Full security in PBEM campaigns?

Wdll · #1 June 18th, 2008, 10:01 PM

I can't find a way to change it to full and I get the feeling it can't be changed.

Mobhack · #2 June 19th, 2008, 08:17 AM

Explained in the Game Guide, CD-Extended features link, PBEM Campaigns section, first paragraph.

Cheers
Andy

Wdll · #3 June 19th, 2008, 08:32 AM

Pity.

Mobhack · #4 June 19th, 2008, 11:39 AM

The point of this thing is to enable players to have a series of linked battles over time, and to grow/progress their cores as in a normal campaign against the AI. It encourages a totally different style of play, since you need to preserve your core, save crew from bailed core units and so on, in a way that a single PBEM battle does not account for.

PBEM campaigns are not intended for competitive ladder type competitions, though the 3 guaranteed meeters basic type might be considered OK on some competitive sites perhaps. Just pick a trustworthy opponent.

PBEM campaigns are meant for a fun experience between 2 players, and basic security provides for that.

The security is in any case limited to basic mode since:
- It allows the players to use other computers. Since these campaigns will go on for some time, players will need to be able to play on their roving laptops as well as the home base PC.

- Many casual players have difficulty with full security PBEM mode. If not done correctly, the game will get rejected. And thus the entire campaign, which could be up to battle 19 of 20.

- Using basic mode also allows for the "prompted" game hints at end turn, making it easier for casual players to play PBEM.

- Player No.1 drives the campaigns. He sets up the battlefield conditions etc for each new game. Basic security allows player No. 2 to reject an offered setup, with player 1 having to reload and reset a more agreed-upon situation, or to reload till an agreed battle type appears etc. This is OK with basic security, but not with full security mode which would tend to reject the game.

- I looked at implementing secure mode, but the advantages outlined above far outweighed the complexity that would have been involved. And of course, the fact that a rejected game would nix the entire campaign was the clincher.

Cheers
Andy

Wdll · #5 June 19th, 2008, 11:48 AM

I understand. I don't agree all that much with the reasons, though I can see how ruining a game at the middle or end of a long campaign might be a problem.
I wouldn't mind having an option for full security for PBEM campaigns in addition to the basic (default).
But it is your decision and I will just have to live with it.
Game on!

Skirmisher · #6 June 19th, 2008, 01:57 PM

Basic security works better than full security anyways.

I wouldn't use full security in any PBEM anymore. Why?

Because when I use full security the game always becomes corrupt. With basic security at least you can finish the games.

Mobhack · #7 June 19th, 2008, 03:25 PM

Are you trying to run 2 or more concurrent games using the same PBEM slot under full security?. Some free game users apparently try that as a work-around to the 5 PBEM slot limitation in the non-CD version. It does not work.

Doing that will trash the secure PBEM game sooner or later. The PBEM slot must be dedicated to the one secure PBEM game from beginning to end of game. That is why a secure PBEM game cannot be played on a different PC from the one it was set up on, either.

(If you are not doing this, then check that your opponent is not trying to eke out his PBEM slots that way or swapping PCs either).

Cheers
Andy

Skirmisher · #8 June 19th, 2008, 04:06 PM

No, I never did that. But at least one of my opponents was doing that.

Bottom line for me,it's been years since I played a full security game that didn't get messsed up. So I just go with basic now. Far less headaches.

Nothing's worse then playing a really fun PBEM,then having it get corrupt.

DRG · #9 June 22nd, 2008, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Skirmisher said:
No, I never did that. But at least one of my opponents was doing that.

Bottom line for me,it's been years since I played a full security game that didn't get messsed up. So I just go with basic now. Far less headaches.

Nothing's worse then playing a really fun PBEM,then having it get corrupt.

A full security PBEM game IS possible as long as both sides follow the rules exactly. As soon as either player deviates from the procedure the game ends because high security was set up with the idea that there are players who will do anything to win a PBEM and when we set it up we had try to find a way to cover every way a player might try to cheat and unfortunately what may be, for most players, a simple mistake could in fact be an attempt by a player to cheat ( and, of course both sides will protest that there is NO WAY they would try to do that ....). but there is no way to set up full security to know that the "mistake" wasn't an attempt to cheat. As you noted at least one of your opponents was trying to play two PBEM from the same slot and that will trip full security every time.

Full security DOES work. The "problem" is for many players it works too well which is the entire reason we added basic security It's more forgiving but isn't as secure but for most players this is all they need. This is why the PBEM campaign was set up as basic only. We knew when we did it someone would complain about the lact of full security but the simple fact is we know that no matter what we do to the game someone will think it should be done differently.

Don

Wdll · #10 June 22nd, 2008, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Skirmisher said:
No, I never did that. But at least one of my opponents was doing that.

Bottom line for me,it's been years since I played a full security game that didn't get messsed up. So I just go with basic now. Far less headaches.

Nothing's worse then playing a really fun PBEM,then having it get corrupt.

Apart from a time that I did something very stupid, over the last ~2 years I have played about 50 PBEM games. Full security. Once a problem with the compression utility, once the issue stupid thing I did by mistake, and 48 games that had no problems at all.