Solstice--Fomoria wins!
 

Since the winter holidays are almost upon us, let's call this one "Solstice".

Details:

-- email game, in the PashaDawg model: 1 turn/day for 15 turns, then 3/week (Tues/Thurs/Sun); hosting at about 9pm EST (GMT-5); we will probably pause (or slow down) over Xmas

-- newer players welcome

-- 6-8 players, early era

-- claim nations in this thread, then PM me your email address

Map: Desert Eye (108 land, 17 water provinces, wraps)

Mods: none

Settings: default, except:
-- independents 7
-- graphs off
-- renaming on
-- victory: non-cumulative VPs: one in each capital (8), plus 8 others; you need 7 to win

We will start a few days after the game is full.

Players:

1: Fomoria: djo
2: Abysia: Nova
3: Ulm: PashaDawg
4: Tir na N'Og: RonD
5: Mictlan: Torin
6: Ermor: otthegreat
7: T'ien Ch'i: everz
8: Arco: StormCrow434

Re: Solstice--EA PBEM game--open
 

I will play! I will take Ulm.

Re: Solstice--EA PBEM game--open
 

You're welcome to make use of the LlamaServer if you like. You can keep full control over it like you would a normal PBEM game, but the server will do the labour of downloading and uploading attachments and hosting for you. Let me know if that would be helpful.

Re: Solstice--EA PBEM game--open
 

Tir na N'Og, please.

Re: Solstice--EA PBEM game--open
 

i would like to play as mictlan

Re: Solstice--EA PBEM game--open
 

llamabeast: Thanks for the offer. I will PM you if I want to take you up on it.

I am a big fan of predictable hosting times, but I am not sure a 56 hr fixed hosting interval would be a good way of doing 3 turns/week.

Re: Solstice--EA PBEM game--open
 

Well what I would do is set it to 48 hour hosting intervals (with quickhost off), and every third turn postpone hosting by 24 hours. Then you can tell people exactly when hostings will be (e.g. Sunday, Wednesday and Friday nights at 9pm GMT) and it would only take about 10 seconds a week to maintain the schedule.

Re: Solstice--EA PBEM game--open
 

I'll play - Ermor

Will I need mods installed? I only have the 3.10 patch.

Re: Solstice--EA PBEM game--open
 

T'ien Ch'i, please.

Re: Solstice--EA PBEM game--open
 

Extremely new...game not yet 2 weeks old!

Would like to play Arcocephale if the last slot is still not taken.

Re: Solstice--EA PBEM game--open
 

Ok, we are full. Since we have many new players, we will not use any mods at all. New players, be sure you are patched to 3.10. Start designing your pretenders, and we'll aim to start the game...let's say by Wednesday evening.

I will make a final decision by tomorrow evening regarding whether to use the LlamaServer or not. The hosting schedule will be the same, the only difference will be which email address you will use. Either way, please send me a personal message via the forum with your email address (click on my username, then there will be a link you can use to send the PM).

For new players: create your pretender using the option under the "game tools" menu. Be sure you do not have any mods enabled when you do. I'll send out the final email destination when I have everyone's email.

Re: Solstice--EA PBEM game--open
 

Monday update:

I am waiting for email addresses from:

RonD
Torin

When I have them, I will mass email everyone with my email address. I will be running this game myself, so my address will be where to send pretender and turns.

We're still aiming for a Wednesday evening start.

Re: Solstice--EA PBEM game--open
 

djo's friend is officially registered.

Hi guys! I'm pretty new at this game (never played against anyone other than djo and/or the computer). If the more experience players have some tips for the newbs (especially if you catch us messing up badly in the game) I'm sure we'd all appreciate it. I'd also like to avoid a game of 'Who can build the biggest alliance'(TM).

Oh, if there are typical rules of etiquette in a multiplayer game Dominions it would be good to know about those as well.

Re: Solstice--EA PBEM game--open
 

I am awaiting pretenders from:

Tir na Nog
Ermor
Tien Chi

(apostrophes not included)

If you're having trouble finding your pretender file, email me or post here.


As for etiquette...there used to be a thread with some good suggestions, but I can't find it again. Basically, be nice, play each game for itself (no cross-game grudges/trades/alliances), and be considerate on the forums and in playing (get turns in, find a sub if you have to drop, etc.). Did I miss anything?

victory conditions
 

Since there were no comments regarding victory conditions, I'll stick with the original plan: 16 total VPs, one in each capital, eight others outside the capitals. You will need 8 to win (50%).

Underway!
 

We are underway! Turn 1 has been emailed. Let me know as soon as possible if you do not receive it, or if there are any problems. Check your spam folders if you don't receive a turn! They may grab one until they are trained not to.

I decided on 7 VP needed to win instead of 8; there's enough water that often one or two VP will be mostly inaccessible.

If this is your first email game ever:

-- in your savedgames folder, create a folder for the game (probably named "solstice")
-- each turn, put your turn file (eg, early_formoria.trm) in that folder
-- play your turn
-- email me your orders file (eg, early_fomoria.2h) (2h = "to host")
-- I would like to host the turns at 9pm EST (GMT-5); email me if you want an extension, or post here

I will try to post here when I email turns. For the first 15 turns, though, I will not send our reminder emails. I probably will when we move to 3 turns/week.

Parting hint for all the new players: send scouts everywhere. With graphs off, it's the only way of knowing who's doing well, and who's sitting on all the victory points.

Good luck!

Re: Underway!
 

thanks for the tips. good game everyone.

Re: Underway!
 

Thanks for hosting, djo!

Re: Underway!
 

First turn played and sent...way cool...

Re: Underway!
 

