Looking to start a Play-by-Email game

DaveV · October 23, 2000, 11:50

I'd like to start a new Email game. I'll be available for an on-line kickoff session on October 31, November 1, and November 2 from 16:00 - 23:59 Apolyton time.

I have limited time to play online, but I could make a daily move between 6:00 and 8:00 Apolyton time. An Email game would give me a chance to match wits with players I couldn't play otherwise.

I'm flexible on settings, but I think everything should be defined in advance. I've watched a lot of games collapse in acrimony, and would hate to invest a lot of time in a game that didn't finish. The following suggestions are not an attempt to dictate the terms of the game, but to provide some rules under which the game would be played. I'm open to other suggestions - I just want to play!

Settings: Deity, 1x1x, raging hordes, only Apollo wonder may be built, no alliances, no map/tech trading/gifting, no AIs.

Allowed:
Incremental rushbuilding.
Diplo stealing, sabotage, unit bribing (no city bribing, including barbarian cities).
Ship chaining.

Not allowed:
It should go without saying, but no peeking at the save file, no cheat menu, NO RELOADING!
Trireme anti-sink trick.
Airplane anti-crash trick.
Clicking around with the mouse in lieu of actually exploring with units.
Using "find city" to find unknown cities.
Using the unit support window on the city screen to find unknown cities.
Manipulation of the AI (demanding tribute, demanding removal of units, etc.).
Airbases within city radius.
Caravan rehoming.

[This message has been edited by DaveV (edited October 25, 2000).]

kengel · October 23, 2000, 13:51

I remember a guy who tried to organize another one some weeks ago, but it seems to have died before it began...
Anyway, your times and conditions fit to my likes. Count me in

I am able to play monday-thursday 16:00 - 21.00 Apolyton time (EDT).

------------------
greets from the Warrior of sky

DaveV · October 24, 2000, 11:50

Yes, kengel, I too thought that game would get off the ground. I was looking forward to playing you and iadkins. It seems to be hard to interest people in PBEM games

.

Bohlen · October 24, 2000, 14:23

Dave:

Are you looking to make one move, possibly more, each day? If so, I can give it a go. I would be able to move and email the game out after 7:00, Apolyton time. Let me know if this fits the schedule.

DaveV · October 24, 2000, 15:09

Bohlen - yes, the goal would be one move per day. Obviously it would take a looong time to finish the game (but it seems to take a long time to finish any multiplayer game

). To get past the early turns, I'm trying to schedule a single online session on October 31, November 1, or November 2. If we could play online through the first 2000-4000 years, that would cut out months of hitting the enter key and mailing the game to the next player.

You are talking about playing your turn after 7:00 AM Apolyton time? I should be able to play my turn just before that, at 6:00-7:00 Apolyton time.
[This message has been edited by DaveV (edited October 24, 2000).]

Bohlen · October 24, 2000, 16:01

Sorry, Dave. I was thinking 7:00 PM EST. I’d be available for the first “live” session after 8PM EST on November 2. However, I don’t think I’d be able to finish my turn until returning home from work each evening.

DaveV · October 25, 2000, 07:31

Bohlen - OK, I'll put you down for a daily move time of 19:00.

We already have a minor problem - Bohlen's start time for the online kickoff is 20:00, and kengel's finish time is 21:00. An hour is enough time to get the game started, but more time would be better. Kengel - the U.S. goes off daylight savings time this weekend, so Apolyton time next week will be an hour closer to GMT than it is this week. Does this impact your availability times, or do your clocks change at the same time?

DaveV · October 25, 2000, 08:30

Arrrggh! My schedule just changed for next week. Now it looks like I'll be available on October 30, 31, and November 1; probably not November 2nd. Are you available any other nights, Bohlen?

Atomic Dogg · October 25, 2000, 08:33

Ive heard of this email game concept but don't really know how it is done or if i need some extra software.
I would like to try it out with you guys if it's ok but I might need to be briefed on how it is done.

I would warmly appreciate any help or advice on how email gaming is played, it sounds like a good concept.

DaveV · October 25, 2000, 09:20

Atomic Dogg - If you have the Multiplayer Gold or equivalent game, you're all set. For a good explation of the mechanics of PBEM, check this thread:
http://apolyton.net/forums/Forum2/HTML/000819.html

Bohlen · October 25, 2000, 10:06

Dave:

I could make it on 10/30, but only after 21:00 (9pm EST). It's begger's night for our community and my son wouldn't let me miss that.

kengel · October 26, 2000, 06:15

I am availible on the whole week monday-thursday, however the latest time I would be able to play is till 21.00 Apolyton time (sorry, europe time zone & working

).
Summertime also ends here next week, so there is still the same time difference

DaveV · October 26, 2000, 09:20

<center><table width=80%><tr><td>quote:
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1>
Originally posted by kengel on 10-26-2000 06:15 AM
I am availible on the whole week monday-thursday, however the latest time I would be able to play is till 21.00 Apolyton time.

<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1></td></tr></table></center>

<center><table width=80%><tr><td>quote:
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1>
Originally posted by Bohlen on 10-25-2000 10:06 AM
I could make it on 10/30, but only after 21:00 (9pm EST).

<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1></td></tr></table></center>

We appear to be at an impasse

. Is anybody interested in doing an accelerated start instead of starting online?

DaveV · October 26, 2000, 15:38

civsmart - welcome; the more, the merrier! Purdue, eh? My brother went there about 20 years ago.

