P & P Next Game

[PrinceBolkonsky]

Huge
8 Civs
Diety
pbem lite

[PrinceBolkonsky]

1st talking point

Board Size

I still would prefer to play on a normal sized board. This is for two reasons. First, huge worlds generally require an almost endless process of settling. I would rather be concentrating on other aspects of the game sooner. Second, I think the game is more interesting tactically on a normal size board. This is partially due to the range of ships and air units but also on larger boards I find that terrain and the general shape of the the board play less of a role. On a normal size board campaigns are faster and can be more precise.

This is my first preference. I'll let you respond and let me know something about what you would like to see before I go on to anything else.

The big drawback if we play on a normal size board is we need to make sure our starting positions are both decent or I guess both rotten! Otherwise we end up with an unbalanced game from the start. For instance, in our normal sized game you were stuck next to several other nations at least one of which was aggressive while I started on a large continent that was all my own.

[Grandpa Troll]

Re: 1st talking point

Originally posted by PrinceBolkonsky
Board Size

I still would prefer to play on a normal sized board.

Regular size is ok by me

This is for two reasons. First, huge worlds generally require an almost endless process of settling. I would rather be concentrating on other aspects of the game sooner. Second, I think the game is more interesting tactically on a normal size board. This is partially due to the range of ships and air units but also on larger boards I find that terrain and the general shape of the the board play less of a role. On a normal size board campaigns are faster and can be more precise.

Lets rock with it

This is my first preference. I'll let you respond and let me know something about what you would like to see before I go on to anything else.

The big drawback if we play on a normal size board is we need to make sure our starting positions are both decent or I guess both rotten! Otherwise we end up with an unbalanced game from the start. For instance, in our normal sized game you were stuck next to several other nations at least one of which was aggressive while I started on a large continent that was all my own.

Regular size map, say 6 spots, that is you and me and 4 ai

Doughnut world

pollution off


others preferences?

[PrinceBolkonsky]

Almost a dissertation but please read anyway

OK, glad map size is not an issue for you.

I have a problem with not having pollution. I think it strengthens certain governments over others. Also, I like to have that spector hanging over us as a political issue as well as yet another factor that must be managed. The levels of pollution on the pollution graph is also important toward understanding exactly what the power graphs imply!

Let me know what you think about this.

Are you open to using pbem lite again? I think it gets the game going faster.

Doughnut world is fine with me. I am still getting used to this. For instance I have only just started to become aware of this in our current large game.

My map setting preferences are that there be enough water to make naval problems an issue and that the land be mostly in continents so that naval strategy is not the primary issue.

Number of non human players (4) sounds fine.

A note on Wonders. In my games against the computer I don't build any. Some unbalance the game:

London Exchange!!
Edison's Lab
Labarynth
Internet

Eden Project should not be buildable by a human player if the Nanaite Defuser has been built. If nukes are still active the Eden project should be open to an ecotopian player otherwise this weakens the ecotopia government choice.

Beyond these six I think the rest of the Wonders are fine. Some are actually fairly important to play. Just as important as Emancipation Act. For example:


East India Company can make the trade dynamic the center of the game for a period. Same with Global E-bank.

Egalitarian act makes some options with spies and cyber ninjas very interesting. Making the Agency in turn an essential defense againt those pesky open societies.

The ealry Wonders Chich, Conf, Forb, Phil, Ram and Stone are all enocuous enough. Phil is essential to even things up if a player starts in a fairly issolated position.

Gutenberg should be allowed especially if Hagia is in and these two make anothe interesting dynamic in some games.

A couple wonders only effect one city Galieo and Dino Park.

There are a lot of wonders that make people happy. By discluding these it makes the player who goes for fewer cities with much larger populations be disadvantaged. In fact I think it would be interesting to find out whether it is possible to combat mass settle on the large map with a civ that has around 20 very large cities. These happiness advances become essential above 10 population if you want to get any real use out of specialists.

I propose we allow human construction of wonders with the exception of the unbalancing quad:

Labarynth, Edison, Internet and London Echange

Humans can capture these but doing so is fighting words! And agreements to leave these alone make a basis for much of the diplomatic play.

