PTW Classics

[Beta]

Civs and Players, in order, with e-mails:

Babylon : beta - brucehynes57 AT rogers DOT com
Carthage : Sir Ralph - sirralph AT gmx DOT com
Rome : McMeadows - verweg AT hotmail DOT com
Persia : sabrewolf - sabrewolf AT blackhole DOT ch
Greece : alexman - alexman AT alum DOT mit DOT edu
Egypt : jshler - jshelruss AT yahoo DOT com

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The game is a classic. The civs are classic. Too bad we can't say the same about the players.

This a Play The World pbem consisting of the 6 'classic' civs from that game. Namely - Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Persians, and Carthaginians.

I am planning standard map size, pangaea, 80% water. I do not want another islands game. And continents breaks it down into two small tourney games. Normal climate, etc.

And again, this is a PTW pbem. (version 1.27). Something Sir Ralph got me thinking about awhile back.

Questions:

1. Barbs - restless or raging?

2. Assign the civs randomly, or roll a die for first thru sixth choice?

3. Silent (ie no out of game contact) or normal communication rules?

4. An idea had been raised about being able to veto the start at the 4000bc turn, to ensure no one gets the dreaded jungle, tundra, or desert start. We can also have someone check the start for fairness. Thoughts?

5. Your time zones for play?

6. And oh yes - difficulty level - Monarch or Emperor?

[Beta]

My responses:

1. either - probably raging.

2. roll a die for civ choices - one thru 6. Last person gets the last civ.

3. either

4. I am Ok with random starts. But if others want - lets have someone start the game and check the starts. I do not like the veto at 4000bc idea.

5. Sabre wolf is GMT+1, but is up late. I am GMT-5.

6. either - Monarch or Emperor. I'm easy. Probably Monarch if I had to choose.

[sabrewolf]

Re: PTW Classics

thanks guys, for letting me join
i may not be classic, but i'm hoping for "classy"

1) restless
2) i think random is the fairest
3) what is "normal" communication?
4) veto sounds fine. but only max. once per person
5) late GMT +1, as you said
6) emperor would be a nice change, most other PBEMs i'm in are monarch or lower...

And again, this is a PTW pbem. (version 1.27). Something Sir Ralph got me thinking about awhile back

in what way did he get you thinking?

[alexman]

Nice to be here
I'll leave the details up to you guys.

I can play my turns from 8am-6pm (GMT-5) pretty much as soon as I receive them, and can usually get a turn in in the evenings as well, although the exact time is not predictable.

[sabrewolf]

despite being 6 hours ahead of alexman, the same times go for me

[Harovan]

What about a small 70% pangea as the game suggests for six players? That said, I would of course go with standard 80% also. It's a matter of "economy", call it an application of Ockhams razor . You can achieve the same with a small 70% map. It has ~960 land tiles, standard 80% has ~1000 tiles. Not much of a difference, except that less water IMO diminishes the chance of a split landmass.

To answer the six questions:

1) not important for me, I go with either.

2) random for me. Make a scenario, where only the six civs are allowed, and let somebody set up the game with all random.

3) Ok with either choice. To negotiate trade deals by email probably speeds things up somewhat.

4) I would feel more comfortable with somebody who would check the start and ensures, that it is a pangea and that nobody has a very bad or a very nice (like four cows) start. But no resource adjustment!

5) GMT+1, mainly at evening (6pm..11pm GMT). I can chime in a turn in the morning, as long as the game is in the early stages and turns take less than 10 minutes.

6) Difficulty levels don't mean much in PBEMs. I'd say Monarch with raging barbs, and Emperor with restless.

[ZargonX]

If you guys need a start checker, just let me know

[jshelr]

Re: PTW Classics

Questions:

1. Barbs - restless or raging?

I like no barbs -- huts make for uneven starts. But raging would be interesting

2. Assign the civs randomly, or roll a die for first thru sixth choice? Roll the Dice

3. Silent (ie no out of game contact) or normal communication rules? I like silent. There is no way to do the human contact "fairly."

4. An idea had been raised about being able to veto the start at the 4000bc turn, to ensure no one gets the dreaded jungle, tundra, or desert start. We can also have someone check the start for fairness. Thoughts? Veto -- but you have to be willing to provide a picture of your horrible start.

5. Your time zones for play? Eastern Standard Time In the World Empire / USA

6. And oh yes - difficulty level - Monarch or Emperor? Emperor

I usually play early in the morning and late in the afternoon -- but before evening.

[snoopy369]

I'd also be happy to create such a scenario as SirRalph suggests (with only 6 civs available, and then random), and check the map, if you all would like. I'll be up for at least four more hours tonight (until around midnight Central time) if you want it to start tonight (Sunday).

[Beta]

Originally posted by ZargonX
If you guys need a start checker, just let me know

Zargon - we WILL take you up on your offer. We need two things -

1) via whatever means you think is appropriate, assign a civ to each player (2 choices here - names in one hat - civs in the other - draw from each hat and match them up. OR - number the players 1-6, pick a civ, and roll a six-sided die. That player gets the civ. As each player is assigned you may have to re-roll a bit more as that players number has been used.)

2) set up the game - I suggest Emperor - and use small 70% water pangaea as SR as suggested - and make sure everyone has an OK start.

(all other other settings normal, and barbs restless)

(snoop - many thanks. But ZX offered first. )

[Beta]

OOOOps... before you set up the game - you need the play order.

Looks so far like:

Sir Ralph
McMeadows
sabrewolf
alexman
beta
jshler

It is the order of the first three I am unsure of. You are all around GMT to GMT +2 if I am not mistaken. SR is in Germany. Amd McM is GMT +1. And sabrewolf says he is up late. And alexman at GMT-5 says he is ste to play fairly early. So this order looks OK. Any comments?

[ZargonX]

When you give me the ok on the final order, I'll go ahead and get it ready for you

[Beta]

ZargonX - let's take it as a go and get this underway with the order as above. Again - many thanks!

[ZargonX]

I'll set it up tonight

[alexman]

Sir Ralph
McMeadows
sabrewolf
alexman
beta
jshler

Since jshelr said he can't play in the evenings, the beta-jshelr order should probably be reversed, unless Beta can't play in the evenings either.