Any players for PBeM?

Kirov · September 13, 2002, 09:16

Is there anyone willing to play PBeM in either SMAC or SMAX? All the options are negotiable (tho I suggest transcend).

Alternatively, can someone tell me how to get into any already existing or recently founded PBeM games? Thanks in advance.

Thrar · September 13, 2002, 09:36

unless the settings differ much from the common stuff, count me in.
SMAX preferred, but if we cant get that, so be it...

DarthMaur · September 13, 2002, 10:12

What are default settings, anyway?

Hercules · September 13, 2002, 11:15

Yep I 'd like to play. Note though that I'm a newbie.

Kirov · September 15, 2002, 10:15

I think we should play SMAC rather than SMAX, which is less common. 4.0 patch, of course.

Well, about the settings, i was going to suggest standard map of planet OR custom standard/large planet with all the options average.

Blind research... hmm... I admit, I don't like it. it's just uncomfortable. But if someone insist, I'll agree.

Steal tech? As you wish, I have used to this option on.

Also, I recommend the Bell Curve and No Unity Scattering (w/o supply pods) on, to decrease randomness of the game.

Difficulty level - thinker perhaps? Hercules, how "newbie" are you?

Ah, almost forgot, if everyone agrees, maybe we should consider some changes in alpha.txt? (e.g. longer bulding of sensor array).

Hercules · September 15, 2002, 11:07

This would be my first MP game. Just missed particpation as a replacement in the NO AI game but was able to open the game and see the format. On SP games reached Transcend level but then doesn't everybody.
However having now read the forums there are strategies and approaches I would never have thought off. So still learning.

Still unsure of some technical aspects. When you suggest changes to the Alpha .txt do you do that in designing the starting map and that's it or do we each individually have to tinker. SMAC ok with me. Happy to play any faction maybe the hive or gaians

Thrar · September 15, 2002, 11:56

unless one of us doesnt have SMAX, why shouldnt we play that?
Standard size (rnd or custom), transcend level, no steal tech and unchanged alpha.txt imo, the rest is fine with me if u dont like randomness. Dunno about my faction yet.

Hercules · September 15, 2002, 21:33

Still there if SMAX . I have played standard map on SP so many times I 'm a bit tired of it, would pefer random.

MrClever · September 16, 2002, 03:32

Yeah, can I play, too?

Hercules · September 16, 2002, 05:33

Ok with me

Thrar · September 16, 2002, 05:54

so, let me summarize what we have so far:

Players (player - faction - email)
Kirov - University - walterschellenberg@yahoo.ca
Thrar - Peacekeepers - chennigfeld@t-online.de
Hercules - Hive - cathal.mullaghan@ntlworld.com
MrClever - ? - ?
DarthMaur - Spartans - ?
Zefir - Morganites - ?
1 more human, or 1 AI player?

if u submit your email and/or faction preference, i will update this.

Settings:
One for all: Allow cooperative victory : YES
Do or Die: Dont restart eliminated players : NO
Look First: Flexible starting locations : YES
Tech Stagnation: Slower research rate : NO
Spoils of War: steal tech when conquer base : YES
Blind Research: Cannot set precise research goals : NO
Intense Rivalry: Opponents more aggressive : NO
No unity survey: World map not visible : YES
No unity scattering: Unity pods only at landing site : YES
Bell Curve: No random events : YES
SMAC 4.0, Transcend difficulty

DarthMaur · September 16, 2002, 09:05

Sure, i will play, SMAC only, though...

As for faction... seeing as Hercules grabbed the best ones

Well, maybe Spartans? I will get repeatedly kicked, duh

btw, what is TBD?

Mongoose · September 16, 2002, 09:22

To Be Determined

Flubber · September 16, 2002, 14:25

one comment

if you want a game that is even somewhat fast, you should hold it to 4 players. . . . Going to 5 or more can be ok but you should be prepared for longer waits between turns

Hercules · September 16, 2002, 16:37

Sound like good advice from Flubber. Reluctant though to even think of excluding anyone who has shown interest to date.Should we stop at 5. Otherwise an An option could be to run a SMAX in parallel. I notice many players involved in several games at once, which means the wait between turns in any one game is eased by the other game turns arriving. However enthusiasm can wane especially if you're struggling, leading to many games not completed and frustrated players. Me, I am here for the experience and fun.

email: cathal.mullaghan@ntlworld.com

Kirov · September 16, 2002, 20:01

OK, my email is: walterschellenberg@yahoo.ca
If possible, I will choose the faction from those left.

SMAC v. 4.0
Difficulty: Transcend
Planet: large with all the options average

One for all: Allow cooperative victory : YES
Do or Die: Dont restart eliminated players : NO
Look First: Flexible starting locations : YES
Tech Stagnation: Slower research rate : NO
Spoils of War: steal tech when conquer base : YES
Blind Research: Cannot set precise research goals : NO
Intense Rivalry: Opponents more aggressive : NO
No unity survey: World map not visible : YES
No unity scattering: Unity pods only at landing site : YES
Bell Curve: No random events : YES

Also, I'll agree with the fewer number of players, meaning that if DarthMaur join, we can launch the game.

Thrar · September 17, 2002, 06:39

your setts are ok with me, but I think large map is too much. Since every turn might take quite long, I'd prefer the earlier action coming from a smaller map size.
Small would actually be best, imo, but standard is fine for me as well. Of course, if most here want a large map, ok, I'm not the governor after all ^_^

oh, Maur, if u decide not to pick Spartans, I will take them. Otherwise I go with PKs.

