Equalizing Starting Positions with Random Maps

[quinns]

"How?", you say. Well, it only works on one vs. one matches but here is the way...

I start a random map PBEM game and do nothing with the settler and then "End" the turn. I then send you that turn AND open the turn I just sent you and play that one as the second player. Then I send THAT turn to you as well. That is, there are TWO games going at once between us with swapped starting positions. Whoever wins BOTH matches is the victor. Any other result is a draw.

The only drawback is that each player knows the starting location of the other player. That isn't that big of a drawback though. Anyone interested in testing this "equalization" method?

[Grandpa Troll]

I applaud your efforts and although I dont play PBEM, I do think this is as fair a solution from which I have heard complaints about"Unfair"starting positions, although most maps even out.

I often apply this to MP where we whom play together on a regular basis give it 10 turns then agree to continue or restart, and for real, you have my vote as a goodwill ambassador for the CTP Community!

HEY!

Lookie at Troll, sitting up shop on "One side of the fence"

[quinns]

Thanks Troll! It is a pity you don't play PBEM. It isn't as "slow" as you think.

[checkMate]

Yes, I noted this was a good idea on the "stomach turns thread." Perhaps redbull could use it for superlegue. The first one gets passed N times
so that player N will start with player one. The next one stops at player N-1 etc...

[checkMate]

For some reason some words got deleted from my last post.

What I meant was that you could use the equalizing trick for MP by letting the 1st turn pass through all players except the last. Then in the next time it is passed through all but the next to last etc....

[quinns]

Thanks checkmate... But I don't quite understand. Do you mean that in a 4 player game you would have 4 separate games going at once with each player playing each of the four starting positions? I think that would work but I have to think about it some more. Can you explain a bit more -- by example maybe? I'm a bit dense.

[Grandpa Troll]

Originally posted by quinns
Thanks Troll! It is a pity you don't play PBEM. It isn't as "slow" as you think.

Hmm...maaybe..I may consider..Ill give it some thought!
Thanks

Troll

[Flandrien]

What would you say about starting a game on a not-so-random map, with each player starting on an identical island ?

[checkMate]

I'll try, we have players A,B,C,D

Game 1 -> A passes -> B passes -> C passes -> D plays -> A plays .....
Game 2 -> A passes -> B passes -> C plays -> D plays -> A plays .....
Game 3 -> A passes -> B plays -> Cplays -> D plays -> A plays ...
Game 4 -> A plays -> B plays -> C plays -> D plays -> A plays .....

So in game 1 D is playing the 1st player position.
A is playing the 2nd player position
B is playing the 3rd play position.
C is playing the 4th player position.

in game 2 C is playing the 1st player position
D is playing the 2nd player position
A is plihing the 3rd player position.
B is playing the 4th player position.

Not it is not 100% symmetrical in the following sense.
When B plays the 4th player postition, he only sees that
position while A is playing the third position. If you wanted to do all combinations I think you have to play 6 *4 games. But that seems to be going to far

[Frozzy]

[checkMate]

Don't make me mention factorial numbers red

[quinns]

Right. Let's stick to just two player games -- for now! What do you say?

[checkMate]

Agree, but gee just thiin

2 players 2 games
3 players 6 games
4 players 24 games
5 players 120 games
6 players 720 games
7 players 5040 games
8 players 40320 games

Some say this is too much, others say PBEM heaven

[quinns]

Originally posted by checkMate
Agree, but gee just thiin

2 players 2 games
3 players 6 games
4 players 24 games
5 players 120 games
6 players 720 games
7 players 5040 games
8 players 40320 games

Some say this is too much, others say PBEM heaven

Okay! Let's start an 8 player game. Because the games are simultaneous, it won't take too long to complete them all.