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As the newly appointed deputy of Apolyton University I am currently pursuing an idea originally raised a few months ago, and then again a few days ago by Mad Bomber, about the possibility of an Apolyton University Succession Game.
This first poll is to get an idea whether or not people would like to see a succession game as an offshoot of Apolyton University. The second poll is in regard to timing.
The way I see this working is as follows…a succession game is a game where many people will play a certain number of turns. Everyone who played would then post in a DAR thread set up for this game where they would then describe their game and how it is going to this point, as well as posting a screen shot and the saved game. Then a poll would be started regarding the savegame that we all believe is the “best” one to continue with. Once the poll closed, then I would post the savegame, and everyone would then play the next block of turns with that game instead of the one they played the first block with.
The primary difference I see between a normal succession game and an AU succession game would be the DARs. These would be posted in AU format as a teaching tool, a “how I did this” as much as a “this is what I did”.
I believe that one of the main stumbling blocks in discussing your game in a DAR is pride. For AU209, 42 people at this point have downloaded the game, yet only about 6 or 7 have posted in the DAR threads. AU209 is a difficult game and I think part of the reason there is a lack of discussion about it is because most people haven’t finished it, or have lost like I did. I personally believe that even if you fail at a game there is a good reason to talk about how and why you failed since it is a learning experience not only for you, but for the people that lurk in the threads and garner ideas. But that’s neither here nor there. People do not necessarily want to talk about a game they played because it is solely “their” game. They either succeeded or failed on their own merits. That is where a succession game is different. Like a democracy game, a succession game belongs to everyone who is playing it, not just one person. When you play your game, you aren’t necessarily as interested in other people’s games because you aren’t playing them. But when you play as part of a succession game interest sparks in the way other people have played their games because you may end up playing someone else’s game for the next block of turns.
Now, I don’t want to forget the tenets of Apolyton University as set down by its founding fathers. Apolyton University should be a teaching tool, which is where the DAR’s once again rise up. Like many of the threads for both the AU games and the normal strategy threads there should be discussion about the game; how to help players play the game more soundly, tips and tricks, etc. The “graybeards”
of the strategy forum are well-known for their willingness to help out others with their gameplay. And even those who don’t ask for help can lurk on the thread and learn something when a graybeard helps someone else.
So…thoughts on this? Suggestions? Right now I would just like to see if there is interest in an AU succession game. If there is interest then I will see about setting up the “rules” of the game and a scenario to start with (one with a little less of a horrific start than AU209). I would also like to receive input from others so that it isn’t just me deciding the course of the succession game.
This first poll is to get an idea whether or not people would like to see a succession game as an offshoot of Apolyton University. The second poll is in regard to timing.
The way I see this working is as follows…a succession game is a game where many people will play a certain number of turns. Everyone who played would then post in a DAR thread set up for this game where they would then describe their game and how it is going to this point, as well as posting a screen shot and the saved game. Then a poll would be started regarding the savegame that we all believe is the “best” one to continue with. Once the poll closed, then I would post the savegame, and everyone would then play the next block of turns with that game instead of the one they played the first block with.
The primary difference I see between a normal succession game and an AU succession game would be the DARs. These would be posted in AU format as a teaching tool, a “how I did this” as much as a “this is what I did”.
I believe that one of the main stumbling blocks in discussing your game in a DAR is pride. For AU209, 42 people at this point have downloaded the game, yet only about 6 or 7 have posted in the DAR threads. AU209 is a difficult game and I think part of the reason there is a lack of discussion about it is because most people haven’t finished it, or have lost like I did. I personally believe that even if you fail at a game there is a good reason to talk about how and why you failed since it is a learning experience not only for you, but for the people that lurk in the threads and garner ideas. But that’s neither here nor there. People do not necessarily want to talk about a game they played because it is solely “their” game. They either succeeded or failed on their own merits. That is where a succession game is different. Like a democracy game, a succession game belongs to everyone who is playing it, not just one person. When you play your game, you aren’t necessarily as interested in other people’s games because you aren’t playing them. But when you play as part of a succession game interest sparks in the way other people have played their games because you may end up playing someone else’s game for the next block of turns.
Now, I don’t want to forget the tenets of Apolyton University as set down by its founding fathers. Apolyton University should be a teaching tool, which is where the DAR’s once again rise up. Like many of the threads for both the AU games and the normal strategy threads there should be discussion about the game; how to help players play the game more soundly, tips and tricks, etc. The “graybeards”
of the strategy forum are well-known for their willingness to help out others with their gameplay. And even those who don’t ask for help can lurk on the thread and learn something when a graybeard helps someone else.So…thoughts on this? Suggestions? Right now I would just like to see if there is interest in an AU succession game. If there is interest then I will see about setting up the “rules” of the game and a scenario to start with (one with a little less of a horrific start than AU209). I would also like to receive input from others so that it isn’t just me deciding the course of the succession game.
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