Acouchi - MA game for new players (full)
 

Right, I haven't made a new newbie game for ages, and have had lots of requests, so I thought I'd organise one. This game is for genuinely new players (0-2 games of MP), although any amount of SP experience is fine (the skills are fairly different).

This will be an MA game and will use the Worthy Heroes mod. Renaming will be on, graphs will be on, and everything else will be standard. The map will probably be Cradle of Dominion if we can get enough players (~15), or my version of Parganos (a little fairer than the vanilla version) if we get 8 or so players. If the number's in between we'll improvise.

I already got PMs from quite a few new players so they will be reserved spots straight away:

Ermor - Saxon
R'lyeh - meister_miagi
Bandar Log - Omnirizon
Vanheim - Stout
Arcoscephale - Hoplosternum
Ulm - Heinrich
Abysia - klagrok
C'tis - Aapeli
Caelum - Borum
Pythium - Ylvali
T'ien Ch'i - JZ
Man - Ray
Agartha - Darkstone
Machaka - Karlem
Oceania - rasko
Eriu - sansanjuan

Please sign up, and make sure to pick a race!

(Incidentally, I try to name all my games after South American mammals, for reasons obscured by the mists of time (I think it has to do with my username) - an acouchi is apparently a South American rodent. It's quite cute.)

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

I think I would like to try Bandar Log

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

Great, what's MA?

I downloaded the mod from 11-1-2007. Is that the new one?

Are any of the races hopeless in MP?

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

MA = Middle Age

ideally, all of the races are in a roughly equal range. I don't know too much, but from what I gather reading this board Pythium is considered on the stronger end of the range, while Ulm is on the weaker end; at least for MA.

To me, the advanced civilization historically based races like Pythium (Rome/Byzantine) and Tien Chi (Warring States Period China) are more complex to play. I think their advanced historically inspired base gave the designers a lot of material to draw upon when designing these nations.

On the other hand, clearly fantasy, historical-fantasy fusion, or non-civilized history based races are thematically simpler, and in turn more straightforward to play and design strategy for. Fantasy theme simply can't match real history for inspiring material, no matter how creative the fantasy, and designers didn't have as much to draw upon when designing these nations.

examples:
Ulm: Visigoths?, non-advanced historical
Bandar Log: India, fantasy-history fusion
Abysia: N/A, fantasy only.
Pythium: Rome/Byzantine, advanced historical

I think you will find the first three are simpler to play. Some people might contend that the complex races are stronger, but only in the hands of someone who knows what they are doing. A simpler race is going to be better for a new player.

I would then advise that you pick one of the fantasy, fantasy-history fusion, or non-advanced historical races to play; if your a newbie. These races feel simpler and more straightforward to play; and it is easier for new players to get more out of them as compared to the complex historically based nations.

Well, that's been my impression of nations in this game, and is my two-cents.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

Hey if you are still recruiting Ill take Abysia http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

I'll take Vanheim then.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

Thanks very much for this game!

I'll go for Ulm.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

Been in four mp games already (one of them still running). Didnt do well on any of them tough [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Envy.gif[/img]. I´ll take Citis.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

Thanks for hosting the game. I would love to take Jotunheim. My experience only 3 weeks of SP, so truly a newbie.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

I'd like to try R'lyeh.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

I´m in. Pythium.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

Thanks for saving me a place http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif As Pythium is gone I'll try Arcoscephale please.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

My take is TienChi then.
In two MP games right now and no completed MP games.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

I am in my first MP game and getting crushed. Would like to try again. I would like Man if it is available.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

First Post, First MP game.

Agartha, Please.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

Great! Okay, I'd ideally like a couple more players, one of which really needs to be a water nation.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

I'd like to join with Oceania.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

In another game, but it's going slow enough that I'd like to get in this one. Ermor sounds fun.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

Okay great, and at that I'll close the game since I think we have enough players.

I'll set it up so you can send in your pretenders this evening (and post instructions on how to do so). I'll actually start the game on Wednesday night (UK time), so pretenders will need to be in by then.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

Just realized Jotunheim is very different from their EA cousins... Could I change my nation to Caelum please? Thanks.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

I'd like to change to marignon actually if I can. I've done enough death magic lately.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

I'll try Eriu. First MP game. I apologize in advance...
-SSJ

Edit: Dang... missed the bell. Could you ping me next novice game you start?

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

Where do we send our pretenders, and what is the server?

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

All the answers are in the Llamaserver Faq: http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...?Number=531116

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (full)
 

Hi. Thanks for waiting. Give me three hours, I will post a nation.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (full)
 

Ermor suits my mood

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (full)
 

sansanjuan - I would squeeze you in but we already have 16 players which is quite high for Cradle (which I think is the map we'll use, will confirm shortly). I'll try to remember to PM you next time. You should feel free to join non-newbie games though, people are normally welcoming of players of any skill level.

