Strat Forum PBEMs

jshelr · December 16, 2002, 10:43

I would be happy to organize several small PBEM games, with people who contribute to these strat threads anchoring the games.

PBEM works well when games are kept to a small number of people who enjoy the prospect of a game that gradually builds toward an interesting series of encounters with human opponents -- and who respond regularly.

If you think this would be fun, just post your comment and email and we will see if we can get some groups going. There is no hurry. We expect to start right after the holidays.

As of Saturday, we had the following expressions of interest that seem likely to produce several good games.

alva
punkbass2000
alexman
Meldor
Dominae
Theseus
Konquest02
BRC
VenomLord
ZargonX
Charis
Sir Ralph
Jshelr
WarriorPoet

We could probably also get vulture if someone gives him PTW for Xmas.

punkbass2000 · December 16, 2002, 11:25

I would, though I don't know that I'll have PTW by the time this starts up. I might get it for Christmas.

jshelr · December 16, 2002, 11:34

Punkbass

No hurry. If we get a list of people who are interested, the time to start is right after everyone settles down to the usual grind after the holidays. What is needed is a club of people who will be reliable for a reasonably long haul.

I have been fortunate to hook up with people that have formed a couple of good games and I'm pleasantly surprised by the way the game unfolds. I would like to be involved in several so that the total amounts to a reasonable part-time hobby.

The speed version of PTW does not appeal to me as much as having time to think and, especially, the possibility of some real diplomacy taking place with other human players over a considerable interval of time.

alexman · December 16, 2002, 11:46

Count me in.

Perhaps we could use the AU mod, if people show some interest.

jshelr · December 16, 2002, 11:52

Absolutely. AU mod will be the first item in the Strat PBEM constitution.

Meldor · December 16, 2002, 12:24

I would be interested. I do not like the PBEM games with accelerated production though.....

jshelr · December 16, 2002, 12:29

I think you will be in the overwhelming majority in not liking accelerated production.

We will make no accelerated production item two the groups constitution.

Dominae · December 16, 2002, 13:19

Count me in too. I prefer playing with people I know, if only through these forums.

jshelr, perhaps you should start a seperate thread in the PBEM forum? This thread could link to it, and serve as an "announcement" to all the Strategy regulars.

Dominae

jshelr · December 16, 2002, 13:27

ok, it is over there now. I grabbed the AU trademark and called it AU Mod PBEM.

So far, it looks like we are in danger of forming a Canadian mafia.

Dominae · December 16, 2002, 14:04

Hm, maybe you should leave it as "Strat Forum PBEM". Some people do not like mods, and could be turned off by the title. If everyone that signs up agrees to the AU mod, perhaps then we should use it (I, for one, am all for it...it rocks).

Dominae

jshelr · December 16, 2002, 14:10

I would like to play with people comfortable with the AU mod and agree with you that it's an improvement well worth having. However, your point is well taken that otherwise interested people should be able to play with like minded AU Mod haters, if there are any. So, I'll try to make the title less specific.

Theseus · December 16, 2002, 19:41

I'm in... but can we also try to kick games off with some quick rounds, say during a scheduled time on Sundays?

jshelr · December 16, 2002, 19:54

T
Not a football fan I see. Sounds good to me.

Konquest02 · December 16, 2002, 19:59

I'd really like to get in too (although I still miss PTW, but it should be OK after christmas!

). We could make an alliance Canada vs. the rest of the world!!

Quick rounds on sunday might be good, but I don't know when I'll have to give my golf lessons (sat, sun, AM, PM...?) We'll see, but I defenitely like to be in!

--Kon--

BRC · December 16, 2002, 20:04

I'll play a game. Is PBEM pretty good?? (not too buggy)

Quote:

We could make an alliance Canada vs. the rest of the world!!

We will butcher Canada. Hahahahahaha.

Dominae · December 16, 2002, 20:07

Quote:

Originally posted by BRC
We will butcher Canada. Hahahahahaha.

(Canada laughs heartily.)

Dominae

jshelr · December 16, 2002, 20:54

PBEM had one bug that seems to be avoided by only opening files from the first screen. Otherwise, seems ok.

