VampireBat - LA game for new players- started
 

Since FruitBat filled up almost instantaneously, I thought I'd start up an overflow game for new/newish players. I'd recommend players who've already played 0-2 games - if you've played more than that and would like to play regardless, post here and you can play if we're short of players. This should be a nice, fun and friendly game, a reasonable size but not too huge, and generally ideal for new players (that's the plan, at least).

This will be an LA game and will use the Worthy Heroes mod. Renaming will be on, graphs will be on, and everything else will be standard. However, R'lyeh and Ermor will not be allowed in the game, since although fun they are a bit too crazy for a newbie game.

The map will be my modified version of Parganos, which is modified (a) to have a much more fair and even spread of terrain types, (b) to have fair-ish start positions, and (c) to have no gold or magic sites in the seas - so this will be a land-nation only game.

The nations are:

Marignon - seda
Pythium - meister_miagi
Arcoscephale - James243
Ulm - Zenzei
Mictlan - Karlem
Jomon - Wazooking
Midgard - Aezeal
Patala - Ghill

Edit: Added a link to Worthy Heroes, and the map as an attachment.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

k this time i take marignon.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

I'll try Bogarus.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

I'd love to be involved - Arcoscphale please!

This is my first game. I've played a couple of times against the computer, and had played a reasonable number against the CPU in Dominions 2, but I'm totally new to multiplayer. This also means I'm new to maps & mod requirements. I'll work on getting the Worthy Heroes mod installed, and the map, but bear with me! And any instructions/assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Can't wait!

James.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

T'ien Ch'i please.

Will it be a little bit hard for a newbie to play two games at the same time?

However, I wanna have a try.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Llamabeast, is there any chance I can lobby this into non-mod game? I think vanilla is good for newbies http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Anyways, I'd like to sign in as Ulm.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Are there Worthy Heroes for Bogarus?

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

I'm in with Mictlan. Currently playing 2 games, but I've only finished one.

BTW what do you mean about the sea not having gold or magic sites? Seas have 0 income?

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

I would like to join as Jomon.

I played 1 MP game when Dom3 first came out, but I havent played since then. So still mp newbie here.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

I'll play in this one too, I'll play midgard again and I'll try not to make the same mistakes I made last game. As said before I've played 2 games for more than a few turns http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif so the other 2 don't really count.

anyway

Aezeal - Midgard

but don't hesitate with creating a MA game for me & my pythium (last game I saw the effectiveness of communions and I wanna play with it too http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif)

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

I would like to play Patala.

I have not yet played a full game, ever, and am a newbie to the whole online scheme. Where would I go to get the Worthy Heroes mod? Also, is this a 3.14 patch game?

Edit: Almost forgot, is this a PBEM or a server game?

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

im not a total noob but im not that great either, if you need another id like to try.
Pythium or agartha would be cool for me.
how long is the hosting?

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

I'd like to sign in as Man.

I haven't got a lot of MP experience. I was in 2 games, just finished with one of them.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

i'd like to take pythium, only had 2 MP experience

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Wow, this is crazy! The games are filling up as fast as I can make them.

I'm afraid the following players didn't squeeze in:
Donny (being as you got in on FruitBat)
Cerlin
OoohSnap
nozshand

However, I think I'll make yet another game shortly, this final one will be an MA game and will be named after yet another kind of bat. You four will have priority if you'd like to play in it.

Those who are in the game: I have to head out now, but when I get back I'll post instructions on uploading your pretenders, and give a link to the mod.

Zenzei - why would you prefer no mod? Worthy Heroes isn't overpowering or anything, but just makes getting a hero a little more exciting (in the base game they are sometimes completely pointless).

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

I'd like to take Pythium instead, if it's not too late.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Never mind, I'm cool with the mod as I just found out that I can easily switch it off from the game menu (I haven't used mods before), should I want to play another game simultaneously that doesn't use the said mod. At first I thought it would be an awful hassle to enable/disable the mods all the time from the game directory but since that's not the case, I have no problem with Worthy Heroes.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Nice.

I was just wondering if anyone in this game would like to switch to GhostBat, the MA game? The reason being that there is a player who would like to be in a newbie game, but can't be in the MA one as his son is also playing in it, and they'd get a CD key clash.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Okay guys, here's how to upload 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 'VampireBat' in the subject line of your e-mail

Take a little time to think about your pretender. I'll aim to start the game in a day or so.

I'll also add a link to Worthy Heroes to the first post, and add the map as an attachment.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Okay, I am having trouble with the mod. How do you put it in the game? Do you have to drag it in one of the folders or what?

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Unzip it in mods folder and then in preferences activate it.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Yep. Actually in this case you don't even need to activate it since it doesn't affect pretender design, although you will need to have it in your mods folder in order to play your turns once we start.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Okay, I got the updates and the mod in, and I sent my pretender!

Also, llamabeast, could you tell me if you got my pretender? My e-mail has been screwy and I am not sure it actually sent.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Pretender sent!

