Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Yes, please make sure that renaming is turned on. It's a real pain when it gets forgotten.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Yes, I intended to turn renaming on, but thanks for reminding me; it is the kind of detail which can be missed at game setup , and forgetting it would be very, very annoying later on.

I like the sound of "Not_stupid_just_slow", and will likely pick this name for the game. Thanks!

Assuming Deccan drops in at his usual hour, I would expect the game to get started Sunday in the morning GMT (or even in the night, depending on my insomnia). The turns will be proceeded in the evenings however, barring real-life issues. So you should expect turns to run in between 1800 and 1900 GMT (or the proper name for the time zone unaffected by the Daylight Saving Time; is it actually GMT?). UK is one hour ahead of this time, Central Europe is at +2, and the Eastern Coast would be at -4. I do not know what time it would be in the other time zones though.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

I encourage everyone to check their emails and respond quickly these first few turns. At least the first 10 turns we should be able to crank through.

Let's do it!

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Most turns went in fairly quickly (I am only waiting for Boron as I am typing this) this turn, so we should be able to go through the first turns without having to wait for too long.

Speaking of which, I would like to add a modification to one of the rules. Instead of running the turns at a fixed hour, wouldn't it be better if I executed the turn as soon as possible, while using the fixed hour as the actual deadline?

For example, if the deadline hour is 1800, but I get all turn files at 1000 and can run the turn, the next deadline would be set at 1800 (making it 56 hours, with 8 "free" hours) and not at 1000. It allows for a quicker turnaround early on, while still giving a fixed deadline and so enabling people to get a routine. Any objections to this change?

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

If the deadline stays the same hour, quickhosting when all the turns have been received seems great to me, a win-win proposition.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Seconded.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Sounds good to me.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

I agree, let's play as fast as everyone gets their turn in.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

We will be then going this way; the only problem I have with this method is that it didn't occur to me before. But I guess I am indeed "Not stupid; just slow".

Yellow Cactus may be stalling turns in the days to come. Should we be waiting for his turns, or go ahead when the deadline kicks in? From the Yellow Cactus will stale thread:

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

I think we should wait at least 24 hours from our Last hosting, but if he's not going to be around for a few days no sense delaying the game further.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Alneyan - I have a suggestion. To save yourself so much work, why not zip everyone's turn and then just do a bulk email? Right now you are doing 17 emails every turn.

Or would this not work because I don't recall us setting passwords...

Just a thought.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

There is very little work involved in sending seperate emails: sending the mails themselves take two minutes (I have a template for each of you, and only need to attach your zip), and the zip files require less than one minute to be done.

There is also the matter of passwords; if you do not have one, everybody can access your turn (assuming they have your nation turn file). And then having only your nation-specific file is probably more convenient for the players themselves; it is much lighter to download, and you only see your own nation in the list. And Lastly, having only your own nation file should prevent any crafty player from "spying" on the other players through the hex-editing of their nation files.

So going with the current method doesn't take a lot of work at all, and is likely better for the players themselves.

Sadly, I do not know when will Yellow Cactus be able to play his turns again; himself may not be sure however. The best I could do here would be to "force" him to be replaced, and that's assuming he hasn't set up any password.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Okay, makes sense.

If you have any contact with YellowCactus maybe you could play his turn for him? Or just default to buying troops, researching, preaching, etc. with no attacks or movement.

The moderator for my other pbem game plays your turn if you miss it which is better than just a turnover with nothing done or purchased.

We could probably all agree to some basic guidlines is such a situation where you have the authority to play a turn on someone's behalf in the interest of keeping the game moving.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Hmm, it should be possible for me to do the standard stuff (which cannot hurt a player) such as research and recruiting. I am keeping the old turn files in case a third party check is required; for example, if someone claims there have been quite a few gifts going to Arcoscephale.

Ulm (Yellow Cactus) is password protected in this case however, so doing any kind of turn for Ulm will not be possible, unless I get *very* lucky.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Now that 2.14 is out, we'll be switching to that right?

