A Hypothetical PBW Game ?

[Hornet X1]

This is a hypothetical PBW game description for a v1.67 (Gold Patch 1) game. I describe it as hypothetical because I have not created the game yet and would like your input first.

What I would appreciate you doing is looking it over and explaining to me what you think about it. Opinions, thoughts, criticisms, and interest in playing are all welcome input. This description is revised and based upon what I learned from the first one. A name suggestion would be helpful also.

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This is a SEIV Gold role-playing game for any and all players who want to role-play. This is a free form RPG game using no specific game system.

* All in game Messages should be in character. Out Of Character Messages should be used sparingly if at all and identified with the OOC: abbreviation at the start to avoid confusion. OOC topics are best handled in the game forum.

* Duplicate ship-sets are not allowed. Please post your selection in the attached game forum.

* You must fill out the racial description texts for biology, society and history, when creating your empire. You will be expected to role-play in accordance to it.

* Diplomacy should be handled in game once your respective empires have met.

* Treaties "above" Trade and Research Alliance are not allowed under normal circumstances. You will be kicked for violation.

* If you must miss a game turn, please post ahead of time in the game forum. If you miss 2 turns without prior notification your empire will be removed from your control, either finished or turned over to a replacement.

* As a courtesy to fellow players and PBW Users, please stay in the game if your empire is near defeat and allow the PBW server to mark your empire as dead. That way it will not read the game as needing a replacement player for a dead empire. If you cannot or do not want to, please post in the forum and allow me to "finish" your empire before you withdraw.

* Please, only join the game if you can dedicate the time to it and feel like making the effort.

* Many of these game rules require player assistance to enforce. If you see a violation inform me. After all, it harms all rule abiding players equally and PBW games take a long time to play.

* The Galactic Council is an added game twist. Every 50 turns after all in-game empires have made contact all players will gather in the forum to cast a vote for a "Galactic Emperor" or winner. Each race is allowed 2 votes, one vote "For" a Galactic Emperor and one vote "Against" another empire. You may cast them both or abstain as you wish. Each player will serve as "host" for the council at one point for role-play purposes, starting with the owner and descending down the list in order as the players joined. The council serves 3 real game functions.

1) A method of ending the game amicably when enough players feel they can not win. It requires a unanimous vote to elect a "Galactic Emperor".

2) A method for "scr##ing" that one player who always seems to jump to an astonishing lead in the game and abuses everyone else's empire. If a 3/4 majority vote is made "Against" a particular empire, that empire is labeled a "Galactic Menace". All those players may form a sanctioned partnership for the sole purpose of destroying the Galactic Menace. Once accomplished they must break the partnership treaties.

3) *A story thread*. At game start the Galactic Council Thread will be created in the game forum. Feel free to add whatever rp/story elements you want through out the game. Write about those critical attacks, small events, or what have you from your empire's perspective. When it comes time to vote, role-play it. Hurl the diplomatic insults, preen and position as you want just keep it RP and fun.

At end game, we will have a story of a struggle for galactic domination from start to finish that we can post here at Shrapnel.

Background: Social Darwinism. It is as much the crude invention of a man as a law of nature expressed in the history of every known living organism. Your people have begun to colonize nearby planets. You have made your first reach for the stars and found them to your liking. Nothing is ever perfect, for you are not alone!

Your scientist have found artifacts left by things unknown. Large energetic spheres which are able to interface with your machines. It seems that each one is connected with another, they record the progress made by your people from your worlds birth to the present. They hide things from you and hint at long forgotten secrets. They record the same information for other species beyond your current reach and tease you with glimpses.

Your scientist inform you that your empire will crumble under its own weight unless you expand. From the artifacts, you see these others are already scrambling to gain resources you desperately need. In the end only one can survive to control everything.

Will it be you? Or will you be buried by a simple law once crudely expressed by a long dead mutated monkey?

Game Settings: (Pay particular attention to the "other game settings".)

Starting Resources: High (100,000)
Starting Planets: 5
Home Planet Value: Good
Score Display: All.
Technology Level: Medium
Racial Points: 5000
Quadrant Type: Spiral
Quadrant Size: Large
Event Frequency: Low
Event Severity: Medium
Technology Cost: Medium
Victory Conditions: Last Empire Alive, or Galactic Council Vote.
Maximum Units: Max (20,000)
Maximum Ships: Max (20,000)
Computer Players: None
Computer Difficulty: Low
Computer Player Bonus: None
Neutral Empires: None
Other Game Settings: Complete tech tree visible. All warp points connected. Empires evenly distributed through quadrant. No surrender. No Intel. No Engine or Weapon Overloading weapons. No ruins. No gifting or tech trading.

Version V1.67 (Gold Patch 1) Turns will be fully automatic with a 36 hour duration. 6 players minimum to start the game 9 players would be ideal.

