Manatee - EA newbie game (started)
 

I just realised I haven't started a newbie game for _ages_, so here's one now. I'm calling it Manatee, following my theme of naming my games after South American mammals.

The game will be early era. There'll be roughly 15 provinces per player and as many players as sign up. All settings default, and no mods.

The game'll be run on my automated PBEM server (www.llamaserver.net , and see the FAQ linked in my signature). It's very easy to use.

The game'll be on a 24 hour timer, and later move to a 48 hour timer when players request it.

The player list is:

Marverni - hEad
Tir Na n'Og - thepodger
Pangaea - Omnirizon
C'tis - Elswamio
Oceania - Loren
Agartha - Cerlin
Ermor - eidahl
Lanka - Randvek
Kailasa - yandav
Arcoscephale - carlosib
Abysia - Aapeli
T'ien Ch'i - Thrawn
R'lyeh - Zoshan
Niefelheim - Falkor
? - Molotov98
Sauromatia - Slobby
Ulm - ThatGuyBob

To submit your pretenders:

- Make sure you have the same mods enabled as the game you're playing in (Preferences->Mod Preferences) although only mods affecting pretender design, such as Conceptual Balance, actually matter
- Go to Game Tools -> Create a pretender god in Dominions. Don't set a password, since for PBEM games they're not helpful and occasionally annoying (e.g. if you need a sub)
- 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 'Manatee' in the subject line of your e-mail

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

I don't know if I qualify as a newbie anymore; I've only been in one game where I've lasted past midgame, but I am/have been in 6 other games total. I have never played a blood nation MP though, and I would like to give Mictlan a try.

I'll let llamabeast and/or the other players decide, with no hard feelings if I'm not considered newbie enough. ; )

If we get 10 land + 2 water nations, we could use my Cradle starting positions (without the No Independents part, of cousre)...

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Marverni please!

Could we have renaming on as well?

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Hey Indy - yep, you can play, but I think chooser a weaker race than Mictlan might be an idea - they always seem pretty strong.

hEad - yep we'll have renaming on. I forgot that that wasn't default.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

I think 3 games are enough for me http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif And no WH 1.8? strange...

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

I was going to include Worthy Heroes, but then I thought I might as well keep it simple.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

I'd be glad to join. I'm definitely not new to Dominions, but I've never done any MP.

Sign me up for Tir Na N'og. I just started playing them in SP and they're a ton of fun.

Seconding Worthy Heroes if it's not too late...

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

never done MP before. several half finished MASSIVE map single player games going.

sign me up for Pangaea.

also, how many turns a day? I'm pretty busy with school.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Thank you for this. I'd like to give C'tis a try.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

I want a slot. I'll give a nation in the morning.

Maybe this time I won't be the first or second taken out.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Even though I am in a couple games, they are all going slow and i have a lot of free time.

I'll take agartha. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif maybe it will be a game ill not lose.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

I've been waiting for something like this! I'll signup for EDIT:Ermor. Now... *off to reading every tiny bit of info on it and bothering people about it*

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

I'd like to hop in and give this a try, if I still can. How about Lanka for me?

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Hmm...I'm looking at other nations right now, but the only other one I like to play is Caelum. *glares at eidahl*

--Kidding about the glaring. I do like EA Caelum despite its many many weaknesses, but I've played them enough times now that I don't consider myself a newbie with them anymore.

llamabeast, if I limited myself to a single 9-point bless + whatever, do you think that would still be too powerful? --Honest question. ; ) I'll go back to looking, anyways, see if anything else catches my eye.

Edit: Oh, and Omnirizon, standard for these games is a 24-hour quickhost, which means one turn a day usually. If everyone gets their turns in early, you can sometimes end up doing, say, 4 turns in 3 days or something like that. Around Turn 20, it often changes to 1 turn every 2 days.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

IndyPendant: You can have Caelum in that case. I kindof wanted to try another one anyway.

EDIT: Actually, hopefully I end up something near you and observe your way of playing Caelum. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/evil.gif

I'll just edit the post I made before when I decide the race...

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Loads of people! Cool. Keep them coming.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

I'm in with kaisala.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

I'd like to join as Arcoscephale if possible.
Thanks http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

I shall take Abysia if, as I assume, there is still room. I just need to give ea abysia a go as I sort of messed whit them in another game.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

If I can play, I would love T'ien C'hi...

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

I would love to play R'lyeh if there is room.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

So, it's a pbem game?
If yes, I'd love to join as Nifelheim.

Edit: I see my question actually answered in the first post.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Um... Fire nation.

whats it called?

Absinia? Abysian? that one.

