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Apolyton University is a school of strategy, where students sharpen their Civ3 skills and share their experiences in a series of thematic games. When playing an Apolyton University game, gaining and sharing knowledge is more important than getting a high score, or even winning the game. Participants are encouraged to share their strategy during and after the game, and even to try several attempts.
There have been more than two dozen AU games to date, and the latest AU game is the second foray into multi-player Civ (see AU History 101 for an overview and links to all AU materials). AU 602 is a six-player, all human PBEM, and is being offered in two formats:
1. 'Locked' alliances: Each game shall have 3 teams of 2 players each. Players are to select their teammates and which of the three culture pairs that are offered (i.e., Europe, Asia, and the Middle East). While not actually 'locked' in-game, the team mates are expected to stay allied throughout. Further, teams have the choice of playing as PBEM with a 'locked' alliance, succession, or mini-DG; this should be disclosed in their first DAR. Victory is achieved when a team's combined land and population reach 75%, or via any of the other default victory conditions.
2. Free-for-all ("FFA"): Each game shall have six players. We are still interested in the politics, mechanics, and strategies... and dissolution (
)... of teaming throughout the game. Default victory conditions apply.
* Theme: Coordination. Seriously.
How do partners advise and coach each other? How do they leverage the strengths (and minimize weaknesses) that they each have, whether it's their civs, UUs, terrain, location, etc.? On that note, I think it'd be kinda neat if each team were to be composed of a newer player and a hoary old hand. 
BTW, I am anticipating that MP / PBEM is going to be a stronger factor in Civ4 (at least compared to the initial release of Civ3 )... let's get ready!
* The available civs are, in order of play:
France - COM/IND - Musketeer
China - MIL/IND - Rider
Persia - SCI/IND - Immortal
Scandinavia - MIL/SEA - Berserk
India - REL/COM - War Elephant
Arabia - EXP/REL - Ansar
* Number of games: As many as we can fill. In addition to the participation of ALL the 'poly PBEM stalwarts (
), we will invite players at MZO, CFC, the Ladder, RBC, the Spanish, the Germans, etc., to play.
* Administrator: Make sure things move along. Step in to play turns if necessary. Oversee replacement players if necessary. Judge, jury, and executioner if things come up and rulings need to be made. Depending on how many games, we may need more than one, but the first is Lord Nuclear, Dean of Apolyton University.
* Map / scenario: Standard, continents, 80% water, normal, temperate, 3B. Designed to provide for three primary continents, one for each team, accessible by Galleys. Not AP. Three native lux per continent, but two lux (ivory and ?) only on islands. Strat resources through saltpeter on each continent... after that? :chuckle:
* Rules: Default
* AI aggression: Normal
* Level: Monarch
* Locked alliances: None
* Team behavior: Team members may communicate anything and everything to each other, maps, screenshots, science, whatever. Non-team members may not communicate except what's available in game -- you may communicate anything that would be technically communicable in game, so once map trading is available you can give specific directions; once mil. alliance is available you may make a military alliance; once communication is open, you may discuss scientific advances. Communication with one team member is communication with both. [NOTE: Thanks to snoopy, who I quoted from "Team PBEM" for the above.] It is suggested that team members share passwords so that they can cover each other when playing turns.
* Time slots: NOT. That being said, since it's an AU course, and inter-site, I expect that more people than usual will be watching. I like the idea of team partners disclosing their passwords to each other, so they can cover playing a given turn for the team if necessary.
* Mandatory During-Action-Reports ("DARs"): This is where you'll post your exploits and strategy comments for all to see, and read those of others. However, keep in mind that these are spoiler threads, so try to finish playing each block before reading the corresponding thread. Each LA team or FFA player shall create their own thread, in the following format: 'AU602-LA1: Theseus / Vel's Euro DARs' or 'AU602-FFA1: Sir Ralph's Asian DARs'. Level of disclosure TBD as we go along... check with the Administrator if in doubt; do, however, include each player's score at the time of the DAR. Team DARs should be joint reports by the partners. Players should not read opposing team's DARs. Reporting dates are:
- 2750bc: 25 turns, switching to 40 years/turn
- 1750bc: 25 turns, switching to 25 years/turn
- 1250bc: 20 turns
- 750bc: 20 turns, switching to 20 years/turn
- 250bc: 25 turns
- 250ad: 25 turns, switching to 10 years/turn
- 500ad: 25 turns
- 750ad: 25 turns
- 1000ad: 25 turns
- 1250ad: 25 turns, switching to 5 years/turn
- 1350ad: 20 turns
- 1450ad: 20 turns
- 1550ad: 20 turns
- 1650ad: 20 turns
- 1750ad: 20 turns, switching to 2 years/turn
[EDIT: Let me make this SUPER-clear: Players should NOTNOTNOT look at DARs from any but their matching civs/teams in other games, and not at any point DARs that are further along than their own game.]
* Evil surprises: Possible? Nah, make that likely.
* Playing for money: Optional.
Please note that PBEM games are a long-term commitment. We are hoping that all of the games will be speedy and consistent; where necessary, the Administrator will step in.
