Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

I just sent Mr. Paxton a PM to let him know about the status of the game.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Do we have a target date for when the pretenders should be sent?

I'm currently trying to trade mine to someone else - I _hate_ playing the Ferengi, I'd trade for almost anything else. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Wait a minute, there must be some mistake-- I was assigned the Ferengi.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

I thought you were the cardassians?

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Curses, my diabolical ruse has been foiled!

But... the only way you could have known who I am is if you are, in reality, playing the Trilibdiods. And now that I've uncovered your identity I can hunt you down and wipe out your people. Even your Ferengi ways won't save you this time.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

The trouble with Tribils is ... While you exterminate them, the Ferengi have been selling holoporn of your mom. Will the horror never end? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Are you really willing to trade?
I would trade my nation asap no matter which nation you have http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif.
My nation is not bad i am just not happy with it because of other reasons.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

No trading. Random - Random - Random.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Bill Paxton has still not responded. What should we do?

By the way, I got an email from Alneyan. I would like to withdraw from this game.

Perhaps, we should let both of the alternates into the game?

Pasha

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

You beat me to it. I will withdraw if there are enough alternates; otherwise, I will stick to the bitter end... or some such.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Either that, or re-randomize the nations without water races, or open it anew. I for one don't want to force anyone into it.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Yeah rerandomizing without water nations is a very good idea. I second this idea.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

I for one object to re-randomizing for a number of reasons. #1, I doubt that I'm the only one who has put a substantial number of hours into trying to find a pretender setup that would work for indies 9, very difficult research.

#2, if they're re-randomized then the whole process starts over of telling people which nations they have, waiting for their pretenders, and then ... having other people drop out, starting the whole process over again.

Just let the people drop out, who cares if there is 1 aquatic nation or 2 or whatever. It's hard enough getting a game this size going, let alone the randomized, no-diplomacy bit, and it'd be nice to get this one started soon.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

I too object to re-randomizing the nations. If we go down that path, we may never get the game started. I have also put a lot of effort into a pretender. Of course, I have yet to find a decent pretender for my random nation, but not for a lack of trying!

I have messaged Bill Paxton and remind him of the game we are trying to get going. I got an email from him this past Friday so I know he is alive.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

So if and when we are ready to go (with the current nation) we email or PM it to PashaDawg, correct?

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Think so - no one has responded about when we're supposed to send the pretenders in yet.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

I fully agree with Cainehill and Panther, in that there should be no rerandomising (if that's a word) of any kind.

If there aren't enough alternate people, I will stick to playing; if not, I'll withdraw and leave my spot for someone else (basically, I think another player would have a funnier time, but I will stick to my commitment if there aren't 17 players).

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Incidentally, Bill Paxton showed up on IRC, I'm trying to let him know the game is waiting on him.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Preteders should be EMAILED to me, please.

I am going out of town starting Saturday (maybe even Friday night). So, Let's say that Pretenders need to be to me by TUESDAY.

It's my understanding that the game might eventually switch to a server. So, that would give us enough time to take care of that.

Pasha

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Tauren has moved into his dorm room to start his college career. But he will not be getting the computer until Tuesday, so he will have to wait until then to do anything.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

yeap, thanks for the heads up caine

I'm making my pretender right now

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Sounds good. Pretenders in by tuesday. And if someone really does want to just drop out, would not having one of the nations in really mess up the balance all that much?

just a thought

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

I was looking forward for this game to start, and now I have to be out town for 5 days (until Saturday), there was a death in the family. If I create my Pretender and send it in, can we delay the start of the game until Saturday, or maybe have someone sub my first few turns when I give them my strategy.

I'm hoping to find a taker who would be kind enough to play my first few turns, otherwise I will drop out to make room for someone else.

Takers, anyone? Just the first few turns? The easy stuff?

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

I have nothing against delays, but I am not a player in this one. Please keep in mind that I will be out of town from Saturday, July 16 until Wednesday, July 20.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Pasha! Can't you take Shmonk's first coupla turns? It won't matter that you know who people are, first turns with indies-9 is just going to be recruitment and research.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

I have a sub (Quantum_mechani) for this game, so as soon as it starts he knows what to do, and my pretender has already been submitted.

Good luck, hope it's started by the time I return (Saturday).

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Ok. So, Alneyan would prefer not to play in this game. Shall we offer his spot to the waiting list? I see that Oversway is first, followed by YellowCactus.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

I expect YC would have some problems playing soon, as hurricane dennis went through his area. At this point I think the priority should be on getting things started soon - if Oversway can get a pretender in by Tuesday, great, otherwise I think we could live without a nation or two.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

I was testing my pretender over the weekend on the map and noticed that there are preset victory points throughout the map. Since my original game settings had a victory condition of 9 capitols, this won't work with the other victory points already placed.

Perhaps the map file can be modified to remove all the set VPs. Opinions on this?

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Capitols are named after the Nation. So i would suggest that the host checks every 5 turns for the number of capitols each player has and posts it.
So the settings are normal settings but the houserule is 9 capitols.
If the host reports every 5 turns the status this should be enough. As soon as someone has 9 capitols when the host reports again the game is over. What do you think?


And i have another question: When will be revealed which player played which nation? After the end of the game?
My idea would be that everytime a player dies he says which nation he had played http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Thats both good ideas!

And fun!

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Alternatively, any player having 9 capitals could just say so, and the host would then check if it is indeed true. If you don't want random claiming, make the claiming player give his password, so that everyone can check: that way, nobody would falsely claim victory.

