Do PBEM games ever start?

[Atrocities]

I checked out the site, but had one question, do games ever start, and if so, how do they play? How are turns made? Hourly, bi-hourly, every 10 minutes? etc?

Any who, I am registared, and from what I have seen, this looks like its going to be a great way to get some real people game time.

[Aristoi]

I like to do one turn a day with optional weekend blitz time. A blitz to start the game out is nice to push through those initial slower turns.

[capnq]

A PBEM game starts when as many players as was set by the person who created the game have uploaded their .emp files. There are options for the creator to change the number (to force the game to start with fewer players, for example), and to set a deadline for submitting turns. I'm in one of the Elimination Tourney games; the deadline for that is set at 72 hours from when the Last turn executed, but we've been running somewhat over a turn a day on average. [If someone misses the deadline, the AI runs their turn. Which is a huge incentive to get your turn in on time. ]

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Cap'n Q

The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the
human mind to correlate all of its contents. We live on a placid
island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was
not meant that we should go far. -- HP Lovecraft, "The Call of Cthulhu"

[This message has been edited by capnq (edited 29 May 2001).]

[Atrocities]

Ok, here come a few really dumb questions.

1. Could you please explain the step by step process to start, enter a PBEM game?

2. Do all players have to have IDENTICAL files to play without problems?

3. How long will a normal TURN take?

4. Please explain again HOW to upload your EMP files?

Thanks.

[jimbob55]

quote:

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1. Could you please explain the step by step process to start, enter a PBEM game?

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First, register and login. Then click the Games button on the left frame. Click Create game. Set options for the game in the right frame. Write down the game filename + host password you choose at this stage.
You will then be brought to a game detail screen. Click join game button. Enter details requested. As game owner, you can choose to admit or reject game applicants (you'll be notified by email when anyone applies).
Wait for people to join. Feel free to adverise wherever you like......
When you have enough players and you have accepted their application to join, the players upload their EMP files to the server (through the interface).
Once all EMP files are uploaded, you get another notification Email. Go to the game and find hte link to download all EMP files. Rename it to a .zip file and extract the empires to your empires folder (or somewhere else to avoid overwriting). The EMPs will have their names changed to the player name of their owner.
Start SE4 and add the empires in the order they appear on the game list (very important or players get other players EMP file to play)
Select the values you specified for the game. Check the 'simultaneous move' and 'play on different computers' options. Leave the save directory blank and chose the savegame name that you specified when you created the game (the page may remind you).
Click create game and upload the .gam file. It will then either be Emailed to all the players or they will be notified that it's ready and they can download it direct from the page.
Play turns and upload PLR files to the server. Make sure you upload the correct PLR file for that turn (unzipping the turn file to your savegames directory and overwriting the old one is easest for Version control).
Repeat. That's it.

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2. Do all players have to have IDENTICAL files to play without problems?

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The SE4 Version can ONLY be v1.30 at the moment (although Aaron is working on this for the next patch). Custom shipsets can be used, but other players will just see the default race ships unless you distribute the shipset to all them. Mods are not currently supported, it is possible to create maps using mods and load them into the game setup phase (for those 254 system ultra dense sectors). Not sure if there is a limit on map sizes. Different data files to the stock v1.30 will probably crash the game on the server, so best not use them.

quote:

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3. How long will a normal TURN take?

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A turn will take as long as it takes for all your players to upload their PLR files. The Rapid turnover game has processed about 1 turn per day for the Last month and a bit (it's on turn 51 at the mo). You can force turn execution at regular intervals or make the server nag players for their turn files after a certain period.

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4. Please explain again HOW to upload your EMP files?

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Once you have been accepted to play in a game an option on the left frame will become active. Click the 'Send Empire' button and point the files selector at the EMP file you want to use and then click 'Upload'.

quote:

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Thanks.

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No problem. Enjoy.

If you have any other questions, please post to the PBW forums.

[geoschmo]

Very concise and detailed Jimbob. You should copy/send this to Laz so he can post it on PBW.

Geo

[dumbluck]

quote:

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Originally posted by capnq:
[If someone misses the deadline, the AI runs their turn. Which is a huge incentive to get your turn in on time. ]

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In such an instance, would it use the default AI or the race's AI?

[Atrocities]

Thank you very much.

[geoschmo]

quote:

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Originally posted by dumbluck:
In such an instance, would it use the default AI or the race's AI?

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This gets a little confusing. IF you are using one of the shipsets that come with the game, and when you set up your .emp file with the "Use race minister style" box checked as "using style from race" then it will use the race's ai scripts.

If however you uncheck the box so it says "use selected style" then it will use the default minister with the aggressive/defensive/neutral option you select in the "minister style" option while setting up your .emp file.

Now, as far as the PBW server is concerned anyway, if you decide to use a custom shipset and check the "use style from race" box it gets really weird. Since the server does not have you shipset and ai scripts loaded on it, when the turns run it will pick one at random. It doesn't use the default style in this case, and it doesn't use the same race every turn. It can actually use a different race minister style in different turns.

Suggestion: Don't skip a turn! But if you know that you might tend to miss a turn now and then, either don't use a custom shipset, or if you do, don't check the "Use style from race" box when setting up your .emp file. This way at least your ministers will be consistant from turn to turn that you miss.

Geo