Finally a word about Governments. They are designed really for the Huge maps I think. On a normal size map you don't really need to tranfer to Demacracy or Communism or Facism to continue the game. In fact I don't see a reason to ever have a demacracy and the thacracy is broken (way too powerful) The moders have addressed this to some extent. I guess I don't really have a point. I do think it would be ;fun to make artifical limits for the governments in a normal sized map game. Monarchy 5, Theocracy 10 Republic 20 beyond these I don't see a need for limits on the normal sized map. I don't think we should do this now but I'm just putting it out there.

I wonder, has anyone done something interesting with random events or any events for pbem games. Is this even possible?

So:

Pollution
PBEM lite
Map shape
Wonders

Oh and do you have a nationality preference?

[Grandpa Troll]

Re: Almost a dissertation but please read anyway

Originally posted by PrinceBolkonsky
OK, glad map size is not an issue for you.
I have a problem with not having pollution.

Lets do a no pollution game, I am allowing many changes to what i normally play, this is one I want. Thank you in advance

I think it strengthens certain governments over others. Also, I like to have that spector hanging over us as a political issue as well as yet another factor that must be managed. The levels of pollution on the pollution graph is also important toward understanding exactly what the power graphs imply!

Let me know what you think about this.

Pollution off please

Are you open to using pbem lite again? I think it gets the game going faster.

Ill go with pbem lite

Doughnut world is fine with me. I am still getting used to this. For instance I have only just started to become aware of this in our current large game.

My map setting preferences are that there be enough water to make naval problems an issue and that the land be mostly in continents so that naval strategy is not the primary issue.

Number of non human players (4) sounds fine.

A note on Wonders.

No wonders built by humans. Period, either all wonders or no wonders. Conquest acrued wonders are fine

No Pollution
PBEM lite
Map shape-Doughnut
No Wonders

Oh and do you have a nationality preference?

Ok, set it up

Gramps, no preference to nationality

[PrinceBolkonsky]

OK

But here is one more proposal.

Huge map
Pollution On
We can use Wonders

I think I am interested in seeing what I can do against this endless mass settle by playing concentrating on fewer cities. On a huge map the game will last longer and I think that the Wonders may be interesting.

I would still prefer no human building of

London Exchange
Internet
Labarynth
Edison

Though these can be acquired.

Otherwise I'll set up per prior agreements

[Grandpa Troll]

Originally posted by PrinceBolkonsky
OK

But here is one more proposal.

Huge map
Pollution On
We can use Wonders

I think I am interested in seeing what I can do against this endless mass settle by playing concentrating on fewer cities. On a huge map the game will last longer and I think that the Wonders may be interesting.

I would still prefer no human building of

London Exchange
Internet
Labarynth
Edison

Though these can be acquired.

Otherwise I'll set up per prior agreements

all or no wonders, although i am against wonders

pbem lite

huge map

NO Pollution

You will set up, correct?


GT

[PrinceBolkonsky]

Drats,

OK

No pollution, no wonders. I defer to your experiance.

I'll set up on a normal per our agreement above.

Why do you dislike pollution so much? And why all or none on the wonders? Any anecdote to go along with these preferences?

[Grandpa Troll]

Originally posted by PrinceBolkonsky
Drats,

OK

No pollution, no wonders. I defer to your experiance.

I'll set up on a normal per our agreement above.

Why do you dislike pollution so much? And why all or none on the wonders? Any anecdote to go along with these preferences?

just preferences, such as you have

Wonders give far too much advantage to one player

of course, no pollution means one can build away with no fear of EPA intervention

[PrinceBolkonsky]

Turn 0

Here you go. Let me know if this is a go for you in terms of your starting position.

Pollution Off
Normal
Doughnut
No Wonders except the two

[PrinceBolkonsky]

Whoops the file

Play through your first turn as many times as you like. Remember you start with 3 caravans so you can start some trade right away

[Grandpa Troll]

Re: Turn 0

Originally posted by PrinceBolkonsky

No Wonders except the two

What two Wonders, specifically NO WONDERS or ALL WONDERS?

[Grandpa Troll]

Turn 1

Settling in with 3 cities formed

Back at you

[PrinceBolkonsky]

Turn 1

3 Cities and good country all around

[Grandpa Troll]

Turn 2