'Stillborn Noobs' Running
 

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* Game has been turned over to Tratorix - Check his posts for updates. This post will no longer be updated :)

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* Mercenaries IN!
* Locked in at 6 Players (3 Teams, no AI) on Tyrande II (no sites) map.
* Used mod changed from 1.83 to 1.84 on the server, link adjusted from 1.6 to 1.84
* Times changed to 36 hours, effective immediately.
* What a noob - finally figured out what 'quickhost' is. :D
* Turns have been rewound due to technical problems. Your turn one files have been simply replayed. See the end of the post for reasons. You will be unaffected unless you already sent in a turn 2, in which case, you simply repeat that.

CBM 1.84

3 Teams have been locked in, to keep things moving quickly.

Settings :

* Map: Tyrande II no sites
* Mods: CBM 1.84 (download here http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showpost.php?p=774519 and extract to mods directory)
* Middle Age
* Score graphs on
* Hall of fame size 15
* Renaming on
* All other settings on default
* Turns will be every 36 hours, can be adjusted later (to 24 or other)when we all agree to
* 8 nations, four human teams of two humans each
* Victory will be decided when everyone wants to end it or someone kills off all the other players
* It will be PBEM on Llama Serve. Please be patient first few turns until I figure this all out
* Note : Select from the following nations only: Arcoscephale, Pythium, Ulm, Man, Marignon, Mictlan, Pangaea, T`ien Ch`i, Machaka, Agartha, Caelum, C'tis, Vanheim, Jotunheim, Bandar Log or Eriu. (Selected nations presently taken, but can be changed at will before game start)
* Nations can be changed at will until we all start.
* Ocean players are not possible on the selected map (no start positions).
* Pretenders can be uploaded NOW. Game is called "stillbornnoobs" at http://www.llamaserver.net/index.cgi Full information about joining a game are here --> http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showt...318#post529318
* AI has been scrapped

Other issues

* Treachery against team buddy prohibited until you are the final two and want to see who will be the last to stand (by mutual consent only)
* Trade agreements must be kept (item/gem swaps) between all players
* Team buddy should sub if there is an issue, there will be no extensions for any reason
* Admin password will be passed on if I am knocked out (statistically highly likely)

1 TEAM 1 SLOT - Marcelteaching - Pangea
2 TEAM 1 SLOT - Aaminoff - Machaka
3 TEAM 2 SLOT - Tratorix - Vanheim
4 TEAM 2 SLOT - Horrorfend - Arcoscephale
5 TEAM 3 SLOT - Nttea - C'tis
6 TEAM 3 SLOT - Kuketski - Pythium

Suit newer players, you will have a team buddy to help you

To 'do it all', do the following : (Summary from links)

Uploading a pretender

- Make sure you have the same mods enabled as the game you're playing in (CBM 1.83 Preferences->Mod Preferences)
- 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 "stillbornnoobs" 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 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.

Taking a turn

- Create a directory for the game. Go to your dominions3 directory, open the 'savedgames' folder, and then within savedgames create a new folder called "stillbornnoobs" e.g. 'dominions3\savedgames\stillbornnoobs'.

When the game starts, you will be sent a trn file. You need to put this in the game folder you just created. You'll then be able to play your turn as normal using the 'Play an existing game' option in Dominions.

Once you've taken your turn and hit 'End turn', you should find a 2h file in the same directory that you put your trn file in. It'll have a name along the lines of 'mid_machaka.2h' (depending obviously on the age and the nation you're playing). This is the file that contains your orders, and you then need to email it to turns@llamaserver.net

Within a few minutes you should get a receipt e-mail from the server. You can also see who's taken their turns and when the deadline is by looking at the website - www.llamaserver.net.

If you decide to change your moves you can send a revised turn in to the server, and it will use the file it received most recently from you. It'll send you an e-mail to say so too.

Won't be long now before we get started!

Re: MP Noob Game for 4 Players OPEN
 

i will play vanheim

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' Game 4/6 Slots Open (CBM_Still)
 

I'd like to give Abysia a whirl

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' Game 4/6 Slots Open (CBM_Still)
 

Disregard last post; I just discovered that Abysian PD is actually pretty weak (only one unit per point), so my intended strategy won't work.

If I think of another strategy I'll join in, otherwise, consider me out.

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' Game 4/6 Slots Open (CBM_Still)
 

You can do something like team up with a buddy to compliment your strengths, and honestly, we are all very new to this, so I would not worry about a 'perfect strategy' or pretender.

