SmokyBat - Started
 

I've decided it might be a good idea to host another game for new/newish players (this is an overspill from Chinchilla in fact, since that filled up really fast).

I'm thinking around 10 players or so (we'll see how many we get, anything over 4 is good fun), and a not-too-large map - maybe around 15 provinces each. In my experience this is plenty big enough for lots of interesting things to happen, but not so big that it can get overwhelming. We can sort out details when we see how many players we've got.

Oh, it'll be an MA game.

It's up to you to decide if you're "newish" enough. If you've played only a few MP games, I reckon that's good enough. SP games don't count I think - it's a surprisingly different skill.

Please post here and choose a nation if you'd like to play.

So far we have:

Bandar Log - Torquemada
Man - J Henry Waugh
Abysia - Memento
Marignon - Dallan_Invictus
Atlantis - Chantillary_of_Kerisdale
R'lyeh - Aristander
Shinuyama - Shuma
Agartha - LazyPerfectionist
Jotunheim - Yucky
C'tis - Schaedelbaron
Pangaea - Atreides
Vanheim - Remmy
Pythium - CelestialGoblyn
Ulm - Graywind

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

I will play and claim "Man"…

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

mmm I'd like to take Abysia, if you dont mind
and, it is my first experience in playing MP games - so I'm very, VERY "newish" http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif
please tell something about mods and other settings - I would prefer to play vanilla

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

May I suggest the next name? "Chupacabra"

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

If ER doesn't get rid of that question mark and claim Eriu, I'd like to take it. Otherwise...Man's taken and I didn't notice, oops. Arco?

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

Great, I've added you all to the list.

Hmm, I had considered chupacabra, but it's a bit sinister for my liking. I kind of like cuddly South American mammals. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

(For those of you who haven't noticed, I'm going with a South American mammal theme for my game names).

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

Actually, I'll let ER have Eriu, and try Marignon this game. They look...intriguing.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

Good stuff. Marignon are cool. I'm playing them at the moment, really enjoying them.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

Based on the recommendation of my RL friend, Dallan_Invictus, I'd like to get into this game.

Unless water races are disallowed, I'd like to play Atlantis. If they are disallowed, I'd like to play Ulm.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

I am having a great time with Capybara, but I think it is time to join my second game.

I would like to try R'lyeh

Thanks

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

Good stuff guys, I'll add you to the list. Chantillary, Dallan's giving you good advice!

Now, we have a choice of maps. Obvious choices are Parganos (8-9 players), or Cradle of Dominion (12-14 players). Pros and cons:

Advantages of Parganos:
- Might be a bit less dauntingly large in the end game (doesn't matter earlier on since people will not have that much space each)
- Need less players

Advantages of Cradle of Dominion:
- I think it's a nicer map
- At least two players are already playing on Parganos
- I think a larger game is quite exciting

Do people have any thoughts? My own inclination is to wait a bit and see if we can get enough for Cradle, but I'm open to suggestions.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

For myself, I'd like to wait and see if we can fill up Cradle, but I'll play Parganos if people want to get a quicker start. Like you, I find the idea of a large game thrilling. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

I am happy with Cradle of Parganos. I just think 22 sea areas is not very many for 2 sea kingdoms. . . especially since I am playing R'lyeh.

Not trying to hijack the thread but are Cradle, Parganos and Desert Eye the most common maps for multiplayer?

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

I'll give it a shot, any non-water nation is fine.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

I'm brand new to the multiplayer..so any map is fine with me.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

I don't like the looks of Parganos… …I can't read the province names, and province type clumpings really seem to be unevenly distributed (i.e., waste squares all together, big splotches with no resource generating provinces, etc.…)…

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

Aristander - you might be slightly cramped, but if we get as many players as I'd like the land nations will only have 15 provinces each anyway, and sea provinces are generally more valuable. I think it will probably be okay.

Shuma - Cool, I'll add you to the list. It's good you're happy with any nation, but go ahead and try to form an opinion if you can. I suppose I could pick for you, but chances are my tastes and your tastes differ a bit.

J Henry (is that what your friends call you?) - I'm a bit inclined to agree.

I reckon we should wait a little longer for more players. Probably more will turn up at the weekend if not before.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

If Agartha is free, I'd love to take a slot. I'm more familiar with their simpler race than with the complexities of Shinuyama. I've already formulated a loose gameplan- nothing detailed, but better than Shinuyama, for whom I had ZERO late game ideas, and my starting strategy involved goblins dieing by the hundreds just to expand a few provinces.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

Never played MP before, but have to start sometime. So count me in! Can I be Machaka?

I agree with J Henry re the Parganos map

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

Lazy Perfectionist, your heartwarming story about Shinuyama has convinced me to try them out! Hopefully goblins will be dying by the less-than-hundreds. Hopefully.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

Would two or three of you like to volunteer to switch to the Chinchilla game, in which a few of the people who signed up appear to have gone AWOL? As an incentive it will probably be starting a little sooner than this game. Just post here, then there and upload a pretender ASAP. Note that you might have to/be able to switch nations - please check which ones have already been taken.

I'm hoping this game will fill up nicely at the weekend, recruitment generally seems to move a bit faster then.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

Good to hear, Shuma. Always glad to hear my failures motivate someone else to success.