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

We will eventually switch to 2.14 indeed; I guess once Yellow Cactus is back and fully settled. The main bugfixes of the 2.14 should affect the late game rather than the first few turns.

I am currently waiting for two player files: Pangaea and Ulm (Enforcer and Yellow Cactus respectively). Since I cannot play Ulm's turn because of the password, I guess Yellow Cactus will miss a few of the turns to come.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Hm perhaps we could wait in this special case for Yellow Cactus . It was force majeure .

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Sorry. Got a few phone calls and then the wife beat me to getting on the internet. You should have my turn very soon.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Waiting is a possibility in this case indeed. The problem is that Yellow Cactus probably didn't know when he will come back, so we cannot be sure for how long we will have to wait.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

I vote to wait for Yellow Cactus. It's a freaking huricane after all. I also vote to move to 2.14. I don't want to maintain three Versions of Dom2 on my computer!

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Incidentally, should I run the turn with 2.14 and then tell you to upgrade, or should I say "from turn 3 onward, we are with 2.14"? In other words, do I have to change the Version before running the turn, or after?

Two votes in favour of waiting for Yellow Cactus then.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

I don't think it matters either way Alneyan. So long as most players agree, just make the change however is the most convenient to you.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

It may matter if it creates boggus combat replays. On the other hand, there may be no battles on the coming turn; or are some nations already on the offensive?

As I have both Versions installed, I can make the switch at any moment without a glitch; at least, if I don't confuse my two exes.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Three votes to wait for Yellow Cactus. Add that to your two, and we're up to five!

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Under the Official Rules of Game Administrating 101, no game owner may cast her vote either way. For purposes of counting her forbidden vote, it will only count as a regular ballot, and not as two different voices. Likewise, the game owner cannot pressure players into voting, especially if she attempts to make the said players vote in the same direction as her two non-existant votes.

In other words, we will be waiting for Yellow Cactus, as it seems to be the will of most of the voters. Note, however, that the whole digression about my own vote is, well, simply a digression. Do I get a cookie for this sentence which should qualify as being "the most useless statement of the year"?

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Man's castellans are the wimpiest leaders I've ever seen. He routed when I had 0 casualties. *Huff*

I wish Dom2 had an execute commander command. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Ah, that was it. It happened to me as well, but only the archers routed then (fortunately). They took exactly two arrows for little damage, but routed nonetheless.

You can execute your commander actually; send the offending leader to any province nearby alone, with orders to attack the closest enemy. It should be much better if this province happens to be filled with cavalry, and even gives you a very accurate report of the defenders of this province. Be careful not to let know your other commanders about this unfortunate accident; somehow, it might have an impact on their own morale.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Yellow Cactus (playing Ulm) has withdrawn from the game. I believe I will be playing them for the next few turns, until a replacing player can be found. If nobody steps in, they will likely go AI.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Feh. Yellow Cactus and Ighalli couldn't be bothered to search for replacement players before bailing out?

Let me just add them to Cohen, Boron, Stormbinder, and others whom I will either avoid getting into games with in the future, or seek to wipe out early since they're going to screw the game up after.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Incidentally, Alneyan, didn't you say that you started next to Abysia? No offense, but having you play Abysia in addition to Arco then would be a little unfair... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Should probably post an official advertisement here too for the open positions. If everyone agrees, I'm all for pausing the game until replacements are found, or if not, the nations are set to AI.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

It was Marignon and not Abysia; I had expected Abysia due to the Magic+Heat heavy scales, but it was Marignon instead (much better for me by the way). Abysia is more or less in the middle of the map, while I am on the right side, so we are not neighbours (Marignon at least is between us, and other nations to the south). We are not neighbours for the few turns to come at any rate, as later on Teleport and the like will make "neighbours" a loose term.

I would much, much rather have a replacing player for Abysia as well. Ulm is in a weaker shape (more or less like the Mictlan you have seen in Yarnspinners Deccan), so it will matter less in the grand scheme, and could either go AI or be set up as beefed up provinces to take. Abysia, on the other hand, still has potential and a decent situation, and would be worth being replaced.

