Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

The play by web thing that Admiral is working on has whet my appetite for head to head competetion. I have decided I can't wait for him to get it all working so I am going to host a Space Empires IV Multi-Player H2H elimination tournament.

There was a lot of talk during the twingalaxies tourney about score not being the best determination of who is the best player. I have come up with a system I think will be fair to all, relativly fast, and allow for differing styles of play.

Each game will be 8 players, small quadrant. Other settings to be determined. Even with 8 players and small quadrant playing to the Last man standing would take a long time. So my idea is to play until four races are eliminated from the game. Then the surviving four would move onto the next round with four surviving members from another game.

I believe this would allow people to use different strategies. You could succeed by being a conqueror and wiping out everything you see. But you could also survive playing a defensive game, as long as you can avoid being one of the four eliminated each round.

I have not decided whether the four should be broken up or moved to the next round together. That is one of the things that is open for discussion.

The idea is not to be a team tourney, but this format would allow you to make temporary "alliances" in order to move on if you felt that it helped you out. But if you are good enough, there is no reason you couldn't "go it alone" the whole way. And since the point is to be the ultimate winner, all those alliances would have to end at some point.

I am willing to host this tournament games, run the game turns, email the files, and so on. If we get a lot of people entering, we may need to share that responsibility though.

Use this thread to discuss ideas for the tourney. I am open to suggestions.

Geo

[This message has been edited by geoschmo (edited 20 April 2001).]

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

great idea. depending on how many players we get, the losers of the first round could go on to play each other such that everyone gets a shot at everyone else before the 'playoff'

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

That's a definate possibility. A loser's bracket so to speak. It could be a double-elimination tournament.

As far as the numbers. I think 64 would be great. Hopefully we can get that many. That would give us 2 preliminary rounds and then a true Last man standing game for the final round.

Actually it doesn't have to be 8. Depending on the level of interest we could change that.

Geo

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

Looks like the moderator removed my thread from the PBEM/Registry forum. (I thought that was the point of that forum, but oh well)

I guess we will have to take names here. If you want to join the tourney send me an email at dayton_dragons@yahoo.com.

I don't want to clutter up this thread with a bunch of "Me too, Count me in!" Messages, so you don't have to post anything here unless you want to discus the tournament, make suggestions, etc.

I am going to have a website up soon with details and I will update it with the names of those that want in. I will not publish your email adresses.

Geo

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>I have not decided whether the four should be broken up or moved to the next round together. That is one of the things that is open for discussion<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Perhaps a random selection from the remaining players would be best.

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

Ok, here's the link to the webpage...
http://www.geocities.com/dayton_drag...OURNAMENT.html

It's pretty barebones right now but once the tournament is up and running I will have updates here so people can keep track of their progress through the brackets.

Geo

Btw, so far I have received 0 emails.

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

First contestant has entered the contest!!
Woo Hoo!

http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

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Join the Space Empires IV Multi-Player Head to Head elimination Tournament Today!!!
http://www.geocities.com/dayton_drag...OURNAMENT.html

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

Since we now have the map editor it is possible to do a 'standard' tourney map. And have players in 'forced start' spots. Could be fun with a few outlying sectors that all lead to a middle sector with a ringworld/sphereworld in the middle to fight over. Planets could be carefully controlled/modded to provide bonuses and penalties (+to research or -to hit while in orbit but Huge planet, etc.)....Damn this could be fun http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif (and with a standard map it takes some of the 'luck' out of it and adds more strategy....people will play with the map for days to plan their use of it....man, I'm thinking too much...)

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"The Empress took your name away," said Chance.
Owen smiled coldly. "It wasn't hers to take. I'm a Deathstalker until I die. And we never forget a slight or an enemy." -Owen Deathstalker.

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

If you need a designer for a tournament map I was working on one earlier......here is the skelton of it (systems only, no planets). If you don't already have one in mind I would be happy to go ahead and design the rest......
Later...

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"The Empress took your name away," said Chance.
Owen smiled coldly. "It wasn't hers to take. I'm a Deathstalker until I die. And we never forget a slight or an enemy." -Owen Deathstalker.

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

I am leaning against the idea of using a premade map for the tournament. I think it would be better not knowing exactly where everything is before you discover it in the game.

I think a standard map would be more appropriate for a single player tournament as a way to equalize the starting positions of all the contestants. That isn't really an issue in this type of format.

Geo

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Join the Space Empires IV Multi-Player Head to Head elimination Tournament Today!!!
http://www.geocities.com/dayton_drag...OURNAMENT.html

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

I've had three responses so far.

