Semi-random-map test game - STARTED
 

*** GAME INFO ***

IP Address: 160.39.37.111
Port #: 11112
Game name: wrap1_mp
-C --ipadr 160.39.37.111 --port 11112

*** GAME INFO ***

If we can do a little mini-blitz tonight, coo - or we can get a few turns in and see if we can do that over the weekend. Or not. Whatever.

I'll start the game up tonight when I get home - watch this space for IP and port #.

The attached map is a combination of Paradox' random map generator (insert link to thread) and my own balanced start site + semi-random-map generation script.

The majority of the major treasure provinces (cities) and minor treasure provinces that I've actually coded up are found in this map - and in fact those needed a lot of fiddling before they worked remotely like I'd meant them too.

Anyway, the map is ready for play so let's give it a whirl. I'll play niefelheim once more before retiring this build.

There are a total of 8 land start sites, and no water starts. Six of the start sites are on the main continent, 2 are on the secondary island.

There is a lot of water on the map, though, so sailing or strong amphib units will take you a long way.

There are six "cities" worth 1 (in one case, 2) victory point each. They have fortresses in them, and (with the exception of the one worth 2) a large population, so you'll be expected to try and hold them for income before sieging the city itself.

Each city contains a communion of 8 slaves backing up 3 very powerful spellcasters covered with gems, as well as a large army. Expect to take losses while storming the forts for VP.

Other settings - magic sites 55, gold 125, resources 100, supply 125, hall of fame 15, renaming on, victory points accumulate. Other settings standard. The resource reduction is to compensate for the neighbor-rich start positions (which otherwise strongly encourage Sloth.)

There'll be a 36 hr quickhost interval, which will get longer as the game drags on.

This is something a "test run" before I try running a tournament.

Sorry, yes, the game is early era.

I'm going to make some minor adjustments to the map file. The special province #s (which I will post in the thread) will not change, and they're marked on the map anyway with big orange dots and VPs.

TNDP Niefelheim
WSZaboPeter Mictlan
Terrel T'ien Ch'i
Reverend Zombie Yomi
Baalz Lanka
JayThomas Marverni
Ewierl Agartha
FrankTrollman Abyssia

(Alternate, if someone doesn't show):
Amhazair Helheim

That's a full 25% human, for those keeping score at home http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

Is this EA? If so, I'd like in as T'ien Ch'i

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

If he is playing Niefelheim, then it must be Early Age.
In that case I would like to try something new. Something I never played before.
So put me to Mictlan, Reign of Blood, with emphasis on the BLOOD part. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

Isn't it the case in Dom3 that sieging causes a rapid reduction in supplies and therefor starvation for the beseiged units? I think this could make it pretty easy to starve out tough indies in fortifications (and I believe I have seen this effect in SP).

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

Terrel, you may be right, but then again long lasting sieges will grant the other players chance to take over the "operation" from you. I think this is a lot better then the usual victory point mechanism where you can simply occupy a province.

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

Let me run a brief test on that. If it's an issue, I'll hand out cauldrons of broth to the castle defenders.

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

I'd like to give the Oni a whirl, please. What's it called in EA again? Yomi?

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

I'd like to give Lanka a try.

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

I haven't played MP yet. If a newbie is OK, I'll try Marverni. Otherwise, I'll wait for the next one.

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

I'd love to come in and give Agartha a whirl! I've done a few (read: 3) MP games before, but all have been email. I'm sure I can figure out this quickhost thing if I try hard, though http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

Deleted.

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

And I'll make it 8 with Helheim. I'm not too experienced either, but in the 2 MP's I'm currently in (my first ones) I haven't been drubbed too badly... yet.

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

Damn, it seems I miscounted http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Ah, well. Other games will show up. Have fun.

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

There's some posting latency - possibly you hadn't seen Frank's post when you replied?

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

I accidentally left a mod turned on. Restarting the game - Terrel, could you upload again?

EDIT: never mind, since the game hadn't started there's no problem, I just turned the mod off.

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

Deleted.

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

Actually what happened was I counted the 4 you had already edited into your OP, then counted everyone who had posted after Baalz (including Frank). But Wszabo had posted before Baalz, but hadn't made it into your OP, so I didn't count him. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

Do we need download the map off the attachment into our maps dir (it sounded like the attached map isn't quite what we're playing w/ anyhow)? Or is it the case that starting a network game downloads the map being used as part of the first turn process?

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

You don't need the .map file at all, and indeed, any local copy you had would be ignored.

You would, however, need the .tga file, which is also in the attachment - it should automatically download when you first connect, but sometimes that doesn't work for unknown reasons.

