Re:
 

Thanks Geo. Shanghaied is the one I was looking for, but I didn't manage to stumble on its definition (I did have the "sh " part, but not the rest of the name).

Re:
 

I'm sure Alneyan will appreciate the effort in revealing that word. His grasp of the English language is very impressive as is but once in a while, he needs a bit of tweaking... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif.

Other more politically correct terms might be, the draft or, selective service... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re:
 

Just for completeness sake..

A squad of navy folks on a mission of impressment is known as a pressgang. One can also belate the fact that you have been pressganged.

Rathar

Re:
 

Or even, 'pressed'.

Encouraged Enlistment is, perhaps, the New labour term.

Re:
 

Sometimes, I wonder whose colour you are flying, Slynky; I suspect you would make me walk the plank first chance you got... or that lovely French phrase, "pendre haut et court" (that one's tricky to translate... "hang somebody" is dullness incarnate).

Nah , I don't need no tweaking, but I be forgetting some names because of me broken memory. Then there's my embarrassing habit of thinking about one word but writing another onein French ("vulve" instead of "pulpe"; the translation is straightforward, but the two words aren't so similar in English).

I much prefer a press-gang myself, over the "pressgang" variant. Hyphens are always so kewl; the very name, hyphen, has a pretty good-sounding ring to it, especially compared to the so mundane "dash". Might be I'm biased since my own name has an hyphen... okay, let's go back to our standard "how to kill billions of people in half an hour" talks.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Conscription would also work.

K.O.T.H. Parabolize vs Fire
 

Fire surrendered at turn 56.
Good game Fire.

parabolize

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Yep! Sure does!

Then again, the more subtle, "Uncle Sam Wants You", poster does the same thing except with propaganda.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

The game between me and Landorl has completed with a surrender by Landorl.

In all fairness, the game positioned him to the south of me putting me near the inside ring of the spiral where I was able to block him in to 3 systems with mines while I had the rest of the systems to explore and settle. It just wasn't a fair start for him and a component of the game I wish they had spent time fixing...placing players.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

So, has PBW come to an end?

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

At Slynky echoing words, Glyn stirs on the cobweb draped throne, “What their still someone here? I’ve thought everyone has left.” Glyn brushes away some of the cobwebs and settled dust.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

We fight a slower than light battle Rand and I due to the fact he can only play on weekends atm.. heh

Have folks messed around with MP stuff in seV yet? Haven't read anything about success in such endeavors..

Rathar

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Me and SE5a have been playing multiplayer games for the last month or two. There is always something to send to Aaron, but it is getting close.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Nah, I just was a bit on the procrastination side of things, and took a little while before doing the update.

We still have no fewer than eleven players. Rock bottom was seven players, I think. So, we have more than 50% players than back in the days! Things are looking awesome. Trust me.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some more stones to flip. Oh, and KOTH has been updated.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Stones to flip? Inquiring minds want to know. (a reference to the ****ty taploid advertising we have in the US that you wouldn't be privy to, my friend) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

I've used IMWTK (I'm feeling lazy) a couple of times, but I wouldn't recognise any of your tabloids... or ours, for that matter. They just are too verbose.

I shall not make any awful pun with that "privy" word. Instead... "You won't get [information]. "By hook or by crook, we will."

Flipping stones would be Reversi, though I'm kind of rusty now... I'm sure you can hear the sound of my creaking bones right in Savannah.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Heard of Reversi (sp?). I'm pretty good at Go, though. Played a lot of people giving them 1, 2 and 3 stone handicaps...and whipped their ***!

Too bad I'm not as good in SE4.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Dont you say I dunno no spelling! Of course the spelling is Reversi! How can you even *think* I would lie to you!

The game is sometimes called Othello, though. I'm not quite sure what is the link between that Othello chap and the game... might just be a "black and white" thing.