We are all pretty unlikely to be good, but I will leave you off until you confirm. :)

Seranim

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' Game 4/6 Slots Open (CBM_Still)
 

Dude, I am afraid that someone started your game already.(if it is the 9924 one)some random T'ien Ch'i guy joined it. What I suggest is send him a message ingame and invite him to join you on the forums and for a game.
Basically what you can do, and will be safer(no random guys will join) is to make a game at llamaserver(PBEM)
Also another suggestion(unless you insist on the cbm 1.6 vesion) is to play the latest cbm.(If you did that I will join and give you guys the advice I can(I am still relatively new to the game I have 4 games of experience and couple of blitzes))

Edit: Oh and if you insist on playing through the Dom3minions server, and you don't want people to join your game randomly you can wait till you have 6 players and then create the game and appoint a day where all of them must upload their pretenders and start the game.

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' Game 4/6 Slots Open (CBM_Still)
 

That sounds great! The reason I did notgo with the latest version is because it was not supported on the other server. we will switch to Llamaserve and organise it from there.

BBZ, can you suggest a suitable map that would work with approximately 4-6 people? We want to keep it fairly small, I would think, and any other suggestions that would improve what we are doing here, and also, any information you have about the process would be helpful, I would think...

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' Game 4/6 Slots Open (CBM_Still)
 

I'll join as mictlan.

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' Game 4/6 Slots Open (CBM_Still)
 

Tratorix, House-rules are only Arcoscephale, Agartha, Atlantis, Caelum, C'tis, Ermor, Helheim, Kailasa, Maverni, Niefelheim, Oceania, Pangaea, R'lyeh, Sauromatia, T`ien Ch`i, Tir na n'Og,Ulm, Vanheim or Yomi.

2nd choice?

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' Game 4/6 Slots Open (CBM_Still)
 

Oops, thats what I get for skimming the OP. I'll take Maverni then.

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' Game 4/6 Slots Open (CBM_Still)
 

Well a suggestion for a map would be sixlands. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=36830
I just checked two other 6 player games and they seemed to use that map but there are no water provinces. I could dig a bit further to find a prettier map.(there is one I saw called the blessed Island but its with only 75(12.5) for 6 players and only 11 water provinces so basically) what is usually player is 15 provinces per person so we need to find a map with 90+ provinces.

Edit: for four players we could use this one
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=4437
or this one is really pretty but its small 12.5 provinces a player
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=31184

and here is a map list link if you want to look for anything else that might interest you:
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=34207

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' Game 4/6 Slots Open (CBM_Still)
 

Other four players maps:
(that looks like heroes3 map) relatively good size for four people 79provinces
http://users.on.net/~dfidge/forums/volcano.jpg
and another 4 players map
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/attac...1&d=1265967523

for a team game 2v2 this one looks nice
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/attac...1&d=1248433221

and another 6 player map:
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/attac...1&d=1254758338

Here is the thread where I found blessed Island one and it seems perfect for 5 people
http://z7.invisionfree.com/Dom3mods/...?showtopic=361

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' Game 4/6 Slots Open (CBM_Still)
 

Btw I would like to play as Kailasa.

Could I ask you a question why there is no love for the other nations?(the ones that we are not allowed to play with)

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' Game 4/6 Slots Open (CBM_Still)
 

Hmm actually I had a slight change of heart. I really want to develop one strategy but it is with MA Bandar Log. So count me out of the game.I hope I did help with the map choice.

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' Game MOVED to different thread
 

so, I am still totally down for vanheim. how many committed players do we have so far?

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' Game MOVED to different thread
 

well its only you I'm sorry to say. So just look for another game.

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' Game still alive! 3 players still needed.
 

Desvolack, if you are still in, you have dibbs for Vanheim. :) Can you just repost to confirm you are still in? Same goes for BBZ,now that Bandar Log is available.

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' Game still alive! 3 players still needed.
 

OK, I am interested in this. I like the idea of teams.

I've played 3 MP games, going to the end in 2 of them (found a sub in the other). So I guess I am a semi-experienced noob.

Map: I suggest Streamlands. Hopefully someone has submitted a fixed version, there were a few missing connections.

I'm about to be moving to a new house so there may be days I just can not get a turn in. But usually I should be able to turn around pretty quick.

Have not thought about nation at all. Should we wait to see how the teams shake out and then figure out complementary builds? Or pre-select nations and then just deal with the luck of the draw? Perhaps the latter is best since otherwise it could take weeks of wrangling ;)

I will look at the MA and figure out a nation this evening.

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' Game still alive! 3 players still needed.
 

Aaminoff, sounds interesting - complementary builds sounds the most interesting to me. Also, a team buddy might be able to sub for you when there is an issue (this goes for all), which is another good thing about teams.

