RAND2 - full, everyone send me an email
 

I'm going to be getting this game started. First, for any newcomers, here are the rules (courtesy of Panther, but modified a bit):

1. All nations will be randomly assigned. No one knows which player belongs to which nation. I am shooting for 17 players here.
2. No diplomacy of any kind. No in-game messages. No transferring of artifacts or gems or gold to any player. No external email allowed. I know this last item is impossible to truly enforce, so we would have to rely on the honor system here.
3. Name your deity after your nation (e.g "Jotunheim")

As for parameters:
indies 6
hard research
no renaming
Mods:
CB pretender mod (and *ONLY* the pretender mod) http://www.dominions-2.org/downloads...5separated.zip
Turin's hero mod http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...?Number=358700
graphs on
victory points equal to n/2 + 1 to win
anything not mentioned is as default

People might hate the idea of no mods; but, while I really like the idea of the CB mod, and think it's made a lot of good moves, I've yet to play a modded game where some unforseen trick or other didn't lead to a major imbalance. Sure, the base game has its imbalances too, but at least everyone's familiar with them. Besides, if Caelum starts getting too big (watch the score graphs!), attack Caelum. I am slightly negotiable on this, but I'd prefer to stick with it. I'd be pretty happy to throw in just Turin's hero mod, actually...

map will be Orania, with Panther's pre-set starting locations. This is good motivation for me to make a 17-player toroidal map, but not for this game.

The game will be TCP/IP, hosted by me. I'll manage anonymity by virtue of a little script I wrote to automatically assign the nations and email them out to the players. The other main drawbacks of TCP/IP games (that I know of) are lack of notification when things host and potential for file corruption to derail the game. The former will be handled by an email that goes out to everyone who wants it upon each hosting. The latter will (hopefully!) be solved by backups that happen each turn.

So... Who's interested?


Players:
(if you don't have an asterisk by your name, send me your email address over PM or to dig4fire at cox. (net) I will need it for the nation-choosing script. Also, if you don't want to receive turn updates over email, this would be a good time to indicate it)

*Ygorl - R'lyeh
*extramedium - Arcoscephale
*Folket - Ulm
*Jurri - Man
*WraithLord - Pangaea
*PashaDawg - Pythium
*Peacekeeper
*Tyrant - Marignon
*Shmonk - Ermor
*castigated - T'ien Ch'i
*Grizannor - Machaka
*iljah - Mictlan
*DaMilano
*shovah - Abysia
*The_Tauren13 - Caelum
*Dongwook - C'tis
*Cainehill - Vanheim

17 email addresses means a game. Nation assignments have been sent. Let me know if you decide you don't want to play, but don't tell me which nation you got!

Re: RAND2
 

I would like to join. No diplomacy seems like my stuff.

Re: RAND2
 

I'm in!

Any comment on undead themes? There seems to be something of a trend against using them. I don't mind them myself, but their strengths are enhanced in no-diplo.

What sort of schedule? Without diplomacy turns are very fast to do until the micromanagement grind hits.

Re: RAND2
 

I think we should allow undead themes.

Re: RAND2
 

I think they should be fair game as well. Just, if you get Ermor, and choose Ashen Empire, be prepared for everyone around to mass priests and hit you early. Vice-versa, if you start near AE Ermor, you'd better build a lot of priests and hit them early.

The different nations unquestionably have different strengths at different times in the game; successful players will take advantage of their own strong times and abilities, and work to prevent others from doing the same.

Re: RAND2
 

I'm in.

I recommend in favor of the latest CB mod. IMO it fixes a lot of issues. But I'm also fine with no mods.

I'm also in favor of not banning any nation and/or strategy. Since there are score graphs dominion killing nations will be probably jumped, balancing their advantage.

Re: RAND2
 

Well, in all of the no-diplos (all two of them http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif) I've played Ashen Empire Ermor wasn't jumped. (And indeed, it's usually recommended to cooperate with others to take them down, which is not as easily accomplished without communication.)

