Need Rookies and a Moderator for a SMAC game to soon Start

[Avenoct]

Very similar to Icewind's outline I'm looking to start a SMAC game for all of us new to Multiplaying! I'm open to rules-map-faction suggestions, but here's my inclination: Large random map - average everything. As far as rules, yes, 'Look First' and no pod scattering. I'd like to shoot for 4 human players and 3 AI players. Pretty straightforward, so if you're interested, drop a line. Start date depends on when we can get a moderator. If you've ever played MP before and have an idea how to moderate, here's your chance. It's 2pm GMT or so, July 5, and I'd love to have this up and running by 2pm GMT July 6, but expect that it'll take till the 7th. If you are o.k. to go ahead with a basically average setup, say so after your suggestions so we don't have to wait for a comment-reply-comment cycle.

Note to potential Moderators: email me at Rmontalbon@aol.com. I'll check in at about 2300 GMT July 5. I'd love your help!

Drop an opinion on the following option as well...I won't use it unless I get overwhelming 'Yes' replies.

[There would be no custom factions, unless you want to go with the alphatext and factiontext experiment I've been using. This is to give every faction a free former and to set all factions (obviously doesn't matter to human players) to pacifist and add building tendency. This seems to beef up the AI's chances. Additionally I've changed mining to need enviroecon as a prerequisite. This also is for the AI to encourage foresting and seems to work about 1/2 the time.]

Thanks,

Smack

[Lord_Icewind]

I would like to come to this one too!!

[Lord_Icewind]

I would like to come to this one too!! i would play as pirates

[Avenoct]

Sounds good Sir Icewind, excepting that I'm playing SMAC, not SMAX, so the Pirates are sunk in my game. I'd love to play in your game but it looks like it's leaning toward SMAX and that simply isn't possible for me as it hasn't been released for macintosh. That aside, if I could convince you to play your game as SMAC as well, we could both play in each others games. Now we just need a moderator or two....

-Smack

[H0bbes]

I'm happy to moderate a game/games for you. Let me know, jcrocombe@dingoblue.net.au

Hobbes.

[Vytae]

Glad to

I would be glad to play,im as green as they come to SMAC multiplayer. Im also new to these forums,first post yaay =o

[Avenoct]

Righto', looks like Hobbes will be Moderating for our game. Icewind, post what faction you'd like to play. It'll be another 24 hours at least before we get started if anyone cares to join us. Players so far : Icewind, Smack, Vytae. Oh, lets use the boards for our communiques as much as possible, it's easier than checking email and using the boards to communicate the same info. I'm really excited for our first game! Whoo hoo!

-Smack

[SmartFart]

I would like to play too. Morgan is my pick.

Regards.

SF

[Lord_Icewind]

I would play as university.

[Kassiopeia]

Same with Vytae. I can take the left over faction (Have to practise with the Believers, I guess ). This is classic SMAC, I hope? Unfortunately I won't be available until the 8th, around 17:00 GMT though. Smack's rules seem fine, in my opinion.

PS. Smack, we do have to download the save file from e-mail inbox, right? Otherwise how is it gonna go from player to player?

[Lord_Icewind]

I have to say that i can only play around 17:00 GMT, 'cause i live in spain and i can only connect after that hour. Is everyone OK with that?

[Avenoct]

Game to Start: 1700 GMT on 7/7/01!

Great, now we are five: Icewind, Vytae, Smartfart, Kassiopeia, and Smack. That seems like enough to me b/c it'll get slower the more we have. Let's start at 1700 GMT on 7/7/01, thats 1:00 EST tomorrow.

I havn't heard back from our amazing moderator, Hobbes, though I'm sure he'll have a few things to clue us in to the specifics of an MP game. But we'll go ahead and start tomorrow with or without him, hopefully with him. I got mixed feedback on the Alphatext rules changes, and after thinking about it, decided it would be best to drop it and go as straightforward as possible. This is after all our first MP game!

Here's a preliminary outline of rules/guidelines:

Large Average random world
No Unity Pod scattering
Directed Research
No Spoils of War
Yadda yadda
Look First
All Victory conditions
and and...
Well, we'll think of it...

Also, I recall there is some standard list of 'Do's and Don'ts' for MP play as far as what's considered fair or not. Anyone know where that thread might be?

As far as Factions and Turn order, let's get that out of the way here. Order is order subscribed to the thread, and if we don't have a moderator I'll start the game.

1. Icewind - University
2. Vytae - Morgan (he emailed me to suggest that)
3. Smartfart - Not sure, Morgan if Vytae will change, otherwise?
4. Kassiopeia - Yang, Miriam, Lal or Deirdre, depending on wht Vytae and Smartfart work out.
5. Smack - Whoevers left, well, one of them...

Now about that pacifism discussion some folks had in Icewind's thread....while it's a nice sentiment, let's not get bogged down in trying to define a play style. This game is no holds barred! If you want to pact, go ahead. If you get backstabbed, well, it happens....take revenge! Don't get me wrong, I personally play as a builder when I can. Its just that if there isn't a possibility that the human players will do anything but cooperate it's just going to be a techrace. So, get your formers warmed up boys and girls. We'll make planetfall tomorrow at 1700 GMT!

P.S. Anyone reading this that can point to a thread dealing with standard MP 'rules', that'd be a help

P.P.S. Yes, Kass, we'll be emailing the game in the above order..I was just getting some emails before that could have just as easily been posted here on the forum so I suggested communicating here. As we play we'll make another thread called 'Turns of Smack's MP game' and let each other know when we've taken our turn.

-Smack

[Avenoct]

[Qantaga]

Hello everyone! Good luck to you all in your game.

Smack, you can find a copy of the rules used by Tau Ceti in his Apolyton PBEM Tournament here:

Apolyton PBEM Tournament Rules

[Avenoct]

Quantaga, thanks for the link, thats the one I was looking for.

Those in the game hop over and check out the various rules, especially the ones concerning using the Design Workshop to upgrade units only at the end of turn, not repeating a saved turn to get better results, and not using the Stockpile Energy-in-building-que-for-extra-Energy trick. I really don't care one way or the other to use these rules or not, but at least we should all agree beforehand.

To make it easier I'll propose that we do use all the rules-guidelines posted in Tau Ceti's thread. I don't mean the game setups (ie map of planet and starting units), just those guidelines that concern fairness of gameplay and the role of the Moderator.

So we need one more post from everyone before we begin:

1. What's your final faction choice if it's still undetermined, and give a second choice.

2. Are you ready to start at 1700 GMT tomorrow? In the case of players who won't be around for a day or more, hopefully we'll have the moderator take your turn. Just let us know on the game thread.

3. Are you o.k. with the innocuous and helpful guidelines above?


-Smack