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Join the Space Empires IV Multi-Player Head to Head elimination Tournament Today!!!
http://www.geocities.com/dayton_drag...OURNAMENT.html

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

Doesn't appear that my tournament idea is going to fly. I have only received about five responses.

I will leave it open through the weekend and then contact those that emailed me about playing a Last man standing multiplayer game.

If anyone is interested in getting in on that and hasn't contacted me yet, send me an email.

dayton_dragons@yahoo.com

Geo

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

i really want to jump in, but i have been lagging so hard on the PBW testing, that i dont know if i can do it and maintain the other things i was supposed to have committed to. rrrgh. if i can get arround to trying out some things on the web host tonight, then i will sign up for the tourney also.

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

All of a sudden I we are up to nine. Maybe we can make this go in some form.

I have updated the tournament website with the names of those that have expressed an interest to this point. Check it out!
http://www.geocities.com/dayton_drag...OURNAMENT.html

There's a couple of names there you may recognize.

But newbies are welcome too, as long as you can commit to staying in the game, we can teach you how to do the PBEM stuff. It's not that hard after a couple of turns.

Geo

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Join the Space Empires IV Multi-Player Head to Head elimination Tournament Today!!!
http://www.geocities.com/dayton_drag...OURNAMENT.html

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

I'd love to take part but I have trouble justifying my existing PBEM commitments to my girlfriend.

Just posted to say I love the website. I really think it needs a fanfare or something though=-)

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"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
"Uh, I think so, Brain, but we'll never get a monkey to use dental floss!"

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

Ok, we're up to ten now. I am thinking if we can get up to 16, we can have a decent tourney with 3 rounds of 1x1x1x1 games. We can eliminate two players from each game in rounds one and two and then the final round would be a four empire duel to the death.

One other note. If I received an email from you and didn't respond, check the website for your name. If you don't see it I may not have got your email. I have been having "issues" with my yahoo account lately. If you think I missed you try sending me another message or post something here.

Geo

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Join the Space Empires IV Multi-Player Head to Head elimination Tournament Today!!!
http://www.geocities.com/dayton_drag...OURNAMENT.html

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

I'd better start practicing!

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Assume you have a 1kg squirrel
E=mc^2
E=1kg(3x10^8m/s)^2=9x10^16J
which, if I'm not mistaken, is equivilent to roughly a 50 megaton nuclear bomb.
Fear the squirrel.

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

Any updates?

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Assume you have a 1kg squirrel
E=mc^2
E=1kg(3x10^8m/s)^2=9x10^16J
which, if I'm not mistaken, is equivilent to roughly a 50 megaton nuclear bomb.
Fear the squirrel.

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

We are getting close. At Last count I had 13 or 14 people interested. I have given up on getting 64, but if we can get 16 people we can have a decent tourney I think.

Geo

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

Ok, we seem to be stuck at 14 here. I have sent an email to the 14 that have already replied confirming whether or not they still want to play, so I may end up with a couple less than that. I won't start the tourney unless I can get 16 people.

If we get a rush here then I will allow more than 16, but I am only going to open it up in Groups of 4. 16, 20, 24, etc. That way it works out to even games all the way through the tourney.

What this means is it is possible that as many as three people will want to join and won't be able too. The only way yo gaurantee you aren't one of those 3 is to sign up soon.

Tentative start date is Friday May 18th.

Email me at dayton_dragons@yahoo.com if you would like to join and I will tell you how.

Remember, this is open to anyone, as long as you can commit to staying with your game. We haven't settled the rules yet, but most likely it will be 24 hr turns. Definatly no less than 24 hrs, possibly more if enough people want the extra time.

The idea here is to have a little friendly competition, not to be a burden on anyone.

Geoschmo

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Join the Space Empires IV Multi-Player Head to Head elimination Tournament Today!!!
http://www.geocities.com/dayton_drag...OURNAMENT.html

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

BIG NEWS!!!!!!

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>We have 16 people signed up! WOO HOO!!!!

I would very much like to run the tournament on the PBW server unless someone has an objection to that. Because of this we will need to run the games on Version 1.30 and no modifications. However, custom ship sets are no problem.

If you aren't signed up with PBW please do so. http://seiv.admiral.com Get registered and check it out, kick the tires, see what you think. If you have any questions about it and can't find an answer, post something in the forum there or send me an email.

Brackets for the first round will be random and will be set by this weekend. All rounds will be games with an equal number of players, preferably 4 but that will depend on the total number of players in the tournament at that time.

The idea behind this is to test your strategy head to head against other humans. But I want to keep the games moving. Since we are having a multi round tournament, this could take a long time if we don't.

