New PBEM Classic SMAC

[St Jon]

I meant only in terms of factions. Though my original intent had been a straight random launch from SMAC if we're using SMACX as the driver for the game I cannot see any reason to lose the benefits of the improved tech tree it offers.

[florin79c]

A 5th player would make Vyeh start all over the scenario, but this is not the reson i'm against the 5th player. As you say, it's your first multy game and will be verry hard for you ajust. I sugest you try some TCP/IP games first so you can get use to the idea and il offer you your first game if interested.

[vyeh]

The Vet's map would not be good for 5 players. I have no problems setting up the game for 4 or 5, but I need to know which one.

[St Jon]

I agree and as I said extending 4 to 5 would be very much down to the additional work Vyeh would need to put in! He's doing us a favour as is it is and I don't want to ask more of him.

In terms of PBEM I have not played for 5yrs or more but I did use to play frequently before so I reckon I can climb that learning curve. I would like to take you up on TCP/IP but I have not got the time to play IP at the moment.

[florin79c]

the TCP/IP sugestion was for Ocker 3, but i can give you a try as well

[vyeh]

My suggestion for moving things forward:

(1) Everybody PM me their password for this game.
(2) I need to know the faction that Ocker3 is playing and where he is in the turn order (he is either at the beginning or the end since he is in Australia).

[florin79c]

I sugest he wont play.

[St Jon]

I agree we stick to 4.

[vyeh]

I received passwords from florin79c and zsozso.

[florin79c]

I ques we go with multiplayer standard rules. Pls post them when the game is ready

[Mart]

I don't want to throw everything into confusion, but any chance I could get in on this action? This would be my first multi game though, so it might take me a bit to get up to speed, played the hell out of the game in single player mode. I'm in Australia, GMT +10, playing in the evenings here.

Ocker,
Start a new thread asking for players to join your new game. Also specify what would be your preferred settings, as someone starting a game you would have some advantage in shaping it.
A good game is 3 or 4 human players.

----
Regarding scenario done on mac - should work. Recently we have a tool modifying both SMAC and SMAX saves, I think single- and multiplayer also... (I don't remember details...) Converter is in my download area. There is a thread with link in Creation subsection.

[mmontgomery]

Sorry to be so late chiming in. I have been travelling, and generally only checking my email, and not the boards.

I have sent my password to Vyeh.

The vets map as modified by Mart for balance is the most balanced map I have ever played on. I think it is usually labeled vets4, because it provides a balanced start for up to for players, and is also great for 2 teams of 2. So people don't have to figure this out the hard way, the size of the vets map permits 7 cities at 0 efficiency before extra drones start appearing.

Vyeh, do you have the modified vets map? If not, I can send it to you if you send me your email address.

I think the best start is something like 2 CP, 2 scout, 1 former, with the appropriate extras for Spartans and Angels.

All of the settings are fine with me. I do strongly suggest that we ban copters and planet busters. With no AI, I normally suggest banning all attrocities, but with 3 AI players, there is sufficient disincentive to avoid overdoing attrocities.

I have a long explanation of why copters are terribly unbalanced in another thread, and I can summarize here if anyone is unsure why copters should be banned.

My email addresses are:
michaelTAmontgoTODus
mmontgomeryTAslbTODcom

For fastest response, I need to have turns sent to both addresses.

I am not worried about the Mac issue; I know how to handle it. If you want, you can send me the Mac turns.

The vets map is only balanced for 4 players. I have also noticed games tend to bog down badly after 4 players. So better to start another 4 player game.

I look forward to our game!

[vyeh]

I got the map, labeled Veterans_04.mp from a thread you are familiar with.

I was thinking of 3 CP's, 3 scouts.

I can give you formers, but would modify the alphax.txt file so these formers cannot be reversed engineered.

Are there any other requests?

Do you mean ban copters and planet busters entirely? (I assume I can disable the chassis and planetbuster weapon backage. Maybe Mart can advise if he happens to be reading whether there is a problem.)

Only the first person to play needs to run my scenario through the converter. (It may not be necessary for that person to be a player, if someone takes my posted scenario, runs it through the converter and posts the converted file.) You've played with Bodissey and I even read of one person who didn't need to convert so this is not an issue.)

Issues:

(1) Starting units (basically what mmontgomery wants; could give supply droids that can't be backward engineered for even faster start).

