A different style of playing multi-player Dom 3

[StrictlyRockers]

I'm thinking about hosting a game where communication with less than all of the players in the game is not allowed. Private PM's are not allowed, in game or here via the forum PM system. No alliances allowed. No trading allowed.

The only communication allowed is a message to everyone, using the game's messaging system or posting here on the game's thread, and then it is still against the rules to state something which reveals anything about a nation's position or strength.

What that means is that there is basically NO communication allowed about the game, at all. All communication in the game is done though moving your units around. You shouldn't be surprised if your troop movements get misinterpretted as threatening and you get attacked, because you are already automatically at war with every neighbor and you are also not allowed to talk to one another.

As an example, you can't even post "Hey Agartha, don't attack me." Because that would reveal something about the map positions, and people would thereby know that you and Agartha share a border. It basically breaks down to all war, all the time. There is no peace at all, ever. When you encounter a neighbor, you are at war...for the rest of the game. There is no communication allowed.

This is the Dominions 3 dimension where none of the races share a common tongue. It makes some sense. How would the fish people ever communicate with the bird men? It's the "Tower of Babel Game". Every race speaks a unique language, and none of them are able to communicate.

Secret alliances would be considered dishonorable cheating. You are totally on your own in this game. The only way you will have a clue what is happening is by studying the statistic charts, and by listening to your scouts. No one is allowed to tell you what is currently happening, or what their plans are. No one can tell you anything - it's every man for himself.

Two vs one wars, etc., could happen, but not due to planning, only due to circumstance. Your scout network becomes more important in a game of this type. I would like to host a game like this, eventually.

What do people think about playing a game with this rules set? Is there any interest? Can anyone think of any issues that may arise? The way we always play Dom 3 is commonly referred to as Free For All style, or FFA. The style of play that I'm suggesting was invented by a player named "cton". I'll call it "Tower of Babel" style.

SR

[Micah]

Been done, check out the RAND games that Pasha has hosted, the second in the series is going right now under RAND Redux.

Not saying you can't start one up as well though, just that the idea's been tested out already, and it works quite well, the reviews I've heard are all positive, so go ahead and get one hosting if you'd like =)

[StrictlyRockers]

Cool, thanks for the tip. I'll check out RAND. It sounds like my kind of game. No sense in reinventing the wheel if they have a good system.

[alhorro]

Diplomacy is the best aspect of Dominions imo. Bluff, trade, communication are much more interesting than fights — anyone can kit a dozen of SC's, build hundreds of chaff and pray for Random (cause the game is 20% skill and 80% luck), but diplomacy is what makes Dominions style.

And as for «Tower of Babel Game», it's ridiculous — fish people, capable of opening tartarian gate, casting global enchantments, binding devils, enslaving mind and throwing fireballs, by all means can find a way to communicate with bird-man or any other object

[jimkehn]

I say go for it!!!!

....but count me out.

[johnarryn]

While I do agree that there is some aspect of luck to the game, Alhorro (in the sense that certain sites can be extremely helpful), the game is far more than 20% skill. There are reasons why players such as Micah and Calmon (among others) tend to win frequently, and I hesitate to attribute that to luck.

[Baalz]

I also moderated a game similar to this, the Highlander game. The rules of that one were no out of game communication except through the public forum. Made it pretty difficult to coordinate any actions or negotiate treaty terms.

[PashaDawg]

Hi:

A RAND game stands for: random nations, anonymous, no-diplomacy. So, the host cannot play, because he needs to assign nations randomly. Players are revealed as their dominions are snuffed. It's been described as SP but with human AI's. It can be a lot of fun.

Pasha

[JimMorrison]

Both of these sound interesting. I assume anything was allowed in your game, Baalz? So long as it was discussed publicly in the game thread, so actual alliances would be dangerous to make, and covert scheming which is so rampant in other games, would be impossible.

I don't think I'd want to play these kinds of games exclusively (though they reduce Inbox spam! ), but variants are intriguing.

[Revolution]

Baalz said:
I also moderated a game similar to this, the Highlander game. The rules of that one were no out of game communication except through the public forum. Made it pretty difficult to coordinate any actions or negotiate treaty terms.

I was in highlander. It was a neat idea...but just using the in game diplomacy got became frustrating as the game went on and one power emerged. With no way to coordinate a way to oppose him we stood no chance.