Your way will allow the other players to know who's leading in capitals, while my own suggestion keeps that information secret; whether public or private capital count should be used in the game is for the players to decide.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

I like alneyan´s suggestion more. We don´t need the host to do even more work.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Because this game may migrate to a server, we will not have a very active host. I therefore think it is better to have the victory condition done automatically if possible. Can the Orania map file be easily edited to remove the existing VPs and therefore use capitol-only VPs?

Also, with graphs on (see my original game settings in the first post), the automatic VP setting will be a good way to see when a player is getting close to winning so neighbors can pick on the leader if they dare.

You can't really have people in the game making claims (like "I rock because I own my own home plus the Machaka and Atlantis capitols", or even "I currently own 5 capitols"), for this would reveal the nation owned by the player. Heck, even if the host says who owns a certain number of capitols every 5 turns, a true computer nerd (like my son) will eventually figure out who is playing which nation!

If we can't make the VP thing work because the map is too hard to edit, then we could use 50% of the provinces as the victory condition instead.


I really like Boron's suggestion that when a player is eliminated (or goes AI), his name and nation is revealed.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Actually, my own suggestion was simply once nine capitals are under control, and nothing else; if you make a false claim, you deserve every single complication that will ensue, while a correct claim will result in the game being over.

It's only any use if you want to keep the number of capitals secret; otherwise, your way (or Boron's, which introduces a "every five turns" clause) is better, and every player will know how well the other nations are doing. Removing the victory points should not take more than a handful of seconds, and setting other VPs will be quick and painless. Unless I am mistaken, it will require set starting points though, and that may take a while to do, if balanced starting points are needed.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

I think the victory points should be left in - they denote provinces of significance on the map. Simply let the one person say, "I have 9 capitols" - presumably everyone in the game can count to 9. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Thanks for clearing that up, Alneyan. I read your post closer and understand it now.

Because I wanted graphs on (which helps for the people to see who is leading), then I was thinking of having the victory condition open also so everybody knows when someone is about to win. Without diplomacy, it will be much harder to cordinate an attack on the leader, but that is just part of the mystery of these settings. The graphs will help every player decide what to do to some extent.

You don't need preset starting spots because of the game option to select the box which says something like "1 VP per capitol". Doing this and setting all other VPs to zero produces 17 VPs on the map (1 per capitol). Then all that must be done is to select 9 VPs to win and everything is easy. What I did not know was if the map had the VPs built into the provinces or was just an added line in the map file. I do infer from your post above that it is nothing but a few lines in the code to be removed. I am at work right now so I cannot check this, but I sure take your word for it being easy.

A final problem might be the starting location selection. I remember just how lousy the starting spots were on the Blade game under Version 2.16 and I still don't know the cause of that. We may encounter the same problem and Pasha could have significant work trying to get the starting spots to work fairly.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Don't you mean the 2vs2? Blade was started under 2.15, and had pretty good random starting points, near as I can tell. The 2vs2 game was awful however, especially for aquatic nations starting next to land nations.

I didn't know about the 1 VP per capital setting; it will be much easier then. You will need more than a few seconds to remove the VPs, but less than one minute, unless a simple Find & Replace works (leaving pointless numbers in the middle, which should not matter).

Hmm... I am doing an awful lot of talking for a game I will not take part in. Someone, please cast a Silence spell on me.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

I just had a quick look at the mapfile and there´s one thing that I find really bad. province 173 has the oak of ages as a special site which gives an enchantment bonus 50!
And it´s only guarded by an ivy king and a couple of vine ogres/men, so it should be no problem for an early game pretender to take that site. So if you could alter the mapfile and replace it with the mother oak or something similar it would be great.

I have attached a mapfile without victorypoints and which replaces the oak of the ages with the motheroak.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Duh! What precisely is the effect of "enchantment bonus 50"? I have been too lazy to figure that out (and I am extremely lazy about that stuff... ugh!) Maybe one of these days, one of you guys will sit me down and answer my questions. I will bring the gin and vermouth.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

I'll get my pretender in tomorrow.

I too am going away this weekend (actually, Thursday - Sunday) but I may be able to borrow a laptop. If not, I'll try to find a sub.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Enchantment bonus 50 means enchantment rituals in that province will cost only 50% of the normal amount of gems.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Oversway told me that he can't join in. So, perhaps, YC can play?

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Thanks, QM, for the education!

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Hmm... It would seem that on Orania, in Winterland (#277) there is an Ice Devil instead of an Ice Druid. Is it just me, or can someone maybe verify whether this is the case universally? The only mods in operation are the ones in use with this game, and the .map seems to detail there being an "Ice Druid" in the province. Do the Zen mods touch upon the Ice Druid, or only on the Frost Father? If it's renamed or something, I could see it causing behavior like this.

Not an issue, of course, as a stronger than usual province defense would touch upon everyone equally, but weird things are always intriguing!

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

I don't care to read 10 pages of post to see the status of this game. I'd like to join as C'tis... Note that it is the hosts job to update the first post with info. Come on people, don't be lazy!

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

My map file says that there is an ice devil. I think it´s intentional since he is accompanied by 15 frost fiends.

The ice druid is in winter woods, province 5.

But I´d really like to use my modified mapfile since a known enchantment 50 site with weak defenders is pretty unbalancing. The other preplaced special sites are fine imho.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

That is a lot of reading, even for the industrious person you appear to be. Perhaps the first few lines of the first post would be of interest to you.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Argitoth, perhaps you didn't notice the game is : "Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy"? In other words, nations are randomly assigned, no one knows who has what nation, and there's no diplomacy ingame or on the forums.

In other words, no you certainly can't join as C'tis.
Sheesh.

Re: New MP Game - Random, Anonymous, No Diplomacy
 

Oh, sorry Turin! There seems to be no end to my dizziness these days... I agree about the Oak of Ages, it's far too good to be preplaced. Hence, I'm all for using your mapfile.