New PBW Game idea - "Caretaker"

geoschmo · #1 January 23rd, 2003, 01:22 AM

I think this sounds like it could be cool, and a challange. 5 - 10 players. A randomly generated map edited to add starting positions. Each player will start in the same system with a stock AI race. You are the "Caretaker" for this race. The idea is to kill all the other players AI races. The players whose AI Lasts the longest wins.

Your AI may not particularly appreciate being cared for. It may attack you, a lot. You will need to defend yourself, without doing it too much damage. You could beat it down to one planet and blockade it to protect it. But that would be a big chance. All it would take is one player getting to your homesystems and getting lucky to kill them off then. A better idea is to find a way to live with the AI and get them to tolerate you enough so you can protect them. It might even mean relocating your homeworld.

The AI has to be an empire of some size. You can't merely conquer it and keep it's population as a trophy.

Players would get their choice of AI's. A smart player would choose an AI that is a different planet type and atmosphere as their race. A really smart player would try various combinations to see which AI seems to stay the happiest with this situation the longest.

If your AI is killed you could not win, but it wouldn't have to end your game. You could remain in the game and hunt the other players AI's to bring a quick end to the game. Or just to be a pain and get revenge on the player that killed your AI.

You could also play the game as a straight up Last man standing and kill everybody, AI and human alike. That would not be against the rules, but it would be frowned upon.

It also wouldn't be a very efficent use of your resources.

So, whatdaya think?

Geoschmo

Phoenix-D · #2 January 23rd, 2003, 01:25 AM

*tries to restrain himself*..fails

I'm in too many games already, but count me in.

EDIT: Would the game use standard SE4 or the TDM modpack?

Phoenix-D

[ January 22, 2003, 23:25: Message edited by: Phoenix-D ]

geoschmo · #3 January 23rd, 2003, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Phoenix-D:
*tries to restrain himself*..fails

I'm in too many games already, but count me in.

EDIT: Would the game use standard SE4 or the TDM modpack?

Phoenix-D

I am thinking it would be hard enough dealing with the AI in such a restrained manner as it is. Probably stick with stock AI and no bonus. That would make them easier for others to kill too and make your job of protecting them more difficult.

Geoschmo

couslee · #4 January 23rd, 2003, 02:56 AM

"The AI has to be an empire of some size."
That kinda contridicts the blockade idea.

"If your AI is killed you could not win, but it wouldn't have to end your game. You could remain in the game and hunt the other players AI's to bring a quick end to the game. Or just to be a pain and get revenge on the player that killed your AI."

I think that is a bad idea. if your AI gets killed, you could exact revenge on the person that took you out (MAD). And/or go for another victory condition (ie you have to max all tech fields). You would not be able to "start" a war with a new person, but if attacked then their AI and themselves would be fair game. I think if done the way you say, then whats the point of even having them, because as soon as one player lost their AI, the would Saddam all over the place. If MAD was the recourse (mutualy assured destruction) then you had better make sure you can defend against the player as well as the AI your attacking because they will have nothing left to do but take your arse out. or perhaps, even the oppertunity to get back in the game buy blockading all of the other player's AI planets. (other player meaning the one that killed off his AI). Otherwise, i think it will become a slug fest in short order. just my opinion.

Other than that, it sound like a fun concept.

Would the AI your suppose to protect start out with a protectorate treaty with you? (or visa-versa if I screwed that up).

Would this be a plain SE4g game, or would I have to start the whole MOD thing.

Not having played this game PBW, nor have I tried any mods yet, I might have a lot of questions. if you don't want someone that newbie in the game, thats fine too. I am not sure I am up for it anyway, just putting my .02 in on the idea. I still have not figured out the best race design for my playstyle. lol

Fyron · #5 January 23rd, 2003, 03:10 AM

Quote:

"The AI has to be an empire of some size."
That kinda contridicts the blockade idea.

1 planet is "some size", so no, it does not. He just meant that it has to have planets > 0.

geoschmo · #6 January 23rd, 2003, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by couslee:
"The AI has to be an empire of some size."
That kinda contridicts the blockade idea.

No contradiction at all. A blockaded empire is still an empire. The definition of empire I am using here is they have to have at least a planet left so they can maintain contact with you in the game.

Quote:

"If your AI is killed you could not win, but it wouldn't have to end your game. You could remain in the game and hunt the other players AI's to bring a quick end to the game. Or just to be a pain and get revenge on the player that killed your AI."

I think that is a bad idea. if your AI gets killed, you could exact revenge on the person that took you out (MAD). And/or go for another victory condition (ie you have to max all tech fields). You would not be able to "start" a war with a new person, but if attacked then their AI and themselves would be fair game. I think if done the way you say, then whats the point of even having them, because as soon as one player lost their AI, the would Saddam all over the place. If MAD was the recourse (mutualy assured destruction) then you had better make sure you can defend against the player as well as the AI your attacking because they will have nothing left to do but take your arse out. or perhaps, even the oppertunity to get back in the game buy blockading all of the other player's AI planets. (other player meaning the one that killed off his AI). Otherwise, i think it will become a slug fest in short order. just my opinion.

Hmmmm, there's some logic there. So maybe we need an alternate victory condition. I don't like the idea of max tech. What if your alternate victory condition is to kill another human player and take over caretaker duties of his AI? Hmmmm. Have to think about that one. Maybe we will jsut kick you out if your AI is killed and turn your empire over to AI control. That could be interesting.

Quote:

Other than that, it sound like a fun concept.

Would the AI your suppose to protect start out with a protectorate treaty with you? (or visa-versa if I screwed that up).

Would this be a plain SE4g game, or would I have to start the whole MOD thing.

No protectorate. Although you can offer the AI a protectorate treaty. Maybe they will accept.

No mod.

couslee · #7 January 23rd, 2003, 03:17 AM

oh. my bad, I just read it wrong. was thinking of "notable" size. like the AI empire has to be at least 20% of the size of your empire for victory. This might mean having to give worlds to them. I have not tried that yet in my "one" game, and since I am MEE in it, I doubt I will be able to try that.

Sorry for the multiple edits.

Wouldn't you also want to change the defualt jelousy settings for the AI? I griped about it in another thread, and reversed the settings. It worked out ok.

[ January 23, 2003, 01:38: Message edited by: couslee ]

Phoenix-D · #8 January 23rd, 2003, 04:58 AM

"Hmmmm, there's some logic there. So maybe we need an alternate victory condition. I don't like the idea of max tech. What if your alternate victory condition is to kill another human player and take over caretaker duties of his AI? Hmmmm. Have to think about that one. Maybe we will jsut kick you out if your AI is killed and turn your empire over to AI control. That could be interesting."

I think the original victory condition is fine. Except maybe add one more element. If your AI is killed, you can get another AI by killing that race's protector off, and "stealing" it.

Phoenix-D

couslee · #9 January 23rd, 2003, 05:16 AM

hmm, would you have to kill off that player, or ANY player.

If you have an AI, your obviously a threat to the other AIs.
If you lost your AI, you not a threat to the other AIs (yet) but to the players.
If you lost your AI, you can't go kill other's AI's.

(I remember a pbem smac game that went through a lot of player debating beforehand. It turned out to be a most excellent game).

geoschmo · #10 January 23rd, 2003, 05:37 AM

Phoenix, I like that. And a player that loses his AI would probably get ganged up on by the other players cause they all know he'd be trying to steal one of their AI's.

The only thing is, what happens if you get 2 or three humans without AI's. Then they are fighting over the AI's that are left, and the whole thing ends up being a regular Last man standing game. Hmmmm. Need to think about this some more. It does have potential though.

Geoschmo