Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

David, please don't quit. i havn't been able to upload the turn and i refuse any 'win' based on the other person quiting. in fact, if you insist on quiting, then i quit to. so i don't win.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">'eh? This has been your problem for a week? I got the one message from you about it, but from the timing it looked like you happened to try uploading at a moment while I was rebooting the server. Are you saying you are still having this problem and have been for days?

I need more info. Noone else is reporting this.

Geoschmo

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

no, my reason for not uploading saturday is simple stupidity: i forgot. feel free to call me an idiot.

how did i forget? the same way i forgot to tell someone something for six months, when it was something i wanted to tell them. i just put 'playing pbw turns' as the first thing to do in the morning.

i put a reply in the pbw down thread: 'i'm not sure when it started, i think i had it with the P&N game to, but it dissapeared after a while. it dissapeared sometime Last night, because i just uploaded the koth turn(please come back, David) and it worked. i opened up 'gameupload', something i should have done sooner and got this 'Cannot execute player command: Filename uploaded was unexpected; expecting: kothnva_0001.plr', which is exactly what it was named.'

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

Narf, the game is over, I have already resigned. I understand you were having problems, and don't place all the blame on you. If you want to call this game 'Null & Void' that's fine. I think you need to play a few more PBW games to get the hang of it. once you are more accustomed to joining/playing PBW games we could try again, but not for the time being.

I'm not mad,. It was just very frustrating, (I'm sure it was for you too.) Perhaps we would be better matched against veterans in our first games so that they can help with the mechanics.

any way, I'll return to KotH in the future, but not just now.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[ February 11, 2004, 19:31: Message edited by: David E. Gervais ]

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

ok. thanks for not being mad at me.

or wait...is this your revenge? getting me mauled by a koth veteran? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

David, KotH games are ALPU on default because normally there's no need to time limits since the games go so fast. If there is problems I switch to automatic turns if my message to other player doesn't change the situation. However, I can't do anything if I'm not informed about a delay in turns (I don't have time to check all KotH game whether there is problems). But, welcome back to the Hill whenever you want.

I've updated the KotH page. Unfortunately there isn't a new opponent to Narf yet. But I think one will come soon (fast down the Hill http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif ).

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

Could someone please tell me what the general or default settings for KOTH games are? I've got a game that needs to get started between myself and another newcomer to KOTH, but we don't know what the "normal" settings are.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

KOTH defaults:
-small spiral arm quadrant
-no A.I. or neutral players
-no ruins
-no events
-5000 units
-1000 ships
-everything else will be the default SEIV game settings

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

Welcome to the Hill Renegade, Always good with some fresh meat http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

What Asmala said is the defaults (remember 2000 points), and applies when the players don’t request something special (or can’t agree).

There are a few requests that are very common and you should discuss with your opponent before you start;
- Using a “Tesco” map (maps with preset starting positions) which gives better chances of a balanced game.
- 3 (or more) starting planets cuts about 10 turns of the early game and also minimises the penalty for a bad starting system(s)
- Also many games put a ban on Ancient trait and Intel.

You should also check out the clone thread before you make your empire.
Short Version: Take at least 20 % to attack, 20% to defence and the Berzerker trait or you are screwed http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

KOTH BBegemott vs Asmala 2404.1

The map is a big 117-system grid map with edges wrapping and it has changed the playing style a lot. No use for one enormous fleet, instead of that we both have many small fleets. I have currently six small fleets destroying and capturing BBegemott's planets, he has four I'm aware of.

As BBegemott said I got the better part of the galaxy. I have researched a second colony type and as far as I can tell BBegemott hasn't. That means I have not only better planets but more of them.

I have constructed a nice amount of dreadnoughts whereas BBegemott has only cruisers, but my ships use still DUC Vs which put me in a slight disadvantage in combats.

All in all, I think I would be winning this if BBegemott didn't have the talisman.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">i think for my next game i'm going to request no change to ship attack and defence and no berzerker.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

or just request 0 racial points. With 2000 one can get AST and HI/PE with a pretty standard min-max. Reducing the racial points would present more choices while at the same time not telling a player what they must or must not do.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

Narf - founding member of the FAAA - Forumers Against All Acronyms.

or in other words, what?