My skill at Go is pretty close to Charybdis. That is, I suck. I can't even begin to understand basic strategies, and the whole spatial thing goes down crashing. My puny brain can manage Reversi a lot better... and then I have no trouble getting trashed at the game, since any computer can play a wicked game of Reversi.

Well, at least Reversi sounds cooler as a boast than, say, Tetrinet. Shame SEIV isn't that well known, though... I *am* the best player of SEIV in the world, after all, following you-know-what shenanigans in the Ratings.

(Notice the subtle attempt at getting back on topic.)

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

LOL...no, I was typing without looking at your spelling, so, though I'm sure your spelling was spot on, I was going on memory (which is sometimes faulty)...LOL.

Oh, yeah, I've played a few games of Othello. GO, slightly similar, is a much better game, riveling chess in the Asian world where people are ranked and given stone handicaps based on their ranking.

Best player in the whole world at SE4? I shall have to find Primitive, no doubt at the nearest online gambling table demanding respect.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Khryon and I have our settings ready when you are, Alneyan. And, of course we made it peculiar.

Full Tech
No Stellar Manipulation
No Intel
3 Good Planets
3000 Racial Points
Can only colonize own atmosphere type
No Religious tech
No Ancient trait
Warp Points anywhere
Medium Grid Map
Manual placement on a grid map so that one of us is on the eastern edge (anywhere) and the other is on the western edge (anywhere on that line as well)

Thanks, Alneyan. I'm sure you are much happier about setting up games for Americans now that we have voted out a lot of Republicans *thumbs nose at Bush*

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Bah. You know I don't have anything against Republicans: I just bear a bunch of grudges against some very specific SEIV players, say the kind that hails from the Peach State. Granted, I do have the national skill "Mock the Americanus", but it gets kind of dull after a while.

Foreign elections are somehow a good deal funner than national ones, though. If your side wins, you can still revel in glory and triumph, and if you happen to be on the losing side... well, it's easy to rationalise as "ain't happening right there right now, so what?". I guess the French 2002 was hilarious outside our borders.

Why am I talking politics to one of them browncoats anyhow? You lost, the game is over, and that's tough luck for ya. KOTH will is to have been updated tomorrow.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Rand and I have played a tough game and I have narrowly emerged victorious.

I pull upon the ceremonial bell at the base of the throne and challenge thee Glyn..

I really liked the imagination you used setting up your last game with Slynky. Would you by chance use said imagination again for this challenge?

Rathar

P.S. I will purchase SEV the instant the multi-player aspect becomes truly functional but until then..

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Glyn jerks awake when the sound of the ceremonial bell ringing. “Enough already I’m awake now.”

Congratulations Rathar on your victory!


Imagination? Does that mean you want something similar to the game with Slynky or something else off the wall?


(Similar to the game with Slynky)
Full tech
No Warp points connected
Three Good Planets.
Well dispersed systems on map suggest using Galactic edge
Manual placement on opposite sides of the map (left / Right)
2000 racial points
No Intel



(Different off the wall)
2000 racial points
Must take at least one racial trait of Psychic, Religious, Organic, Temporal and/or Crystallization.
No Intel
Starting Tech Level Medium
Tech Cost High
Starting Resources High 100000
Warp Points anywhere


(Radical)
Three Good Planets
No Intel
No Point Defense (or agreement to use only level one PD)
Manual placement opposite sides of map.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

As I issue the challenge I allow you to choose the settings. I do feel that single planet starts are slow and prefer 3 but am game for whatever! ( 1 million people on a moon with only a shipyard! Not possible I think but an example of what I mean by game for whatever)

Rathar

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Rathar,

I prefer the 3 good planet start too. It reduces the impact of a good/bad start position. It does make for a faster game too.


How about this setup. (I’ve never played without PD, but it could be fun?)

Three Good Planets
Manual placement on mostly opposite sides of the map.
No Intel
No Mines
No Point Defense weapons

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

No PD sounds weird. Not that that is a bad thing! But weird nonetheless.

Think it has a chance of being a lasting pain in the rear or would it be something largely bypassed in the midgame by shields/armor?

