Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (game initiated- see game thread)
 

game thread:

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showt...807#post799807

First off start with acknowledgements: THANK-YOU to Feinne who set up the start positions for the map we are using.

Some of you may have read a few of the multiple-player point of view after action reports that have been posted:

Doomed to Fail

and to a more limited extent:

Dominions 3 Newbie Game


There are other examples out there but some you have to pay to see (because the threads are old and 'archived') while others i can't seem to find.


Regardless, the idea is to get a couple of handful of dedicated players to play a group game (everyone together in the same game to clarify) and to post descriptions of their turns with screenshots and analysis as well as their thoughts on how things are progressing. To prevent other players from abusing that information, we would not post our turn details until about 20 or so turns after the turns actually take place.

Ultimately we create a story of the battle for the lands as told from many different players perspective.

So this thread is to invite players who think they can dedicate the time to not only a game but to a write-up of said game to share in an experience of that nature. If we can get at least 7 dedicated players, we will proceed.



Questions and thoughts?



Players with some level of commitment:
Corinthian, LDiCesare, Jotwebe, Greyjoy, Excist, Bluemage142, Warhammer, and Immaculate

New players are welcome to join during this planning stage.

Nations Selected:

Corinthian: Formoria- "I have an interesting build in mind"
LdiCesare: Pangea- "Pangaea could be funny, but the maenad micromanagement may well be a pain. I think I'd go with Pangaea"
Jotwebe: R'lyeh- "prepare to be probed by your new tentacled overlord"
Roland Jones: Helheim- "Because why not"
Bluemage142: Maverni- "Try Something Different"
Warhammer: Caelum- "Cue up Ride of the Valkyries, ah... er... Helheim's in the game... right... OK, let's go with Thunderstruck instead then"
Excist: Abyssia
Immaculate: Acrosephalae



Game Link

Map Link

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread)
 

id love to join in on this immaculate. but i am in 3 games now. i can write, but i really can't play. makes me a good fit. if i am eliminated any time soon from these other games, i am in

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread)
 

My thinking is the same as parone: AARs are great, shared AAR are even better (at least the few I've read), but I'm currently saddled in two games. As with parone, I'd love to join if one of the two finish soon, but it's unlikely unless the recruitement for this game takes a long time... I'll make sure to read this AAR religiously though, and I give the idea a big thumbs up :)

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread)
 

Okay, so maybe we should just come back to it in a few months or something...

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (s there interest?)
 

I was thinking about an AAR in my current game, but I've made so many lame-brain mistakes I'd be too embarrassed now. :re: Maybe next game.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (s there interest?)
 

I could be interested in such a game. After all, I started playing this game in the first place because of one of those LP's on the SA forum. And I have always wondered what I would write if I was playing in their stead.

Still, a game like this requires more planning than a normal game. Both for me and for the game in general. It has to be something special and I have to find a crazy fun build to style in front of the veritable camera.

Also, the players playing in such a game must not be complete noobs either. Its always best if the readers can learn something from the game after all.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (s there interest?)
 

I am intending to keep notes in the three newbie games that I'm in. Hopefully something fruitful will come of it.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (s there interest?)
 

So to clarify, the project would involved a game we all play in at the same time and we all post our AAR here on this forum. Not seperate games. So everyone gets to hear the tale of the great battles for this land from different perspectives. and what prevents others players from knowing what you are up to? a 20 turn delay...

hope that clarifies.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (s there interest?)
 

I'll have to second parone then. I'm in three games currently. If I get eliminated early I would be up to doing AAR in a new newbie game.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (s there interest?)
 

Hmm, those threads got me into MP after a hiatus from mostly SP. Color me interested.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (s there interest?)
 

I'd be in. There would have to be some time in order to both write and play the game (starting 36 or 48h instead of 24h, and maybe 72h later instead of 48).

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (s there interest?)
 

Okay, so i am thinking that we have three committed players and a bunch of maybes.

