Silent PBEM: Gunboat Diplomacy

[Beta]

Silent PBEM:

This is a silent PBEM. Which means, no out of game contact or discussion at all. Everything has to be done through the F4 diplo screen. There will be no chats, or out of game messages, or map trading outside of the game. Deal with each of the other players as if they were an AI. This of course will mean fewer alliances and co-ordinated attacks - or any tech trading in advance. It should raise the uncertainty level greatly - and play a bit like very challenging SP game - and less like a demo game.

This PBEM thread will only allow "sent to ABC". No smileys or comments or the like which could be a form of communication. And no code on the trade table either. Given the bright and creative bunch we are, I can envision we would soon have a barter language similar to contract bridge. (An opening of 7 gold means I want an alliance ... ) Let's play this straight up to see how it works.

The game:

Gunboat Diplomacy! Thanks to snotty for the name. We will all have island starts. Regular size map. Normal terrain and climate. Barbarian setting??? Any preferences - I say restless.

The mapmaker/administrator:

I have contacted Octavian X to see about setting the map up for us.

Play order(because it is works so well):

1. Shogun Gunner michaeldnelson A T msn D O T com (England)
2. SlightlyMadman bsarsgard A T slightlymad D O T net (Vikings)
3. Beta brucehynes57 A T rogers D O T com (Byzantines)
4. Wittlich wittlich A T sbcglobal D O T net (Portuguese)
5. J2k pbem1 A T paperrat D O T com (Spain)
6. McMeadows verweg A T hotmail D O T com (Dutch)
7. Snotty Snotty128 A T hotmail D O T com (Carthage)

The civs:

The seven seafaring civs are your choices:
Spain - j2k
Vikings - Slightly Madman
Carthage - snotty
English - Shogun Gunner
Dutch - McMeadows
Portuguese - Wittlich
Byzantines - Beta

The civ choice order:

Was determined randomly by my better half. She drew cards ace/one through seven for each player. Number one gets first pick, etc. Here is the order:

1. Slightly Madman
2. McMeadows
3. Wittlich
4. Beta
5. Shogun Gunner
6. snotty
7. j2k

So - Slightly Madaman - you are up - pick a civ.

[Octavian X]

I could certainly set up a map for you guys. This should be interesting.

This is what I'm thinking:
-1 civ per island, with perhaps a few empty islands just for fun.
-all starting islands would be about equal (in terms of terrain and size)
- about 70% water, all other settings equal.
-Each civ will have a good chance for access to at least one of each of the strategic resoucres (for even more fun, I can only set up 6 of each resource - 1 player would be lacking 1 of the resources)
-Since they will be a lot of ocean-going in this game, use x and y wrappying (where the polar ice caps would be, you could go to the edge of the map and keep on going from the bottom. East and west would work the same as well).

[Beta]

Oct - you are a hero. Muchos gracias!

As to the x and y wrapping - I have to say I have never played on a map that does not have the polar ice caps - so I have no idea what to think.

As to resources - the 6 of each sounds good. Should create some tension.

How do others feel?

[SlightlyMadman]

Unlike in the SP game, I think resource scarcity could enhance the strategy in a MP game, so the 6 count might be interesting.

Oh, and I've gotta take the Vikings. There's "better" choices, but they're not Vikings

[Shogun Gunner]

I like the x-y wrapping. I also have never played a game with this option, but it's a good idea.

I'm cool with the resource scarcity as long as I get iron, coal, aluminum and uranium.

*Frustrated, Shogun Gunner scratches off Vikings from his list*

[McMeadows]

I'll stick to my true nationality. The Dutch have chosen a new leader. Go ahead SG, shorten your list..
Isn't the proposed resource scarcity a bit too severe? With so little there isn't even enough to trade with.. But I'll settle for any settings..

[Octavian X]

Map annoucements:

I got bored. The map is mostly done - to better control resource distribution, I handmade the map. Game rules were modified so that strategic resources will not disappear. All players have 7 of the 8 resources, with one exception, on their starting island, or on an island very close to the starting one. The only exception is a player that's missing two resources - aluminum and uranium - since those are late-game resources. Other resources, bonus and luxury, have yet to be distrubuted.

[Beta]

Originally posted by Octavian X
Map annoucements:

I got bored. The map is mostly done -

[Wittlich]

I'll take my 'ol stand-by civ - the Portuguese.

[Beta]

Beta of the Byzantines has a nice ring to it.

And I have the cutest leaderhead.

Shogun Gunner - you're up.

[Wittlich]

Beta, can you update the status post to show who is taking what civ so far? It would help show what civs are left for the other players.

[Beta]

Will do.

[Snotty]

Just dropping a line so I get this thread turning up on my threads list. I will take whichever of Carthage or England is left after SG chooses. At least its not Korea again

[Beta]

I forgot one of the other game rules. No changing city names. You go with the default city names. So there can be no 'messaging' there either.

Also - Octavian - do you want passwords - or will you set an admin password. I am just thinking if someone goes awol, how we will replace them.

[Shogun Gunner]

I was tempted to take Spain...but it will be ENGLAND this game.