[llamabeast]

I'd just like to butt in to the discussion, because I got the impression that quite a few players have the impression that most of the MP going on is super-competitive. That isn't my experience at all - I've found there's a lot of role-playing going on, interesting tactics and friendly gaming. Maybe its just a feature of playing the generally larger-and-longer games organised in the forum rather than the blitzes organised in the IRC channel, I don't know.

In any case, I've never felt under pressure to go for a completely optimal game or anything. The variation in player skill, plus diplomacy and role-playing add enough complication to the mix that it's not necessary to go down the min-maxing route.

I would really encourage people who haven't played much MP to join some of the new games organised in the MP forum here, they really are excellent fun and very friendly.

Also the 1-turn-a-day system I find works well, and doesn't take up a lot of time (unless you sign up to multiple games!), although of course it could be difficult for people who have varied schedules, travel a lot etc..

Just to be clear, my point isn't in any way to put down SP or say that everyone should play MP. Just that I wouldn't like everyone to think that all MP games are super-competitive, because that isn't what I've found at all.