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

Does Wszabopeter think I told him not to play? It was a cut and paste-ing error, not deliberate http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

Pretender uploaded. Waiting for host to start. Sorry for delay.

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

Started.

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

So, is there any interest in trying to do something of a blitz tonight?

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

I can try. I'll be home from work about 5:30 EST. I can get some turns in during the hockey game.

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

I think I set the victory points too high - I'd meant to put VP in all the capitals.

I won't be home tonight until 8PM EST, but when I get back I can certainly do a bunch of turns.

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

Is this something you can fix on the fly?

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

Deleted.

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

Just to ask the question, so I don't screw up, after I took my first turn, the list of nations are displayed. Can I break the game if I select play a turn before everyone has done so?

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

No, you cannot screw it up in this fashion. In fact, you must play your turn (and everyone else must as well) before quickhost can execute and host the turn early. This is the only way we can "blitz" through these early turns.

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

Another bonehead question. There is a symbol (kind of like a broken chain link) below mine and Yomi's flags. What does this mean.

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

That means that both you and the Yomi player (Rev Zombie) are actively connected to the server, at that moment.

I noticed that as well, I don't know exactly what is going on but it appears that Rev Zombie is going for the world record at taking the longest time ever to enter his first turn orders.

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

I took a little longer to get home than I had anticipated.

I see only a few people connected - lets see if we can all get back together in 20 minutes (that's 9PM EST).

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

I'll be offline for the next 45min - 1hr. Haven't seen Abysia or Mictlan yet this evening...

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

Abyssia checked in - we can try again in an hour, see if WsZabopeter shows up.

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

Okay, looks like that is not a possibility. How about this - can anyone *not* blitz on Saturday?

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

Yes, I can.

Re: Semi-random-map test game (signup)
 

My plans on Saturday are unknown; I have no idea. I might have blitz-time in the day/afternoon (EST), but I can't say for sure. As fun as Dominions may be, it isn't the first priority in spending my time... but if I am hanging around at home, I can and will be online for blitzy goodness.

Re: Semi-random-map test game - STARTED
 

I see there is a new patch. Are we going to patch the game before continuing?

Re: Semi-random-map test game - STARTED
 

I'm going to patch all the games I'm running this evening. We can host another turn under the current patch or not, whatever is fine.

Re: Semi-random-map test game - STARTED
 

Evidently there are some issues with patched players on non-patched servers or somesuch.

So - I've turned QH off, when everyone has sent their turns in I will host manually, then shut the server off and patch. I can't do that until all 3 of my games that I'm hosting are ready, though.

Re: Semi-random-map test game - STARTED
 

Okay, some people have already patched. I have some work to do and then I'll patch and bring the servers back up. Hopefully the turns taken under the previous patch will still work.

Re: Semi-random-map test game - STARTED
 

Server is back up.

Re: Semi-random-map test game - STARTED
 

It's kind of a drag to have all the hall of fame slots blocked up by indies w/ huge exp - I presume that's a result of the tough VP locations?

If it takes past turn 20 for players to make it into the hall of fame (and I'm guessing it will take well past that), it might be good to look for other ways of making those indies hard to beat.

Re: Semi-random-map test game - STARTED
 

Yeah, sorry about that, I'd actually meant to lower those XP numbers but then I forgot to incorporate the changes into the map http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif. The XP don't really make a difference anyway, the indies magic greatly outweighs their combat stats.

Re: Semi-random-map test game - STARTED
 

Okay, Wszabopeter seems to like to play around 6AM (EST), and Rev Zombie around 8PM (EST), which is fine in the long run but not exactly conducive to a blitz tomorrow.

Unless otherwise noted, lets try a blitz at noon EST (that would be 9AM in California?). I have no idea what time that would be wherever Rev Zombie and Wszabo are - if anyone knows they can't make it, post as soon as you know.

Otherwise, watch this space.

Re: Semi-random-map test game - STARTED
 

Cool! People are showing up. Hopefully everyone will be here in about an hour and a half.

Re: Semi-random-map test game - STARTED
 

I might be a little late for a noon-EST blitz, because I need to go eat brunch http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif But I'll be on for blitzing as soon as I get back, which I imagine will be more like 12:30.

Re: Semi-random-map test game - STARTED
 

Okay. We'll aim for 12:30 then. That's 1:07 after the timestamp on this message.

Re: Semi-random-map test game - STARTED
 

Deleted.

Re: Semi-random-map test game - STARTED
 

Okay, Jay Thomas is not around -.-.

Well, we tried. By next weekend we should get far enough that blitzing won't even be desirable. Sorry we couldn't make that work out.