Umm How many pts?

Have both "Different off the wall" and "radical" simultaneously?

Rathar

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

No PD is a bit extreme... leaky PD is nice tho http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

All you really have to do is remove the autofire ability from the PDCs to accomplish this (See SE3-ism mod)
Then it is simply a matter of designs and strategies to make use of them.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Combine the Different and radical? Might be a short game. Feel free to counter offer a setup.

Three Good Planets
Manual placement on mostly opposite sides of the map.
No Intel
No Mines
No Point Defense weapons (might be better to use limited PD to level one rather than to band it completely?)
2000 racial points
must take at least one racial trait of Psychic, Religious, Organic, Temporal and/or Crystallization.
Starting Tech Level Medium (So that it will be a viable option to start researching racial tech)
Tech Cost High
Warp Points anywhere.


SJ:
It seem to me that no PD would chew through the ships. Primary weapons would be missiles and then fighters. Once fighters come out there would be a shift to add beam weapons. Beam weapons might be more effect than missiles when the ships start close to each other.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

KOTH has been updated, a week late... and I kind of doubt it'll improve much.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Ok I am game. I think no PD better than lvl 1 but it'll be strange..

Tech cost high also seems a bit overdoing it but sure if you are still into it.

I'll upload an empire when I see you agreeing that we agree that we agree.

Rathar

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

I think (well, I don't matter...LOL) that LVL 1 PD is better than nothing at all, especially if tech is high and a requirement to take a racial tech. It might lead to everyone researching missiles because there are no PD. High tech cost will be a bit of a damper, too, in this kind of game.

Just my 2 cents. But it sounds like an interesting game!

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

I'm flexible on the Tech Cost High. The main reason is to make the Talisman hard to get. At normal cost it would only take about 30 turns to get if that's all one researched where as it would take twice that at high tech cost.

I'm agreeable to the setup with or without the Tech Cost High. Your choice.

Three Good Planets
Manual placement on mostly opposite sides of the map.
No Intel
No Mines
No Point Defense weapons
2000 racial points
must take at least one racial trait of Psychic, Religious, Organic, Temporal and/or Crystallization.
Starting Tech Level Medium
Tech Cost High or Med.
Warp Points anywhere.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

ok lets go for tech cost medium then. I would never go for the talisman anyways, costs too much, benefit is debateable!

I'll shoot up an empire later tonight as tis pen and paper gaming night for me!

Rathar

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Medium tech Cost it is then. Agreed!
I'll upload my empire shortly. Have fun with your pen and paper gaming!

Three Good Planets
Manual placement on mostly opposite sides of the map.
No Intel
No Mines
No Point Defense weapons
2000 racial points
must take at least one racial trait of Psychic, Religious, Organic, Temporal and/or Crystallization.
Starting Tech Level Medium
Tech Cost Med.
Warp Points anywhere.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

So, now that PBW supports SE5 are we going to allow SE5 games on the hill, or would that require a new hill? Perhaps allow it as an alternative if both players have it and are willing to use it, but keep SE4 as the default?

Geoschmo

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

I don't know what we want to do but it sounds like we need somebody else to do the se5 games at least. I probably could do it if no one else wants to.

If we are starting a se5 koth or adding se5 to the one we have I would like the default mod to be kwok's balance mod (maybe GG latter).

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

I think we ought to leave the settings of the hill to be decided between the contestants.

If both have se5 and want to play with it go for it. If not it's all good anyways.

I feel that the settings will naturally move over to se5 as a base as bugs and the like become solved.

Personally, I shan't purchase se5 till the bugs are a bit more worked out. Fleet problems and whatnot.

