Cradle to the Grave--for noobies with a record of no staling--FULL
 

Hey, all. This will be my second MP game; I'm currently involved in one that is just reaching turn 40, and it's been great fun (although I'm getting destroyed lol) except for one thing... tons of stale turns. One of our water players only took a couple of turns before staling like mad, and by the time we picked up on it, he had given the other water kingdom a walk in the park. There have been other problems with staling, so I'm trying to establish a game for noobies that gets around the main problem for such games, which is people who are trying the game out, don't like it or don't have the time for it, and just give up without having the decency to let the administrator know.

Therefor, I have two criteria for who is allowed to play this one... first, you have to be a noobie, with no more than five MP games played. Since I will be asked, I'll say it now; I'M NOT BUDGING ON THIS ONE LOL... sorry, but the learning curve on this game allows players with more than that to slaughter those with less skills. The second criteria is that you must have a record of getting at least 30 turns into a game without staling. So this won't be a game for first-timers. I am asking for verification of your non-staling status through one of the following methods: preferably, an administrator from one of your games can post (or email me) that you have indeed not been a flake. The other method is to have two players from one of those games "vouch" for you. EDIT--3rd (and probably easiest method... thanks to P3D for pointing this out) way is to just give me a link to a game on llamaserver, and I can check your staling status.

Here's the rest of the details:

Middle Age.

"Cradle of Dominions" map.

Turns start at 24 hours and will be extended liberally as needed.

Number of player: 10.

Non-standard settings: Score graphs disabled, 15 Hall-of-Fame, re-naming allowed.

EDIT: No mods... it's vanilla.

Diplomacy is "Word of Honor". By this, I just mean that you keep your agreements. You're normally free to invade someone without notice, but if you have three-turn non-aggression pact with someone, you're not.

Water races are only ok if there are two players playing them.

Hosting will be done via llamaserver. I'm not creating the game there yet, because if I do, there will be random people who sign up without meeting the criteria, and it's a pain in the butt to get rid of them. Once we have enough people, I'll create the game.

One other thing... this is probably an impossible thing to do, but it would be great if all of the players were good sports. Win-at-all-costs people aren't fun to play with, as they tend to explode when someone puts one over on them lol.

I'll be playing Abysia, so here's the list:

1. earwicker7--Abysia
2. Saros--Vanheim
3. Nosantee--Arcoscephale
4. Korwin--Bandar Log
5. Gweldorf--Marignon
6. adder83--Tien Chi
7. Sopita--Pythium--DEAD
8. Sephorin--Ashdod
9. jimbojones1971--Ermor
10. Numahr--Agartha--DEATH BY AI

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

Doesn't cradle of dominions only work with EA or is there a MA version of the map? Also is it vanilla?
[e]Oops nevermind I was thinking of the dawn of dominions map.
Ill take vanheim =)

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

You can check the staling data on llamaserver for any game. It is in the admin menu, but requires no pwd

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

Oh, you rock!

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

Yes, it's vanilla.

Do you have someone who can vouch for you not staling? (or a link to a llamaserver game... see edit I'm about ready to make to the initial post). Sorry to be a Nazi about it, but I think it will really help with the game in the long run :)

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

Bogarus (1 stale from christmas holidays)
http://www.llamaserver.net/doAdminAc...ion=showstales

My other game just finished so no llamaserver data but you can see I came second/third placem not likely if I stalled regularly.
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showt...=46463&page=10
You could also ask Valerius (game admin) if you want i'm sure he could vouch for me.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

I'll definitely vouch for Saros. Crucible went 68 turns with a 30 hour hosting interval and he didn't stale once. :up:

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

Alright... I'll let that one stale slide, since you have an admin vouching for you.

You're in!

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

*counting*

1. Dominion of the Den - Sauroatia (active)
2. Last Rites - Ermor (active)
3. Rock the Cradle - as Vanheim (dead)
4. Rock the Cradle - subbing Shinuyama (not yet dead)
5. Dominons of Denizens - Vanheim (active)
6. MonkeyParadise - subbing Abysia (active)

If we dont count the subbing, I'm at 4 games.
But would I be able/ready for another game?
(No stall in any game to date)

Before I need to search my soul for an answer,
how do you count Earwicker7?

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

MA Arcoscephale reporting in! The things I've learned from Rock the Cradle will make this game go even smoother!

You're in the only game I've played EarWicker, so you know I've not staled =p

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

Korwin, it hurts me to say this, because you are an AWESOME guy to play with, but I really want to keep it at three and under. If I say ok to four, then the next guy will want me to say ok to five, and before you know it, Gandalf Parker will be eating all of the players for breakfast lol.

I'll make you a deal... if we have problems finding enough players, I'll get back to you.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

Yeah, you're good... welcome!

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

Ah, three or less. Somehow I was thinking 5 or less.
No problem, I do have enough games running as is ;)

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

D'oh, I forgot that I edited it to five... three was my original. I'm so clueless sometimes.

