New AU PBEM course

[Aqualung71]

Originally posted by Theseus
PS: Aqua, any contributions from how 'Trial by Traits' has been? You guys are pretty far along (albeit at .35 tpd).

Theseus, the team lists in our game are as follows:

Babylon / Carthage - Scientific/Religious + Seafaring/Industrious

Rome / Persia - Commercial/Militarisitc + Idustrious/Scientific

Arabia / Greece - Religious/Expansionist + Commercial/Scientific

I specifically eliminated Agricultural civs from the setup and chose one Scientific civ for each team.

In an attempt to evenly distribute start locations on the randomly generated Pangea map, I had also taken care to ensure that there were only 2 culture groups represented (Mediterranean + Mid East), and that the teams had one of each. With culturally linked start locations turned on, this should have ensured that there were 2 distinct areas of 3 civs each, with one civ from each team being in each geographical area. This kind of worked, except that on the Pangea map, Babylon and Carthage ended up in the middle and so closest to each other.

As for UU's, all civs chosen except Arabia had Ancient Age UU's, so this was also fairly well balanced. The kick-arse Persian Immortal was up against good defensive units in Numidian Mercenaries and Hoplites, while the Arabian Ansar Warrior had to wait until the Middle Ages to emerge, by which time other teams were in a better position to deal with him. The weakest was the Babylonian Bowman, but to date in our game (early Middle Ages) Babylon hasn't seen any action.

I took quite some time with the setup. After taking into account all the variables with Traits, UU's and cultural groupings, the civ pairings almost chose themselves and I think this is probably the most balanced set of pairings you could find within the parameters I chose.

We've progressed the game fairly well (though at 0.35 turns per day not particuarly quickly), and are currently at around 350BC. As Kloreep says, he's eliminated Greece recently and now Arabia is on its own. The other 2 teams remain fairly well balanced, with Persia/Rome being more powerful (largely due to Kloreep's Immortals absorbing Greek territories), while Babylon/Carthage has defensive advantages by being relatively close together.

The early objective in such a game of course is to meet your team civ, so you can share techs. Research cooperation between team civs was allowed from the start of the game, but between non-team civs was restricted until the teams actually met in-game. Despite the obvious team cooperation on research, the tech pace hasn't been outlandishly fast.

I think 3 teams of 2 is a good setup. Any less would be strategically boring, any more would be unacceptably slow.

[Theseus]

Originally posted by Lord Nuclear
I'll admin it, for sure. I have an interesting an idea for picking the teams. As Theseus suggests, one new player (Warlord-Monarch), and one experienced player (Emperor-Sid). There would be a specific thread that players would post in to say what level they play on, what civs they would prefer, what their best at, worst at, etc. I then assign civs and teams, according to abilities and civ prefence. How does that sound?

Excellent. Thanks!

[Theseus]

Thanks for your comments, Aqua. I think I clearly went through some of the same thought process that you did... in fact, I'd just use 'Trial by Traits' if I didn't want to get you guys to particpate in the AU course!

Re civs, I started going through the same exercise as you, and then realized that you'd already done it... so, a slightly different approach, focused on the complements and differences in civs:

Europe: France/Scandinavia
COM/IND+MIL/SEA
Musketeer+Berserk

Middle East: Persia/Ottomans
SCI/IND+SCI/IND ( :cackle: )
Immortal+Sipahi

Asia: China/Japan
MIL/IND+MIL/REL
Rider+Samurai

I can think of some scary stuff coming from each of these pairings!!

Now, who's gonna design a map, 'cause I am fer darn-tootin' playing??!!

[Tassadar500]

Well, I suggest we start getting players to sign up, and contacting the other sites. I'd be willing to design a map, although I have no real skill or experience in that area, and I'd probably just get the RNG to make a map, and I'd balance it out.

[Theseus]

When we are ready, I'll do a pre-game thread in the AU forum, summarizing what we've got so far and providing for sign-ups. I'll also let a few of the lost sons and daughters around here know, and start contacting other sites where I have a history.

First, though, we need to determine the extent to which the game is modded:
1. Stock
2. Starter pack
3. Iron Civer mod

As much as I am attracted to #s 2 and 3, I suggest staying with stock to attract the greatest participation (including inter-site)... any strong objections out there?

[Aqualung71]

I've got way too many PBEM games going for the time I have available, so I'm in

Theseus - I think those civ choices are going to make for a helluva lot of fun.

France/Scandinavia --> Nasty amphibious UU paired with a pretty good defensive UU. France's traits are reasonable, though Scandinavia's suck on a Pangea.

Persia/Ottomans --> commerce and research juggernauts, and when one UU becomes obsolete, the other kicks in!

China/Japan --> keep them both away from Iron or we're all toast by the Middle Ages


I'm reserving the Ottomans

And no Vikings for Theseus

[Kloreep]

Of the 3 pairs, France/Scandinavia seems slightly underpowered to me, though maybe I'm underestimating their UUs. (The Berzerker is powerful, but this is a Pangea. And as Aqua points out, Seafaring isn't worth much.)

[Theseus]

Nope, not pangaea, three nearby continents. And believe me, Berserks are insane regardless of amphib attack.... I played a couple of SP games over the last six months just to test that theory, and they delivered, big-time. I mean, daaaang, 6a??!! Crunch crunch, chop chop.

[Dominae]

Putting the only two Scientific civs on the same team is not very fair...

[Theseus]

Originally posted by Dominae
Putting the only two Scientific civs on the same team is not very fair...

Nor Immortals and Sipahis... methinks the other two teams might have something to say about that. Also, the tech advantage is only realized if trade relations are well-managed, and there is no inherent military benefit to these two given the UUs.

Actually, Dominae, I've been waiting for you to weigh in on this... any further thoughts? I'm hoping to solidify this course, get the invitations out, and get going by the coming weekend.

[Tassadar500]

Once it's all set up, I can get a News Report for it too.

[Dominae]

Originally posted by Theseus
Nor Immortals and Sipahis... methinks the other two teams might have something to say about that.

Who wants to be dogpiled?

Also, the tech advantage is only realized if trade relations are well-managed, and there is no inherent military benefit to these two given the UUs.

Well-managed tech trade relations just means splitting up the tech tree evenly (well, there's more to it than this, but it's less important).

Saving 140 Shields per city per team member on Libraries and Universities is likely a game-breaker. And that's not even counting the free techs from era advancement, which the other teams would only dream of having (that and SGLs!). Scientific is the one and only trait that gets better when paired with itself.

Oh and, IMO, Immortals and Sipahi would dominate those other UU combinations ("You've got Riders? Well, I've got Muskets! And Gunpowder is not far off from you-know-what!!").

[Theseus]

If we do this right, it can be the blow-out celebration that Civ3 deserves. SP/MP/succession/AU/inter-site/competitive&not... d*mn, I'm getting pumped. And all the players too... Vel, Sir Ralph, Fried-Psitalon, and all the others who aren't quite so distant (too many to name)... I am coming for you!

[and Jesse? Soren? Mike? Sid?]

[Tassadar500]

Does anyone know how we contacted Firaxis to play in the first ISDG?

[Dominae]

How about these combinations:

Japan (Rel/Mil) - Korea (Sci/Com); Samurai + Hwach'a
Arabia (Rel/Exp) - Ottomans (Sci/Ind); Ansar + Sipahi
China (Mil/Ind) - India (Rel/Com); Rider + War Elephant