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

ast = advanced storage techniques
hi = hardy industrialists
pe = populsion experts

Thought you had played this game ? :-)

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

I surrender to Spoon.
Spoon has played a game without mistakes, and right now, to continue the game is like try to fight with a spoon against a man with a sword!
Although I think it doesn't diminish the Spoon's merits (after all it wasn't his fault!), my starting place screwed my expansion, but also, suspect the ruins decided the rest.

Please Asmala, could you move me to the bottom?

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">i can't seem to translate acronyms automatically.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

Great game, MB. You kept me sweating for a couple turns there while I scrambled to get my attack ships in one spot! You are supposed to sit quietly while I amass my fleets!

About ruins, I didn't even know that the Tesco maps had ruins on them! Otherwise I probably would have asked for a different map due to their tendency to unbalance the game.

Good luck, I'll see you at the top of the hill in four more games!

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

There shouldn't have been ruins in Tesco maps, but I have still encountered two with ruins. I've removed both from my Tesco map folder so in future there won't be ruins in a Tesco map (unless there is a map I haven't used yet).

KotH page is updated.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

Slynky vs Parabolize: 2402.7

Boundaries are being finalized and it looks like the map has been divided about in half. We're playing on the new mod by Geo (Balance 1.1). It changes the game a bit, I think...here is my take on it:

1 - Bear in mind this doesn't mean you will be placed "away" from each other...we started fairly close to each other...meeting around turn 6 or 7. So THAT is still a concern that everyone needs to remember.

2 - Yes, it's a bit unexciting as you enter a new system (neither of us took ancient) but it's nice to know you will have 4 planets waiting on you that you can use and ONE will be a breathable. The only unbalancing thing here is where they are located (sometimes, "my" breathable was at a far corner from where I wanted it to be but it's a small problem...hardly worth worrying about). Also, remember your opponent will have the same choices in where he goes and what he will have available. (in our game, we have different colony types, so we're not fighting over the same planets).

3 - All the planets are at the same percentages. This is nice and maybe, I say "maybe", makes things easier for the less skilled player. You see, the more skilled you are, the more likely you are able to forecast mineral needs ahead of time. However in this game, when you run low on something, you can just switch from research to minerals and now worry about it (as everything is at 100%). That helps me because sometimes, in other games, I find out I have missed my production prediction and have to scramble to keep shipyards running and have to make decisions on switching over the 90%'s to minerals or not...stuff like that.

4 - Medium planets give room for 3 facs. This make you use the choices wisely. If you build a lot of SY's, that doesn't leave room for much else. And not a lot of cargo space for platforms. So, the bulk of your planets will not be able to have many platforms. That is good or bad depending on how you play...but it's the same for everyone.

5 - No possibility of doubling or tripling training facilities. Of course, this is the same for everyone. Makes you think more about sensors and ECM!

6 - No worries about "moving" past "warped" points and falling into a hole (and croaking). Of course, most people took those chances anyway.

7 - I think there is less of a chance that people will take ancient with this balanced set up. That's either good or bad depeinding on how you feel about it. But, one of the reasons a person took (takes) ancient is to find the good planets. With this balanced mod, this isn't a worry. So, ancient has less value. I also wondered about the need for Advanced Storage as well...but took it anyhow.

All in all, your economic availability is the same as your opponent and you are left with your empire setup and craftiness to win. I suspect a lot of empires will be nearly the same so, that leaves craftiness...something that Parabolize is doing pretty well at.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

a note on my new koth game: i don't go on the internet on sunday. since the internet covers the globe, that means i try not to go to sites that i know are now in sunday. that means 5:00 for shrapnell and 9:00 for PBW. so, i may end up doing my first turn monday. i'm sorry for any inconvenience. if this happens, be assured that the koth turn will be one of the first few things i do on the computer monday. however, that's my religious belief and i have been logging off here before 5:00 for a long time.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

going on bike ride - don't know how long it'll take, but probably not to long. neither of us is in good shape.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

Here is a picture of something that I love very much. I don't get to ride very often, but when I do, I try to have as much fun as I am able to.

LINK

Have I got stories for you people.

This is competition that I can win at. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[ February 14, 2004, 21:29: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

well, i am tired but happy.

mines a pedal bike. need a new back tire, mines wobbly. but there's not to many tires sized for someone my size.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

K.O.T.H. Phoenix-D vs Taterbill

I have surrendered. I think I had the advantage in ship quality, but not enough to face down fleets twice my size and more.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

Phoenix-D,

Great game, thanks! I agree you had a bit of an edge in ship quality at the front lines, but I had some pretty good models making their way to the front. 'Course, I'm sure you had better models coming too...

