EmpiresRising MA game for new players - started
 

With the recent surfeit of EA and LA games going around I thought I would try to get a MA game going.
Currently looking for newish players, basically somewhere between 0 - 5 games. Or at least that is my skill level and would rather not be crushed by a pro.

With Llamabeast about to head off the details of the game need to be finalised.
So therefore the game details are as follows
Age - MA
Map - Parganos
No. of players - 8 (max)
Hosting - 24 hours for the 1st 10 turns then negotiable
Mods - Worthy Heroes, anyone who doesn't have it please let me know
Everything else - default
Victory conditions will be standard victory conditions.

So there are 3 slots left, as soon as 8 players have uploaded their pretenders the game should start automatically.
So put your name down and the nation you want.
Anyone who wants any of the above changed please speak up quickly because Llamabeast has a plane to catch.

Players and nations so far

Zenphos - Machaka
Wookie1977 - Abysia
Ossa - Vanheim
Frozen Falcon - Man
sum1lost - Pangaea
Unoptimized - Ermor
secretperson - C'tis
lebarjack - Ulm

For anyone who does not know how to get their game going here are some instructions

- 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. late_pythium_0.2h)
- E-mail the file to: pretenders[ at ]llamaserver[ dot ]net
- Crucially, you must have the game name 'EmpiresRising' in the subject line of your e-mail

The server should send you a confirmation e-mail when it receives your pretender. Also you can see what pretenders have been received so far at www.llamaserver.net . In fact I recommend checking the site out anyway - it will be helpful all game.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Looks good though would prefer normal victory conditions rather than victory point

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Lock me in as Abysia please

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

I'd join as MA Vanheim.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Well we could go 75% victory points. That way you have to be the clear winner but you don't have to track everyone down wipe them out completely.
I just don't like the idea of spending 2 or 3 weeks digging the last few pretenders out of their fortresses.
Especially if the losers get upset and don't have their turns.
But then I don't know what the victory conditions are for standard victory. But I assume it means you have to kill every pretender and take every province.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

MP games never reach the point of trying to conquer every last province - that would be very dull. All the other players will surrender when the winner is clear, since no-one enjoys a hopeless game. So there is no particular need for something like 75% victory points.

If you were going to have VPs I would recommend capital-only ones, since people will always defend their capitals properly. I don't have any real opinion on whether the game is better with or without them though.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

I'll join as Man

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Llamabeast has been in touch in regards to when he heads off on holidays leaves reasonably soon which means we don't have the usual 5 days to recruit people.
But anyway hopefully we will get another 4 today/tonight and we can play an 8 player on Parganos.
So no VP's, standard victory.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

PS It looks like you can upload your pretenders already.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

If you can't get enough players in time I can set it up to start when it either has N pretenders, or at a set date/time, in my absence. That should probably be fine.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

MA Pangaea, please. I've only finished one set of 3 games, and had started another set when I lost access to dominions for some time, so if I don't qualify, fair enough.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Well by my reckoning that gives you 4 and a half games so you definitely qualify. But the 0 to 5 games is really just a guideline. I just don't want guys who have played heaps of games getting on crushing the newbies so to speak.

By the way with Llamabeasts imminent departure I have had to make some executive decisions in regards to the game.
I have edited the top post to reflect this.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

I also recommend that you don't allow water nations. I have a version of my Parganos map with "dead seas" which means the seas provide no income or gems. I think that works well.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Sounds good. No sea nations. So I assume everyone will need to download your map. Or at least those that don't have it?

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

It is all looking good can't wait to start... And Llama is right about victory points, no one is going to keep playing a hopeless war against a clear winner just to spite them.
This is not Dawn of War

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

I have forgotten the amount of times I have chased round after some little punk eldar who would not stop building invisible buildings.
Used to drive me spare.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Heya! I'm as new as they come http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif. Anyway, I would like to play Ermor. If you would not mind PMing me the heroes mod and the map I would much appreciate it.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

I'd like to play as C'tis if possible please

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Can I play with a nation soon to be determined?
I will make some quick test in the next hour and then upload a pretender.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

The map is now downloadable from the original post.
The worthy heroes mod can be downloaded here
http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...o=&fpart=1
Instructions are in the zip files, if I remember correctly, but basically unzip the 2 map files into the maps directory and the worthy heroes mod into the mods directory.
I can't remember if you have to create a mods directory or not.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

I now count 8 players so upload your pretenders and we will get going.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

I will give a try to the proud nation of Ulm

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Well, I have to say im getting pretty excited for my first MP game! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif looks like we have 5/8 who have uploaded pretenders. let's get those other 3 in and let's get this game going! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

The difference is amazing between playing MP and playing the computer.
Having to wait for each turn really increases the tension.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

7/8 now- almost there!

