowed to "accept" a pending diplomatic agreement with that faction in the same turn, causing a change in diplomatic status or the transfer of energy or knowledge.

> If an aggressive probe action (anything except infiltration) is used on a faction you have a truce, treaty or pact with, you can choose any option that is displayed in the dialog box that appears afterwards.

> Upgrading units with the design workshop is allowed at any time

> Communications only allowed between factions that have obtained each others' commlink frequencies in-game. (the embedded alpha.txt will reflect this)

> Social engineering choice limited to one switch per line per turn. (no flip-flop within turn - eg to green to capture a mindworm then back again to the original setting!!)

> Psi units cannot be assigned multiple point patrol routes (avoid instant demon boil bug!)

> Whenever the planetary council is called, the caller should post a notification to the thread, including vote totals (if applicable) and who has already voted for what. The other players should post how they vote.

> You cannot use the "Demand Withdrawal" feature to get another player's units out of your territory (the AI essentially makes the response on your behalf)

> You cannot accept a proffered bribe (which is done by the AI again) during Planetary Governor elections

*********************************************

Anything else?

Googlie