Alright, let's get people signing up!! I'm waiting for Sir Ralph to generate the map, but we can start getting organized in the meantime.
Note: If you're interested, the pre-game set-up thread is here:
There have been more than two dozen AU games to date, and the latest AU game is the second foray into multi-player Civ (see AU History 101 for an overview and links to all AU materials). AU 602 is a six-player, all human PBEM, and is being offered in two formats:
1. 'Locked' alliances: Each game shall have 3 teams of 2 players each. Players are to select their teammates and which of the three culture pairs that are offered (i.e., Europe, Asia, and the Middle East). While not actually 'locked' in-game, the team mates are expected to stay allied throughout. Further, teams have the choice of playing as PBEM with a 'locked' alliance, succession, or mini-DG; this should be disclosed in their first DAR. Victory is achieved when a team's combined land and population reach 75%, or via any of the other default victory conditions.
2. Free-for-all ("FFA"): Each game shall have six players. We are still interested in the politics, mechanics, and strategies... and dissolution (
)... of teaming throughout the game. Default victory conditions apply.* Theme: Coordination. Seriously.
How do partners advise and coach each other? How do they leverage the strengths (and minimize weaknesses) that they each have, whether it's their civs, UUs, terrain, location, etc.? On that note, I think it'd be kinda neat if each team were to be composed of a newer player and a hoary old hand. BTW, I am anticipating that MP / PBEM is going to be a stronger factor in Civ4 (at least compared to the initial release of Civ3 )... let's get ready!* The available civs are, in order of play:
France - COM/IND - Musketeer
China - MIL/IND - Rider
Persia - SCI/IND - Immortal
Scandinavia - MIL/SEA - Berserk
India - REL/COM - War Elephant
Arabia - EXP/REL - Ansar
* Number of games: As many as we can fill. In addition to the participation of ALL the 'poly PBEM stalwarts (
), we will invite players at MZO, CFC, the Ladder, RBC, the Spanish, the Germans, etc., to play.* Administrator: Make sure things move along. Step in to play turns if necessary. Oversee replacement players if necessary. Judge, jury, and executioner if things come up and rulings need to be made. Depending on how many games, we may need more than one, but the first is Lord Nuclear, Dean of Apolyton University.
* Map / scenario: Standard, continents, 80% water, normal, temperate, 3B. Designed to provide for three primary continents, one for each team, accessible by Galleys. Not AP. Three native lux per continent, but two lux (ivory and ?) only on islands. Strat resources through saltpeter on each continent... after that? :chuckle:
* Rules: Default
* AI aggression: Normal
* Level: Monarch
* Locked alliances: None
* Team behavior: Team members may communicate anything and everything to each other, maps, screenshots, science, whatever. Non-team members may not communicate except what's available in game -- you may communicate anything that would be technically communicable in game, so once map trading is available you can give specific directions; once mil. alliance is available you may make a military alliance; once communication is open, you may discuss scientific advances. Communication with one team member is communication with both. [NOTE: Thanks to snoopy, who I quoted from "Team PBEM" for the above.] It is suggested that team members share passwords so that they can cover each other when playing turns.
* Time slots: NOT. That being said, since it's an AU course, and inter-site, I expect that more people than usual will be watching. I like the idea of team partners disclosing their passwords to each other, so they can cover playing a given turn for the team if necessary.
* Mandatory During-Action-Reports ("DARs"): This is where you'll post your exploits and strategy comments for all to see, and read those of others. However, keep in mind that these are spoiler threads, so try to finish playing each block before reading the corresponding thread. Each LA team or FFA player shall create their own thread, in the following format: 'AU602-LA1: Theseus / Vel's Euro DARs' or 'AU602-FFA1: Sir Ralph's Asian DARs'. Level of disclosure TBD as we go along... check with the Administrator if in doubt; do, however, include each player's score at the time of the DAR. Team DARs should be joint reports by the partners. Players should not read opposing team's DARs. Reporting dates are:
- 2750bc: 25 turns, switching to 40 years/turn
- 1750bc: 25 turns, switching to 25 years/turn
- 1250bc: 20 turns
- 750bc: 20 turns, switching to 20 years/turn
- 250bc: 25 turns
- 250ad: 25 turns, switching to 10 years/turn
- 500ad: 25 turns
- 750ad: 25 turns
- 1000ad: 25 turns
- 1250ad: 25 turns, switching to 5 years/turn
- 1350ad: 20 turns
- 1450ad: 20 turns
- 1550ad: 20 turns
- 1650ad: 20 turns
- 1750ad: 20 turns, switching to 2 years/turn
[EDIT: Let me make this SUPER-clear: Players should NOTNOTNOT look at DARs from any but their matching civs/teams in other games, and not at any point DARs that are further along than their own game.]
* Evil surprises: Possible? Nah, make that likely.
* Playing for money: Optional.
Please note that PBEM games are a long-term commitment. We are hoping that all of the games will be speedy and consistent; where necessary, the Administrator will step in.
Alright, let's get people signing up!! I'm waiting for Sir Ralph to generate the map, but we can start getting organized in the meantime.
Note: If you're interested, the pre-game set-up thread is here:
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