Let's go with streamlands for now then, pending an investigation as to whether the links are fixed.. We will start up when we are all happy, we could even add more players if we had a consensus to do so when we have 4, and add a third 'team' or even a fourth. Let's see how these things pan out and what the others think when they join.

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' recruiting two more teams
 

Well, guess I'll sign up for this one again. I'm more in the experienced newb category as well, but I still kinda suck, so it should work out fine. The only suggestion I have is to make the turn timer at least 36 hours. 24 is cutting it pretty fine and will probably result in staling early on, which can set someone at a huge disadvantage in the early game.

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' recruiting two more teams
 

Done! Tratorix, added you to team 2. When we are all complete, we will chat and decide on the nations we want.

Next decision will be whether to play two teams or three and the number of AI we want. Feel free to put in a vote! I will abstain and leave it to you guys, though I suspect that doing some AI bashing before we get serious could be fun. :)

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' recruiting two more teams
 

I personally vote for no AI, as I hate fighting giant armies of chaff, but I might change my mind depending on how many players we get.

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' recruiting two more teams
 

I like to join as Arcoscephale. I'm fairly new to the game but I think I've got a solid strategy worked out.

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' recruiting two more teams
 

Added you horrorfend. :)
You and tratorix can work out a team strategy.

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' recruiting one last team
 

I might change my mind later, but I'll lay claim to mictlan for now.

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' recruiting one last team
 

I want to join! as C'tis would be nice!
edit: also would prefer no ai's

Re: MP 'Stillborn Noobs' recruiting one last team
 

No AI vote will be added. Welcome! Let's get three more players!!!!

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' recruiting last 3 players for hopeful weekend start!
 

I want to play as Pythium!
and i`d like no AI players too!

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' recruiting final 2 players for hopeful weekend start!
 

Please confirm on this forum, as soon as you have uploaded your avatar. I suggest you seek out the contact details / ICQ etc.. details for your partner so you can mutually plan. :)

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' recruiting final 2 players for hopeful weekend start!
 

ok! im in tag-team with Nttea playing c`tis, right?

as soon as i get to my home pc, ill upload my pretender!

Can i change my nation claim(i really like MA Pythium, but teamwork comes first) after i talk with Nttea?

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' recruiting final 2 players for hopeful weekend start!
 

Absolutely! We (Team 1) intend to do the same. Feel free to change your choices, and I will update the thread as you post. :)

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' recruiting final 2 players for hopeful weekend start!
 

ok!
nttea, i`ve send PM to you.
contact me via ICQ, if you can, plz!
EDIT: you can get my UIN in profile, but to fasten things a bit - 331116789

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' Now STARTED
 

Final map choice has been uploaded. Tyrande II (beautiful map!) though it is 8 player, so there will be a little more room to expand. We have selected the "no sites" version, which removes predefined sites to balance it up a bit, and as teams, it should be quite fair.

Upload away!!!!

Marcel.

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' Now STARTED
 

Also, guys, pms on this forum have to be enabled in your profile before you can send or receive them, so it might be a good idea to do that now. Horrorfend, I'm looking in your general direction here. ;)

Also, everyone make sure you have CBM 1.83 enabled before you create your pretender god. The mod changes some options and costs, so if you make the pretender without CBM enabled the games cheat protection will activate and stick you with an archmage with no magic paths.

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' Now STARTED
 

Ok, might take me a bit longer to get my pretender in, as I thought this was an EA game and designed a pretender and strategy for EA mictlan. I'll take Vanheim instead.

P.S. I am dumb.

P.P.S Why aren't we using the most recent version of CBM, 1.84?

P.P.P.S The link in the OP links to the CBM 1.6 download. I promise I'm done editing this post now.

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' Now STARTED
 

No, they were very good posts.

1. You are not dumb
2. We will use 1.84
3. Link will be adjusted

Good call

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' Now STARTED
 

I decided to go with Machaka. I sent in my pretender. However, if we are switching to 1.84 then I will go rebuild under that.

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' Now STARTED
 

Hm. I suspect you have to delete the game and re-start it, possibly under a new name, if you want to use a different mod. Or am I wrong?

Oh, you did that

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' Now STARTED
 

Tratorix suggested making the hosting interval 36 hours. I will be moving in the next month and I have small children, so I would support that.

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' Now STARTED
 

36 hours it is then. It will be adjusted at request, but perhaps we can start with 24 hours, and move to 36 if the need becomes evident? It can easily be changed in admin options, from what I am told...

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' Now STARTED
 

With only 24 hours, by the time someone realizes they need an extension, they may not be able to get in touch with you in time to get one. The extra twelve hours just helps provide a safety net for that.

