Your success in completing a PBEM?

[Shogun Gunner]

It seems to successfully complete a PBEM game requires an act of God -- or at least Diety

It's really tough to keep a game moving. Players drop out -- often without notice. It can be difficult to find a replacement player -- especially if the position is a less than optimal offering. Also, players sometimes find themselves in disagreements of varying seriousness due to the rules, exploits, suspicion of cheating, etc. Let's not forget real life which can reset one's priorities.

Another difficulty is the time required. The time committment, although relatively small in terms of the time needed to play one turn, is omni-present and can last for many, many months. I'm a few PBEMs that have been ongong for over one year and we just recently crossed into AD.

So, I ask you, the PBEM community, what is your success rate for completion of a game? I will define completion as a winner per the victory conditions of the game, or a consensus agreement among the players that there is a winner therefore no need to play on.

I will report to you that I have a 0% completion rate (0/~15) although there are several long running PBEMs that are still going. For the purposes of the poll, include PTW with the C3C PBEMS.

[Rhothaerill]

I've had 3 PBEMs finish to completion (all three were won by me with Beta in second place, hence my trash talk in the other thread ), but I've had probably around 20-30 that have died on me. I currently have only 9 PBEMs on my plate, but many of them have the possibility of finishing to completion (at least one won't be a win for me though )

[Theseus]

Only two completed:

1) My AU one-on-one with nbarclay. I got trashed.

2) The PTWDG. We got trashed.

[Modo44]

The poll lacks the option: Have lots of PBEMs all of which are going to be completed. Or so I hope.

I think three of the ones I was in are over. All three with Paddy in them, of course.

EDIT: By "over" I meant "completed". For me, that is, as I was PWNed in one of them.

[Shogun Gunner]

what about Cold War? Failed, I believe.

[Modo44]

Originally posted by Shogun Gunner
what about Cold War? Failed, I believe.

Not if I can help it.

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?postid=3831601#post3831601

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?postid=3831597#post3831597

[Dauphin]

I've only completed two games, and in both games I was bounced out before the ADs.

Of the remainder about 50% died, 50% are still running 15 months later, at varying paces.

[Soltz]

I've been in about 3 or 4 games that have been completed "for me", about the same number that have died for one reason or another.

In 4 active games at the moment, but 2 of them seem doubtful.

[ormuzd]

I think three games might be considered completed for me - I was trashed twice and one ended with everyone's agreement Conqueror has won.

The fourth is the ISDG which may be not counted.

All other games by email died because of inactivity of one player

[Addled Platypus]

[QUOTE] Originally posted by Modo44
The poll lacks the option: Have lots of PBEMs all of which are going to be completed. Or so I hope.


Two on the verge of being completed

not wining in either of them

SO I went Banana

[Grandpa Troll]

so you have to lose wait 2 win a pbem?

diety vs deity thingey

I wonder how do you define "finish"

if people quit then its "finished" am I not correct?

I just ask because too many game have started and just floated out on the river of Life

[Shogun Gunner]

Re: Your success in completing a PBEM?

Originally posted by Shogun Gunner

I will define completion as a winner per the victory conditions of the game, or a consensus agreement among the players that there is a winner therefore no need to play on.

[Grandpa Troll]

ok so if you have 3 people in a game and 2 havent been seen in a while and left you folding the bag..your the majority vote is the game "finished"?

[Shogun Gunner]

I guess that one way to look at it! I, however, would call that failed. If someone wants to play on*, but the one or more players won't, that is failed.

* Assuming defined victory conditions for the game have not been achieved.

[Grandpa Troll]

ok interesting point

suppose Im in a game and am getting whooped on

I just decide to stop playing and not respond

aint that wrong, to hold a person from "winning" by simply being awol?

It suxor da big one, but shouldnt the game be finished for the other player since you effectively have eliminated the will of your opponent to continue?