Thursday is once again looking like a possibility for me for an online session; I should know for sure sometime tomorrow. But by hook or by crook, I intend to start a PBEM game!

civsmart · October 27, 2000, 00:12

hey, if you guys are actually gonna start something can i jump in? I've been playing civ2 for two years but never managed to get a multiplayer (except hotseat). i can play anytime, but i probably won't wake up before 10:00 Apolyton time
[This message has been edited by civsmart (edited October 26, 2000).]

kengel · October 27, 2000, 08:41

I don't really like the idea of an accelerated start. We did it in the ancient still running PBEM game, but AI screws up completely your strategy by giving (random?) advantages to everyone, and gives only up to three cities maximum at the start, if I remember right. I think, you can reach this level easyly when playing about half an hour online.
I would suggest to play either about one hour around 21.00 EDT or split the whole thing into two different PBEM games with an online starting before 21.00 EDT and/or thereafter.

Atomic Dog & CivSmart, when would you be able to play online?

------------------
greets from the Warrior of sky

DaveV · October 27, 2000, 09:32

Let's set up an online session for 20:00 Apolyton time (8:00 PM EST) on Thursday, November 2, since that seems to fit the schedules declared so far.

Something we need to establish is the time at which each person will make his move. I've already claimed the time span of 6:00-8:00 Apolyton time; that means I would expect to receive the game from the previous player by 6:00 (6:00 AM EST), and I will send it to the next player by 8:00. Setting up these times is important, because it will determine the order of play, and, therefore, which color is used by each player.

Does everyone agree with the rules stated in the first post of this thread? Let's get any discussion out of the way before the game starts; I don't want someone building a wonder and saying "I didn't know it was 'no wonders'!".

Finally, we need to establish the world size and type. I vote for default settings: normal land mass, varied land form, normal climate, temperate temperature, 4 billion years. For five people, I'd prefer a normal map (50x80), or maybe slightly larger (60x96?).

civsmart - I notice you don't have an ICQ number in your profile. It will make things *much* easier if you download and install ICQ.
[This message has been edited by DaveV (edited October 27, 2000).]

Bohlen · October 27, 2000, 10:02

The proposed settings and rules sound fine to me. The start date and time sound great. Thanks for being so flexible about it.

civsmart · October 27, 2000, 13:28

I would actually appreciate if you could move that back to 20:30 Apolyton Time on Thursday, November 2.

Also my ICQ# is 92437256.
As for order of play, i would like to play after 22:00, if no one has laid claim yet. I think larger maps are better. 60x 96 is all right with me. I'm okay with all the rules and settings mentioned.

kengel · October 29, 2000, 12:56

Any predefined game setting is ok with me

I will be online on thursday, 2nd Nov., already much earlier than 20.30 EDT, but as said, I won't be able to play much longer than ultimative latest 22.00 EDT (DOH! I have to sleep and get off for work 4 hours later...)
My preferred moving time for PBEM is 14.00 - 16.00 EDT, if this matches the plan of DaveV.

------------------
greets from the Warrior of sky

kengel · October 30, 2000, 05:58

hmmm... just one suggestion, what do you think about double production? I don't really care about it, but in PBEM this will speed up the game.

------------------
greets from the Warrior of sky

civsmart · October 30, 2000, 15:27

never mind my time restrictions. i'll just skip my night class. i have priorities, you know. Whatever times the rest of you work out is great with me.

DaveV · October 30, 2000, 16:44

OK, time for daily Email moves will be:

DaveV (white) 6:00-8:00
kengel (green) 14:00-16:00
Bohlen (blue) 19:00-21:00
civsmart (yellow) 22:00-24:00

I'm no fan of 2x production, but I agree with kengel that it might help reduce the total number of turns, which might give us a better chance of finishing the game.

I'm willing to play white, which will be a disadvantage against the barbarians during the online phase. I'm also willing to host, but I'll just have a dialup connection from a hotel room. If anyone else would rather host (or play white), I'd be happy to step back.
[This message has been edited by DaveV (edited October 30, 2000).]

DaveV · October 31, 2000, 17:21

I'm going to be traveling on Thursday. I expect to be able to play at the designated time, but I may encounter delays or be unable to login from my hotel. If I fail to show up, just let an AI play for me.

KenThur · October 31, 2000, 22:39

Never mind.
Rather get a Test of Time contest started.
Good luck with it.
Or if U have T of T, come join us?
[This message has been edited by KenThur (edited October 31, 2000).]

kengel · November 1, 2000, 15:08

hmm... If we would let an AI play for you, it will build all the wonders

Better we start it next week, if we see you will not be availible tomorrow?

------------------
greets from the Warrior of sky

DaveV · November 1, 2000, 16:14

kengell - good point. I hadn't thought about the wonders. But, my schedule has changed for the better and I will be there on Thursday (tomorrow!

).

Bohlen · November 1, 2000, 18:45

What time do we start on Thursday? Will we use ICQ or meet here to get things started?

DaveV · November 1, 2000, 20:46

I think we've all agreed on a start time of 8:00 EST = 20:00 Apolyton time. I suggest ICQ - I have Bohlen, kengel (no double l, sorry about the typo above), and civsmart on my contact list. The game will continue online until kengel can no longer play "one more turn"

, then switch to Email.

Bohlen · November 2, 2000, 14:19

OK. Sounds good. I'll be waiting online tonight.