Great more problems. I made the folder for Solstice and put the turn file in it but when I go to start the game there is no nation for me to select.

Re: Underway!
 

Did you put the "solstice" folder in the "saved games" folder?

Re: Underway!
 

yes

Re: Underway!
 

You should be able to play whatever nation has a .trn file in the folder "Solstice". If you go look in that folder, what exactly is there?


And - Thanks for hosting, djo! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image.../beerglass.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image.../beerglass.gif

Re: Underway!
 

You do see "Solstice" as a game, though? That would mean the folder is in the right place.

I resent the turn, in case of corruption.

BTW, otthegreat told me in email that he's running Vista. Anyone know if there are permissions problems?

Re: Underway!
 

otthegreat, post in the main forum so people that had this problem before can help you.

Re: Underway!
 

OK, after thinking about it, here are some troubleshooting steps/questions:

-- after creating your "solstice" folder, does it appear as a game choice in the game?

-- try creating a new game vs. the AI; does its folder appear in the same place as your solstice game?

-- if so, do the .trn and .2h files in the new game folder "look the same" as the .trn file I sent you in the solstice folder? (no, I don't know what I mean by "looks the same")

-- if you delete everything in the new game folder, and put the solstice turn in there, does it show up in the game?

Try these things, and let me know.


We will delay hosting until we get otthegreat's turns straightened out.

Re: Underway!
 

Turn 1 sent.

Thank you all for the help. The first email must have been corrupted because the resent turn worked.

Good luck to you all!

Re: Underway!
 

Turn 2 has been emailed. Orders are due by 9pm Friday.

Re: Underway!
 

Turn 3 is out, orders due 9pm Saturday.

Re: Underway!
 

Turn 4 is out. Everyone had their orders in, so I hosted early.

Next one is due Sunday, 9pm.

Turn the 4th
 

So far I've seen seven Prophets, including my own. Also at least two Pretenders on the board.

Which leads me to ask...how long does a VP game usually last? Noticeably shorter than a "kill'em all" game? Newbie with inquiring mind now worries that he should not have 'Imprisoned' his Pretender...

Re: Turn the 4th
 

The main danger with an imprisoned pretender in this particular game is not so much the VPs, but the crowded map. I expect that everyone will bump into a neighbor or 2 very soon. Whether your strategy is good or risky depends on what you did with the points. If you are cranking out ultra-blessed super troops, you'll be fine.

Re: Turn the 4th
 

Prophets are popular because they are useful for everyone. If you are playing a bless strategy, you want them for "Divine Blessing" (since every prophet is at least H3, they can all cast it).

Even if you aren't playing bless, all prophets can Smite. Plus, all prophets spread dominions, which is useful if your pretender is asleep or on holiday.

I don't know how many non-VP games truly go to the bitter end. My sense from reading these forums is that by the time one player has about half the world, the others often concede. That's why you often see VP games with victory set around 50% (like this one). Pasha sets it even lower for some of his games.

So VP games with conditions like this will go for a while. For this game: the map is a bit more crowded than average, plus we have some new players. I would guess it will go briskly, but I bet we get 50-60 turns out of it anyway (do the other experienced player agree?).

Now, if you use cumulative VP conditions, it puts a real ticking clock on the game. Not too many people have run those games here.

Re: Turn the 4th
 

Turn 5 has been emailed. Orders due Monday, 9pm.

In general, I will not host as early as I did today, even if I have all the turns. I figure this early in the game, though, there was little chance of anyone wanting to change orders at the last minute.

Re: Turn the 4th
 

Turn 6 is out. Next orders due at 9pm Tuesday.

Re: Turn the 4th
 

Turn 7 is out. Next one due on Wednesday at 9pm.

This map is just a bit more crowded than usual, but it feels worse...anyone fighting yet?

Crowding...
 

I've seen two other capitals, Fomoria and Abyssia. Definitely the neighbors are too close for comfort, but ain't that part of the charm? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

...
 

I'm planning on hiring the Brave Breakers. If you want them PM me and perhaps we can save each other some gold.

Re: ...
 

If you get out-bid for a merc company, you get to keep your gold.

Re: Turn the 4th
 

It wouldn't be so damn crowded if you didn't have all those friggin' giants running around taking up space!

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: Turn the 4th
 

They're small giants (*), how could you have anything against that?

(*) (so far)

Re: Turn the 4th
 

Well that line of reasoning is just one step down a slippery slope that leads to me having to take some vague sort of responsibility for something which is <font color="red">completely</font> unacceptable!

Re: Turn the 4th
 

djo:

Is this "Nova" character your fwend that you mentioned previously?

Pasha

Re: Turn the 4th
 

Um, yes. I suppose I am responsible for inflicting him with Dominions, and hitherto, him on all of you.

Re: Turn the 8th
 

The 8th turn has turned. The ninth will follow at 9pm, Thursday.

Re: Turn the 8th
 

I'm feeling very constricted myself. Which hopefully explains certain tensions with RonD...

Re: Turn the 8th
 

Greetings Nova, Fwend of djo. Welcome to the wonderful world of Dominions! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: Turn the 8th
 

It's time for turn 9. We will continue in this popular series tomorrow evening at around 9 pm.

Re: Turn the 8th
 

Sheesh. How crowded can one little isthmus be? I can see me, Ermor, Abysia, Fomoria, and now TC is knocking practically right on my door. I'm afraid this game has a really bad case of unequal start positions. *Someone* must have a bunch of room to expand - and they are the odds-on favorite to win the game. Kind of sad to know this already by turn 8.

Turn 9?
 

Is turn 9 out? I'm afraid I've not seen it yet.