newbtopia- ea game for new players(started)
 

Looking at this thread there seems to be support for starting a new game. I started this post to get the game going, as it sounds like llama was interested in hosting for us, and I'd be grateful if he did. I'm not trying to steal the thunder of anyone else who wanted to organize this, but since no one else was taking the initiative I thought i'd jump in.

Settings thus far will be early age. The worthy heroes mod seems to be a standard MP mod, so it will be used. The map can be voted on, but I think llama's recommendation of modified parganos is a good choice for 8 people.

Renaming and graphs will be on, with a 24 hour timer until it is deemed necessary to switch to 48. Please sign up with your nation of choice.

moderation - Mictlan
executor - Helheim
Motomouse - Niefelheim
zenphos - Acroscephale
gowb - Lanka
FeydMantis - Agartha
Carkaton - Sauromatia
Hoplosternum - Formoria

PS, question to llamabeast. Are the starting positions chosen randomly or does someone go in and set them up?

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Alright, let's get this show on the road then. Mictlan, I choose you!

With the team game that I am subbing in, it looks like the start positions were arranged so that teammates started near each other. Speaking of which, I'd like to make it a team game if people are interested. Team games are rather fun because you get some of the fun of teamwork, as well as the usual craziness that Dom 3 seems to entail. Also, it effectively reduces the number of factions in half, which should make for a quicker match overall. Also, it's nice to have one less front -- which is the case as long as your teammate is alive. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Perhaps we could pair folks up so people with slightly more experience are paired with those with less experience. So far I have played a MP demo game, but mostly fought the AI for 30 rounds, and have been subbing in another newbie game for about three rounds now. So maybe a little more experience than some, maybe less than others. I'm wondering what is everyone else's level of MP experience so far?

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

aight i'll take lanka. i vote for a free for all rather than a team game but im cool if everyone wants to go team. I prefer toe former because it seems to encourage more diplomacy, or that's what I think anyway, since I don't really know. I've played a bunch of single player games, but those aren't really good for MP, and i've played 4 turns each in both of the MP games I'm currently in.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

I have played 4 turns in 1 MP game. I would rather go with a free for all as well. I think it encourages diplomacy. Just try to make friends with someone early on. Especially if you start close to each other.
Not sure what race I want. Have played a lot of MA and LA verse the comp but not much EA.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

I was thinking I would play Arcoscephale, unless anyone else desperately wants them.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

I think I'll take Helheim

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Hey, Is the money set to max or not then?

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

I would like to play Niefelheim then and I vote free for all.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Cool, good to see this getting organised, I would indeed be happy to host.

Carkaton, I recommend you modify the first post to show who's playing and what nations they are as people sign up. See, e.g. one of my Bat games (VampireBat, VesperBat etc) as an example.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

I would like to play Agartha if a slot is still open

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Money, sites, research will all be set to default.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

I would like to play. Fomoria please.

I would rather it was a team game but am OK if its a free for all. There is still some diplomacy in a team game (if the teams are of just 2 each).

Diplomacy is fine but bare in mind that it is relatively easy. It takes little skill compared to using Communions, research strategy, SC design and use, army / resource balance, mage use etc. So compared to the skill of the game sending a few pms and emails is easy. Unless you are rushing who isn't going to go for immeadiate NAPs while the independents are there? And is decided a large part by luck. Who you meet first often decides who will be your friends rather than your enemies. Who stabs who first is often decided on map location or who gets involved in a war first (leaving them vulnerable to a stab).

I have not played much Dominions mp, but I have played other mp games. Civ, Age of Wonders etc. And once the space / independents go the early alliances can then unravel very quickly. People in central locations, or those who for what ever reason appear weak can then be gang attacked and knocked out very quickly. It isn't pleasent as its you ex-allies who are wielding the knives and numbers count in this (and most) games. Unless you are already very strong you can't fight a two or three front war and as its you ex allies you have no one to help you.

You need allies or at least NAPs to survive in this game. So why not formalise them at the beginning? You then have someone who you can discuss tactics and strategy. Someone who is on your side and can actually help you. We are all newbies to a degree so could all benefit from bouncing ideas and plans off one another. That is not present in free for all when all 'allies' can soon become enemies.

And you still get some diplomacy in a team game. There may be NAPs while the independents are going and therefore border negociations. Some trading is possible and desirable. Plus alliances against the strongest team. But everyone knows the score. You have no friends outside your team.

Team games = a proper ally, someone to discuss the game with and learn from. Far more social. Cooperation rewarded.

Free for all = much more ruthless. All diplomacy fake as there can be only one. But the fake diplomacy is essential as you both need the NAPs and trades until you can organise an alliance to take down your 'ally'.

Some people much prefer the latter. Thats fine but when they say they like it BECAUSE of the diplomacy aspects you have to wonder http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Diplomacy - not quite as good as you think its going to be http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Ok we are full, vote is 4(including myself) to 2 in favor of free for all. Start working on your pretenders, and as soon as I can find out from llama on how to proceed we can get them uploaded.

Also, moderation, I apologize for not waiting the 15 minutes on posting this thread to see that you had indeed planned on organizing the game. If you start a game specifically to be a team game i'd love to join.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

@Carkaton: No problem, I'm actually thinking of setting up a CBM team game later this week, but I'll see how busy I am with this game first.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Okay guys, the game is ready to accept pretenders. Here's how to upload them:
Firstly, you should only join a game if you've found there's a thread for it on this board, you've read it, and they're still looking for players. Then you should post on the thread saying what nation you'll be. To actually join the game:

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

A few minutes later you should get a confirmation e-mail, and if you check the website (www.llamaserver.net ) you should find your nation added to the list of nations which have joined the game.