(2) Any requests about starting locations (again mmontgomery might have favorite square; this would apply to all players for symmetrical start).

(3) Banning copters and planet busters (anyone object to total ban).

Since I'll be using the modified veteran's map, this should be quick.

I'll test to be sure mmontgomery can choose all techs first turn as Uni (let me know if someone else took Unit) and whether any AI looks overpowered.

I plan to force difficulty as Mart would. Is there anything else (if Mart is reading) I should be aware of?

[vyeh]

Please review.

Wealth of Planet - PBEM game
SMAX Game

Factions:

Hive		florin79c	-florin79cTAhotmailTODcom	
Morganities	FriendlyFire	-jonathan.furdererTAliveTODcoTODuk
University	mmontgomery	-michaelTAmontgoTODus	
Gaians		zsozso		-zsoltTAsimbiosysTODca		
Spartans	AI
Believers	AI
PK		AI

CMN		vyeh		-Apolyton PM
______________________________________
Preference	|	Veterans_04 map

Map size	|	Custom, 50x100
Ocean		|	50-70%
Erosion		|	Average	
Life		|	Average
Clouds		|	Average
Difficulty	|	Transcend

Transcend	|	Yes
Conquest	|	Yes
Diplomatic	|	Yes
Economic	|	Yes
Cooperative	|	Yes
Do or Die	|	Yes	
Flexible start	|	Yes
Tech stag	|	No	
Spoils of war	|	No
Blind research	|	No
Intense riv	|	No
No survey	|	Yes
No scatter	|	Yes
No rnd events	|	Yes
Time Warp	|	No
Iron man	|	No
Rand person	|	No
Rand social	|	No

Rules:

• A player may not restart a turn without good reason. The player should specify the reason in the game thread if he was not able to avoid reloading the turn. (Obviously, if a player has suffered some sort of crash during a turn, such a reload is unavoidable)
• If a player performs a probe team action other than to infiltrate against another player with whom (s)he is in a truce, treaty or pact, they must inform the probed player what it was they did and what they stole/sabotaged. They must also choose the 'declare vendetta/cancel pact' option when they perform the action.
• A player is not permitted to make more than one social engineering change per line, per turn. For instance, one is not permitted to start the turn in wealth, switch to power mid-turn for the extra disbanded minerals, and then switch back to wealth that same turn, getting the refund.
• A player is not permitted to use the 'demand withdrawal' feature against another player, leaving the AI the decision of whether to withdraw or not.
• A player may not accept a bribe from another player's AI during council sessions.
• A player may not perform multiple airdrops in a single turn with the same unit using the right-click menu.
• A player may not use the F4 screen when infiltrated to change an opponent's workers to specialists.
• Council notification - immediate broadcast to all players(Post in the thread and e-mail to all immediately by player who has called elections, citing candidates and votes. After each player's turn, post in the thread the running totals).
• If a player declares vendetta upon another player, either directly or indirectly, they must not accept a pending diplomatic agreement between the two factions in the same turn.
• A player may not make air drops using the right click "air drop to" function, when it is not possible to do so with the "i" button, ie. after already having moved or made a drop.
• A player may not use build queue manipulation or other loopholes to hurry production at a cost that would be lower than directly hurrying the item that one intends to build.
• A player may not use build queue manipulation or other loopholes to build something you could not directly add to the build queue.
• A player may not upgrade a particular type of unit using the design workshop, and then attack with that unit in the same turn.
• Copters are banned from the game.
• Secret projects may be hurried with crawlers.
• Copters and planetbusters are banned.
• Players and AIs start with 3 CP's, 3 scouts and 3 formers, with recon rover for Spartans.

Notes:

• Please consider whether you want 3 crawlers to start.

[mmontgomery]

Yes, the veterans_04.mp was exactly what I had in mind. All players should take the map and load it into Alpha Centauri so that you can see exactly the terrain and features of the map, so we all start with the knowledge of the map. Otherwise, players who are already experienced with this map would have an advantage.

I strongly suggest that we do not have any crawlers to start because of the secret projects. (I have heard of special crawlers designed that can only be cashed for 1 resource, and that would be OK, but I don't think we really need them.)

I am used to a poorer start (2 CP, 2 scout, 1 former), but I have no problem starting with 3 of each if everyone wants that.