Communication ethics in PBW
 

Thought ask this on behalf of my lurker friend http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif but am also curious myself what you guys think. In a PBW game (or email game) is it OK to communicate by e-mail? Personaly I would prefer to keep communication within the game but think it is ultimately up to the players and perhaps more importanty the host to decide

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

In-game communication is too #### slow to do anything useful by..email is fine by me http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Phoenix-D

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

I must agree

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ditto.. Although I still haven't emailed anyone.

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

email
*amn that Gryphin, Wish I could post some of the things he has sent.

[ August 08, 2002, 01:02: Message edited by: PaladinOfEarth ]

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

Still curssing me? I am honored.

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

I say it depends upon the rules of the game. Some games do not want to restrict the players. Some do. I don't think it is a problem so long as a record of the emails is kept just in case a question about cheating arrises.

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

I'm keeping records of all my chats, just to make sure I don't forget about anybody oweing me money http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[ August 08, 2002, 05:47: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

IMHO, there is absolutely nothing wrong with email communication. Or IM communication, or private forums for specific players, for that matter. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

hell, i had an interstate phone conversation to coordinate a very complicated double crossing, once.

not that im in the habit of double crossing folks, i usually give scads of fair warning before a war starts, and i try to win the peace whenever possible.

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

Speaking only of my experiences with multiplayer playing the game Stars!, I have to agree that using e-mail outside the game for discussions and coordinations can be a very important, vital part of the game.
In games like Stars! and SE4, diplomacy plays a vital part of the game. The longer you can negotiate peace, the longer you can hold off battles and/or defense of any kind, the more you can expand your empire and grow unhindered. The more you can coordinate your actions, the more likely you are to be victorious over another single player or another alliance of several.
In one of my best alliances, it was me (NY) and two others (one in Idaho, and one in Australia) - we used to meet ever other day or so using MSN Messenger and have very good productive game discussions.
One may think that this is unfair in someway, but everyone is free to choose to do it or not to do it. For me, it's all a matter of how much free time I have to dedicate to "advanced planning" in this way.

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

My personal view is that any communications should be held through the mechanism of the diplomatic communicator in the game... In a PBW game, each of you are masters of your respective empires and naturally, you should only be able to plot once you have met your oppo and via that mechanism..

Outside of the game I just dont think is right or proper

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

I agree that you shouldn't communicate until you've met in-game, but i think most of the players here are referring to after an in-game meeting.

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

Yes, what SJ said.

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

SJ, you may be right but my evaluation of the thread (interstate phone calls etc) is that such discussions are held outside the fora of the game itself ie I call Mac or email him separately to make an alliance to swap 4 battlecruisers for his phaser technology and a treaty to bushwack Gryppho..

I have no problem with treaties, alliances, pacts and galactic machtpolitik, just that they need to be carried out via the mechanism of the game diplomacy engine.. not by independant media

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

What is the limit in the Diplomatic screen?
255 characters?
Tigga,
Your job exisit because that little space would not be enough to make an understandable sentance.
It is not reallistic to think that if you can send 255 characters across space, that you could easily send 255,000 of them.

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

email is fine...

That way you can get many communications done in one turn... as apposed to just one

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

There is no limits on the # of characters IIRC. I have sent really big Messages without an error in the past.

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

SE4 v1.41 fixed the political Messages so you could scroll down and read an unlimited-length message.

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

Ok with unlimmeted, I am more willing to use the message system, I would rather use email.

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Actaully what my friend was bothered by that caused me to start this thread is because the other player e-mailed him on the very first trun.

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">indeed, i would consider it foul play to communicate with someone before actually meeting them in the game, and would never consider doing that myself.

on the other hand, i think it is unproductive and silly to restrict communications to one message a month, and have to wait an extra month to get an answer back. if those were the rules of the game, i would certainly abide by it. and i think you will find most PBW games stipulate wither or not email use is encouraged.

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Was this me in the Junkyard game? Because I would be real honored if you wasted your long distance money trying to pull the rug out from under the Gremlins. Hey, and I just put in a good word for your mod in another thread. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

Seriously, I feel email communications should be agreed upon before the start of a PBW game. I have utilized them in some games extensively and none in others. I don't view it as cheating, but it can give you an edge if other players are not coordinating their strategy. In game messaging is just painfully slow.

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

No the telephone conversation was with me...

And I am damned sorry we never got around to springing that trap.

Ah, the good ole days, when I wasn't involved in so many PBW games that I could actually concentrate on one turn for 30 minutes.

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

[quote]Originally posted by docshane:

Quote:

Originally posted by Puke: Because I would be real honored if you wasted your long distance money trying to pull the rug out from under the Gremlins.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">who still pays for long distance these days? seriously, this should be the topic of an OT poll or something. doesn't everyone have free nation-wide long distance these days?

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

Well, or they just make all their long distance calls from work. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Are you kidding? Not over here!

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

Free long distance? Hell, we pay for all local calls. It is only North America which has the free stuff.

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

Oh, you can get 'free' local calls in England but I believe you pay a fee of about £25 a month to get them.. given that we only make local calls at weekends or evenings when it is about 1p a minute, my basis maths implies you would need to talk for about 2 days solid per month to get to this...

As they are local, I just tell the current Mrs Gt to go round and see them

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well local calls maybe free here but free long distance has not move into the north part of the continent. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif
Of course 'free local' calls is really just a phone company ad slogan since we pay a monthly fee.

[ August 13, 2002, 01:52: Message edited by: DavidG ]

Re: Communication ethics in PBW
 

how about cell phone service? same local vs long distance paradigm apply?