All games will be small quadrant, five starting planets, medium starting tech, no ai. If you have never played a medium tech start with five planets, I suggest you run a few games against the ai before this weekend. It can be a little different. Things happen a lot quicker in the early turns.

Turns will be set for 72 hours (3 days) but the beauty of PBW is that if everyone gets there turn in before the deadline, it will run automatically. You could potentially get through several turns a day if everybody is active. If you don't submit a turn by the deadline, the ai will run that turn for you. You don't want that. [And your opponents don't want to hear you whine about it. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif ] I can put the games on hold for holidays if everyone wants. I can also pause games in extreme circumstances. But you will have to let me know about it by email, and I will leave it up to the people in your game.

All other settings ,including racial points, to be default unless by agreement of all players involved in that game.

In an elimination tournament, survival is victory. If we end up going with 16 players, each of the first round games will end when one player is eliminated. For the purposes of the tourney elimination means no more planets. Hiding a few ships in a nebulae doesn't mean you are still alive. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

If in the event nobody is eliminated, the loser will be the lowest score at the end of 15 years (150 turns)

The second round will be random brackets again of the surviving players. These may have to be changed if we get more than 16 people. I'll let you know.

If anyone has any problems with any of these setups, let me know now so we can work out a compromise.

Happy Conquering!
Geoschmo<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It's not too late to get in. We would like to have more than 16 if we can. Send me an email at dayton_dragons@yaoo.com and I'll tell you how you can join.

Geoschmo


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Join the Space Empires IV Multi-Player Head to Head elimination Tournament Today!!!
http://www.geocities.com/dayton_drag...OURNAMENT.html

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

The Tourney is underway!!!

First round matchups have been set, games will be starting soon.

It's not too late to join if you want. Send me an email at dayton_dragons@yahoo.com if you want in.

Geoschmo

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by geoschmo:
The Tourney is underway!!!

First round matchups have been set, games will be starting soon.

It's not too late to join if you want. Send me an email at dayton_dragons@yahoo.com if you want in.

Geoschmo<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

any chance of a public posting of the history files so us rabid fans can watch the tourney progress?

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>any chance of a public posting of the history files so us rabid fans can watch the tourney progress?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I dunno, that sounds like it would give too much information to your opponents in the games. We could post "in character" reports a la the "Game Stories" thread, though. (Vetted by Imperial Security, of course. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif )

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Cap'n Q

The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the
human mind to correlate all of its contents. We live on a placid
island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was
not meant that we should go far. -- HP Lovecraft

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

how about after each leg, so the results can be viewed after each elimination? would be easier to compile that way too.

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>how about after each leg, so the results can be viewed after each elimination?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I think that would still be giving away information to the next round's opponents. Maybe I'm being too paranoid, though; this tourney is going to be my first game against human players.

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Cap'n Q

The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the
human mind to correlate all of its contents. We live on a placid
island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was
not meant that we should go far. -- HP Lovecraft

[This message has been edited by capnq (edited 23 May 2001).]

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

I planned on keeping everybody updated on the progress of the tourney. Haven't decided how much info will be available yet. I don't want to affect the outcome in anyway.

By the way, I have two more players that want to get into the tourney, but I need four to actually have enough for a game. Is anyone interested in still joining? If so, email me at dayton_dragons@yahoo.com

Geo

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

WAY OFF TOPIC HERE:

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by capnq:
[quote]

Cap'n Q

The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the
human mind to correlate all of its contents. We live on a placid
island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was
not meant that we should go far. -- HP Lovecraft

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Cap, where did you get this quote? I have been wanting to pickup some Lovecraft again, but I have been discouraged by my inability to find the 'beyond the wall of sleep' collection. which novel or poem did that line come from?

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

You'll find that quote and the rest of the work right over here;

http://www.cs.buffalo.edu/~feasel/175/tcoc.html

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far. The sciences, each straining in its own direction, have hitherto harmed us little; but some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the deadly light into the peace and safety of a new dark age.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>



[This message has been edited by Ibn Arabi (edited 23 May 2001).]

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ibn Arabi:
You'll find that quote and the rest of the work right over here;

http://www.cs.buffalo.edu/~feasel/175/tcoc.html



[This message has been edited by Ibn Arabi (edited 23 May 2001).]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

cool, thanks... back to the topic then. is each leg of the tourney with the same race, or will you change options on each leg, i.e. high point values for the first round, medium point values for the second round, and low (0) points for the final elimation? or is it pick a race and stick with it?

Re: Multi-Player Head to Head Tournament
 

I don't intend to change the game settings from round to round, but if players want to use different .emp files I have no problem with that.

Geo