I'm looking for a new game

Comstr · December 21, 2002, 09:33

Anyone starting a new game and looking for an extra player? I can play SMAC and SMAC(X), lots of time to do turns now. Prefer Peacekeepers.

Hercules · December 21, 2002, 10:38

I would be interested. I try Morgan

Flubber · December 24, 2002, 17:31

I would like an additional game-- Haven't played the angels in a while if playing smax . . .

H0bbes · December 24, 2002, 22:17

I'm inrerested in a game. University for me.

Hobbes

Comstr · December 25, 2002, 01:04

Ok, we have 4 players (mabye 5) interested which is a good number.

However- we need a 3rd party willing to set it up, keep a copy of everyones password.

Can you guys play SmaX or SMAC only?

Comstar - PeaceKeepers
Hercules - Morgon
Flubber - Angels
H0bbes - University

Next Q- AI? I'd like to play with AI because it gives us someone to shoot

If we play SMAX - Aliens? I wouldn't mind them, but would you?

Size of Map? Large? Or is that too big?
Normal Weather/Normal (I'd like Low myself) Native lifeforms/Low sea Levels?
Set tech to choose what you research or Blind? I don't mind either way.

Anything else we need to decide on?

We really need a 3rd party orgaizner. Anyone got someone we could ask?

Flubber · December 25, 2002, 01:53

Well, if I am going to be the angels, we have to play smax . . . if someone can go smac only , I would take the gaians. Large map and average settings sound fine-- I'll see if I can scare up an independent moderator and will post here if i find someone willing

Aliens are fine if it is designed game but can be pretty unfair if the game generates the map.

The only thing I want for sure is directed research. Blind research slows the game down a lot and since these games take months as it is, I like beelining to let people actually try to implement their preferred plans more quickly

H0bbes · December 26, 2002, 01:04

SMAX fine by me. Large map, directed research is good. I like stockpile energy but can live without it.

Hobbes

Comstr · December 26, 2002, 03:54

I don't suppose we can ban the use of Supply Crawlers? They seem to break the game...but mabye it's just cause I suck at using them as much as everyone erlse.

Hercules · December 28, 2002, 10:19

Smac or smax ok with me. Happy with suggested settings. Could we play without the cloudbase academy?

Comstr · December 28, 2002, 17:59

Fine by me.

Flubber · December 30, 2002, 12:52

If people want no Cloudbase, thats ok with me BUT if you want to go "no-crawlers" count me out. Crawlers are a key element in allowing players to speed development. I don't want any changes that slow up development of a pbem since these games take a long time as it is.

With holiday activities I have not had much of an opportunity to look for a moderator but do know that 2 of the people I was going to ask will be unavailable for a while-- So if anyone else has a line on a willing moderator and wants to move this game forward . . . .

One other point-- the angels have an annoying bug since probe ratings roll over after +3 (can also occur with other factions later in the game). We have handled this in the past in other games by having a player publicly declare whenever their probe rating was 4 or aboe and the other players simply not trying to probe control that player's bases (given that the probe rating is higher than the +3 required to be immune to mind control)-- I figure this should be acceptable.

H0bbes · December 30, 2002, 19:16

I'm not interested without crawlers, might make an interesting game sometime- perhaps no terraforming? but not this game. i'd prefer to leave all SP's in as well.
Comstr, think of it as good practice. NB, crawlers have their weaknesses- easily detroyed which if one's entire economy is crawler based, can be disasterous.

The Angels bug is understood by me, & no problems.

Hercules · December 30, 2002, 23:02

Happy with everything so far.
Re Cloudbase; I don't have much experience myself in MP games with this SP reached. But a number of posts by MP players that I've read, think it such a powerful SP as to unbalance the game. Cyborg Factory is OK.

What are other players' experience and views on playing or not playing with Cloudbase Academy. I am open minded on it but thought its absence would make a tighter game.

The Angel bug is understood by me too.

Comstr · December 30, 2002, 23:28

Ok, we crawlers are in. With this Probe thing- In other words if MY probe rating gets to 4+ I delcare this here, right. If someone's rasting is 4+ I cannot try to probe control that persons base.

Flubber · December 31, 2002, 09:40

Quote:

Originally posted by Comstr
Ok, we crawlers are in. With this Probe thing- In other words if MY probe rating gets to 4+ I delcare this here, right. If someone's rasting is 4+ I cannot try to probe control that persons base.

you got it-- its because the game "rolls over" ratings higher than +3

Flubber · January 2, 2003, 16:46

anyone found a moderator yet ??

Comstr · January 2, 2003, 23:22

How does one find one in the 1st place?

Hercules · January 3, 2003, 19:49

Maybe a well known King, beginning with F. could approach Googlie ot Tau Ceti

Flubber · January 4, 2003, 13:01

Quote:

Originally posted by Hercules
Maybe a well known King, beginning with F. could approach Googlie ot Tau Ceti

never thought i was "well known" -- all good I hope

But the method to get a moderator is generally to ask someone who has done it before and might have a good ( ie playtested for fairness) map. I had a couple of people in mind but both are away for a while due to real life circumstances.

