PBW Game: Big Fat Zero

[Quikngruvn]

I will probably regret this later, but I have created a new PBW game, Big Fat Zero. We can use this thread to discuss which AI's to include and other BFZ-realted topics.

Game description
I created this game as a backlash to all the games I've seen where you start with so much stuff you really can't use it all. Thus, BIG FAT ZERO.

Big Fat Zero is about what you'll start with. One bad planet. 5000 resources. ZERO racial points (but with no intel, it's really like 800 points). Low starting tech at a high cost. In other words, you start out with the SEIV equivalent of Jack. MUAH-HAH-HAH-HAH!

But I digress.

For added amusement, I will add ten TDM AI's into the mix, for a grand total of twenty empires in the quadrant. I'll have to do some tweaking to their empire files to get them to zero points, but I'll try to keep each race as it was intended to be (no, the Rage will NOT become cute and cuddly teddy bears). Just so no one cries "Foul" that I'll be privy to the AI races, I'll post the modified .emp files on the Shrapnel forum for everyone to view. There we can discuss which races to include and how their .emp files should be modified. The AI's will be chosen to get a good mix of disposition, atmosphere, home planet type, and racial techs.

The AI races will be: Rage, Pyrochette, Praetorian, Norak, and six others to be determined (maybe also Xi'Chung, Cryslonite, and, heck, I don't know).

A few important notes:
1. When creating your empire, drop your Cunning to -50% to start with 800 racial points. You're going to need all you can get!
2. The game will start with a 48 turn interval. As the game progresses and the turns get more complex, the interval may be increased later.
3. Since you'll start with nearly nothing and will be played in a large quadrant, I expect this game to Last a LONG time. So, if you don't think you'll be able to keep with it for the long haul, please do not sign up.

Anyone else, who wants a change from starting with the world on a silver platter, come on in!

--*--

Starting resources: 5000
Starting planets: 1
Home planet value: Bad
Score display: Allied
Technology level: Low
Racial points: 0 (Really 800 after minimizing Cunning)
Quadrant type: Mid-life
Quadrant size: Large
Event frequency: Low
Event severity: Catastrophic
Technology cost: High
Victory conditions: 500% of second place, or galaxy at peace for three years, or Last species standing (effective after five years)
Maximum units: Maximum
Maximum ships: Maximum (for massive fleet battles in the middle and endgame)
Computer players: 10
Computer difficulty: High
Computer player bonus: High
Neutral empires: No
Other game settings: No intelligence. Tech tree on. No map saving.

Max players: 10
Turn duration: 48 hours
Turn automation: Fully automatic turns
SE4 Version: v1.41 + TDM ModPack 1.72

Quikngruvn

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Stay alert. Trust no one. Keep your laser handy.
--from the RPG Paranoia, now my PBW mantra