Ladders

[Rynn:]

just the game - Multiplayer is a menu choice when you are loading.

You might want to download the v2.0 patch for SMAX, tho, as most players on these boards will have it installed - cleans up some bugs. You can get it from Apolyton's download section.

Rynn

[Keygen]

You will need SMACX Patch 2.0 because I have it installed or SMAC Patch 4.0 if you won't buy SMACX after all.

Damn, I though I had post a reply 2 days ago...

[Solver]

Are the patches available at Firaxis, I hope?

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Solver - http://www.aok.20m.com

[Keygen]

Don't go far. They are here, in Apolyton too .

[Solver]

Keygen, where's the new PBEM game you promised to create, and put me into it. Note that Quinns doesn't want to play SMAC, and I now with your help have SMAX, so I'm rabbing my palms in impatience to have the game started.
And, the rating system isn't dead at all. I would like to make the game you are going to make the first rated one, but for this I need the highest level you've ever beaten, with 14 points for Citizen, 16 for Specialist, 19 for Thinker, 21 for Transcend. My rating is 21, as I have beaten Trans.
Come on, Keygen!

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Solver - http://www.aok.20m.com

[Keygen]

Yeah, you're right Solver. I am a bit late. I haven't forgotten about it just busy with the Keygen's Series
I have posted a topic under the title "Who's the Best" looking for the best players. I was thinking of picking some players from there
I don't remember what was the hardest level ever beaten the AI when I had played SMAC on the first place.
After at list a year I played on Librarian level but never ended it. SMAC takes more time to complete than CTP.
I guess I will have to finish a game to see my level. I'll try Transcendence first
Pity Quinns won't join
I will email Googlie and Misotu who are "warm" with the rating system. The rest as I said will be challenged from the above topic mentioned.

[Solver]

Nice you haven't forgot about me. My intention then is to fight the system alone, with Quinns only performing the calculations. Yes, you will have to beat the level to get rating, as it was with your CTP Deity game. Well, I don't quite care much who will be the others to play in the first rated game, I just want it to be rated, and to have fun with playing.
My preferences:
Large map with about 50% water, no random events (I hate sunspot), any native levels, favorite factions are Univ. and Gaia under SMAC, with Aki-Zeta and Cha'Dawn adding in the SMAX.
Will we get up ?

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Solver - http://www.aok.20m.com

[quinns]

Sorry Keygen and Solver. I just couldn't get into the storyline. United Nations colony ship crash lands on one of Alpha Centauri's planets, scattering technology pods all over the planet. Then it's population splits into seven ideological factions. I guess it would be possible... just can't get into it. Sorry, I did try.

Good luck on the rating system here. I will gladly "only do the calculations" as Solver so graciously put it. (If you think it's so damn easy to do the calculations, then YOU DO IT SOLVER! )

Quinns

[Solver]

Quinns, I do not state it's easy , and really a pity that you didn't get into it. And hard to believe for me this is under way!

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Solver - http://www.aok.20m.com

[Solver]

As several players have agreed to be rated (two rated games under way currently), I announce the following information:
The ratings are taken by the AC score of the players, each ten turns. To simplify the system, those are M.Y. than end with 0 (2110, 2350, etc.). Then, if a game is at M.Y. 2134, when the players agree to be rated, the first ratings are taken at 2140, then at 2150. During the progress of rated turn, each player posts his AC score. I would be thankful if the score is posted at the respective ratings thread (there will be threads named like SMAC PBEM Ratings (date)). After that, I do the pre-processing of data, and send it to Quinns for calculations.

Initial ratings for the players: this depends on the highest SMAC/X AI level ever defeated by the player as follows: Citizen = 14, Specialist = 16, Talent - 17, Librarian = 18, Thinker = 19, Transcend = 21.

Delinquency rule:
If a player doesn't play his turn in 24 hours, he is delinquent, and gets a next-turn from the previous play, to send the turn to the next one. Each time a delinquency occurs, the player loses 0.1 (one tenth) rating points. If there's explanation present either on the forum or in my mailbox, no penalty is applied. Explanation include things like lost Internet connection, Windows problems, etc.
As in CtP, I have no time to monitor all of the rated games, so please, when a player is delinquent either post the fact at the respective ratings thread, or email that to me. Know this sounds terrible, but as experience shows, it ain't that hard .
Substitutes:
If a player takes a substitute at M.Y. 2135, then, when the ratings are taken for 2130-2140, they will be given to the original player. Ratings 2140-2150 will be given to the substitute, and so on, till the original player comes back.

Rating a game:
To rate a game, at least 3 players must agree for the specific game to be rated. Players might continue to play unrated in any game, then they will be not counted in during calculations.
When a new game is rated, the game moderator (usually the game starter) should post it at the current ratings thread or email to me.

Elimination Rule:
Idea by Quinns.
If a player is:
a) Eliminated
b) Changes status in the game from rated to unrated
c) Gets end-turned three times in a row with no explanation,
then each remaining player defeats him 3 times.

Transcend Rule:
If a player completes the Ascent to Transcendence sequence, he defeats each remaining player three times.

Comments and Questions:
Anything related to the ratings system is welcome at the current ratings thread.

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Solver - http://www.aok.20m.com
[This message has been edited by Solver (edited January 21, 2001).]
[This message has been edited by Solver (edited January 21, 2001).]

[Keygen]

One thing you should know Solver.
SMAC/X PBEM games are password protected.
A CMN (a player who don't preferably play in the game) keeps the passwords and opens the turn of a delayed player and play it for him.

[Solver]

Note my typing mistake in the Elimination rule, the player gets defeated by everyone 3 times, I just fixed it.
And I know they're password-ed, but as I see, setting passwords is optional. I don't want the others to know my passwords, though. Do you, guys, always use passwords in PBEMs?

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Solver - http://www.aok.20m.com
[This message has been edited by Solver (edited January 21, 2001).]

[Solver]

quote: A CMN (a player who don't preferably play in the game) keeps the passwords and opens the turn of a delayed player and play it for him.

I didn't quite understand this. Does the CMN really play the turn of delayed player? In CtP, we just open it, push the next turn button and send the turn to next player. That's to prevent someone from doing thinks I don't want to. Sometimes a single move despite player's wish can decide a lot in the game - and the best example of this is a decision about where to found a new base.

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Solver - http://www.aok.20m.com

[mark13]

Hmmm....well, I personally always set a password on my PBEMs - simply because it prevents people from 'accidentally' having a good look at my bases/exactly what I'm doing. We don't really want people doing that - I think this can easily be fixed, however, my either giving the CMN the passwords, or having the CMN set the passwords in the first place ala the current tourney.

[Solver]

It's not wise for the others to set passwords, they're rarely compiciated enough. My passwords are always damned difficult, while the passwords set by the others are often just 5 letters and digits.

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Solver - http://www.aok.20m.com