I will email googlie to see if there is a willingness to do this.

Hercules · January 14, 2003, 06:10

any progress on this

shadowlord3 · January 14, 2003, 16:00

Still looking for a CMN, I will give it a try.

SL3

shadowlord3 · January 14, 2003, 16:10

Comstar - PeaceKeepers
Hercules - Morgon
Flubber - Angels
H0bbes – University

Smax

· Do or Die: eliminated players are not restarted
· Spoils of War off
· Non-Blind (directed) research
· No random events
· Each faction starts with 4 independent scouts, 1 former and 4 colony pods,
· All victory conditions
· Random map
· Large planet
· Ave erosive forces
· Low life forms
· Ave cloud cover
· AI is in the game, that includes the aliens.
The group may list which rules will apply. Are the settings above okay with everyone?

SL3

Edited, did away with the plus 2 non-independent formers.

Flubber · January 14, 2003, 16:12

I have neither heard back nor followed up with googlie yet-- but I will check to ensure he got my email

In the meantime, if someone else can find someone . . . great.

shadowlord3 · January 14, 2003, 16:15

Please list the e-mail address you woul like to use.
What should we call the game?
Hobbes what free tech would you like?
Morgan gets 110 credits everyone else 10.
Angels will also start with a probe.

If any one wants any changes let me know, I will wait before starting.

SL3

Edit, Morgan gets 110 credits to start not 100.

Flubber · January 14, 2003, 18:17

sharris4141@yahoo.com

Name the game anything you folks wish-- just try to make it distinctive from other games

"random world"-- are you checking to ensure the human players get relatively equal starts? It spoils the game for a human to get too much of a jump and the random map generator is famous for unequal starts-- Help the AI as much as you care to. ... give it the jungle if you want. . . . just try to balance the humans

"All victory conditions on"-- This usually means that two humans can coop victory but I was hoping everyone could agree that only ONE human may win (teaming with AI is ok). it makes diplomacy more interesting and prevents the game becoming an early foregone conclusion if two strong players team up.

Stockpile energy ?? I like it being allowed-- more cash equals faster development

Upgrades ? -- I vote anytime-- so you CAN upgrade in the same turn and then use the unit -- but would be also content with upgrade only at turn end

Everything else looks good. I really like the idea of the extra colonies to get the game moving faster. None of the above are deal breakers as I would play regardless of whether my suggestions are accepted.

shadowlord3 · January 14, 2003, 23:36

I have the game almost ready. Play tested about 30 turns. Starting positions seemed okay. I added 1 monolith, 1 mineral resource, 1 nutrient, 1 pod near all landing sites and made the landing on a river square for all players.
From reading the posts I made it rare lifeforms, large map and 30%-50% water.
Several landing were near the boarder of the map. Play smart and look at your location with the map/screen. There is plenty of room to expand but with 4 pods if someone happened to move all in one direction towards the boarder of the screen/map they would not have enough room. This was about the only thing I saw that I did not like. However with 7 factions and only a large map the space between landings was very good. Gave the University Cen Eco to start as the free tech. Will change this if Hobbes wants something else.

I need to make 1 minor change and than retest again.

All victory conditions are on. The rest of Flubber's suggestions do not effect the setup of the game. I will finish setting up the game and the group can decide what rules to play by.

Comstr · January 14, 2003, 23:53

comstar- Comstar@optusnet.com.au

Game name...hmm..we seem to be all researchers in one way or or another. "Planet- Thoery and Practice or World Building?"

No random events? Im like them but I can understand why people wouldn't.
I agree on only one human +AI's can win.
Isn't there a bug with stockpiling energy in the queue? (If so no stockpiling?)
Isn't there abug with upgrading units the same turn tyou build them (cheaper? if so no upgrade that turn?))

Shadowlord- Thank you!

shadowlord3 · January 15, 2003, 01:27

H0bbes – University - jcrocombe@aardvark.net.au
Flubber - Angels - sharris4141@yahoo.com
Hercules – Morgon - cathal.mullaghan@ntlworld.com
Comstar - PeaceKeepers - Comstar@optusnet.com.au
The Cult - AI
Usurpers - AI
Caretakers – AI
CMN Shadowlord3 – dmshadowlord3@yahoo.com

Smax
· Spoils of War off
· Non-Blind (directed) research
· No random events
· Each faction starts with 4 independent scouts, 1 former and 4 colony pods
· Morgan 110 credits, Angles 1 probe, Alien’s MK1 etc…
· All victory conditions
· Random map
· Large planet
· Ave erosive forces
· Low life forms
· Ave cloud cover
· AI is in the game, that includes the aliens.
· 30%-50% water

The group may list which rules will apply and start a turn tracking thread.
Passwords will be sent shortly. Have fun.

SL3

H0bbes · January 15, 2003, 01:43

I have started a turn notice thread:

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthrea...threadid=74034

shadowlord3 · January 15, 2003, 01:44

First turn to Hobbes and all passwords have been sent.

SL3