3rd Apolyton C3C Multiplayer Tournament

[notyoueither]

I'm not sure. We seem to have lost Mark.

[Edgar Newt]

I've also lost Sparta -- I can't seem to reach him.

Any thoughts?

[Arnelos]

Just sent Shogun Gunner another PM about finishing our match.

[sabrewolf]

all i see is people leaving the tournament because either they cannot establish communication or a connection. the latter can't be fixed that easy, but the first can...

an idea for better contacting would be for every member to mandatorily use an instant messenger.

there are several clients that know all major protocols (at least MSN, jabber, ICQ, AIM). i use SIM (http://sim-icq.sourceforge.net/)

[Edgar Newt]

I prefer not to use an IM -- I am almost always available by email and avoid IMs like the plague. The problem I have had with communication is not that I have been sending emails back and forth with my first round opponent, but have been missing each other -- its that I haven't had a response from him/her.

Emailing your anticipated schedule to your opponent should be sufficient. It just takes both parties being willing to actively participate.

Ed

[Shogun Gunner]

Originally posted by Arnelos
Shogun Gunner - when are we going to finish our match? PM me times and I'll try to be there.

Arnelos, yep. I can meet around 8 PM tomorrow, Thursday or Friday. Let's try for tomorrow.

[Beta]

Originally posted by Edgar Newt

Emailing your anticipated schedule to your opponent should be sufficient. It just takes both parties being willing to actively participate.

Ed

I agree.

Maybe we should include some simple tournament guidelines. For starters, how about:

If you enter the tournament, you commit to:

1. Making contact asap with your scheduled opponent.
2. Being 'reasonably' available to play the game.
3. Making every effort to get the game in by the tourney deadline.
4. Indicating to the tourney organizer asap if RL or tech problems are going to keep you from playing.

[MotownDennis]

Agreed.

If someone isn't going to respond to e-mail, then they aren't going to respond to IM's.

I personally hate MSN Messenger and the like.

[sabrewolf]

is there a webbased tool where you can enter times you'd be available? this should support several time zones... i could host this, if anybody has a tool and mark wouldn't want to have it on poly.

anyone here with civ3 ladder experience? how has communication been solved there?

[MotownDennis]

Yes, Sabre, actually I'm a Ladder member and the Head TD there.

We use e-mails and the forums that are linked to our main page to communicate. Nothing fancy.

The problem (as I see it) here is twofold:

1) Anyone who signed up was let into the tourney. I don't know most of these people and I'm not sure if the tourney organizer or other players know each other either. It's always easier when you are familiar with the players and know that they're reliable.

2) There is no penalty for blowing off the match or the tourney. With Ladder play, blowing off a match gets you a LOSS on your permanant record. This is why people don't drop from Ladder matches as soon as they see that they have bad land, no iron near, bad luck with RNG, or whatever.

I think the solution is to better screen potential players. Set up a tourney for established Apolyton members or people who others can vouch for. Sure, this means that Joe Noob won't get to partake in the fun, but it's either that or what we have now, which I think we'll all agree has been more chaotic than fun.


My 2 cents,

Mo D

[Beta]

Originally posted by MotownDennis

I think the solution is to better screen potential players. Set up a tourney for established Apolyton members or people who others can vouch for. Sure, this means that Joe Noob won't get to partake in the fun, but it's either that or what we have now, which I think we'll all agree has been more chaotic than fun.


My 2 cents,

Mo D

Agreed.

But lets also keep in mind that MP was new to a lot of us SP, pbem, and Demo game types. In that respect - the tourney has been useful - at least speaking for myself - of introducing me to a new and great way to play the game. That being said, some form of discipline is required to keep the tournament moving - and therefore fun.

[jeff76]

just to put things straight

I'd like just to comment what is being said right now. It sounds like if me and McMeadows tried once to play, it didn't work so we said too bad, let's withdraw. We tried and tried, I took three full days to read all the documentation possible on how to solve our connection problem and couldn't solve it. It is, I think, better to withdraw now and leave the possibility to the organizer to add two other opponents or to organize differently than slowing down everybody, until the moment when, by chance, something is working. Of the possibily 100 times I tried to play MP since the beginning of the tournament, I connected 4 times (with random people on the net) and I can't figure out why...

Now let's be constructive...

What the organizer should do is to test the "connectivity" of the potential players. It takes it's time but that's the only way... besides, you all know, sometimes it works and sometimes not. Thanks to Gamespy.

Anyway... I hope to figure out what's the problem, to solve it if it is on my side and to come back when possible. I woudn't like people then to say...don't take him in the tournament, he's not reliable...

Jeff

[MotownDennis]

Jeff:

My comments weren't so much directed to you as they were to the players who don't seem to be responding to e-mails and PMs. I'm not sure why someone would enter a tourney if they aren't going to even attempt to play.

With regard to your technical problems, you might want to scan through this thread:

http://civ3players.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=TECHIE

This is from our Ladder forum. Believe me, you're not the first to run into these types of problems, and we over at the Ladder probably have the most experience in dealing with such issues. I hope you find it helpful in solving your problem.

I understand that MP is just starting to really take off at Apolyton, and that's great. I just think that people should try to play a few online games to test their connection and to see if they really enjoy MP before entering a tournament. Those of us who are ready, willing, and able to play our games end up losing interest if the tourney isn't kept moving (and, sheesh, they're already talking about the NEXT tourney!).

Again, as someone with lots of experience running online C3C tourneys, my comments are intended to be constructive and non-accusatory. I'd just hate for MP interest here at Apolyton to wane because the tourneys aren't run and played efficiently.

Happy MP Civvin!


Mo D

[jeff76]

routers

Thanks MoD

Just a question though. I have Win XP, and a ADSL modem of Belgacom, which I think uses Cisco routers. (the technician of Belgacom told me they do not use routers... should I believe this, because I foud online a news article form Belgacom talking about how great is the security since they use Cisco routers...)

Well : How can I find which Cisco router I have (except by asking those who tell me I have none)

And How can i open ports on my computers (where do I have to go). is it online, on the web page of Cisco?...

Thanks...

[MotownDennis]

Unfortunately, I'm probably more clueless about such things than you are. I fire up my game and it works (thank God!).

One of our Ladder admins is a real techie and could probably help you. I'll e-mail him and have him check this thread.


Mo D