Game: Dark Matter (in progress)
 

I just created a middle ages server, 15 provinces per player:

IP address: 205.217.155.218 Port number: 8098

it'll probably be a 50-80 turn game, hosted when everyone gets their turn in (not rushed), unless someone's slacking (3 days).

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

In as Ermor !

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Iä iä Cthulhu ftagn! R'lyeh!

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Pythium is in the house!

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

In as Man.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

I'd like to be in as SHINUJAMA.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

I've taken up Caelum.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

I'd like to join as Arcoscephale.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Damn, looks like someone beat me to Agartha. Pangaea, then!

I'll be away Monday morning to Wednesday afternoon, I hope that advance warning will keep people from calling me a slacker http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

I'm in as Jotunheim.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Time to try MP, as Tien'chi

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

I'm in as Mictlan

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Joined in as Machaka.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

No R'lyeh? Has it started?

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Yes it has started.

You forgot to connect to the server and upload your pretender. What, if anything, now, is up to the host.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Okay folks, I'm going to come clean on this one, because if I'm going to trust you all I should show some trust in return.

I forgot to put a password on my pretender. Whoops!

Please don't click on Panagaea, cheating makes the game no fun for anyone. We're all adults (or something close to it), I'll trust you all http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Well Ewierl, I'll tell you what. I won't click on Panagaea if you don't click on Man http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/redface.gif. Sound like a good deal http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif?

Or maybe we'll all get a restart anyway to let cupido2 in.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

I myself have no problems in a restart to let R'lyeh in. On the other hand, *if* it is decided to restart may I ask for the following settings:

- Renaming on (why on earth this is not the default, anyway?).

- 50% on magic sites. All the nations that are in are strong magic nations so this does not favour anyone in particular. And it really is a PITA to have to scrounge for every gem to cast a measly ritual. *Especially* if you are, like me, a newbie and are in the game to have fun and *learn*.

- Graphics off. I have nothing against ganging on some nation, even less if it is the strongest one, even if it is me on the receiving end. But I *do* mind if the players, upon a casual look of the graphics, say to themselves "Oh, the nation X is the strongest, lets gang on him before things get out of control." Scouts are there for something you know.

These are my suggestions. As I said it is up to the host.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

I neither mind nor require a restart; I'm fine either way. But given my being away mon AM-wed PM, that might involve more waiting for me.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

I don't want to stall the game if you have already started. It was my fault not checking yesterday evening.

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I don't have any need to but I am fine with restarting. The more, the merrier.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Yeah Cupido... got the same surprise. But it's my fault..I waited too much.
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rant.gifNext time I'll be quicker

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

I would not mind a restart for more players also.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Restart please. I need renaming to keep track of my mages http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

ok, hosted.
i set it to quickhost, so once all turns in it will host.

see you on the battlefield!

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

I just enabled commander re-naming, so we should be good on that count too.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Alright, I'm going out of town for a few days... be back Wednesday evening (eastern US). I'll come on if I can, but I doubt I'll have internet.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Has anyone tried to rename a commander? I still can't do it.

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I dont think that renaming works if its turned on after the game is started. I dont know why. It seems like it should. But apparently its one of the things that is defined in the games creation. Many of the command-line switches are no more use once the game is started.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

The fierce army of Jotun has attacked the lands of Man.

We had sent a messenger to their capitol with an offer of peace, so that the many unbelievers in the surrounding independent lands might have the opportunity to be converted to our respective causes.

However, the messenger never returned, and no reply was forthcoming. Instead, the Jotun launched a sneak attack on our lands, without doing so much as sending a telegram. We can only assume our messenger was eaten by the giants.

We do not ask for assistance in combating this menace, and we have made our own preparations for war.

However, we would like to propose a trade. We desire a minor trinket, a Ring of Frost. In return we can craft a similar item for your nation, made of Air or Nature. Reply in confidence by sending your messenger through the magical paths of the forums, to vfb.