My biggest break was when you moved your fleet to attack me in Atull right when I attacked your planet. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to beat your fleet and your planetary defenses too. I got very lucky to not have to.

Thanks again... good luck.

taterbill

[edit - spelling]

[ February 15, 2004, 21:26: Message edited by: taterbill ]

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

Congrats, Tater! Perhaps you got a few tips from me. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

K.O.T.H. Slynky vs Parabolize
turn 2404.0
I surrender!
For the second time he got into my system smashing everything on the warp point. I should have started to upgrade them sooner.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

Asmala: For some reason, clicking on the "Game" link in the KOTH site doesn't take you to the game.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">It does for me http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Parabolize is a dangerous player! I've said it more than once that he is better than his rating would suggest. I still can't figure out his magical economic ability! He had, at the game surrender, around 75 ships to my 100+. He also had about 65 colonies to my 85 (and I had been settling another colony type to get me from 65 to 85) while he only had one colony type. And 8-10 of my ships were miners (on those 300% asteroids). So, how he could have so many ships (the turn before he surrendered, I killed 37 ships) is amazing to me! On top of all that, my research was about 100k and his was around 75K.

To comment on Geo's balanced map, there seems to be a bit of a fluke. Of course, this doesn't mean the balanced map is worse than a "regular" start could have been...because we have all seen bad starts! But, my home systems, a 3-planet start, were all in separate systems (giving me a better chance to get to the breathable in each system easily). His home system was all in one system. This is a bit of a disadvantage in this sort of game where even this kind of difference can be more than you might expect. HOWEVER, instead of creating him another planet (we chose GOOD) that was large (leaving all the mediums), for some reason, he didn't even have a breathable in his home system. It seems to have taken it away (perhaps because of multiple home planets instead of just one). So, in each of my home systems, I had easy access to 4 other planets (one a breathable) while he had to leave his system to find a breathable (as well as other planets to settle). Not sure if there is any way to to fix this in the mod...it may be a "game" problem that can't be over come.

Anyway, it was an interesting game. We had some good action around a few systems...he pushed me out of 3 of them. Surprised me early on with a few attacks (I won't give it away). But, killing 37 ships (losing around 10-15 myself) and in another system, capturing one of his colony ships (with one of his pops), was a good time to end.

Good luck in your next game, "P"!

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

Was this a random map using the balance mod, or did someone create the map and specify starting positions?

What atmosphere/planet types did you both have?

I'll try to figure out what happened. My gut says it's a game thing and there isn't anything I will be able to do short of narrowing down the problem and sending a report to Malfador.

Geoschmo

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I think it is "inner game", too, Geo. If so, then making the knowledge available would be fine, in my opinion. I'm sure 1-planet starts would work fine and if people know a 3-planet start may come with problems, then they take that chance.

To my knowledge, no one adjusted starting points...you'd have to check with Asmala. But since we started with only one vacant system between us, I'm pretty sure it was random placement and not adjusted.

I took Gas and he took Rock (not sure how that matters much). I took Methane and he took Hydrogen. And, as I said, it was, as far as I know, Balance 1.1 (but Asmala would have to confirm). I can send you the game file with my password if you like.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

"His home system was all in one system."
slynky open the game again and look around. I have one home world in Cewandi and 2 in Xillantha.
The other planet in Xillantha was not a home planet it was the "missing breathable". http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif
I liked the map. Good game. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif
edit: spelling

[ February 16, 2004, 04:16: Message edited by: parabolize ]

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">DRAT! Yep, my mistake!

You were in 2 systems. I guess I got fooled because you had been doing pop transfer and I only looked at the pop bars on the display. Didn't even notice one of the planets was medium.

(hope Geo didn't get crosseyed trying to figure out stuff)

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

KotH page is updated.

Yes it was Balance mod 1.1 and random starting positions.

"Game" links in Koth site works well for me. Still problems?

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

BBegemott vs Asmala
Turn 2404.8

Asmala has more everything: research, ships, intel, resources. My worlds are rioting. And the talisman can't help against economical troubles.

This is the end. Vengeful Dreamers surrender to Black Hole Riders. Congrats to Asmala for the well played game. May your kingdom prosper!

