My own private Idaho-- a PBW newbie game
 

Due to popular (OK, one) request, I set up a game for PBW newbies called "My own private Idaho." (Hey, it was two in the morning!)

Currently it's set up for six players, 3000 racial points, small spiral galaxy, medium low-cost tech, with no computer players and no intelligence, Last species standing. If there is a consensus among the players ro change these settings, I'm all for it (except no intelligence, due to the bug, and small quadrant size-- I really want to see some fur fly quick!).

So, PBW newbies, come one, come all, but hurry-- four slots left right this second!

Quikngruvn

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"That which does not kill you will make you stronger." -- Nietzsche

Re: My own private Idaho-- a PBW newbie game
 

Great, I have joined (Well, applied for it). I really like the setup (small map). Maybe we should even consider 3 planets with good value to get the fights, ... err diplomatic contacts, on soon.

Re: My own private Idaho-- a PBW newbie game
 

Cool, we've got four players already!

Three good planets, eh? Not a bad idea. Once we get enough players we can decide on all the parameters. (If demand is high enough, I can always up the max number of players.)

Before everyone starts uploading empires, free advice: since intelligence is off, drop your Cunning for your empire to 50% (I will be, anyway). That'll give you some extra racial points to play with. I figured I'd mention it so everyone gets off to semi-equal footing. (I know in some games with intelligence turned off, some people didn't, and so started at a disadvantage.)

Quikngruvn

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"That which does not kill you will make you stronger." -- Nietzsche

[This message has been edited by Quikngruvn (edited 20 July 2001).]

Re: My own private Idaho-- a PBW newbie game
 

Okay, I uploaded my empire. So, I guess I am ready to go then http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif.

Re: My own private Idaho-- a PBW newbie game
 

Cool, six players already! Once we get empires and decide on game settings, we'll get this puppy rolling!

Quikngruvn

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"That which does not kill you will make you stronger." -- Nietzsche

Re: My own private Idaho-- a PBW newbie game
 

Hi,
as I have suggested earlier, I would prefer to start with three planets of good value. This will ensure that everybody has a decent industrial base to start with. It will probably also allow for earlier contacts in the game.

I would also prefer to start with a low tech level. It makes strategic decisions at the beginning of the game more important (and also more interesting).
Pro: It makes friendly relations more interesting and worthwhile, since you can split the cost for the "basic research" like astrophysics, construction, military science, etc., if you agree to trade them later. If you want a truly "warmonging only" type of game this could of course also be viewed as a Con. But I think it allows for more variety in the approach of the game.
Con: This is a newbie game. Some people could make some severe mistakes at the beginning of the game. Medium tech would ensure that they have at least the basic research done. This way they could react faster to "superior tech".
It really depends on the players that have joined the game. If everybody has some experience with the game in solo mode and is just new to the PBW variant (as I assume), I suggest that we start with a low tech level. If we have somebody who is completely new to the game, I'll say that we stick with medium tech.

With the rest of the game setup I agree all the way http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif.

I would like to hear your comments/suggestions.

Rollo

Re: My own private Idaho-- a PBW newbie game
 

I am interested in getting into a game, so I will try and get into this one. Should be interesting to say the least. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

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"We've made too many compromises already, too many retreats! They invade our space and we fall back -- they assimilate entire worlds and we fall back! Not again! The line must be drawn here -- this far, no further! And I will make them pay for what they've done!" -- Captain Picard STNG
New Age Ship Yards

Re: My own private Idaho-- a PBW newbie game
 

So far the consensus is three good planets with a low-tech start. No new empire files in almost 48 hours-- I'll send a nag e-mail before I start booting players.

Atrocities, right this second the game is full (six players), but I can also open another slot. Watch this space for updates.

Quikngruvn (itching for a fight... er, diplomatic exchange)

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"That which does not kill you will make you stronger." -- Nietzsche

Re: My own private Idaho-- a PBW newbie game
 

The game is afoot! (Actually, it's a computer program, but that's not important right now.)

