1st Unofficial Apolyton MP tournament.

[Toni]

Having the no graphs option will be an interesting thing, am starting to wanted more and more in the tourney, but as you say Maq its up to the 2 players playing. As you mentioned, players try to follow and try to come up with the overall development of the other player looking at the graphs, taking out the graphs will be a whole new game, I myself have the feeling sometimes in the past that other players try to copy my moves meaning when to PW and army buld up and etc.. So taking them out will atleast for me will be a more interesting game to play. 100% dependable on yourself.

[Maquiladora]

I know what you mean. Ive copied your moves plenty of times following the science and economic graph, only because you outgrew me everytime so i was always playing catchup. Now i am more independant player, i do things when i think is right.

Also no graphs does seperate more the good from the bad, afterall the graphs are only there to compare yourself with the other player, and if you dont have that you have to play on instinct.

In the defence of anyone whos copied your army build up (me included) i would say, isnt it natural for someone to build units fast because they see your military graph go up? Its pretty stupid to not do anything and sit and wait to be attacked

[Toni]

Yes Maq, but playing a game depending on your instinct, will be much more interesting. About the army issue, yes its natural to build up your army when you see your rival building up, but this makes this game too easy having just switching to army graph looking at the enemies army and just waiting for him to make the move or just to follow him through. I say relaying on your instinct will be much more fun to play then playing cat and mouse.

[Toni]

And having the no graphs will make the wrong decisions more costly, more paranoic game

[Maquiladora]

It will be more fun for those that are used to it and want to use it. I am willing to play either way with any rules, but some might not be.

Anyway we dont have 8 players, but this was supposed to be the cutoff point (19th) and to start matches...... and we have 5 players which is awkward. A league structure would be easier, but thats alot of commitment and forms slowly over time.

[Daniel Kesinger]

Again, regarding the graphs... I think it is also a good idea to get rid of them. I like to play as realistically as possible. There is no way that anyone would be able to chart someones strategy that early on.

For example, My strategy is to build and expand fast, develope a base with a strong economic base, as to increase my production capability as well as science to develope beyond my openent. When I played Maq, not saying he did this because I think he's always been a military heavy player, but anyway he can simply look at my military graph and see my overall strategy and easily overcome it, as where if he's left to guess, he might be more cautious and thus alows me a better use of my strategy.

But, my job is Military Intelligence, so maybe its just my nature to hide things I think we need to vote on this as a yes or a no thing before the tournament, because there is the possibility of a problem should one say yes and one say no if we leave it up to the players individually.

[Barley]

Personally I think the no graphs is an excellent idea, will add a massive new edge to the game (which often follows the same predictable routine). There will be a much greater emphasis on taking chances i.e. do I keep a fairly strong army just in case or do I just take a risk and try and go for growth a bit longer etc etc.

In the real world countries didn’t know what strength and level of science each other had, though what would make this even better would be if we could make a spy mod where sending a spy to a foreign city revealed the graph for one turn or something, then maybe at the advent of Economics you get to see the economy graph, at the advent of Printing Press you get to see the Sceince Graph and the Advent of Mass Media you get to see them all (or something like this).

[Barley]

Ok its just over a week till the start of the tournament. We have 6 players for definate and two possibles (see below). 8 is a nice round number so I hope all are available to play – can someone try and get in touch with Maz & Cloud to see if they are free – or is there anyone else that might want to play?

Barley
Maquiladora
Toni
Quimby
Daniel Kesinger
EPW

Possibles - Cloud and Maz ?

[Maquiladora]

Is Quimby confirmed? I emailed him but i didnt get any reply.

[Barley]

Not sure about Quimby either, im sure he'll want to play but hes still on holiday, id say he was 95% likely to play.

[Toni]

OK a week to go and i see just 4 serious players for the Tourney. 4 is good but lets hope we get 2 more, make them 6 - Quimby and EPW?? Any idea how the rounds will go yet Barley, just curious. I think we should have 2 games between players, so that there can be a chance of a rematch. So are we going to vote on the no graph issue, or its up to the two players playing? Oh i will be back this coming Tuesday, so i'am open for a game on Wed, need some practice to do, so anyone?

[Toni]

Oh and something else, what do you think about slowing down the science research of the game, having doing that, will make every little effort count towards leading in sci, just a though.

[Maquiladora]

I was thinking if we only got 6 players we could have 2 groups of 3 and the top 2 of each group play each other in semi's then a final.

On the issue of graphs/increased sci cost, i think we should let the players decide. I will play with both alterations in my games with anyone who wants the alterations too, but some people might not, so leaving it as an option would be best. For the Final we can make it a definate rule though.

I would like to make rules on map sizes though, because eventually players wont agree on what size to play their game, but doing it this way makes it fair. Regular size maps for group games, then Huge for the Semi's and Gigantic for the Final.

[Barley]

Like the idea of two groups of three (think we should still contact Maz and Cloud to at least give them the chance to play – if not already done), otherwise we’ll go with your idea Maq.

Re playing without graphs, id rather not do that in a tournament if ive not played that way before but im all for the idea of making science take longer (say 20-25%?) means you’ll generally get to monarchy about turn 70-80 instead of 50-60 or so.

PS is anyone free for a MP game tonight (22.1.04) or tomorrow (23.1.04) I can play anytime after 7.30pm GMT and will check in the lobby at that time both nights then again on various changes of hour. I need some practice.

[EPW]

yeah i can still play-I've been busy this week and havn't had a chance to post.