Time to play

[Saxon]

How long does it take people to play a game? I am curious because I have been putting some serious hours in my Last two games and I feel I am slow. (No need for comments from those who think I am mentally slow!) Seriously, my current game at turn 55 probably represents 15 or more hours. Some of the posters here seem to have played most of the races and most of the themes, but I would need years to do all that! I know some folks quit when they are sure they will win, but I do the same.

How much time do you put into the game? Are you balancing this with significant others, jobs or school? Or am I just slower than a sloth with a hangover?

[General Tacticus]

Well, I for one have never finished a game, technically. But then I love the World Map (339 provinces), like to play against 17 impossible AIs, and thus am usually doing something else while the AIs are playing : it takes several minutes per turn ! I figure I put in about 3 hours on week days (remember I can do something else at the same time ) and a lot more on week ends...

In my current (Mictlan) AAR, I'd say I play 5 turns/hour, on average (with the time needed to take notes, occasional screenshot, and the occasional backup of the game folder so I can come back for more screens if I ever want to)

[Hana]

It really depends on a lot of things. The map, how many players/AIs, the nations and strategies involved, luck, etc. The shortest game I've ever had Lasted around an hour. The longest one (not counting PbEM games) Lasted a couple of weeks. Not sure how many hours it actually went though.

[Gandalf Parker]

One thing Im afraid of is that the devs will give in to the solo players abit and pass-up on things like AI improvements in order to gain faster host-processing. PLEASE dont do that.

For one thing, the game is a great PBEM multiplayer game and there are few enough of those. For that type of a game long hosting times are supposed to be not a consideration.

But mainly, if hosting speeds up, Im gonna die! Yes these are long games. And yes this is a very addictive game. Im eager to see the next turn often trying to convince myself that Im "just going to glance at it to see if xxxxx worked the way I planned". If this game processes faster then I will starve, or die of dehydration, or exploded bladder.

[ January 06, 2004, 18:01: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

[Lord Hammer]

Originally posted by Saxon:
How long does it take people to play a game? How much time do you put into the game? Are you balancing this with significant others, jobs or school? Or am I just slower than a sloth with a hangover?

Well, let's put it his way: I average about 16 hours for one game on the smallest map against one or two Ai opponents. I have only really begun to understand Ermor in all three separate "themes" with two to three Pretender types each. I have been playing every day since Dec. 19th since my kids have been home from elementary school vacation . I just started yesterday as Ulm and i imagine it will be another two or three weeks before i go through that phase. I'm just scratching the surface of the game so far...thank God i have a good wife and i'm retired at 41 (Football) so i can enjoy the enormity of this awesome game .So to answer your question: your not slow, this game is just HUGE, we should have paid double really! .

[aldin]

Saxon,

Balancing Wife and Kids is the hardest part for me too, but I find I can usually slip a couple hours a day in if I give up some sleep. Normally I recover the sleep when the new of the game wears off. I'm having a hard time making that work with this one

Oh yeah, a lot of people are really familiar with various nations/themes because they played a lot of Dominions I and there's quite a bit that's similar from what I've gathered.

~Aldin

ps Lord Hammer, I thought you ex-footballers were supposed to be dumb as bricks

[Lord Hammer]

Originally posted by aldin:
Saxon,

Balancing Wife and Kids is the hardest part for me too, ps Lord Hammer, I thought you ex-footballers were supposed to be dumb as bricks

Am i a better parent now that Dominions 2 has come out? Curse you Illwinter I'm one of those rare ones that had smarts especially when you consider my 6'7" 290lb frame Before PC games i was "The Hammer", now it's "Lord Hammer"

[Saxon]

Lord Hammer,

Jumping totally off topic, let me ask you a personal question. Our family has a theory that big people need more sleep. I am six four and sleep more than my shorter mom and dad. My cousin married a former NFL linebacker and he was your size. He also slept all the time, including falling asleep at family parties. We used to dare the little kids to go and draw on his face, but they were all too afraid!

Any way, have you noticed the big people you know sleeping more than the small ones?

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by Saxon:
Lord Hammer,
Any way, have you noticed the big people you know sleeping more than the small ones?

Putting "how much sleep" (with the quotes around all 3 words) into google led me to http://library.thinkquest.org/25553/...ll/index.shtml

[licker]

Originally posted by Lord Hammer:

QUOTE]Am i a better parent now that Dominions 2 has come out? Curse you Illwinter I'm one of those rare ones that had smarts especially when you consider my 6'7" 290lb frame Before PC games i was "The Hammer", now it's "Lord Hammer"

The Hammer eh? Then it hit me... Good Lord! Jack Ham? But no, the age is wrong and he wasn't that big...

Sigh, still trying to figure out who you are, though you may not want anyone to bother with that, heh, it'd be alot easier if you told me what team(s) you played for

All that aside I'd be curious to hear from a real live NFL alum what team they favor this season, me? I'm a big Pats fan, though I'd be happy to see the Eagles and McNabb finally make it to the SB (if not win it).

More on topic... I find it hard to get in much playing while the family is home, about all I can muster is ~1hour to check in on PBEM stuff and maybe try a few turns or check out a quick start for a new design.