You're in if you still want in. Just let me know.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

Well then, sign me up for Bandar Log.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

Done!

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

After my abmysal starting position in Rock the Cradle as Vanheim (I started in the middle of wastelands), I would like to say:

There is an Cradle-version with fixed starts on llamaserver.
(Hmm, if I had seen that, when I created the Rock the Cradle game on llamaserver...)
Looking further, there is more than one version with fixed starts allready on llamaserver.


Edit:
Another thing, if there are considerations of upping the site frequency I would not be unhappy and would loudly yell: Yeah! Uh I mean *imagine mad and enthusiastic monkey yelling*

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

I'm interested. This would be my second game.
First is BearTrap as Marverni.
http://www.llamaserver.net/doAdminAc...ion=showstales

In this game, I'd like to try Marignon.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

Well, I'd prefer a longer record of no staling, but no staling for 20 turns is better than nothing.

You're in.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

How do the fixed starts work? I would have killed to have been in the wasteland, but on the other hand, some people might have seen that as an unfair advantage if Abyssia were to always start in favorable terrain.

I want to keep site frequency where it is... otherwise rainbow mages will have an unfair advantage.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

Hi there!
I would like to join as well: My MP experience is limited to two times subbing:

WASPWORLD (i m alrdy out):
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=46190

LAST RITES (running):
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=46635

In both cases i subbed somebody who was staling....so the llamaserver record is not very meaningful...but everybody from this games can confirm that i played my turns reliable.

If you can accept i would like to join as Tien Chi.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

How many turns did you sub? And could you get a couple of people to vouch for you?

Not trying to be overly difficult, but my current game ("Rock the Cradle") just had a person drop out today, so I'm a little paranoid right now ;)

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

In total it should be around 40 turns. I will PM some of the other player and hope they answer back.

A fact: I subb(ed/ing) two games. Normally subbed nations are left because their situation is bad...bad enough for somebody to leave it. So i m not leaving when times are hard.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

I vouch for adder in last rites. Hasn't stalled even though he got handed a bit of a tough position.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

I can vouch for adder83 there: subbed into a difficult position (original player stalled 3 times in the first year) and fought it out with me to the end.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--Recruiting
 

Thanks all! You're in adder83.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

Hi!

I would like to join. This would be my 2º multiplayer game.

My first game is this one:
Anonymous2
http://www.llamaserver.net/gameinfo.cgi?game=Anonymous2

We had not reach yet the 30 turns required to joing this one but I have already sent turn 25.

If I´m admited I'd would like to play Pythium.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

Hi,
I am not sure if I qualify or not, but I am interested. I played 1 game in 2008 (Agouti) on llamaserver, but it took a long time and my wife and I had a baby, so haven't played a game since.
But the baby situation is more under control, and I would like to get back into this game. I think Agouti went about 75 turns before it was decided that it would be a 3 or 4 way draw, I can't recall.
Anyways, if accepted, I would like to be Mictlan.

Chris

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

As long as your admin can vouch that you're not one of the two players who have staled 8 times (yikes, that's a lot!), you can join.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

This may be tough since the game was a while ago, but can someone vouch for your not staling? Do you remember any of the players?

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

I have zero idea if any of these guys are still around, but it was a team game...5 teams of 2.

Team # ... Current Players
1..........Zylithan...TrajanX...Niefel and TienChi
2..........reinselc...MAJ_Disgrace...Vanheim and Arcos
3..........Nozshand...Cerlin...Mictland and Agartha
4..........Sivoc...Janlm...Caelum and Kailasa
5..........Everz...Wokeye...Abysia and Lanka

Chris

No biggie though, I have to play some SP to remember how to do everything.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

There are a couple of them still around... I sent them a message. Hopefully they remember you :)

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

No problem. All I vaguely remember was that I got into a war with Mictlan/Argatha, and as I was beating Argatha, Mictlan was killing someone else, and then once things were just about to get good, Mictlan went sim along with someone else, and everyone basically thought Niefel and TC were going to win.

It was on the 8 gates map.

So i understand the goal of trying to get everyone on the same page for being punctual.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

BUMP

Trying to keep this at the top... we need four more people! Actually, it's potentially only two more... I'm still trying to get two of the people vetted.

But either way, come on folks :)

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

If you are not able to fill your spots let me know. I'd like to get into multiplayer games but have only done SP so far.

I understand that you are looking for a track record but I just wanted to put my name out there in case you were not able to fill the other 2 spots.

I'm not flaky and will promise to take all of my turns as scheduled, but I also know that words on the internet don't mean much.

Thanks

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

Thanks for offering, but I'm really trying to keep this one locked down to players who have some history. Hopefully I'll see you on a future battlefield, though! :)

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

Well, I just checked my User CP and my hotmail account... I see a message from you, but not from him.

