newbtopia- ea game for new players(started)

[Carkaton]

Money, sites, research will all be set to default.

[Hoplosternum]

I would like to play. Fomoria please.

I would rather it was a team game but am OK if its a free for all. There is still some diplomacy in a team game (if the teams are of just 2 each).

Diplomacy is fine but bare in mind that it is relatively easy. It takes little skill compared to using Communions, research strategy, SC design and use, army / resource balance, mage use etc. So compared to the skill of the game sending a few pms and emails is easy. Unless you are rushing who isn't going to go for immeadiate NAPs while the independents are there? And is decided a large part by luck. Who you meet first often decides who will be your friends rather than your enemies. Who stabs who first is often decided on map location or who gets involved in a war first (leaving them vulnerable to a stab).

I have not played much Dominions mp, but I have played other mp games. Civ, Age of Wonders etc. And once the space / independents go the early alliances can then unravel very quickly. People in central locations, or those who for what ever reason appear weak can then be gang attacked and knocked out very quickly. It isn't pleasent as its you ex-allies who are wielding the knives and numbers count in this (and most) games. Unless you are already very strong you can't fight a two or three front war and as its you ex allies you have no one to help you.

You need allies or at least NAPs to survive in this game. So why not formalise them at the beginning? You then have someone who you can discuss tactics and strategy. Someone who is on your side and can actually help you. We are all newbies to a degree so could all benefit from bouncing ideas and plans off one another. That is not present in free for all when all 'allies' can soon become enemies.

And you still get some diplomacy in a team game. There may be NAPs while the independents are going and therefore border negociations. Some trading is possible and desirable. Plus alliances against the strongest team. But everyone knows the score. You have no friends outside your team.

Team games = a proper ally, someone to discuss the game with and learn from. Far more social. Cooperation rewarded.

Free for all = much more ruthless. All diplomacy fake as there can be only one. But the fake diplomacy is essential as you both need the NAPs and trades until you can organise an alliance to take down your 'ally'.

Some people much prefer the latter. Thats fine but when they say they like it BECAUSE of the diplomacy aspects you have to wonder

Diplomacy - not quite as good as you think its going to be

[Carkaton]

Ok we are full, vote is 4(including myself) to 2 in favor of free for all. Start working on your pretenders, and as soon as I can find out from llama on how to proceed we can get them uploaded.

Also, moderation, I apologize for not waiting the 15 minutes on posting this thread to see that you had indeed planned on organizing the game. If you start a game specifically to be a team game i'd love to join.

[moderation]

@Carkaton: No problem, I'm actually thinking of setting up a CBM team game later this week, but I'll see how busy I am with this game first.

[llamabeast]

Okay guys, the game is ready to accept pretenders. Here's how to upload them:
Firstly, you should only join a game if you've found there's a thread for it on this board, you've read it, and they're still looking for players. Then you should post on the thread saying what nation you'll be. To actually join the game:

- Make sure you have the same mods enabled as the game you're playing in (Preferences->Mod Preferences) although only mods affecting pretender design, such as Conceptual Balance, actually matter
- Go to Game Tools -> Create a pretender god in Dominions. Don't set a password, since for PBEM games they're not helpful and occasionally annoying (e.g. if you need a sub)
- Go to the savedgames/newlords folder in the dominions directory, and find your pretender file (e.g. mid_pythium_0.2h)
- E-mail the file to: pretenders[ at ]llamaserver[ dot ]net
- Crucially, you must have the game name 'Newbtopia' in the subject line of your e-mail

A few minutes later you should get a confirmation e-mail, and if you check the website (www.llamaserver.net ) you should find your nation added to the list of nations which have joined the game.

If later you think of an improvement to your pretender, you can send it in again. Provided the game hasn't actually started the server will accept your revised pretender, and send you an e-mail to say so.

Hoplosternum - I love diplomacy! I would say: Diplomacy - more fun than you expect! I highly recommend sending messages in character and doing some on-forum roleplaying, it adds a lot to the game.

[Hoplosternum]

llamabeast said:
Hoplosternum - I love diplomacy! I would say: Diplomacy - more fun than you expect! I highly recommend sending messages in character and doing some on-forum roleplaying, it adds a lot to the game.

I'll try

Pretender in.

[Executor]

What Time zone are we using?

[gowb]

Is there any way to check or edit the pretenders you've created? I can't seem to do it without actually starting a new game.

[Carkaton]

Executor said:
What Time zone are we using?

Llamaserver's time is GMT I believe. It doesn't much matter though, new turns start as soon as the last turn file is sent in, or if the time elapses.

[zenphos]

Well game on then by the looks of it. Well as soon as llamabeast spots the fact all pretenders are up. Good luck to everyone and hope everyone wins their first fight v the indies. Sucks if you lose that one.
That'll be it for me in terms of posting out of character. From now on everything will be done in character and will be spoken as the voice of the god of arcoscephale.
Although since they are layabout, lazy philosopher types no doubt many of them will jump up and try to drown out my voice.