I cannot believe I have forgotten to make a public ad though. Give me a Flagellant to slap myself. With a Fire 9 blessing if possible.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Heat? Me? Must've been the weather http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif. I'd say we wait for a while, I sent a word of a vacancy to my fellow players, perhaps someone willing will come up.

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

*Bump* I suppose we're not having any luck finding replacement players? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

Indeed, you are correct Deccan; nobody wants to take the Fiery Nation of Abysia, or the Ulm enclave of the North.

- Wait some more. Or wait a lot more.
- Turn the nations in question to the AI. The main problem is that it will help their respective neighbours.
- Leave these nations to one of the players in the game, and either give information about them or make one turn fully available to all for information purposes. Alternatively, or in addition, the nation(s) concerned would go AI as soon as a war with a genuine human player is started, to prevent said player from getting intelligence about the attacking player.

If the third option is chosen, someone else may be needed for Abysia, as they are not so far away from myself (I believe they are next to my own neighbour, Marignon). Ulm is almost as far away from me as you can get (they are in the north-west), so I can probably keep them and build them up to make them harder to conquer by their own neighbour. I would turn them AI once someone wants to move against them if we went with this plan.

Suggestions, opinions, comments and insults welcome. Well, perhaps not insults, but you get the idea.

(Just noticed my typo. I called Deccan Duncan. Hmm, I guess I have been reading Dune too much, or something.)

Re: MP game; very hard research. Any takers?
 

The turn has just run, with Crash stepping in as Abysia. I have given something like an explanation about the fate of Ulm in my standard "new turn has arrived" mail.

Re: PBEM game \"Not Stupid But Slow\": Running
 

Hello,

Thanks for letting me join your game.

I'm looking forward to razing your provinces and sacking your castles.


Respectfully,
Crash (Reborn heirophant of Abysia)

Re: PBEM game \"Not Stupid But Slow\": Running
 

Remember, raze, pillage, _then_ burn, in that order. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: PBEM game \"Not Stupid But Slow\": Running
 

The Karenon Monthly: the best gazette on the Eastern marches. A summary of the present events happening in the known world.

- The rumours of demoncial influences within Arcoscephale: A growing rumour in agoras has it that the powerful Pyromancer leading our glorious nation would actually be one of those fiends we so despise. Such lies are ludicrous, and an infamy. Our ally was not born in the Shadeworld of Hades, but from the elemental power of fire, the lifegiver. Any claim to the contrary shall be met with the full force of the laws.

- The fall of Ulm: travellers have reported a collapse of the archaic kingdom of Ulm, far to the west. The once-proud nation is said to have fallen prey to invasions and, above all, the intrigues of infernal lords. It is now widely known that Ulm fiddled with the powers of the abyss, the most heinous of all corrupted powers.

The Karenon Monthly failed to determine the current status of Ulm; nonetheless, we strongly urge our readers not to travel to the area. We have full confidence that their neighbours will remove the anchor of these devils, allowing us to resume normal trade with the protectorate of Ulm.

- Marignon reports the capture of several spies: In the course of the past few months, Inquisition authorities have claimed to have seized a few illegal travellers in their lands. The Holy Office pretended that these passers-by were actually employed by the Strategon Council of Arcoscephale, accusations left answered by Arcoscephale.

However, the Ekklesia admitted the responsibility of Arcoscephale in this matter, but dismissed the incident as being "a mere misunderstanding between the Ekklesia, the Council, and their servants. These were rogues in our midst, and their actions do not reflect the policy [of Arcoscephale]". Marignon answered that "they have means to unravel the truth".

- The thrice cursed land of Pythium: Following many hardships, the Southern elite phalanx finally rescued the Reunification forces, who were besieged in a Pythium fortress by errand knights. The disgruntled hoplites rejoiced as the reinforcements were sighted, putting to rout the finest knights this part of the world had ever seen. The core of our elite troops repelled a cavalry charge without a loss; a living testimony to the quality of our training.

Meanwhile, reclamation of lands in the former Empire of Pythium (a vain title for the heirs of the glory of the Old Empire) has begun. Religious renewal has been declared the most important aspect of this plan, as the faith of Pythium has radically changed since the days of the Empire. Above all, faith will be needed to keep the darkness at bay. The abomination stemmed from the collapse of the Empire is indeed too close to our borders.