If I can that is

Molov

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Well, I just saw some of the other posts.

So abysiniania, is out of the question.

Guess I'll take whatever I can get

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

I guess I'll go with Oceania.

Also, I would like to request the timer be 26 hours instead of 24. Over here on the west coast a 24 hour timer can ratchet down too early into the morning.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Molotov98 - choose a nation from all those that are left. It's probably better to do that that just get whatever you're stuck with, since the game's more fun if you are a nation you find exciting.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Excellent. Still a few nations left (see the edited first post for the list of nations in the game so far).

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Sign me up for Sauromatia please.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

I'm so new it hurts. Can I get Ulm?

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

I think actually I shall withdraw from this game. I don't really like many many players in the games I play, I've found; around 12 is my limit. Maybe I'll set up another game, and play Mictlan in that one... ; )

eidahl, thank you for being willing to give up Caelum for me; if you want it back, take it.

Note just to be clear for everyone, Mictlan is still up for grabs in this game.

And I hope everyone has fun!

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Okay then, I think we probably have enough players, so I will set the game up to accept pretenders. I'll add instructions for uploading your pretender to the first post. Try to get them in in the next couple of days. I'll start the game late Wednesday night at the latest, and aim for Tuesday night.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

pretender sent. What time is the daily deadline going to be?

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Oh, whoops! Actually when I posted that I had forgotten to actually create the game. Presumably anyone who's sent a pretender in should have got an error message. Please could you send them in again?

Elswamio - The game will be on 24-hour quickhost. What that means is that it'll host when everyone's turns are in, or 24 hours after the last hosting, whichever is sooner. What that means (and this takes a little thinking about) is that you will always have >= 24 hours to do your turn after doing your last one, and each turn will always host <= 24 hours after the previous one.

In practice the hosting time tends to gradually advance around the clock, but you can always take your own turn at whatever time of day suits you best.

I would like to try to keep to the 24 hour schedule for at least the first 30 turns or so, although if several people request a change we'll change to 48 hours sooner. But it is nice to have the first 30-odd turns quickly, since they don't take that long to play.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

I've already sent my pretender for kailasa but I want to change something in my pretender's design. Is it possible? Do I only have to send a new one? Sorry for my mistake http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/redface.gif

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Yep, just send it in again. You can keep sending revised pretenders right up until the game starts, if you have new ideas.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Ok, thanks!

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Are we starting the game today as planned?

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

I hope so. We're still missing Tir na n'Og and whatever Molotov98 was going to be - hopefully they'll turn up in the next few hours. If they don't I may well start it tonight anyway, depending on whether I have time. Hopefully I will.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

which map will serve us this time?

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

I think I will go with "Glory of the Gods (Multiplayer)". Sorry, should have decided on that ages ago.

The two missing players haven't even received the PMs I sent, so I think I'll just go ahead and start the game now...

thepodger and Molotov98 - apologies. Send me a PM and I'll make sure to save you a space in the next game.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Okay, the game is started! Hopefully you'll all have got your first turns. See my FAQ if you're not quite sure what to do.

The first turn has a 48 hour timer in case of problems, and then we'll be on a 24 hour timer.

Enjoy the game!

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

I just noticed that I have currently one province. Was that a mistake or... ?

"There'll be roughly 15 provinces per player -" from your first post.

(Not that I mind, since one province per player might make it more interesting. )

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Oh! Sorry, it hadn't occurred to me that it could be read like that. I meant that the total number of provinces in the game would be about 15 * the number of players (it's slightly higher in the end). So that if everyone expanded equally you would end up with 15 provinces.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Heh, I figured it was something like that.

Now ... off to map/plan out borders/glorify in my eventual conquest of the 'known world'. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Ah, it's a pity I'm not a newbie.

Realize, all of you, the high standards to which the name of this game requires you to adhere:

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Alright, I'll admit it. I don't like manatees. They're the retarded cows of the sea.

"Duurrr fast spinning thing, let's go see what it is duuuurrr."

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

excuse my ignorance, i've never played MP before. but so what are the little crowns on some of the provinces?

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Oh whoops. I have to admit I got confused and thought a manatee was a monkey.

The crowns on some of the provinces are "victory points", although since we're not playing for victory points they won't give you victory. They do have some value though - if you control a crown it will produce a candle for you each turn.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Wow, getting a hurricane on your capital on turn 2. I didn't even take misfortune. How... unlucky.

Re: Manatee - EA game for new players (open)
 

Yeah, it happens sometiems even with luck scales.
But do not worry. To keep the cosmic balance Pangaea has got a hero (see the prophet) on turn 1! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif