First Blood - Newbie game - Finished - Rotarr/Nightfall/Sephorin win!
 

I'm starting another newbie game with the same settings as the recent Boot Camp game. Looking for players with 0-3 games experience for a friendly intro to Dominions MP, using standard mods and settings.

I wrote up an intro to Dominions MP and you may also be interested in some of the conversation from the Boot Camp thread.


Settings

Age: MA
Players: 8
Banned nations: water nations and Ashdod
Hosting: llamaserver - llamaserver FAQ is here
Hosting interval: 24 hours up to turn 20, 48 hours up to turn 40, 72 hours from then on
Mods: CBM 1.6 and EDM 1.1
Map: Parganos (dead seas version - this means you can conquer sea provinces but they will not provide gold/gem income)
Hall of Fame: 15
All other settings default

Note: Apparently PM's are turned off by default when you create your forum account. You'll want them on as this is a much quicker way to conduct diplomacy than the in-game message system.


Player Roster

Abysia - Nightfall
Bandar Log - cwkjc
C'tis - Groundworm
Eriu - attackdrone
Mictlan - rotarr
Pangaea - Sephorin
Pythium - mockingbird
Vanheim - Martin Trouman

Note: We have several players that I wasn't able to accommodate for Boot Camp and since they were first to sign up for this game they have already selected nations.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Recruiting!
 

ill give it a shot with Acroscephale. ive almost never played non Indy 0 games on SP so it will be interesting to see if i can recall my early games on the demo versions where you actually had to build armies.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Recruiting!
 

woops. dont know how to edit.

anyways can i change my nation to jotunheim?

i just realized my pretender strategy i want to try works way better with them than with my previous choice.

so after making the post i noticed i can edit this one but not my previous one. never seen that before.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Recruiting!
 

Sure, I've signed you up as Jotun.

Unfortunately, you can only edit posts for 20 minutes (or maybe it's 30?). The only exception is the first post in a thread you start. Which is a good thing or it would be real difficult to run MP games. :)

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Recruiting!
 

I'd love to join in as C'tis. Who doesn't like swamp lizards?

Thanks for hosting another newbie game, Valerius!

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Recruiting!
 

Usually most of their neighbors. ;)

You're welcome! :)

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Recruiting!
 

so, will you be playing in the game valerius, or do we still need 3 more players? im eager to test out my theory crafted multiplayer strategies in a non SP setting. had to make a few changes because i realized i had set my dominion to 1 instead of the 10 i needed, but not a huge deal. also, i guess i have to download CBM to see if my pretender strategy is viable in non-vanilla. any ideas as to where i can find the cbm mod?

okay i saved the mod files, but i cant put them in the dominions folder. how do i set up my game to use them?

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Recruiting!
 

Nope, I'm just here in an admin role so we need 3 more players.

I think discussion adds to the fun and I hope we can have that throughout the game, but be careful you don't give any of your plans away. ;) Though I will say dominion 10 for Jotunheim is an unusual approach...

Sure, I've linked to the CBM and EDM mods in the first post. You'll definitely want to check your pretender build with CBM loaded - there's a chance your build will cost less than it does in vanilla, leaving more points for use in other areas (scales, magic diversity, etc.)

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Recruiting!
 

Thanks for helping out us newbies like this, Valerius!

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Recruiting!
 

I've been lurking a while and I'm ready for a MP game :)

I'll go with Vanheim

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Recruiting!
 

woohoo, only 2 people to go!

up until vanheim i was happy with peoples picks, another cold nation is gonna mess with my dom push.

also im still having trouble with the mods. i think i may have gotten them to work, but i cant be totally sure.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Recruiting!
 

You're welcome! These games are actually quite fun to organize. :) And play in - my first few games were among my favorites.

I'm a former lurker myself. Nice to see you join in and that Vanheim, one of my favorite nations, will make the cut this time.

Well, at least nobody's chosen Abysia yet - they've got the best dom push capability in the MA.

If you're still having problems with the mods let me know what's happening. I'm sure we can figure it out.

