I propose the following novel hosting scheme. I hope to hear some feedback...
In general, the game will run on a 27hr quickhost. 27hr is unusual, but I think it will keep the game @ 1 turn/day longer than a 24hr quickhost would by mitigating the time-crunch issues that usually cause a game to switch from 24hrs to 48hrs. For example, let's say a player begins his turns at 9pm each night. If he submits at 10pm, and he's the last to do so, then the deadline for the following turn will be 10pm. So the following night, he begins at 9pm, and is last to submit at 9:45pm...eventually, like a fossil-fuel-based-economy, this system collapses, and that player complains he can't get his turns done in 24hrs, invariably leading to a 48hr schedule. By setting the quickhost to 27hrs, everyone will ALWAYS have an additional 3hr buffer to micro-script for those important battles, which will hopefully allow for several months of smooth 1 turn/day play.
The game will change to a 51hr quickhost only when a majority of players vote to do so. Following standard parliamentary procedure, when any player feels the game timer should be permanently increased, he makes a motion to do so by posting in this game thread; if another player seconds that motion, a vote will be held: all players vote to either increase the timer or not.
Quorum shall be 75% of ACTIVE players, and >50% vote wins. If the vote fails, no new vote can be held for at least 2 full turns. Similar votes must be held to move to 75hrs, etc. Just like in the real US Senate, I suspect laziness will act to maintain the status quo until change is absolutely necessary (God bless America, land of oppor-lethargy
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There will be
3 exceptions to the above schedule:
1) The game will begin on a Saturday @ 12pm GMT, and be on a 12hr quickhost until the following Monday @ 12am GMT. This is 36hr @ 12hr quickhost, so we should be able to push through at least the first 3 turns during the first weekend, probably more. Given that it takes most cognizent beings approximately 37sec to complete these turns, this is a very reasonable way to get the game rolling quickly. If we fill up soon, we'll start this Saturday (11/15); otherwise we'll start on 11/21. After that first weekend, we'll immediately assume the above 27hr schedule and stick to it.
2) During major "traveling" holidays, when most go to visit with family, hosting will be postponed during the travel period, and quickhost will be turned off. Don't be that guy that skulks off to the john with his laptop during Thanksgiving dinner to check for new .trns. Spend time with your families, come back to Dom3 afterward. Here in the US, the next 2 upcoming holidays are Thanksgiving (11/27) Christmas/New Year's; the game will consequently be postponed from 11/26-12/1, and from 12/23-1/2. If you have any similar holidays, let me know and we'll make similar arrangements.
3) Reasonable extensions will be granted upon request. Kindly give everyone as much warning as possible, nobody likes to get a delay message 4min before hosting. If you feel you can't keep up with your turns, please request a sub early, nobody likes a Houdini.
Thoughts?