Right, apologies, I lied about setting up the server last night (so if any of you have sent in your pretenders and they've bounced, that's why). However I've set it up now. To submit your pretender:

- 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 'Acouchi' in the subject line of your e-mail

You can see who's submitted so far at www.llamaserver.net (this website will be useful throughout the game).

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (full)
 

Sansanjuan can take my spot. I'll catch the next one.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (full)
 

Tnx El!

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (full)
 

Elswamio:

You can try mine with CBM 1.2 http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (full)
 

Hm. I sent a pretender file for Agartha, but I never received a confirmation email, nor does the llamaserver list it as received. I'm pretty confident the email was sent, because I can see it under sent (and everything seems to be spelled correctly), and I emailed a friend to confirm that mail is being sent out from the address.

I notice this is a rare issue under the llamaserver FAQ.

Anyway, is there anything I should do to sort this out?

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (full)
 

I would just try again. It doesn't matter if it receives the same file twice. If you get no response within ten minutes or so, just send the pretender directly to me, at llamabeast[ at ]llamaserver[ dot ]net. I expect trying again will solve the issue though - sometimes the internet seems to throw away e-mails.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (full)
 

Alright. Thanks for the quick response.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (full)
 

Okay, we are just waiting for Oceania/rasko now.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (full)
 

Pretender sent.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (full)
 

Seems like we are ready to start http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (full)
 

Thanks for hosting us Llamabeast!

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

hey llama think you need to be poked again http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif looks like all 16 peeps sent pretenders--been that way a good 16 hrs or so.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

Okay sorry for the delays guys, the game is now started!

The first turn has 48 hours on the clock in case of problems, subsequent turns will have 24 hours. If everyone gets their turn in early the hosting will happen as soon as all the turns are in, with the effect that the hosting time tends to gradually creep earlier every day. This is a good thing since it means you occasionally get two turns in a single day.

The "First turn" e-mail should contain sufficient instructions for you to play, but if you're not sure check my FAQ or post here. Basically you just reply to the turn e-mails with your 2h file attached, you don't have to write anything in the subject line or anything.

Omnirizon has very kindly volunteered to be the admin for the game, so if anyone needs an extension or anything, he's the one who'll sort it out (post the request here though so that everyone knows what's going on). Should he get knocked out of the game I would greatly appreciate it if someone else would volunteer to take over for him.

Okay, I hope you all enjoy the game!

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

Apologies, the first e-mail was a false start (forgot the Worthy Heroes mod). Please use the second one.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

Hi all!!

It seems that Pythium is doing some bizarre things and that the system says that he is cheating (OMG!! XD), what have you done? I hope this tweaking down of the pretender power has not hurt you too much.

So, are we going for some fast first turns? I think that right now decissions are so short and diplomacy so fast (hi, I cannot see you, I am a friend, arghhh, please not again argggg....... rip) that we should run them faster than 48 hours. Lets see if everybody sends it today.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

What? Oh dear. We will probably have to restart again then, Pythium is likely to be crippled if he's been got by the anti-cheating thing.

Do you have any ideas Ylvali? The most likely cause is that you had Conceptual Balance or something running when you were designing your god.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

Does this mean there is no point us sending back the turns? Or can you just recreate Pythium?

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

Sorry, I don´t know whats wrong. Maybe I forgot to turn CB... Off? On? I thought we were using it? Aren´t we?

I´ll redo and send my pretender in once more then....

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

Really sorry everyone. It seems I forgot to turn off CB when making my pretender. I have now sent in a new pretender.

Ironically they are exactly the same, I cannot see that CB changes anything in that chassis, maybe something very small like one point of mr or something like that.

Ok hope it all gets sorted now.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (recruiting)
 

I got the following reply:

How do we solve this then?

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (full)
 

Llamabeast,
Got a message "you have cheated" when starting 1st turn. I thought I didn't need that mod to create my Pretender only to play... What do I do and can I find how my Pretender was changed?
-SSJ

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (full)
 

@sansanjuan: You mean WH must be enabled when making the god?

According to the faq it should not matter since it doesn´t affect pretender design...

Looks like we need a restart...

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (full)
 

Okay guys - third time lucky!

I retrieved Ylvali's fixed 2h file from the LlamaServer backups (the problem was indeed presumably that you previously made your pretender while running CB) and restarted the game using that.

SSJ - You misread the message, it said that Pythium had cheated. You were fine.

Ylvali - Your animated thingy is cool but inordinately distracting. It's a bit much I think.

Everyone - brilliant, we're off again! Please replay your first turns with the new turn file you'll just have received. Apologies to those who'll be playing it for the third time.

Re: Acouchi - MA game for new players (full)
 

Thanks Llamabeast, sorry ´bout the inconvenience.

You might be right about my sig, I made it for another fora and it was appropriate there, but here it might be a bit too much. I´ll replace or remove it.