MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game)-running
 

mosehansen.dk port 2318

? map, Indy 7, magic sites 50
renaming enabled, HOF 15
25 hour quickhost
12+ players
house rules: no watchtower/mausoleum
victory conditions - standard or mutual consent

I set the map as Orania, since I'm thinking it'd be cool to have lots of players, but I was also considering Zen's cradle. If we decide to start with fewer players, then we can scale back on the map size. Anyhow, discussion/suggestions on our map choice is welcome, as I've never played MP on either.

I've been thinking I'd play Man, but if someone's hot to take that I'd be fine with another nation.


As for what defines an intermediate player, this is what I've used before:

<= 10 mp games
And never came in 1st or 2d in a mp game that included experienced players

Or if you don't qualify for the above, but feel you are not speeding through the Dom2 learning curve (perhaps because you've got a life? then use your own judgement and jump in).

Please note that it is a requirement to sign on to the game on this thread, and in any case of conflict between someone uploading on mosehansen and someone having claimed a position in this thread, the thread claim takes precedence. Also, everyone must claim the position on mosehansen (no anonymous players allowed).



For those that don't know already, here are the startup instructions:

1) Post in this thread to reserve your position
2) Design your Pretender standalone
3) On the main/entry Dom2 menu, choose Network
4) Enter "mosehansen.dk" for server
5) Enter "2318" for port
6) Choose the nation for the Pretender which you have designed.
7) If you haven't already, register on mosehansen at: https://www.mosehansen.dk/cgi-bin/dom2.pl
8) Then go to: https://www.mosehansen.dk/cgi-bin/do...=BackToTheFray
If you've successfully uploaded your pretender, you'll see your nation listed as Anonymous, check the "That's me" box.

That's it - you're done! Once all players have done this, I'll start the game.


Edit:
One more thing, this will be a ladder game on Battlefield. This means that all players will need to register on the Battlefield site, which takes all of 2 minutes, although we can start the game before everyone is registered.

Here are some links for Battlefield:
The Battlefield is at:
http://www.the-battlefield.com
Battlefield Dom2 Page:
http://www.the-battlefield.com/index...&game=dom2
Battlefield Dom2 Forum:
http://www.the-battlefield.com/forum...p?showforum=27


Current Player List:
Pangaea - jeffr
Marignon - bleach168
Abysia - Edi
T'ien Ch'i - Anatoli
Pythium - Boron
Vanheim - Breslau
Jotunheim - bluebird
Ulm - Soapyfrog
Atlantis - odd_enuf
Man - Thufir
Ermor - Cheezeninja

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - open
 

There is a similar game opened by Soapyfrog and still looking for players, why not first fill this one?

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

lollerz - soapy's game is using the "nasty edition" of the map. it has been a while since i've seen the adjective "similar" so innapropriately used http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

True enough! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

You've got that right!

I'm also not so very interested in the 5 page list of house rules that soapyfrog ascribes to. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

Oh hey now, its not SUCH a big deal. Nothing wrong with trying a new set of house rules, you never know it might *gasp* improve the game and if it doesnt, well, it was a worthy experiment.

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - open
 

I'm Intermediate, I've more than 10 games, but in none except 1v1 I managed to win or have 2nd position.

I'd like to play Arcoshepale.

However before to upload my pretender I'd wait for Thurfir acceptation.

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - open
 

I would be interested too .

I have now about 10 games played/playing so i am more an intermediate now than a newb i think .
If this is ok i would like to try pythium never played them before in a mp game .

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - open
 

I'm sorry, Cohen, but in my judgement you are better than intermediate (perhaps you are just into veteran territory while Boron is not quite there yet). I know I haven't seen you in endgame play, but your out of the gate performance in Newbiegame3 was pretty impressive. The way you combined almost immediate two province/turn expansion with top notch research for a non-researching nation like Abysia was what I would characterize as veteran play.

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - open
 

Was a combo of mercenary and alchemize.
However as you wish ^^

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - open
 

I could be interested. I have perhaps 5 MP games, with only one small one completed thus far (I didn't win).

I'd like to try playing Ulm...

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

Nothing wrong at all! But I personally like minimal house rule lists for newbie games.

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

I might take a stab at this. I'll give BF Ulm a try, though this will be my first MP game, so I expect to get seriously spanked in short order...

Late tonight now, so I'll reg on Mose's server and upload a pretender tomorrow morning.

Oh, I'd like to play on Zen's cradle, too big a game and I'll be really intimidated (not to mention thoroughly squashed before I can even try to get started...)

Edi

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

Oh so my previous claim on Ulm means nothing! HA! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

Soapyfrog has got dibs on Ulm, would you care for any other positon?

Here's our list so far:
Pythium - Boron
Soapyfrog - Ulm
Man - Thufir?

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

I'd like to reserve a spot in this game. This would be my third MP game ever. Not sure what race I want yet, I'll let others pick first.

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

I'll play as Ermor... I feel my intermediate credits are in good order, although i've probably gone over the 10 game mark at this point (like 15 maybe) I've been clobbered in nearly all of them.

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

Ah, crap! I'll take Abysia then, and expect the spanking to be even quicker...

Edi

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

Perfect! That means that bleach won't be taking Abysia, which improves my chances in this game tenfold! (Since bleach, as Abysia, is spanking my butt big time in Live and Learn).

Are you an expert in Ulm, Edi? For me so far, Abysia has been the easiest nation to play successfully in MP.

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

Now there's the best credential of all - getting clobbered! Well, we certainly are doing that together in L&L, maybe we can avoid that fate this time around.

Current player list:
Pythium - Boron
Soapyfrog - Ulm
Man - Thufir?
Ermor - Cheezeninja
Abysia - Edi
? - bleach168

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

No, not an expert on any nation or any strategy by any stretch of imagination, I've got very limited SP experience only, and out of those, I've been most comfortable with standard and BF Ulm (I hate IF Ulm). Abysia is one I've always liked, even if I've always had crappy luck with it, but maybe I'll have a good break this time. It's also similar enough to Ulm in some respects that it's not so far removed as Pangaea would be, for example.

Edi

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

Oh - I forgot to mention one thing.

Special house rule for Boron:
Prior to turn 20, posting in the Dom2 forum is not allowed while a turn here in BackToTheFray is left unplayed. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

Man, I would love to join this game. So many games, so little time... I'm really interested in trying Vanheim, Caelum, or Pangea, but I think I'm going to have to stick with the Live and Learn game for now.

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

Sign me up for Jotunheim, please ...

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

Ok agreed http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif .

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

i'll take atlantis

odd_enuf

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

Put me down for Marignon, thanks!

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

I'm all uploaded and ready to go!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

I'd like to do tien chi - only 4 MP games, none complete (except for your Last game that I got drubbed in...)

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

OK, Tien Chi, no problem. This time you might consider focusing on indies until they're all gone, before attacking players (even if you are close to a player). Of course, I've violated this sage advice myself more than once http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif


Here's our current player list:

Pythium - Boron
Ulm - Soapyfrog
Man - Thufir
Ermor - Cheezeninja
Abysia - Edi
Marignon - bleach168
Jotunheim - bluebird
Atlantis - odd_enuf
T'ien Ch'i - Anatoli

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

I'm all set up (to take a fall, in all probability...), so we can begin anytime you guys are ready.

Edi

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

Just a small comment: In the top-most posting the text states the URL of "Back To Fray", but the underlying link is to "Pandemonium". Stumbled of this alread a couple of times, could you correct this, please? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

Fixed.

BTW, would someone care to tell me what lollerz means?

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

I'll take Pangaea please. I'll sign up on Mosehansen and the Battlefield and upload my pretender tonight.