But yeah, sign-ups are going quickly. At this rate we'll be full within 24 hours. Give a day for people to test their builds and we can get started by Saturday.


Everyone please note that when you are creating your pretender you will want to make sure that CBM is active (it's ok if EDM is active as well, but no other mods).

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Recruiting!
 

I have four games (three currently running) experience, so am a bit over the limit. However, if you need another player, I'd be happy to join the game.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Recruiting!
 

I think four games experience would still be ok.

I'd mainly be worried about your having time for a fourth game. Based on the date you joined the forum, it seems like the three games you're in will hit mid and late game around the same time. It's your call but be cautious: the micromanagement can get pretty bad later on...

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Recruiting!
 

I've got one game in late game, one in mid game, and one in early game. So far it's been entirely fine, so I'm not worried about that.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Recruiting!
 

Ok, then you're in! What nation would you like?

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Recruiting!
 

I think I will try Pythium.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Recruiting!
 

Ok, we just need one more player.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Recruiting!
 

Sign me up as Eriu, if you still have that last spot open.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Design pretenders
 

Yes, you are in and the game is now closed!

I'll setup the game on the llamaserver soon and we'll aim for a Saturday start.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Design pretenders
 

Damn, I need to check this forum more often.. These things fill up fast!

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Design pretenders
 

My thoughts exactly! Although this game was nearly filled up even before I had the chance to get out of bed, let alone check the forum :D (timezones..!)

It sure seems there's a lot of demand for newbie games. I hope people keep doing the good deed and suffering the frustration (?) of organizing such affairs. Have a good game everyone!

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Design pretenders
 

Thanks, Avari. I was thinking maybe Valerius could change us to a larger map to make room for more players like you, but that would probably be too complicated now that people have started making their pretenders. I'm sure Valerius would be willing to put you down for the next game that he starts, though. He's very kind. :)

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Design pretenders
 

This one did fill up quickly. Certainly part of it was that we started recruitment with three spots already taken, but still...

iRFNA and Avari, if you are interested I'll open up recruitment for a third game in the next day. You can already select your nations if you like.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Design pretenders
 

Oh, cool, thanks!

If this is MA again, I'll do caelum. Nothing is scarier fragile, winged cannon fodder.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Design pretenders
 

Caelum's troops aren't very good (except at sieging) ... but you've got mammoths for squishing indies! And of course flight and cloud trapeze on your mages is very nice.

But yeah, we'll stick with MA. It's the most balanced era and I have the easiest time restraining my impulse to nerf everything I think overpowered. ;)

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Design pretenders
 

there is no use nerfing things. game is complex enough to allow for super combos no matter what you do.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Design pretenders
 

Thank you, I'm definitely interested in the upcoming game. I'll pick Ulm, even in the face of guaranteed mammothry ;) I know it's regarded as a weak nation by many, but I think I'll go for it anyway. Thanks again and see you in the new game's thread, I guess.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Design pretenders
 

Wow that was a quick fill. I've been checking the forum a couple of times a day looking for a newbie game. Guess I need to check hourly:D

Please count me in if you start another.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Design pretenders
 

Just wondering, when you say "all other settings default", does that mean no renaming commanders?

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Design pretenders
 

sadly i think it means just that. and also not 75 on magic sites. sad times.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Design pretenders
 

Ok, First Blood players the game is ready for pretenders!

Avari, iRFNA and Hylobius I have you all signed up for the new Trinity game I just posted. Hylobius, please let me know what nation you'd like.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Design pretenders
 

Renaming is allowed. No reason to torture nations with diverse randoms. :)

However, default settings definitely don't include sites on 75. ;)

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Send pretenders!
 

Do we automatically start after everyone sent in their Pretenders? (2 more!)

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Send pretenders!
 

Quick hosted ?

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Send pretenders!
 

Yes, the game will start automatically when all pretenders are in.

And the game is on quickhost, so early in the game (when turns only take a few minutes) it's worth checking each turn and, if you are the last person, wait a few minutes for the game to host and then immediately work on your next turn. It really helps keep the game moving.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Send pretenders!
 

