I will be playing, and probably hosting, if we get enough players. Inter-team relationships could be discussed in any way the participants will, but no contact or trade with the opposing teams will be allowed, with exception of in-game messages visible to everyone.
I have given some thought to the idea of having the teams start in predefined provinces. They would probably start in a line, with about 5 provinces between the one in the middle and the ones in its sides. The other team would start in similar position, away to a direction in straight angle with the line. Both teams would generally know where the other starts, but not the exact province numbers.
Here is a crude ASCII wrap-around map:
Code:
N1 N2
1 4 1
2 5 2
3 6 3
N3 N4
Team 1 constists of 1, 2 and 3, Team 2 consists of 4,5,6 and N1-N4 are starting places for neutrals. The teams will probably advance to both directions, with some nations going 'east' and others 'west'. The neutral nations would be a distraction and would complicate things quite a bit. If nation 1 managed to defeat most of nation 3, neutral nations could interfere and try to catch lands of both weakened nations. Of course, if a neutral nation advances too far, it would find itself next to the armies of both middle nations (2 and 5).
Of course, while armies can't easily co-operate, the teams would help each other as much as possible, making it hard for neutral nations to actually win.
What do you think of this idea? I would like to hear your opinions, and how you think it would work better. Should distances in both 'east' and 'west' be equal? If not, should the teams now which is the direction to take offensive against? If there were, say, 25 provinces between the two teams, the first fights could start little after turn 20. Would this be too soon, or too late? Is this idea workable, or just total junk only someone without MP experience could come up with?
Re: calling all players
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