- The future of Arcoscephale: an overview. With much of our lore rediscovered, our treasury filled with silver talents, and our army unchallenged, the eyes of our people may now turn to our neighbours. While we do not share their outlook, Marignon seems a trustworthy partner, despite rumours of a war involving them and some demon-kin. Who would we be to blame them for fighting the fiends?

The Summer Land remains nearby, their kingdom a haven of peace and prosperity; or so it used to be, as our relationship had deteriorated for the past few years. But the biggest threat to the continued survival of our cities is the resurgence of the Enemy, the Living Dead of Ermor. These are the foes of tomorrow, and they herald the coming of a period of despair, blood, and death. Little will be gained by crushing them once more; but securing the peace of future generations, and the harmony of the Greater Sphere, is our only duty.

(If possible, I will add something like a schematised map, with boundaries and approximate locations of the various nations, and probably some more details on the current situation)

Re: PBEM game \"Not Stupid But Slow\": Running
 

The mighty forces of Marignon and Pangea rid the world of demonic Abysians. Not a moment too soon, as they, in their wickedness, had already started summoning infernal beings, which would wreak havoc upon the face of the world.
Oh, a glorious war it was. I personally shredded Abysian phoenix to pieces (twice) and our soldiers stood valiantly against supehumanly strong, fiery and armoured enemies.

Hail to Crash - good game, hope to meet you on a battlefield soon.

Re: PBEM game \"Not Stupid But Slow\": Running
 

Good work Marignon and Pangea.

I look forward to more battles with you in the future.

Crash.

Re: PBEM game \"Not Stupid But Slow\": Running
 

... and the eleventh point of order of monthly proceedings of the Venerable Akademeia of Arcoscephale would be devoted to discussing the Origin and Nature of recently observed Caelestial Phenomenon...
... which is undoubtely a Stella Nova, similar in nature to the one mentioned in the manuscript recently unearthed in.. - esteemed Theophilos did not finish his sentence as he was in turn interrupted by impatient Anaxymenes:
- Rubbish! This is a Comet, returning near Earthly Spheres to prophesy victory to our glorious Empire and demise to barbarians of Marignon!
- Hrmph. Even a half-wit can deduce it is a Meteorite Swarm, soon to provide us with a picturesque night spectacle! - proclaimed irritated Philocrates.
- Colleagues, civil discu...

[The rest of the protocol from the meeting was charred beyond recognition, along with a dozen or so bodies of most sagacious Academics, suddenly struck by fiery death from the sky]

Spokesman for Arcoscephale's Ekklesia refused to comment on the speculations that research grants and admissions to Akademeia are to be subject to a much more scrupulous scrutiny from now on.
Additionally, a number of surviving Astrologers barely escaped lynch mobs of angry customers, somehow doubting the professionalism of comissioned horoscopes and divinations.

Re: PBEM game \"Not Stupid But Slow\": Running
 

Could someone please explain why I put my clams and my most precious mages in my capital city, along with a nice sign saying "BLast that place to dust with Fires from Afar"? *Slaps self repeatedly*

Re: PBEM game \"Not Stupid But Slow\": Running
 

Since I'm leaving on holiday on the 20th, and I'm just about dead and Alneyan is dead himself, I have asked him to take over my empire (or its remains anyway) for one final showdown against Marignon.

Good play Blofeld!

Re: PBEM game \"Not Stupid But Slow\": Running
 

In other words, I successfully crippled Ulm (though they somehow survived until turn 50), I expertly destroyed Arcoscephale, so I shall now preside over the fall of Avalon. Beware Marignon!

That post was the best excuse I could make up to get my promotion. I will slap myself with one of Marignon's flaming fail now.

Re: PBEM game \"Not Stupid But Slow\": Running
 

Let the carnage continue!
Thanks for playing, deccan. Enjoy your holiday.
Alneyan is reincarnated? Greetings, your welcome will be _warm_ as usual.