Anyone interested of MP?

[smhfan86]

ohh, ooh, can I join too?

I'd love to play the Hive, partly cuz they're so different from the PKs, which I'm using for another game.

my email address is callistosdarkside@rogers.com

-CDS/smhfan86

[Shai-Hulud]

Sure and Hive's available. You have any preferences for the game? I think you could start making that map Qantaga. I think Huge Map will do. Few larger continents, some islands and balanced landing sites, hopefully strategically located landmarks. We could also think of starting with few extra colony pods to make things faster - but that's just an idea.

[smhfan86]

Great!

I'm cool with whatever preferences you guys decide on.

And yeah, we should start out with a few more colony pods, especially if we have a huge map.

[Darsnan]

Originally posted by Shai-Hulud
How about 'Alam al-Mithal', the mythical dimension of similarities without any physical restrictions.

Alam al-Mithal is fine with me for the game title. As far as the title "The Worm's Lair" was concerned: wasn't really serious. However, isn't "Shai Hulud" a sandworm on Dune? It's been a while since I read Dune, so forgive me if I missed the mark with my comment - I was making an association between sandworm Shai Hulud and mindworms on Planet.

[Radman]

Hi all:

I see we need to select a faction, so how about PK. Sounds good to me! As to my preferences on the particulars of the game, I'm open as it doens't matter as we all have to live by the same rules on the same planet. In all respects, I kinda like just a random map (great for real life as you play the hand given to you). But is doesn't really matter either way.

I'm ready whenever, so lets the games begin (sinces its so close to the Olympics)!

Radman

[Qantaga]

Okay, things are shaping up.

I am working on a map and I have a pretty good idea of what you all want. However, I am going to give this thread another day for more comments. This is a game that, hopefully, you will be playing for the next several months, so now's the time to speak up if you have anything specific you would like in the game.

There seems to be no clear consensus on tech stag, spoils of war, blind or directed research and random events. I would really like to see a group consensus, or a Shai-Hulud (the driver) dictate, on these rather than trying to guess what you might like.

I will put together a Huge, Random map, but I will shape it along the lines of Shai-Hulud's suggestions. I will give everyone two extra pods and two extra scout patrols to speed things up a bit.

Here are the factions I have:

Shai-Hulud - University
duMa - Morgan
Darsnan - Gaians
smhfan86 - Hive
Radman - Peacekeepers

One other item for you to consider. Being a SMAC game (because duMa only owns SMAC), I am assuming that you all want Miriam and Santiago to remain in the game. I could eliminate them altogether if you just want human players. Of course on a Huge map, I can hide them from you for a little while.

Also, don't forget that if you have a favorite password you would like to use for this game, send it to me at: Qantaga@aol.com

[smhfan86]

okay, because duma only has smac, does that mean the hive's no negative efficiency immunity is gone?

I got smacx with the latest update, so do i have to choose classic when we play?

because we're playing huge, it might be best to have tech stag and let everyone grow before we start bombarding each other with planes.

[Darsnan]

Everything looks great to me, Q! As far as having the AI factions involved: my vote is lets just have the 5 human factions and be done with it (or else hide them, as Q suggests).

[Qantaga]

Originally posted by smhfan86
okay, because duma only has smac, does that mean the hive's no negative efficiency immunity is gone?

The Hive's efficiency immunity will still be there. This will be the latest patched version (4.0) of SMAC

Originally posted by smhfan86
I got smacx with the latest update, so do i have to choose classic when we play?

Yes, you will just choose the Classic game.

Originally posted by smhfan86
because we're playing huge, it might be best to have tech stag and let everyone grow before we start bombarding each other with planes.

You may already be aware of this, but technology is discovered at a slower rate on a Huge map, so there is an almost natural tech stag that occurs on a Huge map. IIRC, a Large map carries a tech cost multiplier of 1.1, while a Huge map carries a tech cost multiplier of 1.6. So, a Huge map already slows tech down a little.

[smhfan86]

Thanx for clearing everything up.

If tech's automatically slower on huge, then either way's good for me.

[Shai-Hulud]

I was making an association between sandworm Shai Hulud and mindworms on Planet.

I love you like a brother Darsnan but I don't want to hear about Worm's Lair ever again ...


My suggestions for the game settings:

Higher Victory
Total War
Peace in our Time
Mine, All Mine
One for All
Blind research
No Unity Survey
(Spoils of War is an open question. Since there are no SMAX factions, we could allow it. But it takes something away from the probes. I usually play without it)

Players

Shai-Hulud - University
duMa - Morgan
Darsnan - Gaians
smhfan86 - Hive
Radman - Peacekeepers

[duMa]

The rules by Shai-Hulud's hand look great!
I tend to lean towards the classical rules.
I especially like the Blind Research.

Thanks for deciding upon the Morganites for me. I'd been thinking about it recently and am really piqued on playing them!

Okay... that's it.

[Shai-Hulud]

Oh, and Qantaga, if we don't get more players than this we need to take few AI's with us(though not necessarily). But if we are going to take AI in, we need to...spice them up a bit. Regular AI, even on Transcend, is hardly a foe when compared to human.

[smhfan86]

all the settings look good. the only one i'd like different is to put blind research off. i just like to know what i'm getting.

[Radman]

Hi all:

Great participation in the setup of the game! Good job. Just remember once its started don't let such participation dwindle to nothing! I'm ready when ever you all are!!!

Radman