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' Now Recruiting Reserves / Final team
 

We have teams so that the other person can do a move if needed. I will go 36 hours, as I trust your judgement.

We are going to recruit a reserve player, should such wish to join, and maybe even if two join by the time we have all uploaded pretenders maybe we will get one more team together. We will close the call as soon as existing players upload the avatars, but if there is an issue with an existing member not signing up, then we have that problem solved, if not, we have an independent team who is unaligned, allowing some interesting diplomatic choices and backstabbing later. :)

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' Now Recruiting Reserves / Final team
 

I`ve uploaded my pretender! GAME STARTED!!!!!!

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' Running
 

Well, I downloaded my trn file, all happy to find out where I am starting, and Dom3 crashed with a version error. I have been out of circulation for a while and apparently I need version 3.26. So I go to download and apply patch 3.26. Appears to work, but after I launch the game and try to open the trn file, same error. And the version number has not updated. So I am stuck. I posted to the main forums hoping to get some advice, but meanwhile I can not do anything. I would suggest opening up my slot to someone else rather than waiting for me to fix my setup.

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' Running
 

I've emailed you about some things we can try

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' Running
 

I have temporarily looked after your 'interests' until you can fix the problem. As soon as you can fix it, let me know. :)

Also, if you have a specific things you want to do, just email me and let me know.

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' Running
 

OK, reinstalled the game, applied the patch, works now. I sent in my turn 2.

We can proceed as normal.

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' Running
 

ADMIN LOG :

12:40 GMT on Saturday June 11th
Hosting interval changed to 36 hours.
22:04 GMT on Saturday June 11th
Changed e-mail address for Machaka.
22:44 GMT on Saturday June 11th
Changed e-mail address for Machaka.

Guys, we suggested that we take turns for one another - apparently, this will cause a problem with a "cd-key" violation. As I did a move for Machaka because they had an issue, none of my orders were processed, and I am in a poorer situation than I should have been. I would appreciate it if you guys cut me some slack for a while and let me recover and not be a general jerk and take advantage of my noobness. :)

I could wind back a turn, but I won't because of the inconvenience it would cause you guys. I will try and find a third party that is happy to sub for any of us, if you guys think that would be helpful, as we can't do it the way we thought.

Marcel.

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' Running
 

Well, so will your next turn also be a cd-key violation? Will my next turn be a cd-key violation? It seems weird that your turn was a cd-key violation but mine was not: I sent in my pretender with my cd-key, and then you used yours to submit orders. Maybe the way it works is that the second set of orders from the same cd-key is ignored?

I would not mind just restarting entirely. Or I guess rewinding back to turn 0 would work. But of course I am biased :)

Re: 'Stillborn Noobs' Running
 

Thanks, that is very kind.

We will roll back the turns. This means, that it is expected that you simply resend in the turn from turn one. It is probably a perfect time to do so, as we really have had no contact with one another.

Changing what you are doing because you know what is going to happen is an exploit and should be avoided - please do not do this. I will be strictly doing exactly what I was doing the tun before.

I do very much appreciate it. Thanks a lot guys!

Marcel.

Admin Message :

stillbornnoobs: Roll back to previous turn
This will cause the game to return to the previous turn.

Note that I generally recommend not doing this. The main reason for this is the fact that players have already seen the current turn, and so they know what would happen given the set of moves they used last time. Hence, consciously or not, they are very likely to use this information to change their actions next time they submit a turn. Even assuming none of the players' actions are affected, there will always be a suspicion in the mind of the other players if battles turn out significantly differently. Therefore just in the interest of having the game feel completely fair, I think rollbacks are a bad idea.

A further reason is a difficulty with game file confusion. Imagine turn 10 has just come out, and someone starts to play the turn. Then the game is rolled back to turn 9, and processed again to make a new turn 10. Unless players delete the 2h file they produced from the original turn 10, Dominions will not know to ignore it and may get seriously confused. This can cause a lot of madness, e.g. soldiers becoming commanders and gaining magic paths, and so on. So if you do do a rollback, make sure to remind players to delete their 2h files.

Having said that, there are situations where rollbacks are called for, which is why I've included the option here.

Read this next bit carefully. I seem to be having difficulties explaining it coherently:

Note that once the game is rolled back, it will appear that the game is waiting for 2h files from all players. However, the 2h files from last time the turn was played will in fact be there, and will be used if the game hosts without them being overwritten. This can be useful; often, a game is rehosted in order for only one or two players to retake their turns, while everyone else is expected to make no changes. The game admin can therefore wait till just those players have submitted, and then force hosting. None of the other players will stale (assuming they actually submitted a 2h file last time the turn was played).

I hope all that makes sense!