* If you have read down this far, I thank you for taking the time.*

Hornet X1

hornetx1@excite.com

[Fyron]

One suggestion:
It is a pain in the *ss to have to do all communications in-game. This is especially true for trying to coordinate military efforts. I would suggest that you allow out-of-game IC communications.

[Ironchicken]

What turnaround time for turns were you consdiering?

[Hornet X1]

Ironchicken,

To answer your question, this is a quote from the bottom of the game description:

"Version V1.67 (Gold Patch 1) Turns will be fully automatic with a 36 hour duration. 6 players minimum to start the game 9 players would be ideal."

[dreamplace]

Hornet X1

Oh! Arr...
... Again?!

another "Age of Reason"? mk2.

dreamplace

[Atrocities]

Do you mind if I borrow some of your ideas? BTW, I like it, sign me up.

[Hornet X1]

Atrocities,

Feel free to borrow any of my ideas you like. If you wish to join I will create this game Saturday June 15, 2002 sometime in the afternoon. ( Day after tomorrow).

Please note - the game description may be subject to some minor changes based on what I find here in this forum thread.

The tentative name for the game is "1st Darwin's Legacy".

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Dreamplace,

What you see here is the next Age of Reason type game. A heavily revised sequel improving on the first.

Some of the changes you see here are based on my and your misunderstandings. (And do not worry I hold no hard feelings.)

I realize language can be a barrier to understanding things so I have attempted to clean up the description and express my ideas more clearly.

For example the name change to "Darwin's Legacy" noted above. I did not want a player to misunderstand the game objectives by drawing a false impression from the name alone.

Having been in the 1st, a couple of key things to note especially for you:

* The new revised and improved council rules. Hopefully, they are much clearer in objective now. Also the thread is open to other things now instead of just votes.

* Eliminating engine and weapon overloading weapons. (The next patch makes significant changes in how they function so it is easiest to do away with them for this game.)

* Note the emphasis on the importance of race background and story. After all how can an actor play a role if they have no character? How could a writer create a worthwhile story with no character?

* Did away with neutrals. Their is no real way to guarantee "equal access" to them on the map without creating my own.

* I would advise rereading the description carefully. Some small details are altered.

* Diplomacy is still important. But note the *treaty restrictions.* This is not a team based game. (But, the council provides for an exception.)

If you wish to play in the second game you are welcome. I noted when I intend to create the game above. I intend to send out a news message tonight regarding it and other stuff.

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Imperator Fyron,

I understand your concern over limiting e-mail diplomacy. You point out a good benefit to it.

However, for a story based game:

1) It forces the players to play and write within the existing limits of their characters (empires). The turn delay between Messages is a part of the game and can add tension to story elements about empires trying to coordinate their efforts over vast distances.

2) Prevents some abuse. Players will not have access to or be able to act on information their empires would not ordinarily have.

Also, sometimes you will get a couple of J##k- A###s who have decided to team up against everybody early and unfairly outside game confines in what is *not a team based game*. (In my limited experience) They always seem to make the mistake of too much email diplomacy with other players ( I do not know why). With the treaty restrictions, email diplomacy restrictions, and other players helping me enforce the game rules, we can bust the chops of abuses like these early and not have a game ruined 3 months down the road.

This is just a little of my thinking behind the rule. I am always open to input and/or better ideas.

*******

Hornet X1

hornetx1@excite.com

[dreamplace]

I like to join but I really have no time.

I've withdrew some PBW games already, I stay in games because I can't just left my allies.

BTW, you make this new game many restrictions.
no AI, no ruins make the game fair, I understand.

but why not military alliance or partnership.
I always think that Intel is part of the war.
and no tech trade slow the game a lot.

dreamplace

[Hornet X1]

Dreamplace,

The treaty restrictions are designed to make players fight for themselves. Forget allies, you have none, its galactic domination or bust - except as noted below this is an every player for themselves, survival of the fittest game.

With the current restrictions you can use one another for a time.

The gift/trade restrictions are designed *in part* to force players to plan their own research carefully instead of relying on picking up tech levels from other players. (survival of the fittest again.)

You make bad research decisions and you pay in-game. Slower, yes but more strategic.

Intel is ditched because it is either useless, or too much of a bully stick depending. You either have enough that opposing Intel ops fail consistently or you can abuse a less developed empire to a point where they have no ability to provide a defense for themselves. I simply do not like the current Intel model. (JMHO)

Besides, with the noted restrictions you would probably prefer to build research centers anyway.

[Hornet X1]

The game "1st Darwin's Legacy" is now open and accepting players. You are welcome to join. The only real addition is the No AI Mod. For those unfamiliar with it, the mod simply removes the AI from the game so that if you miss a turn nothing is messed up. You do not have to download anything to use it.

Hornet X1

hornetx1@excite.com