But, yes, I'm in favor of not banning anything too, upon reflection. Unmodded anything-goes sounds very fun indeed!

As for the map, I think wraparound is essential. Anyone know if there are other wraparounds available besides Orania and World map that accomodate a large number of players? (If we fall short there's Inland, any others?)

Re: RAND2
 

im in, even though im in 2 games already. no diplomacy seems like my thing since i suck at it and my large number of games shouldnt be a problem because i have too much spare time. cb or not im happy either way

Re: RAND2
 

I'm in!!

Re: RAND2
 

Id like to participate too. Havnt tried a no diplomacy game, sounds like fun.

I must say Im in favor of the CB mods, but thats because Im still rather new and have probably played more games with the mods than without.

Re: RAND2
 

Sign me up please!

Re: RAND2
 

Oh heck, I guess I'll give it go, 3 games shouldn't be too many to be in. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: RAND2
 

i am definitely down.

Re: RAND2
 

I'd like to participate too.

Re: RAND2
 

Count me in!

Re: RAND2
 

I'd like to join.

Re: RAND2
 

Guess I'd better get off the fence.

I'll join, too.

Though being in a game with Pasha and Jurri without the Pasha/Jurri trash talk is only 0.001% as much fun http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: RAND2
 

I'm in.

Re: RAND2
 

and btw - I would vote in favor of at least the Turin heroes and Zen pretender mods

Re: RAND2
 

I'm in favor of mods, as always.

Re: RAND2
 

Not sure I'll be in, but I'm with RonD - I can see avoiding the full CB mod, but the hero & pretender mods are pretty straightforward and unadulterated goodness, imo. Just makes for more variety of pretenders, and heroes that you're glad to get, without all the ... "unintended consequences" of changing troops, spells, magic items, etc.

Re: RAND2
 

I agree, Cainehill and RonD. Those mods are in. The game is full, but I need everyone to get me their email address before we can start. Cainehill, if you are interested, it wouldn't surprise me if at least one person fails to do so in the next day or two, in which case it would be great to have you join. Interested?

As for what remains to be determined... Anyone have a feeling about maps? We need a 17-player wraparound map, preferably not Orania. Also, I was thinking a 24-hour quickhost to start, moving to 48-hour as soon as someone requests it. Things should move quickly (get it?) with quickhost, since without diplomacy clogging things there's no reason not to upload your turn as soon as you can.

Re: RAND2
 

my email address is in my profile.

Re: RAND2
 

i don't know about you guys, but i'm excited http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: RAND2
 

Just curious, what is the draw to no diplomacy? I have to say, for me, its the best aspect of MP.

Re: RAND2
 

Only because it is different than usual. People crave variety in general...


It might be easier for all of you if I were to randomly assign the nations, get all pretenders from the players, and then collect the first turns. I can then also check for pretender passwords and naming convention for all nations. After the first turn, I can send everything to the host for him to migrate over to the server.

Oh, and by the way, the single biggest thing I always hated about a server is the Quick Host option when the hosting times frequently change (always forward, never back).

Re: RAND2
 

As far as I know, there are only two maps of sufficient size:
Orania
Neo-Pangaea (only half wraparound)

Re: RAND2
 

Neopangea has a balance problem for 17 nations - there are way too many water provinces, compared to land provinces.

Re: RAND2
 

Which is why there is truly only ONE map that can have a decent chance at a balanced start with 17 players. Like Inland, Orania is overplayed for a very good reason...

I still have the modded map where there are 17 balanced starts and 17 extra balanced VP provinces on Orania if you want that.

Re: RAND2
 

PM sent with my email.

I'm for Panther's balanced starting positions map as the map to use. NeoPangaea is unbalanced, favoring water nations more.

Too bad someone can't make a mod to replace a nation like Ermor with a 3rd water nation, like Oceania, making this map playable with 17 races (3 being water). I know, Oceania is a replacement for Atlantis, but could be interesting to have 3 water nations in an MP game.

