Best practices for PBW Game Hosts?
 

OK, I've been toying with an idea for a PBW game for a long time, I've got the backstory, I'm working on the map, and I'm almost ready to go.

The problem is, I want to play in it too.

So...what are the generally accepted best practices that govern the situation of a game host also playing in the game?

If all the game information was unknown to the host as well as the players, I see no potential for conflict of interest.

However, in cases where there is a custom made map, or a starting setup that the GM has modified such that he might know where the players are located at the start of the game, there is a potential for a conflict of interest.

In my current case, I have a unique and interesting map that I have made and playtesting to make sure it works, so I am at least marginally aware of some of its characteristics. Needless to say, I am extremely adamant against cheating (I think I can honestly say I never have - except for that game of Illuminati, but we were playing with "cheating rules on"...)or even having the perception of conflict of interest, so I am conflicted.

Are there any accepted rules of thumb to govern this situation?

Thanks,

Alarik

Re: Best practices for PBW Game Hosts?
 

If you take the Ancient Race trait, all knowledge of the map is given, so you have nothing to worry about cheating.

Re: Best practices for PBW Game Hosts?
 

Yea ancient race is the cost of such knowledge.

Or make the map available for download so all can see it.

or use the setting where everyone has a view.

Or send this custom map to someone.

ANd say. Make me something like this.

That way you do not know.

Re: Best practices for PBW Game Hosts?
 

Avoid kicking yourself by accident. That is bad.

*Remember to put in the Administrator PW and that it matches PBW.

Re: Best practices for PBW Game Hosts?
 

Simple solution to your problem. Send the map to someone else and have them change the starting points.

Be sure to let them know what mod you used to create and edit the map so they can avoid errors.

Re: Best practices for PBW Game Hosts?
 

Generate a new random map or ask another forum member to create 1 and use that instead. Id like to see a extra large map programmed into v 1.85

Re: Best practices for PBW Game Hosts?
 

You can get really big maps by increasing the max systems setting in Settings.txt in the Data folder. You can increase it up to 255 systems. That is definitely bigger than "extra large."

Re: Best practices for PBW Game Hosts?
 

Thanks for that - id still like to see say 0-25 systems for small, 26-50 for medium, 51-100 for large, 100-150 for extra large, 151-200 for huge and then for massive 201-255 systems as default options to be automatic within the game - like to see many expansions within the v 1.85 patch.

Re: Best practices for PBW Game Hosts?
 

Well the v1.85 patch was already finalized and sent to beta testers a while ago. The final public patch in this sequence will be 1.94 or something like that. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

But anyways... Make sure to email suggestions to se4 at malfador dot com. Otherwise, they will probably not see them.

Re: Best practices for PBW Game Hosts?
 

Yeah, I think I'll have to do this. The only heartburn I had with that is the backstory for the game results in the "no ancient race" characteristic. But, I can rewrite it to allow a single one...

thanks all for the suggestion!

Alarik

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