Pbem vs AI . . In what mode is most of your time spent playing? - Page 4

Double_Deuce · #1 January 28th, 2009, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gila

I would like to play PBEM but don't you need the CD to do so?

You can Pbem without the CD version, IIRC you are just mainly limited to 4 Pbem slots.

FloodNZ · #2 January 29th, 2009, 06:33 PM

I first got SP2 on a demo CD back in 1998 and there a couple of scenarios on there that I played to death. One day my dad came in asked me what I was playing and asked if he could have a go and we had a head to head game of SP2, which was a Vietnam scenario forget what its called but I think a version of it is still in the game. From then on I was hooked to playing against humans in SP. I bought SP3 because I couldn't find SP2 anywhere and that's where this whole saga began

I enjoyed SP3 and for a while I thought that SP could not get any better until I played the original DOS version of SPWW2 in 2003, logged my first PBEM game of that in 2005 and have not looked back since. For a long time I was convinced that MBT was the superior game but in the last year the games I have had have shown me that SPWW2 is probably the best turn based multiplayer game out there.

PBEM is such a cool game experience and I have found that the only time I have been disappointed was when myself and my opponent did not set up the ground rules first. That is the most important PBEM rule talk before you play it can be difficult sometimes especially with some language barriers but it is worth it. I think my most disappointing PBEM game was when my opponent bought vast amounts of helicopters which I can handle in MBT but not in WW2!

Just going OT here but the most frustrating multi player I have done was Civ 3 in 2003. I was at my final year of uni playing 3 other people including a couple (this woman ended up dominating a whole continent and this caused a major row between her and her boyfriend which lead to war and a shouting match). At first it was fun but the game speed slowed to a crawl... Ah memories.

JohnHale · #3 January 28th, 2009, 12:07 PM

No, Gila - the ordinary downloaded version supports PBEM. But you'll need to buy the CD when all your Slots get filled......

FloodNZ · #4 January 30th, 2009, 08:07 PM

Well I would not be afraid of the people that play PBEM, they are a very friendly lot because they also want people to play against. As for first time playing of at the Blitz they have a newbies section and there are always people willing to give someone a helping hand. I like the SP multi player community its nowhere near as toxic as say Counter Strike or World of Warcraft or the other multi player games I've played. That's the main reason I like to play. As for buying the CD you don't need the CD to play the game PBEM, it just puts a few restrictions on you. I've only bought the game at Christmas time after playing it since 2003, thats what being a poor post grad student will get you though....

Imp · #5 January 31st, 2009, 09:51 AM

On the above couple of comments
I have to say that on the whole the people that play this game are a freindly lot & they often turn into long term relationships as end up chating about allsorts.
Have been invited to Australia buy a guy I play & going to Germany to go round the tank museum with another person I play this summer. Hes even sorted a mate of his who knows a lot about the German war machine in WW2 to tag along.
It might take a little while to find someone who is at your level but once you do tend to stick with them & grow together while finding more.
I think its just the best damn game ever made.

Lt. Ketch · #6 February 3rd, 2009, 12:14 PM

Thank you for your conforting words and advice. I understand that the poeple who play online are all basicly good and friendly. I've come to know some of you by reading AARs, posts and the like here.

In regards to the benefits of online play, I don't think I have to play in order to enjoy all of them. I get excited when I think of what we have in SPWW2. A community of scholars, tacticsions and wargamers covering the world and sharing victories and defeats of all kinds. I am amazed at the level of research that has gone into a game that I picked up as a kid of tweleve (I was even worse then) and the level of devotion and passion that people have for it. I am trilled to be involved, even if just as a reader and small time participant, in such an undertaking.

The study of war is not the morbid passtime that many may think it is, but the study of stratagy, courage, determination, sacrifice, loss and victory. We look for honor in defeat, virtue in the depraved and civility in conflict. Yes, war is about winning, but victory at the price of humanity is empty. War is a great teacher that helps us to become better, whether it's make sure that the innocent are protected or to make sure that depravity and atrosities are abolished.

This has taken a serious turn, but I want all veterns of all countries of the world to know that I honor you. Let no man say that those that fight for their country or people do so to the shame of humanity. Thank you for what you have done.

That was a long way off the topic, but I wanted to let you all know how glad I am for the unity and community that is present here. I'm sure I work up the courage to jump into an online game against you, but until my life settles down a bit, my onlinegameaphobia wears down and I feel like my tactics are adaquate even for the newbies, I'll watch, read and enjoy from the sidelines for now. I make a good cheerleader.

Ketch

fictionfan · #7 February 16th, 2009, 03:35 PM

Why do you assume that Pbem is the only way to play multplayer. There is hotseat too. It does not take as long.

Double_Deuce · #8 February 16th, 2009, 03:55 PM

Voting continues. Pbem seems to be leading the way by considerable numbers. Maybe the reason I stick mainly to vs AI is I just had my butt handed to me in my last Pbem game.

Cross · #9 February 16th, 2009, 04:27 PM

I would be interest to know how many of the "Mainly play against the AI' have never Played By E-Mail.

Once I'd played by email, it was so much more fun than the AI that I barely ever played against the AI again.

So be warned: PBEM is the crack-cocaine of wargaming

(for those of us who are suseptible to this type of addiction)

Double_Deuce · #10 February 16th, 2009, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cross

I would be interest to know how many of the "Mainly play against the AI' have never Played By E-Mail.

Once I'd played by email, it was so much more fun than the AI that I barely ever played against the AI again.

Good point. In my case, I think the main reason for my leaning towards playing vs the AI is due to the time I spend designing. Since I have to devote a considerable amount of time playtesting, I end up spending a good portion of available "game time" playing vs the AI.