Publicity Stunt

[sabrewolf]

aeson's DARs are often even more fascinating than any writer's stories same for some other strategy gods here

[Tassadar500]

I have made a thread about it in the Stories section. I need some links to really good DAR's now. I would prefer if it was centered on military.

[Aqualung71]

Though not a course by itself, the most awesomely nonchalant example I've ever read of superb military play is Aeson's demonstration of the Jag Warrior's talents.

[Khannalxytys]

Hello gentlemen,

I have been following this topic ever since I joined apolyton (that should be about 2 days ago. Yes I have been registered way earlier but that was done by my ex-roomie who plays civ2 and RoN.) and I would like to volunteer for the role of scholar. I understand there must be plenty of people out there willing to fill up the ranks and competition will be rough. However, I do have one advantage over the whole mass: I do wish to improve. Although it seems that cannot be evaluated by words, I am willing to prove with actions. My Civ stats (resumé heh) are as follows:

- Have been playing not for long. Have mostly played on warlord since as stated before, I am a newbie.
- I am willing to improve and am always open to criticism (as with my english )
- I have about 3 hours at night to play during class period (since I need to keep the average high due to scholarship reasons, and that requires studying). Not to mention the 15 min every 2 hours studying for PBEM checking (which I have never played sadly.)
- Pretty soon I'd like to be making maps. But that is a whole other story and it's being mentioned solely because while in an university I could also take side-courses. I know there are creators present, show yourselves

Finally I'd like to add that even if i'm not chosen for one of the pupils, I would like to learn anyway and thus i'm going to be rushing to espionage agency. So beware

M. Me

[sabrewolf]

you fit the profile... and welcome to apolyton

edit: who's actually going to be the teacher? the whole community or just the gods amongst you?

[Khannalxytys]

Thank you Sir. Eagerly awaiting the beginning of the courses

[Khannalxytys]

ps: A couple of thoughts on learning and Civ (games in general actually - it is somewhat big so please take a deep breath. Or rush to the end.)

About 5 years ago, I didn't know what was gaming. I started playing RtCW and did not know how to play it very well. I had a couple of friends who used to play fps games since 1996. They taught me how to play and soon after I became one of the top-notch players here in Brazil. How was that done? Simple, we hired a server, and came up with a couple of basic moves we needed for someone to play well (when not counting play hours, since theory differs from practice). Then, the veteran summoned up a couple of friends and started a clan. So he started teaching us how to do these things. We would go to the server and practice, how to throw the grenade up to that point. How to use a panzerfaust properly, how to move with your aim up, how to pay attention to things we wouldn't normally, etc.etc. After we got rather used to these things, he would always bring us public to practice what we learned from those crash small courses. After that, we'd go scrimming. Results: All those who were interested remained , 4 left. those who remained ended up being the best brazilian clan of RtCW. What i'm trying to say here is: I believe in order to achieve greatness in a game (or anything for that matter) there are steps, once you jump some step you get a vice. As Mr. vmxa1 says, it is hard to get "cured" from your vices. I believe it should begin by the beginning and that is: Learn all the basics (which isn't how to play, since all of us knew how to shoot, throw a grenade and walk, but we didn't know the real basics of how to do it PROPERLY) and then go test them in the field. I consider the ideas of mini-courses displaying one basic technique needed to play the game well a very good idea. The point that indicates that it wouldn't draw players to complete them is valid. But on the other hand, those who wish to learn for real, would certainly like to know how to do these things and there is no better place to learn than one devised for this purpose. And soon after testing them in a real game. Those who don't wish to learn for real, may play any game as interesting as it may be and they will not learn. They will be playing for kicks and not for absorbing that information. And that kind of player isn't going to help to advocate for the AU's effectiveness. A person who knows how to play (even if not well as is the case with all the prospective students) already knows if he is motivated to play this game or not. And turning a learning enviroment into something better looking is in my opinion trying to lure a horse into eating a mouse covered up with plants. He is going to smell it, bite it and throw up when it reaches the core. I propose (speaking as one of those students.) those small courses mentioned above to get the ideas. Then onto PBEM to put them to action. Then playing for ourselves with other people without connected to these courses to test if we can really use them when others aren't. That I think would do the trick.

my 2 cents,

M. Me

[Khannalxytys]

Oh, just another idea: What do you think about PBEMs between the newbies and the vets? One vet takes 1-3 newbies and starts a pbem with them only that the vet has no fog of war over the newbie's territory and maybe by means of a mod he can actually set SIGNS on the map? In his turn, he checks all the other civs and puts signs over their territory to show something in particular..


e.g:


Two signs over two mountains in two islands where in the middle is a Canal. He types in the sign: Good place for fortresses with zone control units or something like that?

This way only 1 modding would do, since the many different specific cases would spring right in the middle of a game and he would be there to check it.

[sabrewolf]

i disagree with this idea. a big part of early civing is to scout and discover. revealing important parts of the map, makes beginners miss out completely on that aspect of the game.

on the other hand, the advantage of seeing everything only makes up for a fraction of the quality of good players.

maybe a handicap for the better player is fair, eg. corruption and OCN levels of sid, while the newb plays at cheiftain or regent.

[sabrewolf]

a possibility would be something like progressive games... some exist and are played already (but i don't know where). play 10-20 turns simultainiously and then continue with a certain save.

the newcomer can see what he did "wrong" (or less good) and the experienced player can tutor. the good thing here is that all can share information, discuss why what decision was made, etc.

[Aqualung71]

A PBEM wouldn't work as a tutorial exercise. It would take many months to get to the stage where you have learned something useful, during which time you could have played dozens of SP games through the Ancient and Middle ages. Even without a specific course, you could learn much more during this time from the comments given by the experts on your posted screenshots and save games.

I like sabre's idea. 20-turn blocks then comment, posting the save game in the thread....would be very useful if supported by tutors.

[Khannalxytys]

Yes I see your points. I agree. Even though I meant only the Tutor being able to see through the fog. I understand Pbem would take too long. And I agree the system of 20-turns-comment would work.


Just another thought: Can anyone compile a couple of CIV-acronyms? I'm relatively new to this game (as I expect some others are) and many of the acronyms mentioned here are unfamiliar to me. Again, I don't think I'm the only one, for if I was , I'd be the first to go find out for myself (as I will do anyway)

[sabrewolf]

try the "Abbreviations, abrreviations"-thread in the main civ3-forum:

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26248

[Khannalxytys]

Oh Thank you very much. Silly me, haven't seen it.

[sabrewolf]

about the progressive game as tutoring lessons: what do others think of this idea? it's a bit like AU DARs, just a regular game and finer structured. in my opinion, the important part are the first 3000 years, from then on, micromanagement won't decide anymore over life and death.

the only disadvantage of this type of game is the difficulty level: most good players won't agree to play beneath monarch, while beginners probably hardly dare to try regent.
this problem however isn't that big, if one keeps continuing with the better game