New PBEM game

[Deity Dude]

I confirm that I want to play but like i said i might need a walk thru on mechanics, not that I don't understand the concept, I just think that there should be a step by step written procedure for saving and file transfer.




Chris wrote this:

At the end of your turn, while the "end player turn" is blinking, hit Ctrl+n. This ends all movement of your units (the AI will move your units, like those you fortified, in the next player's turn, whether you like it or not if you don't).

Then you save, and stop playing, NEVER hit "end player turn".

Mail the save (it will be a .NET save) to the next player and so on




Does everyone agree this is the procedure (sounds good to me but I never played)



As for settings: 1x1x deity sounds good but I would like to ensure somewhat even starts.

I think a tcp/ip start is a good idea just so we dont spend a month hitting enter and transfering the file.

Anyways that my 2 cents.

[deity]

I'll give it a go...

[Scouse Gits]

Welcome deity - following dietitian should your sig not be DEITITIANS

Yes Deity Dude -- from my vast (two partially played games) experience Chris had it right - the Ctrl-n is VERY important - the AI doesn't play at deity and so frequently destroys martial law just for the fun of it...

Everyone - have updated the summar post - please check in if you are in and can we have some firming up on the start and other rules ...

[deity]

DEITIAN!

Originally posted by Scouse Gits
Welcome deity - following dietitian should your sig not be DEITITIANS
...

DEITIAN, pronounced: DAY-EE-SHAN...

LOL

Thanks for welcome.

BTW, I've played a PBEM and Ctrl-n does not always guarantee no inteference from the AI. I've had build orders change.

[Scouse Gits]

Yep - we just had a dose of that on our Rome PBEM - but kengel has written a little utility to sort it out - so hopefully that will not be a problem in the future....

[DaveV]

Confirming my reservation. Do you need a credit card number now?

I'll repeat my earlier suggestions on starting parameters, just for completeness: no huts, accelerated start, no communication between civs. It would be good for everyone to specify their preferred playing times so we can assign colors to ensure the minimum delay between turns. My preferred time is 11:00 - 13:00 GMT, second choice 17:00-18:00 GMT (6:00-8:00 and 12:00-13:00 USA Eastern time).

A word on why I like the "no contact between civs" scenario option: it creates an "every man for himself" atmosphere, and deeper diplomacy (IMHO, of course). I've also seen problems in other games where a representative government will revolt into anarchy while under AI control. Example: I land a musketeer next to a Zulu city. The Zulus contact me to offer a peace treaty; I refuse. Zulus (under AI control, since it's my turn) do an AI insta-revolt from Republic to anarchy.

As to general rules on cheats and exploits, I'm happy with RAH rules (except 1x1x instead of 2x1x).

[Deity Dude]

Acclerated or tcp/ip start? I hear that acclerated starts can lead to even more uneven starts. I would prefer to have my turn occur between 8 - 10pm est.

One Quick question. What happens when someone is without computer for an extended period of time (i.e. vacation, hospital etc.)? Does the game get halted until the absentee person comes back.

[deity]

No accelerated starts!

They don't work.

WE must have an online session to get to 1000BC at least.

[Scouse Gits]

Originally posted by DaveV
Confirming my reservation. Do you need a credit card number now?

No thanks Dave - already got that - now I'm interested in those check digits printed on the signature strip ...

RAH rules (1x1x) works for me.

Given at least two tyros, how long an on-line session will be needed?

-Jrabbit is on vacation - so we either scratch him or await his return

SG(2) and I are considering playing as a single entity - this would depend upon numbers of course.

[Scouse Gits]

Just realised - I've never played on a Tiny Rocks world - sounds a tad tiresome if not bloody impossible at 1x production -- can we play upon a somewhat larger world please?

[Deity Dude]

I agree. Other non- RAH's rules I would like to propose include the no hut idea - as this reduces the amount of luck. I would also like to see no barbs, on raging hordes it seems like they usually keep coming from the same spots over and over which again introduces an element of uneveness. No diplomacy seems a must from what Dave said. I like unit and city bribe but can go both ways. I'd also like to see no food caravans and no ship chaining but am open to what the majority wants to do.

[Scouse Gits]

No huts
No computer diplomacy
Barbs at Restless tribes
No city bribe - but unit bribe permitted
Medium world
Ship chaining
Miining before city build
Preworked Settlers/Engineers
......

Does this sound OK??????????

When can we start?

_________________
The SGs - well p*ssed

[Scouse Gits]

bump

[DaveV]

Originally posted by Scouse Gits
No huts
No computer diplomacy
Barbs at Restless tribes
No city bribe - but unit bribe permitted
Medium world
Ship chaining
Miining before city build
Preworked Settlers/Engineers

Sounds great to me. An online start session is fairest, but I expect scheduling to be problematic, with something like a 12 hour spread in timezones. Best times for me would be early morning (4:30-7:00 EST, 9:30-12:00 GMT), lunch time (12:00-13:00 EST, 17:00-18:00 GMT), or late evening (21:00-0:00 EST, 2:00-5:00 GMT)

[-Jrabbit]

Back on line...

Ten days without a computer. Wow! I haven't done that in several years. Weird...

I've only had time for a quick thread scan (am at work, which will now be commensurately intense to create a sense of cosmic balance with my very enjoyable time away), but it appears the game is afoot.

A couple Qs...

1. Saw a note re necessity of all having identical versions. This is a concern for me, as I'm a Mac user (MGE with latest patch, version 1.1.1). I do, however, successfully play MP in TCP/IP vs. PC users.

2. Control-N ?? Can anyone translate that to Mac world?

3. On rules, can someone explain what "no computer diplomacy" means?

4. A TCP/IP start sounds like a great way to blow through the early and very boring bits. My availability is, unfortunately, not very Euro-friendly. Monday-Friday evenings (7pm onward CST) is the middle of the night over there. Weekends are more open.

5. Sounds like (with multiple tyros) there should be a reference document posted, and perhaps a test game (play a turn or 2, Ctl-N/save, email) sent around to make sure there's no Civvus interruptus.

6. I really like huts... (but -- whatever)

If any of this sounds problematic, feel free to move on without me. Your waiting for a response while I was away is much appreciated, and I don't want to delay things if my presence will create technical issues.

Thanx for keeping this opportunity open to me, SGs.