Definitely start at 36-48 hours. I think also, if people are committed and we have a good group of responsible players i'll probably just make it so all the players know the password to the game so they can add extensions themselves if they need to.

In:
Corinthian, LDiCesare, and myself.


Do either of you have any ideas for the game itself? I think i want to keep it mod minimal- no new nations etc. but i do want to use cbm 1.92 unless there are strong objections; i think the developers did a lot of good for the game by making some spells and items that were just plain ignored (occasionally) usable. I would also prefer not to use the middle age unless others really strongly wish to use it. I find both the ea and la way more interesting but maybe thats just me.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (s there interest?)
 

Yeah, MA is a bit bland compared to the others, so either EA or LA would be my preference of an aar game, too. How about Streamers and Banners? A lot more pretty than the defaults in most cases, IMHO.

I'm in, too, BTW. Let there be tales of heroes and villains, of prophets and apostates, of gods and pretenders!

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (s there interest?)
 

sure streamers and standards too.

So we have four players.


Maybe we should reach across the partisan divide and invite some goons? I know a few that might be interested. They'll want to play FF but i'm sure they can deal without- we'll just see tons of Zmeys- they love those things (rightfully so).


EDIT: I'll probably make it so we post the updates both here but on the CIV Fanatics (other games) forums as well -to get better coverage and hopefully entice some more players from outside the establishment to get into Dominions III.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (we need three more committed players)
 

looks like we got some players coming over from goon chat and we might be able to launch this thing pretty quick. just got to wait for them to get their account activated.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (we need three more committed players)
 

I'm willing to join in, provided we do use CBM.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (we need three more committed players)
 

Mods would be 'CBM 1.92' and 'streamers and standards'.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (we need three more committed players)
 

Since my account has finally been activated, I'm just posting here to confirm my desire to participate. Has an age been decided yet? I still find myself interested in LA.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (we need three more committed players)
 

I like LA too myself.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (we need 1-2 more committed players)
 

Joining the game.

As far as age, I'll play any of them, but prefer EA. I like the magic better.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (we need 1-2 more committed players)
 

Okay, i think thats enough players to launch.

Anyone else have an opinion on age or map?

i'm thinking parganos, aran, or streamlands... but maybe someone has another appropriate map in mind? Shadowshore is maybe appropriate?

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

Hmm... for the purpose of an AAR a non-wraparound is probably better, since wraparounds can easily get confusing if you're not involved with them.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

Shadow shore is great. But for fairness maybe we should have custom starts. On a non-wraparound, the starting position is much more important.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

How do you do that?

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

I have never done it but according to the manual:

2.5.1 #start <province nbr>
By creating at least one start location for each
player, every player will start at one of these
locations. If #start provinces are set, nations will
start at these locations unless there are more
nations than #start provinces. If there are more
nations than #start provinces, the extra nations
will start in eligible random locations.
If a province is set as a #start province but its
terrain mask includes the value 512 (nostart), the
nostart will override the #start command and no
nation will start there.
If no #start provinces are set, all provinces are
available as random starting locations unless set
nonstartable with the #nostart command or in
the map editor.

Keep in mind that some nations must start in the water or in coastal provinces witch can cause problems for these commands.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

I'll ask around if anyone is willing to do this for us. I bet feinne would if we asked him.


EDIT: Does anyone have any objections to this plan?


I guess now that we've had 2 people say they want LA and one person say that they want EA, we progress with an LA game unless someone says otherwise?



Any non-default settings beyond 'renaming allowed' and 'allow 15 in HOF'? set magic site frequency up 10?

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

I am interested if there is room. I would prefer EA. I do have limited knowledge of cbm 1.92 (I prefer 1.5 or 1.6), but that is not a problem.

While not a great player by any stretch, I'm not a noob either.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

Its not your experience that is important, its your dedication (and your ability to write up short reports complete with screenshots and opinions/analysis). Remember this is an AAR. Everything else comes second.

That said, if you are ready to commit the time and energy to this project, welcome aboard.