Atrocities, I cannot tell a lie, but I lied. The small spiral quadrant churned out twenty-six systems, 30% of which should be uninhabitable at the start (black holes, nebulae, and asteroid belts), leaving maybe eighteen systems with planets. Six players is tight already, and seven would be a frigging can of sardines! No hard feelings?

(Someone please make another PBW newbie game for Atrocities to join before he bLasts me into space dust!)

Quikngruvn

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"That which does not kill you will make you stronger." -- Nietzsche

Re: My own private Idaho-- a PBW newbie game
 

+++ Bulletin from Space Viking headquarters +++ :

We have made contact with an alien species called the Eternian Commonwealth. They seem to have strange mimicking powers. Our border patrol was aproached by a space craft that looked exactly like one of ours. When the vessel was close it opened fire immediately. Our crew was confused and had only little time to react, but managed to defeat the intruder. Examination of the remains of the ship showed that it exactly mimics one of ours and even bears the same coat of arms. Whether this is some ploy to discredit the Space Vikings is unknown at this time...

+++ To all Galactic Races +++ :

The Space Vikings use ship class names of Scandinavian origin and will from now on also a bear a special "(SV)" label to avoid confusion. So, if you see something like "Alesund (SV) class" that is probably one of our ships. Also take extreme care of seemingly friendly vessels that look like your own, as we do not know, if the Eternians can mimic other races all well. We try to make diplomatic contact with them and keep you posted.

+++ Space Vikings out +++

[This message has been edited by Rollo (edited 25 July 2001).]

Re: My own private Idaho-- a PBW newbie game
 

The Lord Protector appreciates this information from the gracious Space Vikings, and will be on the lookout for other mimics.

P.S. Was anyone else able to see the systems connected to their homeworld system right from turn 1? The Lord Protector rather wonders how that happened....

Quikngruvn

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"That which does not kill you will make you stronger." -- Nietzsche

Re: My own private Idaho-- a PBW newbie game
 

If this is a 3-planet start, as indicated by previous Posts, then you get some free maps automatically.

SE4 assumes that since you have colonized other worlds already, you would have done a little exploring too.

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Re: My own private Idaho-- a PBW newbie game
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by suicide_junkie:
If this is a 3-planet start, as indicated by previous Posts, then you get some free maps automatically.

SE4 assumes that since you have colonized other worlds already, you would have done a little exploring too.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It is, so that makes sense. (Does it go out further for five or ten planet starts?)

Quikngruvn



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"That which does not kill you will make you stronger." -- Nietzsche

Re: My own private Idaho-- a PBW newbie game
 

I've noticed one very silly thing in multi-planet starts: the systems that you've explored and/or colonized won't necessarily be connected to each other by explored warp lines.

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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, "The Call of Cthulhu"

Re: My own private Idaho-- a PBW newbie game
 

I noticed that as well, capnq, in one of my other PBW games.

In other news, the Lord Protector was beginning to feel like his was the only empire in the galaxy. However, the Hepcats have made contact with the Morloc Protectorate, and the Lord Protector is thrilled at the prospect of working with the Morlocs for the mutual betterment of both our peoples!

Quikngruvn

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Ponder this: Scientists already knew that matter is 98% empty space. After they figured out the structure of protons, they determined the remaining 2% is mostly made up of... well, nothing. Who says God doesn't have a sense of humor?

Re: My own private Idaho-- a PBW newbie game
 

+++ Excerpt from this month's Viking Scientific Journal (VSJ) +++

... While the Eternians seem to be very long lived, our expedition force has found that several rounds of depleted uranium fire will shorten their lifespan quite a bit. We shall investigate further. ...

+++ End of excerpt +++

Re: My own private Idaho-- a PBW newbie game
 

The Lord Protector wishes to announce that the Hepcat Feudal Empire has met the Space Vikings. The Lord Protector has initiated diplomatic discussion with King Rollo, and hopes that our empires can co-exist peacefully and prosperously.

Quikngruvn

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Ponder this: Scientists already knew that matter is 98% empty space. After they figured out the structure of protons, they determined the remaining 2% is mostly made up of... well, nothing. Who says God doesn't have a sense of humor?