Players wanted for longest running email game

[kengel]

After the withdrawal of two of our pioneer PBEM player, we are looking for new leaders of their civs

The game is ongoing now for more than 14 months. Look here for more details about PBEM: http://apolyton.net/forums/Forum2/HTML/000819.html

It is a seven player game with actually four active (Eddy, Ian, MacUser and me) and one pausing player (Skryke... lost at sea?) being subbed by MacUser till he is returning; in average there is one turn per week at the moment.

The game is amazing well balanced at 550 BC:

Powergraph
cities/units
Wonders built
top 5 cities

Interested in joining?

The french and the mongol civ are vacant now. You should be able to play your email turn almost every day to the same time;

for the french: somewhen between 01.00 EDT and 15.00 EDT;
for the mongols: somewhen between 19.00 EDT and 23.00 EDT.

Don't worry about the technical how to, it is easy to learn

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greets from the Warrior of sky

[Mika]

Can u tell me how PBEM games are possible? There is not such an option even if you can simply save a game at the end of a turn (monitor off when you load it and press enter) but that requires fair players.

I've played only per Hotseat and via Internet so far.
If I have missed something please tell me... I would LOVE to play that game per email.



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Master Mika
Probably the best player ever

[MacUser]

<center><table width=80%><tr><td><font color=000080 face="Verdana" size=2><font size="1">quote:
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1>
</font><font size=1>Originally posted by Mika on 12-12-2000 05:52 PM</font>
Can u tell me how PBEM games are possible? There is not such an option even if you can simply save a game at the end of a turn (monitor off when you load it and press enter) but that requires fair players.


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

Well, there you go; we're all fair and honerable players (although a bit slow on the mailing )!

Giga-Trolls need not apply!

BTW, I think that we should consider Skryke lost to the game. I think that he must have been eaten by a polar bear in the great white north! I don't remember the last time that I heard from him.

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Be what you is and not what you is not. Folks who do that are the happiest lot!
- Mr. Wizard the Lizard,

[DaveV]

kengel - do the French really move between 01:00 and 15:00 EDT (14 hours)? I'd love to join if you have an opening between 06:00 and 08:00 EDT.

[Jedi518]

How do you play email games? this sounds cool

[Mika]

MacUser,

So that's really how it works? Cool... so you just have to trust each other... well, we all know that it is not funny if you are a cheater so why not. Playing CIV via email sounds really good to me.

Hope to kick ya all soon


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Master Mika
Probably the best player ever

[Sparrowhawk]

Sounds intriging.

So if I understand right, each player is dependant on the player before him sending the save file, via e-mail, before the game can continue? One player breaks the connection and the game stalls?

I am intrigued by this idea, but wondering who is the player immediately before the mongols? And have you had many subs to date or have you all been pretty good about keeping the cycle going?

Sparrowhawk

[Zylka]

I'll join, let's get more than 1 turn a week going though

[>_<]

[kengel]

Wow, I didn't expect so many posts within one day...
You guys are fast enough for our game I think

Here is a quickie in PBEM for those who questioned:

The player are moving one after the other like in a normal internet game. De facto it is an internet game, with the difference that all other player except the actual moving player is offline (you need not be connected to the net while playing).

So it works:

When you receive the save file (*.net) per email, you load the game as internet game and start without waiting for the others. You choose your civ, and when the game is loaded you can directly do your turn. However, at the end of the turn you press not return, but Ctrl-N instead and save the game. You won't see the map of any other civ except your own. Then pass on the game to the next player in order.

Sparrowhawk: you got it right; everybody needs to wait for the turn from the foreplayer. The time scheduling is choosen to match the order of the players in the game; so in principle it is possible to pass through one turn in one day (well, we reached that record only one or two times )
Of course the game might stall then and when if someone is sleeping or away. Then it is the job of the host (me ) to kick their butt and make them moving on. If the player is not reachable for some days, we agreed that the next player in order will sub his turn. Well, it is not the best system, but it works somehow to keep the cycle going!


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greets from the Warrior of sky

[kengel]

Now to the civ auction

Dave was the first one who claimed the french civ and is able to fulfill the time scheduling (sorry, absurddoctor...). So you are in, Dave! Welcome!

The mongols are still availible! The only condition is you should match to the time scheduling between 19.00 EDT and 23.00 EDT.

So please post your times, guys!

[Sparrowhawk]

Okay, the times for the Mongols work perfectly for me.
That is my 6 pm to 10 pm. But I will cede to the order of posts above. If someone who posted before me in the thread is interested in the Mongols, that is fine by me.

Since posting I read your orginal thread on the game and the part about wonder building and the changing of production seems beyond me, I don't know what you mean by switching files to return the production orders to what they were.