If later you think of an improvement to your pretender, you can send it in again. Provided the game hasn't actually started the server will accept your revised pretender, and send you an e-mail to say so.

Hoplosternum - I love diplomacy! I would say: Diplomacy - more fun than you expect! I highly recommend sending messages in character and doing some on-forum roleplaying, it adds a lot to the game.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

I'll try http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Pretender in.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

What Time zone are we using?

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Is there any way to check or edit the pretenders you've created? I can't seem to do it without actually starting a new game.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Llamaserver's time is GMT I believe. It doesn't much matter though, new turns start as soon as the last turn file is sent in, or if the time elapses.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Well game on then by the looks of it. Well as soon as llamabeast spots the fact all pretenders are up. Good luck to everyone and hope everyone wins their first fight v the indies. Sucks if you lose that one.
That'll be it for me in terms of posting out of character. From now on everything will be done in character and will be spoken as the voice of the god of arcoscephale.
Although since they are layabout, lazy philosopher types no doubt many of them will jump up and try to drown out my voice.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Bump for llamabeast! Just saw him post in another thread. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

When do we start?

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

I sent llamabeast a PM. Should be starting any time now, really.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Started! Hurrah!

Right, I did take one potentially controversial decision when starting the game though. In all the other newbie games I've started recently (the "Bat" ones) we've used my modified version of Parganos which has "dead seas", i.e. no population or magic sites in the sea. I forgot to mention that explicitly on this thread but I decided to use it anyway, so I hope (a) that no-one designed a pretender specifically to take the seas, and (b) that everyone's happy with that. It's just that in land-nation only games, seas tend to be a bit silly - whoever finds a Merman Village first gets loads of territory for no effort.

Anyway, I hope you all really enjoy the game. I highly recommend posting lots on the thread in character, and also doing lots of diplomacy, again in character - it adds a lot of fun to the game.

I will send Carkaton the admin password, so he's the one to ask if you want a turn postponed or anything. Well actually you should probably just post here, but he'll be the one to sort it out for you.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Ok, good luck everyone!

If you need to postpone for vacations or whatever, let me know and I'll take care of it. This first turn is on a 48 hour timer just in case of difficulties, after this it'll be on a 24 hour timer until we agree to go to a 48 hour one.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Hmm, did anyone else not receive a turn file? I just re-requested mine. Maybe there is some mixup because I am playing 2 games on llamaserver.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

maybe the server somehow messed up your email address. If you still didn't get your turn you can give me your email and I'll re-enter it.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Bah! Guess thats one advantage my naturally amphibious troops won't be able to use http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Lets hope I can think of a plan b http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

So did you get the email moderation?? I notice you still haven't gone...

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

I guess not, I'm going to postpone hosting once, but if this can't get resolved we're going to have to restart or find a sub.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

He's usually pretty good about this stuff. Moderation?? You have two hours until hosting gets postponed man! Don't stale out on the first turn http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Okay, I just got home and the emails were there and everything. However my email service is refusing to work. Going to reboot and see if I can send it. Computers... :\

Okay I opened a new email account and sent it out using webmail. There's some kind of bug with the Safari browser that makes uploading attachments a real pain. Sorry about the confusion. Everything should be working now.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Ok good, glad we all got it worked out now.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

OOC: Did anyone else get a strange message from Niefelheim? I am still trying to make heads or tails of it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

A small grey monkey scampers into the cold throne room of the Neifel giants. He looks around briefly and then drops a piece of bark on the floor.

It reads:

Jiant messinger visited us. His flesh was tuff but tastey. Nex time send mor + younger.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Small grey monkey returned unharmed, but frozen, to sender.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Is there a faster way to send and recive a message from other nations, 1 turn till you send, 1 till he recives, 1 till he replies... I mean thats just too slow for me

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Send a PM to the player.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Yes I know, it's just that nobody ever even reads the bloody PM, or just reads it too late...

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Mictlan! Cease and desist your excursion into demon lands and you will be spared...

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

I'll be away from the computer for the weekend, I should be able to do turn turns 12 and 13 but I'll be away from the internet until I return early monday morning GMT. I had already given moderation the admin password due to his early email issues so he can do the extension after i submit turn 13 tommorow. If there are no objections that is.

Re: newbtopia- ea game for new players(recruiting)
 

Take your time
Regards Motomouse

Turn 13
 

There is 40 minutes until hosting and Helheim and Sauromatia don't seem to have submitted turns yet. I'm finishing up my turn now, but if Helheim and Sauromatia don't submit turns soon, I will delay the hosting rather than let them go stale.

Carkaton, did you run into some last minute problems preventing you from sending turn 13?

Re: Turn 13
 

Hmmmmm,

what is going on? Has Helheim dropped? Seems odd to be waiting on 3 turns at the moment?
I would have thought that carkaton is the only one not having trouble time wise to get his turns in.

Re: Turn 13
 

Helheim's computer is effectively dead. I can take over if the situation is not too desperate. Otherwise just turn him to AI.

Re: Turn 13
 

Thanks psycho. I think it would be good if you took over. But have no idea what the situation is with his nation. But I assume he is not in too bad shape.

Re: Turn 13
 

Just tell me where to send my e-mail or what else to do to take over

Re: Turn 13
 

Ehnog of Niefleheim thinks the situation will be quite desperate for helheim soon ;-)

Re: Turn 13
 

What happened to Helheim's computer?

Anyway, Psycho, PM me with your email address and I will put you in as Helheim's sub.

Re: Turn 13
 

sorry about that, I had to leave before turn 13 came up. I had issues converting GMT to my time zone and thought that it would've been ready when I got off work. As it is, it's a good thing due to helheim's computer issues.