As RL time shortage is upcoming, please take me off the Hill for a while. Thx.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Nope...I get a black background with the usual blue printing that says:

"You may
have
entered
your user
name or
password
incorrectly.
You may not
have logged
in yet."

Down the left side. Weird, like I can get to the KOTH site but not any of the games listed on PBW.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

Well, congrats to my young friend from Finland. From the first time I played a game with him, over a year ago, I knew he had talent.

Now, you just need to talk the "Avatar Master" into putting a crown on that avatar of yours http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif .

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Sounds like you just aren't logged into the site. Are you logging out when you leave PBW? That will do it. Or if you don't have the "remember login" box checked. When you navigate to PBW normally do you have to login every time? It's perfectly all right to logout of PBW whenever you leave and not have the "remember login" box checked. Preferable in fact if you share your computer withsome else. But if you do these things then you aren't going to be able to follow game links like what Asmala has on teh koth page.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Sounds like you just aren't logged into the site. Are you logging out when you leave PBW? That will do it. Or if you don't have the "remember login" box checked. When you navigate to PBW normally do you have to login every time? It's perfectly all right to logout of PBW whenever you leave and not have the "remember login" box checked. Preferable in fact if you share your computer withsome else. But if you do these things then you aren't going to be able to follow game links like what Asmala has on teh koth page. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I'll try to clear my name and PW and reset it and tell it to remember. Otherwise, it's confusing because I have a shortcut on my links bar to PBW (well, DUH!, it's where I spend my time!) that works without any request for a PW. And when I am done, I just "X" out of the site.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

Well, that fixed it. I logged out of PBW. Entered ID and PW again...checking "remember".

But that didn't fix it right away. When I click on the KOTH "Hill" game, it gave me the same thing...so I logged in THERE as well. Checking "remember". Then it worked OK.

Go figure! Somewhere along the problem, it must have been a Microsoft glitch...hehe.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

Thanks for great game BBegemott. I was able to get a bit bigger and a lot better part of the galaxy, and I think that was my victory's main reason. Your part wasn't good. When I planned my attacks I tried to find your big rock mineral breathables, but I didn't find any. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

The game was very different from others I've played. 10 good starting planets and a grid map is something I've never before tried. As you can imagine when 10 homeworlds produce colonizers and there's always four warp points in a system, the expansion was extremely rapid. About 250 planets, 4M score, 1.6M resource production, 200 ships and 100 under construction is something you see rarely before turn 50!

So it's me and Geoschmo next. Usually I've asked Geoschmo to make my Koth games but now we have to find other admin. Any volunteers?

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I would be honored! But, considering my Last mistake, I understand if you would like someone else.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

Koth page is updated.

BBegemott, I removed you from the Hill as you wished. Welcome back when you have time again.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

Congrats to the new King. I can host the next match if you like.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Thanks. If Geo has no objections you can set up the game.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Thanks, but Slynky was first. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">who's that?

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Thanks, but Slynky was first. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Thanks, Asmala http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

I will be extra careful this time.

Please look at my comments in another thread about how I decide on a map for a game:

1- I turn off ruins;
2- Set the map type and size;
3- Generate over and over till I find one that looks good to me...that means, a map with things like this (hopefully): a few choke points, interesting and (possibly) confusing warp lines, and a size that looks appropriate to the number of starting planets.
4- Then I edit it and look for starting positions that seem equal. That means the following: both players have the same amount of warp points out of the system. For example, if one position has 3, then the other person's place will have 3. Or 2. I make sure that both players will not have the warps out of their system leading to a worthless system (nebulas, asteroids...etc.). I check the choke points and count to make sure that each person can get there in the same amount of time (or, perhaps, only one turn less). I don't place the opponents as far away as possible. I usually leave some room "behind" each of them. I don't want each opponent to know that I will place them as far away as possible...that seems unfair. Sometimes, depending on the map, I will place them on the same side and leave the other side open for deeper exploration. But far enough away that they don't have to worry for many turns. To me, doing something like that gives a front to worry about and leaves the other side of the map for the person who can take the best advantage of moving around fast.

In summary, I try to choose a map and place people so that it looks like a game I would find interesting, fair, and challenging.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the "King of the Hill"?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Just one question though. You aren't specifing here whether you are doing this generation in the map editor or within the game itself. If it's in the map editor there are a couple bugs you need to know about that will affect the results.
1. Map editor generated maps will have ruins regardless of if you tell it not to.
2. The map editor doesn't randomize very well.