We may end up with a good list here. Feel free to chime in with organizational ideas.

BRC · December 16, 2002, 22:33

Quote:

Feel free to chime in with organizational ideas.

Like Theseus said, it would be good if we could get a few turns out of the way quick. Other than that, I'm for whatever.

Quote:

(Canada laughs heartily.)

How many Canadiens do we have here? Enough to put up a fight??

Konquest02 · December 16, 2002, 22:42

Quote:

How many Canadiens do we have here? Enough to put up a fight??

Quite a couple, as I've found out...

Quote:

We will butcher Canada. Hahahahahaha.

Sure, but we have the Ultimate Weapon : Jean Chrétien (he'll scare the he** out of everyone here

) Ok, you've got Bush, but you have to admit that Chrétien is pretty scary!!

--Kon--

Dominae · December 16, 2002, 22:48

Quote:

Originally posted by BRC
How many Canadiens do we have here? Enough to put up a fight??

So far, more than half of us are from Canada. Something in our blood compels us to play Civ, I guess.

Dominae

BRC · December 16, 2002, 23:19

Quote:

Ok, you've got Bush

Thanks. Thanks a lot.

Quote:

So far, more than half of us are from Canada. Something in our blood compels us to play Civ, I guess.

You guys are too far north. There's nothing else to do. We need some people who live in Alaska. Then you're screwed.

VenomLord · December 16, 2002, 23:44

I'll enter but and get meh ass kicked (just as soon as i get ptw :P)

ZargonX · December 17, 2002, 01:58

I'd be interested in joining in as well.

And for what it's worth, my ancestors climbed forth onto the rocky shores of Labrador, so I guess I'm a Canadian by heritage...

Charis · December 17, 2002, 10:04

Sounds pretty good, I'ld like to try one.

I've never felt like a Southerner before in the Midwest of US, but I do here

I'm more of a night-owl than weekend marathon person, if that helps pair up for 'several rounds quickly'.

Charis

jshelr · December 17, 2002, 10:53

Charis informs us that, "I'm more of a night-owl than weekend marathon person, if that helps pair up for 'several rounds quickly'"

Great info, just what we need.

The games that work well have groups that mesh schedules well. For instance, I get a file from Eli in Isreal every morning and send it to SpencerH so he can also play before work. That allows for two turns a day. If we had Charis as our fourth, he would be after Spencer giving him plenty of time to play while Eli sleeps.

So, if you have a preference like Charis' feed me details and we will take our time and try to set up groups that will work well together.

Also, we should think about using a moderator .

Guys in the PBEM forum came up with the following common sense approach that includes the moderator function:

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthre...&threadid=66088

VenomLord · December 17, 2002, 18:59

prehaps we should all post the GMT that we can get on a computer so that we can work out exactly what order to go in...

Harovan · December 17, 2002, 19:24

I also still have 1-2 PBEM slots free, but perhaps this game is already too full. Maybe if you start 2 games, I could be in.

The idea to get games started quickly by intensive sessions, is very good, but hard to organize. Mind you that one missing person can screw the whole chain. We tried so in one game I play in and it failed. As for me, I have 4 weeks vacation (1st week going) and can anytime during this period, and be it night for me.

Btw, it's a good idea to sort the players in east-west order to let the game float with the sun.

jshelr · December 17, 2002, 20:15

Sir Ralph

We are planning to get a list of names and start a few games early in the new year. No hurry. We want to organize them well so they turn out to be good experiences. You would be most welcome if you hold a couple of slots on your schedule open for these games.

We plan on doing two things about the "missing person" problem. One is to use the method outlined in the memo linked above -- the moderator method. The other is to get lots of people from this forum that have been around for awhile to anchor the games.

jshelr · December 17, 2002, 20:17

Quote:

Originally posted by VenomLord
prehaps we should all post the GMT that we can get on a computer so that we can work out exactly what order to go in...

I agree completely although we North Americans will have trouble understanding why anyone doesn't want to use our time.

Theseus · December 17, 2002, 20:28

I'm in New York, so GMT-5. I can *almost* always get a round in during the evening, and am usually good on weekends.