Re: RAND2
 

Sent PM with my email, izaqyos@gmail.com.

Re: RAND2
 

More intresting would be a all water nations game.

Re: RAND2
 

i think due to the server problems, ygorl hasn't been on in a while, because his list seems to be terribly out of date http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

hopefully things get moving pretty soon ^_^

Re: RAND2
 

Yeah, I was unable to see shrapnelcommunity.com for about the last day and a half.
I'll update everything when I get home tonight, and if I have all the emails I will at least run the nation-assignment script.
Looks like we might be stuck with Orania, unfortunately. Nobody knows of another option?

Re: RAND2
 

So the game is full. Panther, if you'd be so good (and I know you are!) as to send me the Orania.map file with nice starts, I'd be indebted. We'll use that, since there doesn't seem to be another appropriate map.

Everyone should have received nation assigments by now... Let me know if you didn't, and I'll get someone else to look into it... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Lotta Finns in this game... I'm worried!

The email has the details of where the server lives, but it's not up yet. This is a ploy on my part to let everyone spend some time making a pretender without the temptation of uploading a bad one (probably not a big deal?) or starting the game (somewhat of a big deal). Remember to enable the mods before making your god, and name the pretender the same thing as your nation. I'll probably put up the server tomorrow (pending receipt of the .map file from Panther) and we'll be off!

Thanks, everyone, for playing.

Re: RAND2
 

the community has had a upsurge of canadians lately. I feel the hockey teams need for revenge on all other nations!

good luck everyone, hope you enjoy your nations.

Re: RAND2
 

i dont have a nation http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: RAND2
 

*Ygorl
*extramedium (not a forum member, but he sent me an ICQ saying he wanted to play in this game)
*Folket
*Jurri
*WraithLord
*PashaDawg
*Peacekeeper
*Tyrant
*Shmonk
*castigated
*Grizannor
*iljah
*DaMilano
*RonD
*The_Tauren13
*Dongwook (another shrapnelcommunity non-member)
*Cainehill

You didn't PM Ygorl with your email address did you?

Re: RAND2
 

Got my assignment.

How much time do I have for trials before I upload my pretender (of nation ****) ?

Re: RAND2
 

Yeah, shovah, you never sent me your email address. Sorry... I know you're in other games, though, so I don't feel too bad... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

WraithLord, I believe (but am not certain) that I will put up the server today. Don't spend a week on it or anything, but don't feel pressured to upload immediately.

Same goes for everyone. Just don't announce when you've uploaded, because it would be a clue to your identity. Upload in silent anonymity, and wait for the game to start (email notifications will go out, when it does and each turn thereafter).

Re: RAND2
 

oops, forgot to pm http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: RAND2
 

I decided that I've got enough games even without Rand2, so shovah will replace me. I have sent him the nation identity - now its his job to send his email address to Ygorl.

Re: RAND2
 

Sounds good. I'll send him the info about the server.

Re: RAND2
 

i never got nation identity

Re: RAND2
 

Maybe you should speak with RonD about it?

Re: RAND2
 

already pm'ed him (dont worry i wont discuss it here)

Re: RAND2
 

ok i think the game is full so shall we start

Re: RAND2
 

The server was down briefly with a broken pipe. This supposedly happens when someone disconnects from the server badly, either because the client crashed or because it was closed with the X in the corner of the window rather than with End Game or one of the Quit options. I don't know if this happened or if it was some other network error, but please make sure that you log out gently.
Sorry if the downtime caused anybody any problems.

Re: RAND2
 

Yeeehaw!!! Let's ride this horsey 'til the hogs eat their grits!

Re: RAND2
 

The server has been up and down (but mostly up) all day. I am nearly done with making it invincible, but not quite. It may skip out a few more times before it's really solid.
Anyway, it's generally up, and won't host until everyone takes their first turn or 24 hours after it's really solidly up.
Thanks for everyone's patience... This is the first time I've hosted a large game, and everything needs to be a bit more fault-tolerant than I'm used to. Cheers!