newbie SMAC email game

trevlix · July 30, 2001, 09:44

OK, we begin.

I like using the tourny rules so we will use those. Here is everyone:

1. Gaians - Tai Mai Shu - spoofmaster@hotmail.com
2. Yang - JohnDMuller - JohnDMuller@msn.com
3. Spartans - Trevlix - tyler@hudakville.com
4. Peacekeepers - ColDark - Colin.Darra@vistorm.com &
Colin.Darra@virgin.net

Sorry about it taking so long today. When I got home my wife was sick so I had to take care of my daughter and make dinner. Hey, better late than never!

OK, first turn 2001 sent to Tai Mai Shu!

Tyler

ColDark · July 30, 2001, 12:30

Hi, I'm in a couple of other games on Apolyton, and one on ACOL. I am still a Newbie myself, these are my first three PBEM games. I would be interested in another game, but would prefer to play with reliable fast turn round players (I'd like to play at least one turn every day). If this game offers that then I'm in.

ColDark
Colin.Darra@vistorm.com

trevlix · July 30, 2001, 12:33

I'd prefer a past-paced game also...one post per day is cool with me. Well, put up your preferences and as we get more people I'll define the game options more.

I prefer Spartans or Gaians, but I'll play anyone. I'd also like the difficulty set somewhat low, but not too easy.

We can always decide that by vote.

Tyler

ColDark · July 30, 2001, 12:37

Fairly indifferent.

I suppose Pirates would be first choice, followed by PeaceKeepers.Oh, it's SMAC not SMACX, therefore the choice must be PeaceKeepers

Everything else I am fairly unconcerned about. I would prefer to play the game in it's vanilla state - no hacking with the text files, therefore no surprises.

I am a reliable player, have a look at the turn rates on Talent on Commlink, that should show my committment.

trevlix · July 30, 2001, 12:56

sounds good to me.

now we jsut have to wait for a few more people

Tyler

johndmuller · July 30, 2001, 14:48

Hello,

I'd like to play too; I have about the same PBEM experience as ColDark. I'm not too particular about which faction; I'll say Yang or Morgan, but I can be bribed to pick someone else.

I can play pretty quickly too, subject to occasional RL interventions; one turn a day sounds doable to me - perhaps we should keep the number of players down to 4 or 5 if once a day is a priority.

Preferences: I'd like to play at transcend, on a standard or larger map (random or Tournament) with reasonably conservative rules like the PBEM standard. all negotiable

We might consider choosing factions based on our locations and/or time of day preferences since I believe that the turn order is fixed in SMAC (I think to Gaians, Hive, University, Morganites, Spartans, Believers, Peacekeepers). The idea is to work with the time zones rather than against them. (For example, if ColDark and I both liked to play at the same time of day, he should go before me rather than after me) Don't mean to get too deep into this, but if we are going to worry about it, it's best done before we get too comfortable with our faction choices. That being said, I don't personally have a major time of day thing going, just a bit more available weelday mornings East Coast USA time, but also available other times.

John

JohnDMuller@msn.com

Tai Mai Shu · July 30, 2001, 15:03

Hi, I'm interested in playing too

I'd like to play as the Gaians. And I have played a total of 8 turns in all my time here so I'm pretty much a newbie too.

My email address is Spoofmaster@hotmail.com

trevlix · July 30, 2001, 15:39

OK, well, thats 4 people. Why don't we cut it off at here. I'll create the game tonight and email it out. We can also use this thread to let everyone know when we have sent our turn out. As for the rules, if there aren't any objections I'll set it to this:

Medium difficulty (Can't remember the correct name and since this is a newbie game I don't want it to be too difficult)
Large random map
Blind Research off
and others...(sorry, I'm at work so I can't look at all the options)

If its OK with everyone, this is what the factions will be:

ColDark: Peacekeepers
johndmuller: Yang (or Morgan...email me a definite)
Tai Mai Shu: Gaians
trevlix (me): Spartans

I may also throw in one computer player if its possible and no one objects.

I like the idea on the timezone and think this will work out well the way we have it. If anyone doesn't know how to do the email game (as in what to do), please let us know. This is, after all, a newbie game to learn and have fun!

Well, its 3:37pm EST for me right now. When I get home, in an hour, I will set everything up and email everyone their passwords by 6pm tonight (hopefully).

Tyler
trevlix@yahoo.com

Tai Mai Shu · July 30, 2001, 15:45

I think unless you do a custom scenario or something like that then it normally defaults to 7 players with whoever isn't being controlled by a person is controlled by a human, and any difficulty/game setting is fine with me.

trevlix · July 30, 2001, 15:48

OK.

As you can tell, I'm still learning.

Tyler

Tai Mai Shu · July 30, 2001, 15:51

Errrr.... I meant whoever isn't being controlled by a person is controlled by the AI

ColDark · July 30, 2001, 17:57

Operating from the English midlands I am on GMT.

I really don't care which faction I play either, so can adapt to suit turn order based on location if required.

I teach during the day, but can pick up emails at work quite easily I am constantly online while there. I am flexible regarding taking turns at work.

At home I usually check emails at around 6:00 GMT and again at around 10:00 GMT.

Please note: It would be a great help if you could send turns to my work and cc to my home address these are...

Colin.Darra@vistorm.com
Colin.Darra@virgin.net

johndmuller · July 30, 2001, 18:05

trevlix,

OK, I'll take Yang. I don't know if it will be problematic if you start the game (since Dierdra goes first), but whatever works (try not to peek at our territories if it doesn't let you go first).

When I mentioned the rules, I was talking about the various bugs and stuff and how to deal with them; below is a version of the standard rules.

PBEM specific rules/restrictions on exploiting bugs:

Multiple reloading of the game to try for different effects is forbidden.

Multiple drops or orbital insertions using the right-click menu is forbidden.

Inserting Stockpile Energy into the build queue after a military unit is forbidden.

If a player employs a tactic that causes a state of vendetta, they are not allowed to "accept" a pending diplomatic agreement with that faction, causing a change in diplomatic status or the transfer of energy or knowledge.

If a probe team action is employed against a Treatied or Pacted faction, the initiator must choose the "Declare Vendetta" option, unless permission is received in advance for the action (email).

Upgrading units with the design workshop is allowed at end of turn only.

Communications only allowed between factions that have obtained each others' commlink frequencies in-game.

Social engineering choice limited to one switch per line per turn. (no flip-flop within turn!)

Psi units cannot be assigned multiple point patrol routes (avoid instant demon boil bug!)

No base trading with the AI.

There'e numerous other little things, but I would suggest that we just start out and deal with them later (we'll probably have some slack time or false starts at some point). Just let us know what the start conditions are so that we all have the same info.

If we're going to use this thread for turn tracking, I'd appreciate it if you edited the first post and copied all our factions, names and email addresses into it for easier reference.

Thanks
John

trevlix · July 30, 2001, 21:05

OK, first post modified. Let's begin!

Tai Mai Shu · July 31, 2001, 07:56

Hm.... didn't realize you sent me my turn when you posted. Oh one other thing, I just noticed we all have each other's commlinks, was that intentional? Anyways, turn sent to the Hive

ColDark · July 31, 2001, 07:58

In other games I'm playing the commlinks are on, but aren't used until players actually meet in the game.

I think this should be the way we play this game too.

trevlix · July 31, 2001, 08:01

Sorry about the commlinks thing. I didn't realize they were on. Like Coldark said, don't use them until we meet. I set the game up as following:

Librarian Difficulty
Blind Research Off
First Look On
Do or Die On
Everything else set to default

Sorry about the crappy name of the game too. My wife was talking about the TV show and it got stuck in my head.

Tyler

ColDark · July 31, 2001, 08:03

In the first post in this thread it implies posting to either of my addresses. Please post to BOTH my addresses. Ideally I would prefer to recieve the turns in a Zipped format too (slow connection at home).

trevlix · July 31, 2001, 08:10

I just changed my email address in the first post from pbemfun@yahoo.com to tyler@hudakville.com. This will allow me to receive emails at work.

Tyler

johndmuller · July 31, 2001, 12:03

First turn sent on to Trevlix / Spartans.

Trevlix: Spartans are third, Peacekeepers are fourth; it would be nice if you could rearrange the list at the top of the thread (you could also change ColDark's OR to AND while you are at it). Thanks.

Is this a random map; what size?

re Comlinks: I think that email is preferable for actual messages, subject to not using it when comlinks are down due to sunspots which should be annouonced - in turn thread or email - by player who notices them.

re Elections: should be announced by the player calling them (or first noticing them if the AI initiates it). The CHAIRMAN says: "ALL ELECTIONS WILL BE UNANIMOUS OR THE OFFENDER A VISIT TO NEW SIBERIA WILL MAKE."

To All: Have a nice game

trevlix · July 31, 2001, 12:20

First turn sent on to ColDark / Peacekeepers.

I set it up as a large random map.

I'm assuming everyone is in agreement with johndmuller's post on commlinks and elections. If not, let everyone know.

The first post has been changed to reflect the turn order.

Tyler