[absurddoctor]

If you still need someone for the French, let me know, I can fit into that time. My email is odk42@juno.com.

AD

[DaveV]

Thanks, kengel! I'm looking forward to playing!

[absurddoctor]

Argh! DaveV, I shall hunt you down and steal the French from you!

Hehe.

Anyway, if you need someone to step in at any point, just let me know

AD


<center><table width=80%><tr><td><font color=000080 face="Verdana" size=2><font size="1">quote:
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1>
</font><font size=1>Originally posted by kengel on 12-13-2000 06:35 PM</font>
Now to the civ auction

Dave was the first one who claimed the french civ and is able to fulfill the time scheduling (sorry, absurddoctor...). So you are in, Dave! Welcome!

The mongols are still availible! The only condition is you should match to the time scheduling between 19.00 EDT and 23.00 EDT.

So please post your times, guys!
<img src="/images/blue1.gif" width=100% height=1></font></td></tr></table></center>

[KenThur]

Hell yes, i can do those times!
I'v never done PBM since Avalon Hill days!
Sounds perfect for a "slow, old" player like Milo / KenThur!

Sign me up! & tell me where & how i get into / get the saved file so can do.

Icq or email me, if Mongols still avail

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"Hm-m-m, doubt me you will?"

[MacUser]

The "old and slow" leader of the Romans and the drunken and slack Baby-lion King is finally taking his turns!

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Be what you is and not what you is not. Folks who do that are the happiest lot!
- Mr. Wizard the Lizard,

[DaveV]

Well, the new king of the French is off to a rocky start: barbs ready to attack one of my cities, and it's in disorder so I can't rushbuild any units! I had three cities in disorder at the start of my turn, and there's an awful lot of irrigation for a 2x production game. I have to say I like the situation overall, though. With a few strategic changes in direction, the French can be a contender.

Several questions on house rules:

1. City bribing allowed? This was discussed in the kickoff thread, but I didn't find any resolution to the question. How about barbarian cities? I may have a chance to try barb city bribery in the very near future ...
2. Unit bribing allowed?
3. Tech stealing allowed?
4. Tech trading allowed?

[MacUser]

I think that bribing was only allowed for barb units; can't remember about cities. I want to say that we discussed unit bribing, but I can't remember.

Tech trading is allowed. Or rather once Skyre allied, we began trading techs, a practice that I continued in his absence. Skyre you out there???

BTW, way ta go on that speedy turn!

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Be what you is and not what you is not. Folks who do that are the happiest lot!
- Mr. Wizard the Lizard,

[kengel]

Finally, I decided to give the mongols to the hand of Sparrowhawk. I had a chat with Mika, but unfortunately for him he does not match into the mongols time scheduling; the same problem for Absurddoctor. Zylka is not reachable. Sorry, guys! I will remember you the next time

There still is another problem: Skryke is somehow lost for months now... (frozen in the polar ice?).
In his last message he mentioned he will be away for a longer time and asked MacUser to sub him. I guess, it would be ok if a new player subs Skryke till he will be back. Of course, Skryke has the right to claim back his civ (if he ever will return?).

Perhaps thats the right job for good ol' KenThur? Seems he as roman king and the babylonian king will have a perfect alliance while drinking good wine

So if it is ok with you, KenThur, you are welcome to the romans! They are moving immediately after the mongols, so the times would fit to you.

Good to see the tale goes on with lots of new people!

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greets from the Warrior of sky

[kengel]

Some words regarding rules in the game. Up to now, there are no rules except for the following:

- City bribing not allowed
- Any "features" (some call them "cheats") arising from the principle of PBEM gaming, like editing game settings, maps etc are not allowed. Also using AI diplomacy to do something what is not in agreement to the other player, like map or tech trading or asking for troop withdrawal etc. is not allowed.

I know this gives lots of room for interpretation

I would like to define more exactly rules on a democratic base. So here is my suggestion: Please send me all your suggestions for any rules you want, I will collect them and soon they will be voted out by all players.

[DaveV]

OK, here are my votes on rules:

1. City bribing - not allowed under any circumstances. It will hurt if I have to hammer my former city into submission, but cities (especially barb cities) can be bought just too cheaply.

2. Unit bribing - allowed under all circumstances. This is easy enough to avoid, just by stacking units.

3. Tech stealing - allowed. If it makes someone mad, that's a chance you take .

4. Tech trading - not allowed. The game takes on a completely different complexion if tech trading is allowed. Alliances are essential, the earlier the better. The various alliances leapfrog their ways through the tech tree at an outrageous rate, and the best-coordinated alliance will almost always win. I think the horse is already out of the barn on this one, but I'd still rather not allow it for the rest of the game.

I don't mean to dictate terms of the game after playing one turn; these are just my opinions. I'll play under whatever conditions the majority decides.