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

At work - will send my ortender this evening EST. Sorry for the delay. I think I have figured out all the mods though. Cheers James

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

To see which pretenders have been received, check out the website at www.llamaserver.net . Yours has, Ghill. It should have sent you an e-mail to that effect too, hopefully.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Just Arcos and Pythium missing, come on guys! XD

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Arcos is in - sorry for the delay!

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Looks like all pretenders are in. Let's get this started http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

can we turn graphs off btw? seems nice to me

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

I like graphs. I think people will enjoy having them on.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

llama ... you are nice for running this server and all... but for the rest you are just NOT working with me here...

Guess I'll have to make the graphs simpler then... if I remove say... 7 players it'll be much better and easier on the eye.

Yeah... one nice ascending red line...

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Okay, the game's started! The first turn will have 48 hours on the clock in case of difficulties, and subsequent ones will have 24 hours.

How it works is that the server hosts either 24 hours after the last hosting or when everyone's turns are in, whichever is sooner. This means that the hosting time tends to gradually creep forwards. It's important to be aware of that. Remember you can check out the game status at any time at www.llamaserver.net .

I'd like to ask for a volunteer to admin the game. The admin has to do two things:

1) If a player asks for an extension or anything then do it (provided it's reasonable; a day or two is reasonable, if they are going away for a week they should get a sub). It's super easy via the interface on the website.

2) If the admin gets knocked out of the game, pass the password on to one of the remaining players.

It's a really easy, almost zero-work job, but it keeps me from having to carefully watch 20-odd game threads (which I tried for a bit, and it hurt).

Right, enjoy the game guys!

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Sounds great - thanks for running this Llamabeast!

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

So just so I know,
1 who is the admin?
2 Can the admin see my turn if he has evil intentions?

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

A round has been played I can't wait to get home to review the turn...

I wonder what my SC will be able to conquer next turn...

As soon as I've seen my neighbours I'll want to have some good talks about borders and to settle things like.. are we enemies or not.. you know the basics http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

I can say that all but one will be able to get a NAP http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif last one to buy-in looses on that one and I think that will be ... less wanted http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

SO.. don't hesitate to contact me and please read your forum messages before sending your turn in.
And remember.. if you are not talking then we can hardly be friends http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Aezeal:
1) No-one yet - I hope someone will volunteer! It would be very helpful indeed, and hardly any work.
2) No, I designed it all fairly carefully so the admin can't really do anything naughty. Just about the only bad thing they could do would be to bring the hosting forward so people staled, but that would be completely blatant. Also you can always see all the admin's actions (Admin options -> Show admin log).

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Ill volunteer to admin. But please everyone be patient. I have a long hours job and will need a good amount of notice if you need anthing done. As in a few days notice. But I'm very fair and honest and ill do my best. Llama can you email me what I need to do? Wish me luck! Game great fun so far btw.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Ehm my long hours job is the reason I'm not volunteering..

If someone needs an extention in a 24 h quickhost game you can't predict that a few days ahead. How will you be able to arrange things like that?

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Fair point Aezeal.

Ok, on thinking about this further:

I can check this forum and llamaserver a few times each day from work (and at home in the US east coast evening). If people can give notice of delays on this forum then I think I'll be fine to admin.

Unfortunately I can't check my email from work. But provided notice is given to me through this forum then it should be fine.

I'll *try* to check the forum as close as possible to the hosting time. Obviously the vagaries of the rolling clock will prevent this sometimes! I guess my caveats were just trying to make sure people give good notice of any delay requirements. In saying 'a few days notice' I figured most delays would be people going away for a weekend - that kind of thing right?

Hope that helps. I'm obviously not the ideal candidate (no-one would be) but I want to take the load off llamabeast.

One crazy idea: can we just give everyone admin privileges? Let everyone just delay the turn if they need?

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Actually, I think this isn't such a bad idea provided no one decides to be a jerk with the admin rights and if someone delays they should mention about it in this thread.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

I can check this forum and llamaserver a few times each day from work (and at home in the US east coast evening). If people can give notice of delays on this forum then I think I'll be fine to admin.

--> this should more than suffice though

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Turn 4 my income is down a lot.. I see not order scales..

is this the same for everyone?

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Yes same here, my order Scales disappeared.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Hmm...could be! But I'm too much of a n00b to have noticed!

Actually, on that topic (vaguely) - I'm very amenable to tips and thoughts etc, particularly after this game's conclusion (or perish the thought, my earlier defeat...). Please don't hold back - criticisms welcome.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Sounds like the scales bug. It will be fixed in the next patch. Apparently it's a new bug in the current patch and strikes very often.

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

James.. just ask who knows who will answer.. your enemies might have enemies too who might like it if you performed a bit better http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif...

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

Or perhaps my neighbors will give bad advice... :/

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

well you can think about the advice too.. and see who gives it

Re: VampireBat - LA game for new players
 

I agree.