While I missed the occasion, Llamabeast just took down three Abyssian armies and their Pretender with Shinuyama after he took over for the stalled player in Jaguar. I have no idea how he did it, but I do know I'm jealous.

There is a Shinuyama strategy guide I can point you to if you're interested, but the original author of it hasn't been heard from this year.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

I'd like to play as Jotunheim if I'm not too late.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

What is your aimed for turn around time?

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

I generally don't like MP games; I've been SP pretty much all my life. But I would like to test the MP waters with Dom3. And I notice that the MA nation I have the most SP experience with is not taken--in either this game or the Chinchilla game. So.

Put me down for Tien-Chi, if you still have room, in either game; I'll play whichever I'm needed most in. And, almost certainly, get my butt kicked...: )

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

Yucky - great, I'll put you down.

Saxon - sorry, I always forget to write this. The game'll be 24-hour quickhost. That means it hosts 24 hours after it last hosted, or when everyone has got their turns in, whichever is sooner. In practice this seems to work out nicely, and maintains a nice pace. Later on in the game when the turns take longer we can extend the timer if people want to. Hope you'll play by the way, am I right in thinking you normally play SP?

IndyPendant - good stuff. I also generally avoid MP, but I'd very highly recommend MP Dominions. Would you mind joining the Chinchilla game in fact? If you could upload your pretender ASAP that would be brilliant. There's instructions for doing that somewhere in that thread.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

I'm putting in a request for another Llamaserver MP newbie game, perhaps in a different Age. This one looks like it's full and I'm sure this is not all the people who want to play.

If you're looking for a name for the game, try Mara

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

is this game still open ?

I certainly would like to join http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

I'll try out Machaka if it's still available?

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

I'd like to get in on this game, only have a few mp games under my belt. Never played Pangaea mp so I guess I'll try them out.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

Is it a kangaroo? Is it a rabbit? No! It's... I have no idea what that is. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

I'm in as Vanheim

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

I'd like to get in as Pangaea. I'm about to be eliminated in another game so I'll have room.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

Schaedelbaron - yep, great, you're in. Please choose a nation (you can see which ones have been taken in the first post - I hope there's still some that you want not taken).

Remmy - cool. Can I make a request though? I'd like it if you limited your blessing to only 1 level 9 bless. That should in itself be extremely powerful. Even experienced players find fighting double blessed Vans to be hopeless and no fun, so it seems especially mean to have them in a game for newish players.

Ubercat - sorry, Atreides beat you to Pangaea. Any other nation you fancy?

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

And with those extra players, we're full! Can everyone now please upload their pretenders? Ideally today - or at least send me a message if you need more time.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

Yeah, I'll upload my pretender today. I've already got one designed and ready to upload, but I'm experimenting with a variety of pretender designs on the side. I'll send one in at six PM EST if that's okay with you. If I need to send it in earlier, let me know. Can do.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

That's fine. I'm just trying to convey a sense of urgency so that the game doesn't take forever to start.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

Oh, I should have mentioned before, I think we will use the Worthy Heroes mod, because it is nice and fun without changing things very much. Basically it just adds a few more heroes to the game, and makes sure every nation has at least some heroes.

I'll attach the mod to this post. Just unzip the file and put the contents in your dominions3/mods folder.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

I just realised I never posted in this thread how to upload your pretenders - d'oh! Okay, here's how:

- Go to Game Tools -> Create a pretender god in Dominions
- Go to the savedgames/newlords folder in the dominions directory, and find your pretender file (e.g. mid_pythium_0.2h)
- E-mail the file to: pretenders[ at ]llamaserver[ dot ]net
- Crucially, you must have the game name, 'SmokyBat', in the subject line of your e-mail

You can see who's joined so far etc at www.llamaserver.net .

I hope that's clear-ish. Let me know if you have any questions.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

Ubercat's bowed out, as he hadn't seen that Pangaea was taken. So I'm after another player. In fact if there's more than just one person keen please post anyway, and you can be a reserve or if there are a few of you I will get another game started.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

I could play. I only played three MP games so far.
What nations are left?

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

Cool, that would be good. Check the first post to see which nations are taken.

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

i take ctis http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

Okay, Earth Raver has said he would rather not play this game after all. So now Eriu is free, and we once again have a spot for another player.

Which nation do you want CelestialGoblyn?

Re: SmokyBat - Newbie game - Space for one more
 

I'll take Ulm. Playing multiplayer for the first time.

Re: SmokyBat - Newbie game - Space for one more
 

I've sent in my pretender, though I hope nobody takes it too seriously. It's all in good, strange, fun.

Re: SmokyBat - Newbie game - Space for one more
 

Great Graywind, pleased to have you. Can you send in your pretender as soon as you have a chance? Instructions a few posts above.

Re: SmokyBat - Newbie game - Space for one more
 

I see that Pythium is free? If so, can I play Pythium?

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

pretender sent

Re: SmokyBat - Game for new/newish players (open)
 

CelestialGoblyn, consider yourself Pythium.

And with that, we're just waiting for pretenders from Atlantis, Shinuyama, Ulm and Pythium.