Pitboss - Q's and A's

[polarnomad]

Originally posted by Beta


Polar - the discussion here is to try and find the common ground we can all live with - or more approriately - play on.

And the key point is exactly as you have stated - how do we ensure/encourage involvement (strategizing, discussion, roleplay, whatever) and still maintain a reasonable pace of play.

I have been pushing for 24 hours, but I do not want to do it at the expense of losing the essence of a demo game, and at the expense of losing a large portion of otherwise interested players.

So don't leave yet. Please.

I didn't mean I was leaving now. I am interested in the concept. I just doubt that I will be able to keep up with the pace of the game. Sure, I check this site pretty often, sometimes even daily, but to coordinate discussion and make decisions about game issues at such a fast pace... I just don't know. You obviously think it should be feasible. Perhaps you are right.

I don't think anyone really addressed the question of whether or not turn speed can be slowed down once a game is started. Can it? If such were the case then we could start at 24 hours, and later lengthen the turn timer if people begin to feel the crunch, as UnO suggested.

[Niessuh]

This page summarize some interesting rules, double turns solving specially:

http://theoob.googlepages.com/pitbossrules.html

It is possible to take a 'double turn' in the game by being the last to finish for one turn and then the first to finish the one after that. This has a positive effect because it speeds the game up, but the downside is that it can be exploited for military advantage by moving twice before your opponent has a chance to react.

So to keep the upside of double turns while eliminating (or at least minimizing) the downside, the rule is that if you are at war with another player (or are about to go to war with them, eg. sneak attacks) then you mustn't take two turns before they've had a chance to take one, or in other words you cannot go after them in one turn and before them in the next.

You can use the civstats log page for the game, or the RSS feeds from the same page, to tell if the other player has taken their turn (ask me about this if you don't know what I'm talking about).

One exception: you may always take your turn when 12 hours have passed on the turn timer (since the timer seems to run slow this will probably be a bit more than 12 real hours), regardless of whether they have taken their turn or not, otherwise it'd risk you not having a chance to take your turn at all. Ideally though, you should talk to your opponent(s) and come to an arrangement about the order you are going to take your turns in.

[proviisori]

Another thing...

What do people think about using CivStats in this game?

IMO It reveals a lot of information about other teams that you would not otherwise know.

[Beta]

Originally posted by proviisori
Another thing...

What do people think about using CivStats in this game?

IMO It reveals a lot of information about other teams that you would not otherwise know.

We could use a public tracker thread here - and that should suffice. Sort of like we do with Lord of Emperors, where the last player to play the turn posts that new turn is up.

[Beta]

Originally posted by proviisori
I fear that with 24 hours it will be very difficult for someone to give imput on a regular basis if he/she is living in very different timezone AND if one has to go to work / school etc.

48 hours will give much more time to organize RL and demogaming without taking away the fun.

I'm starting to lean that way as well. Sigh...

First con, then you.

[Beta]

Originally posted by polarnomad


I didn't mean I was leaving now. I am interested in the concept. I just doubt that I will be able to keep up with the pace of the game. Sure, I check this site pretty often, sometimes even daily, but to coordinate discussion and make decisions about game issues at such a fast pace... I just don't know. You obviously think it should be feasible. Perhaps you are right.

I don't think anyone really addressed the question of whether or not turn speed can be slowed down once a game is started. Can it? If such were the case then we could start at 24 hours, and later lengthen the turn timer if people begin to feel the crunch, as UnO suggested.

My understanding is that the turn timer can be modified during the game. Snoop can confirm.

And to the first paragraph - agreed. I have more time on my hands than most - and it is something I need to keep reminding myself of.

[astrologix]

Originally posted by Beta

My understanding is that the turn timer can be modified during the game. Snoop can confirm.

The saveconvert utility is what you are looking for :

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=167669

[Nugog]

The variances in timezones are difficult to manage in themselves, then throw in work/school, family, holidays, and innnumerable other factors - and 24 hr turn around is a big ask on a constant basis - let alone in a team game.

Unless you are playing with people who either agree with you all the time, or are just signed up and have no input.

24 hrs is too short IMO, but if the turn time can be adjusted as the game goes on, and the opening positons are shown to each team to allow some strategising, then initially 24hrs will work, but not in the mid or later stages of the game.

[Keygen]

24 hours is very tempting I must say, but I catch myself wondering what would happen in later stages when more accurate, more careful, more critical decisions will have to be made? Will 24 hours be enough?

No...

This is a Demo game after all. The real joy is in the discussion and the participation, not in the game itself.

Go for a 48 hours limit with the "Simultaneous Turn" option turned on. Not too fast to spoil the ongoing discussion and participation or too slow to cause lost of interest

[Nugog]

Originally posted by Keygen
Go for a 48 hours limit with the "Simultaneous Turn" option turned on. Not too fast to spoil the ongoing discussion and participation or too slow to cause lost of interest

[Keygen]

[Beta]

I am convinced as well now. You have to bear with me - I am getting old and slow-witted. (no comments thank-you very much, con!)

48 hours

[RobWorham]

The best compromise I think

[Rhothaerill]

Originally posted by Beta
I am convinced as well now. You have to bear with me - I am getting old and slow-witted. (no comments thank-you very much, con!)

48 hours

You have come to the dark side and found it worthy...


...In time you will call ME Master!

[Beta]

roflmao

Never! Never!