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Lets hope so. Only Ermor left to upload. I might send him a PM and see what he is doing. He might be having trouble working out the uploading and what not.
By the way Llamabeast who normally starts the games when they are full is on holidays so set it to auto start when 8 pretenders are uploaded.
Unfortunately if there is a problem with the auto starter or server he won't be back until april 27 to fix it.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

How is Ermor going with his pretender?

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Don't know.

I have PM'ed him but no response. Maybe it may be time to look for a replacement?
Not that I want to, especially on someones first MP game but it would be good to get started.
What does everyone else think? Wait another day, or 2 or a week?

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Well, I would like to start as soon as we can. Unoptimized didn't post since 04/11. We can give him a couple of hours to show up. After that, I think we should find a replacement.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Yeah I reckon go with a replacement, if he posts before we find a replacement then hes in, if not we go with the new guy, whoever he may be

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

ACK! I'm really sorry guys. I had a huge emergency at work that I've been dealing with. I will upload ASAP and I again apologise wholeheartedly.

Thanks,
Ryan

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

OK, I uploaded my pretender. Thank you for waiting and I apologize again

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

I seem to be having a problem- I received the first turn file, created a directory for it in my savedgames and attempt to load it up via "play existing game", get to the point where I select the game and click play and I get a crash to desktop :/

I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong here, anyone got some insight? I tried having the file resent with the same result.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Just tried it again- to clarify, I select the game and it goes to "C'tis- turn 1" or something similar then and crashes after I hit play at that point. Other existing games I have seem to be working fine. Perhaps my file is corrupted?

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

I had it too- and fixed it. The problem is that one of the files in the map pack (Attatched to the first post) has the wrong name. Change 'parganos.tga' to 'parganos_llama3.tga' by renaming the file. It worked for me.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Hmm, I'm pretty stumped. I tried as you said, sum1lost, but still experiencing the same problem. I am on a Mac by the way, if that matters. I can also create a game using Lllama's map and it seems to work fine so I'm wondering if my file itself is corrupted or if it is a Mac-PC compatability issue. Could I forward my trn file to someone to see if they can get it to work?

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Why not forward to sum1lost as he fixed his same problem, if does not reply you can forward to me

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

what's your e-mail?

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

jamieclark1977@yahoo.com.au

cheers

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Just tried it and it worked fine,
I emailed it back to you after I had done a coupole of things and end turn

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

arghhhhhhh, Now I get the option to continue where I left off or redo and then crash :/ I guess the file itself is fine- maybe I'm having problems with the map setup. I tried messing with the maps earlier, moving them out etc and would result in a similiar crash when I tried to play a game that was missing the map. Or there's a Mac compatibility issue?

Anyway,
I put the trn file inside my dominions3 dir and inside a dir named EmpiresRising. I have worthy heroes 1.8 mod enabled. I have the two files I downloaded from the attachment on the first post- parganos_llama3.map and parganos_llama3.tga inside the maps directory. Does that sound all right?

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Yes sounds all good, what happens when you continue where left off and then end turn?

Empires rising should be in savedgames folder, all sounds good

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Yeah, EmpiresRising dir is in savedgames.

I can't even get into where I see the actual map, the game just exits/crashes regardless of choosing redo turn or start where I left off :/

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Hmmmm,

ask for a turn resend then try using that turn instead, Just log onto
http://www.llamaserver.net/index.cgi
and go into EmpiresRising and down the bottom it says Request turn resend
If that doesn't work it may well be that Mac and PC games are incompatible.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Yeah, I've tried resending it several times http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Could I ask another favor? Could you try sending me the 2 map files?

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Do you have an email address? I will get them out of my maps directory.

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Is there anything on the faq on the llama server or you could try reinstalling your dominions 3, or ask someone who knows alot more about computers than I do

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Yeah, I've checked the faq several times and tried reinstalling too http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif I'm pretty stumped as well! But we're narrowing it down it seems- atleast it's not the trn file that's bad

Re: Empires rising MA game for newish players
 

Ok, try downloading the new attachment.

It could have been the original attachment was screwed so I have put up a brand new one.

Will also email to your email address.