Kirov · September 17, 2002, 08:06

Hey, I've got two guys willing to play, will you allow them? That will be seven, though...

Hercules · September 17, 2002, 10:09

A game without AI would be more interesting but we need to hear from Mr Clever. I suspect earlier contact from a standard map also makes it more fun. My choice would be custom standard but of course I will play large. I'll go for the Hive unless someone is particularly keen to play that faction.

Kirov · September 17, 2002, 15:27

I've decided to play UoP, if nobody oppose.

Also, if you won't allow my fellows to play (one of them would play Morgan, I suggest to delete AI from the game.

And one qestion: do we allow players to contact in-game (i.e. using diplomation screen) , when they didn't meet yet? I'm not sure, but I'd rather allow this.

MrClever · September 18, 2002, 04:42

Sorry, I didn't know you were waiting for me to reply. I'm here and ready to go. What faction am I playing?

Zefir · September 18, 2002, 05:46

Count me in, I'm that Kirovs fellow who wants to play Morgan.

Oh, and I'm against contacting before meeting in game, but if everyone else wants it I can take it.

Thrar · September 18, 2002, 06:55

@clever: DUH! If u read the previous postings u will find out that we are still discussing some setts, need your email and faction preference. Plz post something more informative soon ^_^

Looks like we are 6 players now, Kirov (or anyone), u got one more, or do we want an AI player?

My vote would be against contact before in-game contact (getting commlink or meeting). Is standard map size fine with everyone? I'd like an even smaller map, but standard is ok. Random map I guess, with all settings average?

Updated the summary above, we still need email from Clever, Maur and Zefir, and the faction (Gaians or Miriam left) for Clever.

DarthMaur · September 18, 2002, 07:08

Sorry for not posting earlier.

Well, i want to confirm i want to play Spartans, so that leaves PlanetKillers for Thrar

As for settings, if we have 7 players, standart map might be to small, i'm not sure. It will be surely slowgame...

So, settings, as it stands now, are:

SMAC v. 4.0
Difficulty: Transcend
Planet: average options, standart (large?)

One for all: Allow cooperative victory : YES
Do or Die: Dont restart eliminated players : NO
Look First: Flexible starting locations : YES
Tech Stagnation: Slower research rate : NO
Spoils of War: steal tech when conquer base : YES
Blind Research: Cannot set precise research goals : NO
Intense Rivalry: Opponents more aggressive : NO
No unity survey: World map not visible : YES
No unity scattering: Unity pods only at landing site : YES
Bell Curve: No random events : YES

I'm not exactly sure about spoils of war, though. It also would be fun to have unity survey on-remember, it only shows coastline.

btw, my e-mail is tomek_kulesza@yahooc.com

Zefir · September 18, 2002, 15:59

And two more things, I would like large map, and no bell curve. Large map is more important for me, from this two.

MrClever · September 18, 2002, 16:22

Hrm... Between Miriam and Dierdre... I dunno. They're both cool. I'll take whichever is left over. How about that?

MrClever · September 18, 2002, 16:24

Oh, and sputum@peoplepc.com

Hercules · September 18, 2002, 19:00

Ok Thrar, Kirov or Dartmaur do the summary bit. I think I prefer not to have AI at all. I am not in favour of contact before in-game contact/meeting. There seems to be a groundswell towards a large map. How about if 6 players standard map, if 7 then large map. Therefore we need to hear or not from Kirov's other friend like soon. Re settings most OK.

Do you think Flubber or Mongoose if asked nicely would safeguard the passwords?

Zefir · September 19, 2002, 07:45

I am still voting for large, no matter how many players will be. I suggest everyone write their opinion about it, with Kirov, as PBEM creator having deciding vote if we cant come to an agreement (i mean situation with 3 wanting standard, and 3 wanting large.

What do you think?

DarthMaur · September 19, 2002, 11:30

Hercules, dunno, ask them

About the map size, we might customize it and set it somewhere in between standart and large.

I just checked the difference between standart and large, its 3200 vs 4000 squares, not that much actually. (40x80 vs 44x90). We might do 42x85, for example, its 3570.

And the current list of players is:

Kirov(walterschellenberg@yahoo.ca)- University
Thrar(chennigfeld@t-online.de)-Peacekeepers
DarthMaur(Tomek_kulesza@yahoo.com)-Spartans
Hercules(cathal.mullaghan@ntlworld.com)-
MrClever(sputum@peoplepc.com)-Believers or Gaians
Zefir(?)-Morganites

(Zefir, your e-mail...)

SMAC v. 4.0
Difficulty: Transcend
Planet: ??? standart-42x85-large

One for all: Allow cooperative victory : YES
Do or Die: Dont restart eliminated players : NO
Look First: Flexible starting locations : YES
Tech Stagnation: Slower research rate : NO
Spoils of War: steal tech when conquer base : YES ??
Blind Research: Cannot set precise research goals : NO
Intense Rivalry: Opponents more aggressive : NO (irrelevant

)
No unity survey: World map not visible : YES
No unity scattering: Unity pods only at landing site : YES
Bell Curve: No random events : YES ??

We have to decide about tose things with question marks then.

We have still one slot open. If anyone wants to join, he's welcome

EDIT/ If no one joins, we can effectively kill last AI faction.