So now its all tied up EA vs LA. next person to say what they prefer gets to decide what we play.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

Humm, humdihum dum, bumbum...... EA

I already have 2 LA games going on right now. Hopefully they will not mature at the same time as this game.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

okay- claim your nation.

Me= that nation with the androphag archers and hydras who's name i always forget.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

You mean EA Agartha! :D

On a serious note, which map are we playing on?

Also, how will we handle the AAR? I will probably work on mine on a turn to turn basis. That way I won't get behind and I'll have a fresh "What I am thinking is..." vibe.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

I think i'll leave the presentation up to the players somewhat but try not to fall behind. Generally we should be about 20 turns behind the actual game. So when we reach turn 21, present your turn 1, etc.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

I will go with Fomoria personally. Not sure how I'm gonna role play them, but I have an interesting build in mind.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

Oh and lets not have EA Agartha in this game. Currently they are quite broken.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

how?

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

Well, I was planning on Jomon for LA, but since we're doing EA... I think I'll try Helheim. Because why not.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

EA Agartha gets darkness in their 20+ PD witch many nations have no counters for early. They also get severely underpriced earth elementals. On top of that they have gotten many other spells and troop changes that means that even without these things they are not underpowered any more.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

Actually, scratch Helheim for now; rethinking what nation to use. Will post my decision when I make it, I suppose. (Cant edit my post to reflect this apparently, so new post instead.)

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

Immaculate was referring to EA Sauromatia, and I was joking when I mentioned EA Agartha.

I'm looking at several nations right now. Will figure it out tonight.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

I think I'll try Marverni this time. Do something different.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

Been looking into EA R'lyeh lately. Now that they get everything amphibious, there's no need to jump through hoops for amulets of the fish anymore. Much more fun. So, prepare to be probed by your new tentacled overlords :D

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

Okay, sticking with Helheim after all. Let's see if I do better with them now than I did my first game with them. (Which probably wouldn't have gone so poorly if my first action hadn't been to pick a fight with Hinnom.)

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

I need to re-examine some pretender builds since they do not work under the new versions of CBM. Looking at T&C, Abyssia, and Caelum. Don't be afraid to pick any of these though.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

Have we settled on Shadowshore as the map? I would like to do a test run using some possible builds. Also, to get a feel for how far apart we are going to be.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

Okay, i've talked to feinne and he's agreed to set up the map for us (Shadowshore). It will have seven land starts and 1 water start. Everyone should start near or on the periphery so no one is sandwiched in the middle. The start positions should be like positions on a clock. There will be at least a few coastal start positions because formoria is in the game and they need a coastal start.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

Thanks!

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

Hesitating between various blood nations. Mictlan, Lanka, or Pangaea... The problem with Mictlan is I'd feel compelled to be an aggressive bastard. Pangaea could be funny, but the maenad micromanagement may well be a pain. I think I'd go with Pangaea.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

Okay, so warhammer is working on some builds and we need to hear from GreyJoy.

I don't really like the placement of all nations that Feinne suggested- though i really really appreciate his work on this project so i am going to have a try with editing the map myself (Ldi suggested some stuff that should help). Once those things are done (hopefully tonight?), i will launch the game and the AAR thread.

At that point, you will all need to introduce yourselves and your nation, maybe trash talk a little, whatever. We'll play twenty turns (taking notes and screenshots as we go -or even writing the AARs as we go so they are ready to post), then when we hit turn 21 we'll post our turn 1 after action reports.

Looks like things are coming along nicely so get those pretenders designed and i'll get the map fixed up (probably tonight after the kids are in bed) and we'll be ready to go soon enough.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

Alright, I'll go with Caelum. Cue up Ride of the Valkyries, ah... er... Helheim's in the game... right... OK, let's go with Thunderstruck instead then.

Re: Shared AAR Experience (pre-thread) (finalizing the planning stages, join if you w
 

Hmm..... Fixed starts.... But if I end up on the Isle of Balor I will be crossed! No mater how thematic it might be!