-- The Prophet of Jack

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Ok, not to dis anyone but a God named... Jack? Master Blaster? Chivas R? Isn't that a bit, I dunno, pathetic?

Sheesh.

Zohak, The Eyes in the Wings of Caelum.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Well I often find my pretender gets named "Arnold" if I let the computer choose the name for me. So we're not the only ones.

And can't you think of any pretender for whom "Jack" might perhaps be a somewhat appropriate name? Consider the Plankton!

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Mock not our God, for your God soon shalt Chivas R be!

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Believe us, mocking your God is very far from our intentions. We in Caelum appreciate a good hearty drink so we thought maybe we could drink a part of his body. We do not ask much, say one of his legs or one of his eyes. To warm us in the cold wintery Caelum nights.

Zohak, The Wind Stirrer of Caelum.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

The Nation of Man wishes to offer thanks to its benefactor. Our Council of Foreign Relations does wonder, however, why a reply to our message was not received. Perhaps the magical paths of the Forums are more dependable method of communication.

In other news, while the Librarians of Nation of Man were doing research, they came across many tales of woe in the blessed tome "The Archives of the Forums". These unhappy stories mostly related to those unfortunate nations who had become embroiled in early conflict, to the detriment of their development.

After considering these sad tales, the Nation of Man thinks it prudent to offer a peace treaty to Jotun. This treaty would permit Jotun to retain the Livenmark, which they won fair and square on the field of battle. Man will remain a small peaceful nation on its tiny peninsula. Jotun, please reply if you would accept this offer.

-- Secretary to the Minister of Peace, Council of Foreign Relations, Man.

P.S. As a gift to Jotun, we have attached a small packet to our messenger, containing 11 herbs and spices and a secret recipe. Enjoy!

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Anyone know why Jotun went AI? I guess that means there's not much chance of a peace treaty.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Well, it is quite easy to think some possible reasons why Jotunheim went to AI -- why not to avoid commenting pretender names in the forum and maybe it would be better to keep the diplomacy inside the game most of the time? Somebody makes a sneak attack, somebody plays a back stabber, somebody declares the war before attacks -- the playing behavior (I think) should be as a part of the pretender role play. I believe it should be ok to everyone to allow communication through game's text messages or private post to deliver news how some country is behaving and make secret plans together, but the public forum maybe not a good place for diplomacy -- particularly for the critical stuff.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

ooc:

Well, in this case, Jotun ignored both a PM I sent, and an in-game message. That's totally fine of course, and eating tasty messenger morsels is something I'd expect Jotun giants to do. I'm not upset about his rush strategy either, it's all part of the game.

I'm pretty sure all messages I sent via the forum concerning the Jotun invasion of the lands of Man were totally in character. CopperMonkey, do you disagree?

I specifically used the forums because Jotun has an awake cold-aura Son of Niefel pretender and at that time could have totally wiped Man out of the game. There is a one-turn delay in using in-game messaging, which I wanted to avoid. Jotun had already scouted my castle, and was two provinces away from disaster (or conquest, depending on whose PoV you have). I needed one turn to request assistance from other nations (for a Frost Ring), and then one turn to reply pretending that someone had actually been kind enough to trade me one. My only hope was that Jotun would read the forums and be tricked into thinking I had gotten a ring.

To improve my understanding of Dominions diplomacy, I have perused many other older game threads, and have seen that the forums are often used to send messages in-character. I do not think I have abused the forums in any way.

Jeez, I even offered the guy a peace treaty in the end. I have no idea why he just dropped out.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

You did fine vfb. No reason to worry about using the forums to do in game dipomacy. It is done all the time, as you noticed, and it adds an AAR feel for those of us reading the forums as we follow your game.