Rathar

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Yeah but we do have koth default settings in se4 and we need to decide what they should be for se5. We also need someone to setup the se5 games; it doesn't need to always be the same person but it should be someone not in the game.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Yeah, you'd need someone else to set up games for SEV, as I don't have any interest whatsoever in playing that game... or picking it up, for that matter. I also won't keep up doing HTML maintainance for the Hill if it goes SEV (simply because I don't plan to do that sort of thing until the end of times). http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

I would suggest doing a separate SEV KOTH myself. People who want to play both SEIV and SEV KOTH shouldn't have a hard time doing both at the same time, and SEIV players won't do SEV anyway, so SEV games would probably be somewhat uncommon.

On another note, if all goes according to plan, I'll get out of France next summer. By then, I'll leave KOTH (and my two SEIV games) into someone's else hands, since I'm not sure if I'll have a nice DSL *there*.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

The more I think about it we had a separate hill for non-Gold SEIV a while back. This was back before Malfador put out the Deluxe patch that upgraded non-Gold Se4 to the current version. There were a few people at the time still playing SEIV classic that didn't want to shell out for the Gold version. The games were similer but incompatible for Multiplayer play. This is kind of the same situation I guess.

It didn't generate a lot of interest though. I think the most we ever had was 3 players and maybe got 2 games in before it died out completely.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Yes, I was one who wasn't going to pay for the same game twice. But because of the limited number of Non-Gold KOTH players, I caved. It did keep my interest in the game for another 18 months, so it was well worth it. I still haven't checked out the Deluxe patch however.
I would suggest a separate SE V Koth & Rating system, assuming someone would be willing to manage them.
Baron Grazic

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

As the most avid KotH player (smile), I guess I should comment:

The next time I fall to the bottom of the hill, I'll quit playing altogether. I've tinkered with the demo of SE5 and, though I might be able to whip around the UI as quickly as I do SE4, I kind of doubt it. I can whip out a ship design in "4" very easily but working on the layered "5" decks, though interesting in itself, is quite tedious. And other things as well.

I'm not here to disparage SE5 because I might not have given it enough time and effort but it's too much like SE4 to give it the time it needs. Those starting out with SE5 might really like it.

So, I'll retire the next time I hit bottom.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

I'm not quiting se4 koth anytime soon. As long as someone else wants to play se4 I will though I am really tired of stock.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Well, the game between me and Khryon is over with a win for me. I gotta tell ya tho' (in my best southern accent), it was a hard game to play. I was 2nd in points nearly the entire game. Playing a fulltech game on a grid map is a real heart stopper. My hat off to Khryon who (1) was a good sport throughout, (2) did turns with good regularity, and (3) had the courage to play a fulltech game...because a fulltech game is much tougher than playing the "who gets DUC V's first" game.

It was a lot of fun and each turn was exciting (different from the expansion sort of game in a standard KotH game). By turn 20, I think turns were taking a half hour or so for me.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

So, it looks like it's mwbard and me.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Just fiddling around. Since I don't like the listing of most wins at the top (despite how many games have been played...which can lead to having the most wins if one just keeps playing forever), I thought I'd do a better representation of the Hill. So the list wasn't swayed too much, I removed anyone who hadn't completed at least 5 games.

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

I'm interested in an SEV Balance mod KOTH game.
don't think there is any point using stock for KOTH...

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

MWBard and I have agreed on the following settings for our game. So, Alneyan, when you have time:

Good planet
No intel
ZERO points racial

The rest KotH standard.

Hey! How about that?! Not a whole lot of settings to mess with http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

Interesting ranking Slynky.

So if I lose my tenth game, I will drop to fifth place (losing 8.89% off my score.) If I win then I only gain 1.11% on my score.

Hummm…

I wonder if the data is there to do a ladder ranking?

Re: Are you tough enough to be the \"King of the Hi
 

I've only participated in ladder style rankings as far as online competition goes (MOO2), which was automated and didn't need to be babysat. A ladder certainly has its advantages and its disadvantages, though it's difficult for me to judge against the KOTH format simply because I have not participated in one.

What are some of the comparative advantages/disadvantages between the two? Why did the SEIV crowd choose KOTH over a normal ladder?

Thanks for any insight.