Sorry for my english and i know, it's not an advantage in diplomacy :)

I think, It's time to be fair and announce that i take the Baalz' pledge !

Other points :

I think there's a strong probability to be smashed before the date, but i'll not be available from 28 Oct to 2 Nov

In my first MP a player has used the forum to communicate to all the caracteristics of a pretender, i think we shouln't do that, just because it could be interpretated too much aggressive, using PM for intelligence is better

The wise use of this thread for game purpose is a key to keep good relations

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Send pretenders!
 

Thanks for bringing that link to my attention, I'll sign that. There are few more annoying things in an online multiplayer game than people dropping out prematurely.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Send pretenders!
 

Sounds like good sound guidelines to play by.

I'm in

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Send pretenders!
 

No need to apologize, we have players from around the world. And, your English is better than my ability in a second language. :)

Thanks for the warning. At that point we should be well into the game and can maybe put the game on hold (I find it's most important to avoid delays early on when turns only take a few minutes to complete).

Hmm, so I guess two players were at war and one of them said "here's all the info on nation x's pretender if anyone wants to attack him"? While I don't think this violates Dominions etiquette, I do want this to be a friendly game and I can see your point about how that it would come across as aggressive. It might be better to just say that you can provide intelligence to anyone willing to help in the attack on nation x.


As far as abandoning games goes, there's no requirement to sign a pledge but of course I agree with the idea of following through on games you sign up for. If you get off to a bad start or suffer heavy losses in battle or just aren't enjoying a particular game, I encourage you to stick with it and try your best. There's a decent chance you'll learn something new, and even if you don't you are making the game a better experience for the other players. If they do the same when the shoe is on the other foot and you are doing well while they are struggling, MP just becomes a better experience all around.

If you decide that you just don't like Dominions, or at least Dominions MP, in general and want to stop playing then things become more difficult. In this case it's understandable you'd want out but it would be nice if you could have the courtesy to line up a sub instead of just disappearing. BTW, this is another reason not to start too many games early on - if you decide you don't like Dominions MP all of a sudden many games are facing the need to replace a player instead of one or two.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Send pretenders!
 

Those are indeed good guidelines to have when playing a MP game. It makes it far more enjoyable for everyone when everyone puts some effort in it; otherwise we could just start another SP game by ourselves...

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Send pretenders!
 

We only need Jotunheim-TaoCuathon now... Need any advice or help?

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Send pretenders!
 

I hope Mr. Cuathon is just plotting his strategy and hasn't abandoned us. :( Please let us know if you need help with anything. Hopefully we can get started soon.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Send pretenders!
 

EDIT: I just noticed the game has started so it looks like the problem was resolved. Have fun!

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Send pretenders!
 

Hmm. Looks like we have Caelum instead of Jotunheim. I just want to make sure that that's Mr. Cuathon and not some interloper trying to steal his spot. :)

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Send pretenders!
 

:doh: Thanks for noticing that. TaoCuathon's not on the forums at the moment so I think you may be right. I'll message the Caelum player from the llamaserver.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Send pretenders!
 

Maybe one of us is rather a bit too anxious to get it started :D

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Send pretenders!
 

Although, quite honestly, I'm not sure how much longer we would want to wait for Mr. Cuathon if that's not him. It's been about 40 hours since the game was posted to Llamaserver, so this doesn't bode well for him being able to make a 24 hour turnaround. :shock:

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Send pretenders!
 

He PM'd me several times over the past few days so he's been around. He ran into problems yesterday because he wasn't able to find his savedgames folder to send his pretender/turns. I assume he's using Windows Vista (or maybe 7?) and I sent him this link but haven't heard back from him since then.

I'd like to hear from him. If he switched to Caelum then no problem and the game can continue. If he didn't send the Caelum pretender then we either need to resolve his problem finding the savedgames folder or find a sub.

Re: First Blood - Newbie game - Send pretenders!
 

I just went ahead to see if everything works out for me (nice starting position btw, hope we can continue :P) and it does.

And Caelum sent his turn in as well, lol.