I would hate to see that custom stop, it would drain a lot of color from the forums.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Yes, on the second thought, I don't want to argue against the forum diplomacy as it sure seems to be a common way in the forum and also didn't realize you were put into difficult situation early of the game. This is my first multiplayer game, so I am not that well aware how things are generally worked out here.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Okay, thanks Xox and CopperMonkey. I'm happy there are no hard feelings, and let's get back in character!

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Not trying to rehash a dead subject, but since this is a topic dear to my heart I would like to say something.

I use diplomacy heavily. The public forum is just another means to an end. It has some purposes that other forms of diplomacy cannot satisfy, e.g. disseminate propaganda. I use, and will continue to use it, unless house rules or the host of the game forbids it. The only rule I *always*, *always* observe is to stay in character - as can be attested by the signature appearing at the end of these posts.

I do not know why Jotunheim went AI. But if he did because of my friendly banter on God's names (and, I repeat, totally in-character) then probably he should not be playing MP games with strangers in the first place.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

It's actually kind of interesting to me that this became a subject here. I play in a game on another board and we have a player there who more or less informs the entire thread about where his enemies are, what troops they have and whenever he wins a battle http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

I find *that* to be kind of annoying, especially if it's antagonistic, but a little bit is ok by me.

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Whereas Caelum would admit to spreading their propaganda to other nations, Man would never stoop to such a deed. For in truth we are now bordered by two AIs, and they ignore our feeble attempts at diplomacy. Our nation may be shamefully crushed by a heuristic algorithm even before we can meet on the glorious field of battle! Such is our punishment for sitting around, looking at trees, playing songs, and smoking the reefer, when we should be studying our magical tomes.

Ministry of Truth, Nation of Man

News from Pangaea
 

In the early months of this great war, while we were still absorbing the independent lands in our edge of the world, the armies of T'ien Ch'i made an unprovoked and unannounced attack on our territory, sending their jackbooted human soldiers into our pristine and peaceful forests.

This month, we have slain their newly-awoken god, and broken their army. They occupy less than a handful of provinces, and soon enough the people of the city of T'ien Ch'i itself will be able to join us in the wild revels of old, free from their oppressive government and false idols.

We wish all the world to know that we did not start this war... but we will finish it soon enough.

-Council of Panii, Rulers of Pangaea, Servants of Celetra

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

The virtuous nation of Man would not stoop to disseminate propaganda - that could prevent bloodshed - but will gladly and proudly go to the battlefield to kill, maim and destroy. You have a curious notion of virtue. Even more curious for a nation and a God that readily admits to being "shamefully defeated" by other False Gods with no soul whatsoever.

Methinks your brains are addled from too much smoking. The weed that burns in your pipes must be of very poor quality.

Zohak, Master Director of the Our-Propaganda-Is-More-Truthful-Than-Your-Truth program.

Re: News from Pangaea
 

vfb, who is the other AI next to you besides Jotun? Surely you do not refer to me.

I'd like everyone to know I'm taking the brunt of Jotunheims attacks at the moment and there is 5 other nations besides them completely surrounding my misiscule dominion. 2 of these I am most certainly warring with.

Re: News from Pangaea
 

Nay, Mictlan is an honorable neighbor, has respected the sanctity of its NAPs most diligently in so far as Man is concerned, and is most certainly not an AI.

The other AI is that nation of pale giants, the Agarthans.

-- Council of Foreign Relations, Nation of Man

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

Woe is our Bard of the Forums, who is so frequently misunderstood. Our Minister of Truth stated that we would never stoop to admitting that Man spreads propaganda. And we have not yet been "shamefully defeated" by the AIs surrounding us.

Our researchers speculate that the smoke from our most excellent buds must have wafted up to the skies, and your messenger's brain has also become addled. That was no mere cloud he flew through!

Have some nachos, bird-dudes, and cut it out with the paranoia.

-- Ministry of Agriculture, Nation of Man

Re: New Game: Dark Matter
 

FYI, I'll be away from all computers from Saturday midday to Sunday evening, so apologizes in advance if everyone ends up waiting for me!