Is PBEM any Good?

[smhfan86]

Since the only good way to play Alpha Centauri was by PBEM, I figured more people would try it, and that it would be more stable.

Has anyone tried it?

[cgannon64]

Yes. Got to CFC PBEM forum, there are two there right now, one up and running. The best way to play PBEM is about 4 players, and all of you agree to stay up one night and play until early in the morning. Turns fly by that way. Its simple to play; the game gives you instructions.

CG

[quinns]

cgannon64,

Thanks for the PBEM play test info. Did you have any problems or errors when you played your 4 player game? How many turns did it go?

[Crousto]

Question from a PBEM newbie
How is diplomacy handled? Does the AI take the role of the civ who's not currently playing?

[alva]

I thinks so, that's why it's better to handle diplomacy in seperated e-mails

[Maquiladora]

Originally posted by alva848
I thinks so, that's why it's better to handle diplomacy in seperated e-mails

Bah thats such an old gripe with civ2 they even fixed that in ctp1 pbem

[Random Passerby]

The manual says that player-to-player diplomacy just goes back-and-forth over several turns; it's still obviously a smart idea to work out deals in separate email rather than in the game, but you don't have to worry about the AI doing anything stupid for you.

[smhfan86]

that's good to know. although, i read that you can't even type a message to someone in-game and it doesn't tell you whether or not a deal has been accepted.

Something they have in SMAC.

You'd think with all the time they spent on making a 'multiplayer' expansion, they would have made it better than SMAC, not worse.

[KingSponge]

Diplomacy works like this, AFAIK:

Civ 1's Turn:
- contacts Civ 2 (the AI for Civ 2 handles the call).
- puts something on the table, for instance, Bronze Working
- Click Send

Civ 2's Turn:
- Receives the offer from Civ 1
- May now put something on the table
- Click Send

After that I don't have a clue as I've yet to see any type of confirmation of acceptance of rejection of any offers!

Edit: Also meant to say that PBEM appears to have been added in the last few days before going gold, particularly with regards to handling the files. You actually have to save and send the file manually. *sigh*

[redstar1]

Id rather have to mail the file separately than click a button and not know what Civ is doing with my email address/server/login/password.....