drows mystical adventure new pbem

[bdanv]

Originally posted by mmontgomery
Otherwise, I think to penalize mutual probing, probing should result in a vendetta for at least a certain number of turns before a pact can be reestablished. Or maybe other penalties.

still, 'friendly' mutual probing will be possible during the vendetta.
also, there are more advanced ways to get around this rule, like: you let me probe you, i let you probe me in 'x' turns, which is far more difficult to detect and almost impossible to prove.
so, unless you have a gentlemens' agreement on this issue ( do you trust each other? ) you should forget about it.
IMO you can play 'no tech trading' only in a H2H, or a team v team game.

[drow21]

true there are ways to exploit everything

[mmontgomery]

I do trust the other players as long as the rules are clear. If we agree that the rules do not permit "friendly probing", great. Otherwise, I could see someone doing this while not feeling like they are violating the tech trading rule.

[bdanv]

well, still no reply from H0bbes and SmacxVeteran

@drow21: you have to decide if you go ahead and start the PBEM with them (and hope to have a better involvement from their side) or drop them, add Monty and hope to have someone else interested. Adding Monty as a 5th faction is possible, but i have to rebuild the map (i have no problem with that).

[drow21]

im perfectly happy for monty to be a 5th

we will give them some time too see if they write sth

[bdanv]

this means that Monty has to choose another faction...

[mmontgomery]

Gaia is fine with me. I know it is also possible for a moderator to make two factions the same. If so, I would like University.
My faction preferences are:
1. University
2. Cycon
3. Gaia

Thanks!

[bdanv]

it's kinda weird (also unbalancing: IMO one University is enough for a SMAC game),
but if that's ok with drow21 too, then of course, i can do it

[mmontgomery]

Frankly, in a no tech trade stagnation game, I would think everyone would want to be either University, Cycon, or Morgan. I am not too sure how Hive or Pirates intent to balance their technology deficit.

But I am OK with playing Gaia if we think two Universities or Cycons are too much.

[bdanv]

actually it will be a 'no tech trade' OR a 'tech stagnation game', not that would make any difference...

[drow21]

tbh im not sure how iull compensate tech stag n the reserch penalty, im fairly new at pbem andi wanted a defencive position for a while thats why i thought pirates would be best

if you think another fraction would be easier, pls say

[bdanv]

of course i will give to each of you little goodies that you have to exploit, but you'll have to make the most of your factions strenghts.

Originally posted by drow21
im fairly new at pbem andi wanted a defencive position for a while thats why i thought pirates would be best

i wouldn't say that playing the Pirates you'll start with a defensive position.
of course, with tech stagnation your faction will be sailing in 'safe waters', at least till the others reach Doc:Flexy (and this will happen pretty early in the game) but sea bases are just so hard to defend given their limited mineral output.

Originally posted by drow21
if you think another fraction would be easier, pls say

the general opinion is that a beginner should start playing with a faction that has a fast research rate.
but playing as Svensgaard can be so much fun... just take a look at the Pirates section of Vel's Strategy Guide before you decide to give up on them.
if you don't have it, i will be happy to provide it to you as i think everybody else in this game has read it before.

[drow21]

could you email it to me? at spookyghosty at gmail dot com

[bdanv]

sent

[mmontgomery]

In my opinion, University is absolutely the easiest faction to play, and one of the strongest.

Pirates get a pretty good start, but are very hard to defend in the middle game. They just don't get any defensive terrain to slow down an attacker. Once your opponents get ships, they can attack with virtually no warning.

I wonder how much fun it would be to have a "no tech trade" game where every faction is University? It sounds like a blast to me.