To be honest, though, I've had really bad luck receiving messages on this forum; I think there is glitch somewhere. Just have him email me directly at earwicker777@hotmail.com.

Thanks!

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

Earlier today I tried sending you a PM for Rock the Cradle and it said your PM receiving is disabled or something.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

Could you try again? I didn't realize that MSN Messenger was web-based (since I can't install anything outside of Office Communicator on my work computer), so I hadn't put my username in the profile. Now that I know it is web-based, it's in there, so if everyone wants to try again, hopefully it will work.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

And yet another update... I hadn't checked the appropriate box in the options screen. I should be good now.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

Hi, earwicker. I was thinking about signing up for your game, but I wanted to confirm: are you indeed not using the conceptual balance mod (CBM)? There are obviously a lot of exploits in vanilla that us newbies might have a hard time handling. :)

I love your idea for a no staling record! Here is a link to a current game so you can check up on me. I'm Pangaea.

http://www.llamaserver.net/gameinfo.cgi?game=FirstBlood

And here's the game thread so you can confirm that that's actually me.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=46315

Let me know about the CBM. I'll have to give this some thought if you're really going vanilla. ;)

Thanks!

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

I'm really wary about mods... is the game really that out of whack, or are the people modding it trying to make sure that their favorite nations don't lose as often? That's not an accusation, but a genuine question... I'm way too new to know the answer.

How drastic are the changes? I get your point about the exploits, but I think the other side is that maybe the changes are too much for someone who is a newbie to handle; in other words, is Abyssia going to play so differently that I might as well forget my MP and SP experience with them?

Well, it's something to think about... what does everyone else think? Either way, it would be great to have you, your record is stellar. Let me know :)

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

Well CBM seems more popular than the base game. With the base game its essentially a rush to collect as many gem generators as possible (clams being the most popular) and then heading straight for a tartarian factory ASAP.
CBM has been around for ages and has almost become the standard mod for many many games, nearly all use it in some form or another.
All my MP games have been with CBM 1.6 and/or Endgame diversity mod (EDM) and I have to say that compared to the vanilla game they really do add quite a lot, more viable strategies and less micromanagement as well as a fair amount of balancing out all the really ridiculous stuff. A big change is making the gem generators unique. Several nations are rebalanced true but not usually major changes, lots of it seems to be focused on making weaker nations viable choices rather than making any particularly powerful.
CBM 1.7 is not what I would reccomend at this point as it is a major departure from what most people would expect. -no hammers and other weird things.


EDM is really good as well for giving alternatives for tartarians, they're still good but not the only option anymore. Its not a major mod it just adds a few lategame summons to give non astral or death nations a chance to get some SC's. It seems really well balanced to me.

So yeah CBM 1.6 and possibly EDM 1.1 would be mods I would support being used.
CBM 1.6
EDM

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

I think Saros hit it right on the nose. There's certainly nothing wrong with vanilla, but from what I've seen, it tends to point every single player in the same direction for the endgame. There is also a large amount of micro management resulting from massing gem generators. CBM 1.7 would be what I recommend. The endgame diversity mod (EDM) is included in that.

Of course, CBM 1.6 plus EDM would work also. And so would vanilla! Ultimately, the choice is yours, earwicker. I guess the only thing I would add is: I have yet to see a game offered here (newbie or otherwise) that does not use CBM. But then I haven't been around very long.

I think I would enjoy playing in the game no matter what you choose. But the choice of mods (or no mods) would influence my nation pick and pretender design. (Note that you need to have the mods loaded before building your pretender because they affect the cost and composition of some of them.)

Here's the link for CBM 1.7 (which includes the EDM):

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showt...eptual+balance

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

If we changed to CBM I would NOT play Bandar Log.
Not shure if I would play at all.

I would need time to read up on the changes CBM did do.
(Besides no GemGens, no DwarfenHammers)

EDM allone I would not mind, since (I think) there are extra units in this mod, but no changes to existing ones.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

Double post oops

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

CBM 1.7 has some really really weird changes to it like agartha getting a free darkness casting with 20 PD. The no hammers also really needs a higher magic site setting to compensate for it. Blood nations also suffer badly from removal of sanguine dowsing rods which cuts into their slave income.

EDM by itself would be fine although I do really like the no gemgen's in CBM

edit:

EDM is essentially this, just a few more summons in various schools.
http://www.llamaserver.net/diversityPreview.gif

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

I'd prefer the vanilla version. The people of Shrapnel just have a hardon for their precious CBM.

Re: Cradle to the Grave--For noobies with a record of no staling!--6/10 Taken
 

For me to play vanilla or CBM+EDM is both ok. But i think also it depends on the people joining this game: very new players may havent collected experience with the CBM and thus it would be very unfair against them as the changes between vanilla and CBM are quite huge.

As stated before for me personally, vanilla or CBM+EDM is both ok but if the decision is made towards CBM i would vote for 1.6.