I started MP on Sunday, and am still learning. I'm in two games that started as blitzes, one of which is around turn 30 (where anatoli is laying down the undead smack on me) and the other one is having technical difficulties (karanian_conquest).

In both I got in early wars that I probably should have avoided.

I also signed up for two other MP games, but they haven't started yet.

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

Where is this "Battlefield"... ???

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

All the links are in the initial post.

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

Got it!

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

I'd like in as Vanheim.

Not sure how many games I've played mp, but it can't be far from 10 (maybe a couple less or a couple more). I've yet to win one, though a couple were close. I'm not a newbie, but I'm definitely not a veteran either.

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

You're in!

Pythium - Boron
Ulm - Soapyfrog
Man - Thufir
Ermor - Cheezeninja
Abysia - Edi
Marignon - bleach168
Jotunheim - bluebird
Atlantis - odd_enuf
T'ien Ch'i - Anatoli
Pangaea - jeffr
Vanheim - Breslau

This brings us up to 11, and so we're getting close to the desired 12 players. With one more player, if everyone uploads today, we could be starting as early as tonight. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

I'd like to get some more opinions on maps. So far Edi has voted for Zen's Cradle, which does look like an interesting map, to me. Any other votes? And along with the map question, you might want to comment on how many players we should shoot for.

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

I vote for cradle because i haven't played it so far http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

The cradle sounds great... never played it and besides I am already hosting an Orania game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

Cradle is going to be a tight fit, max recommended number of players for that map is 12, and it starts getting real congested already with 10 players, 8 or 9 is best for it, so I say we just go ahead and get cracking with it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Edi

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

OK - so Zen's cradle it is, I've closed the game, as it looks like we've got enough players. I think we'll be fine with 11 players, that works out to 20 provinces per player, which is actually quite sparse (at least compared to what I'm used to).

I'll do another post in a little bit with instructions on naming files, but in the meantime, if everyone can get to work on their uploads, we'll be off and running!

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

We're almost all uploaded now, just me and Cheezeninja left to go. I'll start as soon as everyone's up there.

jeffr, Boron and odd_enuf, you still have to claim your positions on mosehansen. No anonymous players allowed!

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

Everyone will need to get Zen's Cradle, and make sure that it's named in the same way as it is on mosehansen.

To do that you can go to the Illwinter site:
http://www.illwinter.com/dom2/index.html

Go to the map section, and download the original Cradle, direct link:
http://ulm.illwinter.com/dom2/cradle.zip

In this file, rename "cradle.tga" to "cradlez14.tga" and copy it to your maps directory under dominions2. Then, on the initial post I've attached the map file, download that and take the unzipped cradlevz14.map and put that in your maps directory, and boom! you're done!

Edit:
Corrected the name of the .map file to: cradlevz14.map.

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

We're running!

Good luck to all. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

BTW, I don't know if this is important to anyone, but there's a bit of a tiff going on the battlefield over what should or should not be done in a ladder game. As a result I've offered to make this a non-ladder game, since we have house rules, and I've restricted the game to non-veterans, both of which are probably bad ideas for ladder games. So, this may or may not be a ladder game, depending on how the argument shakes out.

For any that cares (and I don't care a whole lot, myself http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif ), here's the thread:
http://www.the-battlefield.com/forum...;showtopic=255

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

Thufir - I followed your zen cradle map instructions, but the unziped cradle map file you have attached to your post is named cradlevz14.map not cradlez14.map. Is this correct?

It seemed to work when I created a test sp game. I used cradlevz14.map and didn't rename it to cradlez14.map for this sp test game.

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

You are correct - my bad.

To make matters worse, the .tga file should still be named "cradlez14.tga". Not my naming convention - I swear!

I'll edit my original instructions to note your correction.

Re: MP Game - Back to the Fray (noob/int game) - o
 

Just waiting on Cheezeninja.

I was hoping to crank through a few of our opening turns this weekend <sigh>. Well, some of us just never stop dreaming. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif