Difference between PBEM and TCP/IP

[greghacke]

What I want in IP play is the ability to "chat." Nothing upen-ended, but in my PBEM game, I have contact with another empire. It would be great to actually carry on a conversation regarding politics...

[Puke]

quote:

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Originally posted by greghacke:
What I want in IP play is the ability to "chat." Nothing upen-ended, but in my PBEM game, I have contact with another empire. It would be great to actually carry on a conversation regarding politics...

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does anyone actually limit their chatter in PBEM to the communications screen and 'general Messages?' I sure dont. as soon as i have contact with them, im either talking to them over email, or ICQ, or calling them up to say "you'r warp point generators are in violation of the stellar maniplation treaties and mutual dissarmament agreement, please remove them before you get violated back to the stone-age."

[greghacke]

I try to keep my conversations in-game. Right now, my partner in treaty is in Germany. Not someplace I can call readily...

[Sinapus]

I guess it would also be useful to send a global chat message to either ask why it is taking someone so long to finish their turn.

That and a courteous player might want to warn the other players that he/she is going to step away from the keyboard for a bit.

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--
"What do -you- want?" "I'd like to live -just- long enough
to be there when they cut off your head and stick it on a
pike as a warning to the next ten generations that some favors
come with too high a price. I would look up into your lifeless
eyes and wave like this..." *waggle* "...can you and your
associates arrange that for me, Mr. Morden?"

[Jubala]

Age of Wonders has a pretty good way of solving this. Ingame chat is a godssend during tactical combat in that game. If the other players are talkative of course. The most boring AoW games I ever played where ones in which the other players where mutes. Felt like playing the AI and that's not why I play multiplayer. It all comes down to finding the right crowd to play with which usually goes pretty quick in my experience.

[Socialist]

Well, i do hope they start getting to work on it soon..its very important..email is the dark ages. I want to be able to play this with my comrades..not fiddle with an AI..an AI is just a learning tool to get up to speed before playing a human.

I do hope they dont put it off to long..MM sent a note to me saying they were working on it soon..if that means 6 months or something i would probably shelve game even though its fun, even with a good AI..that lacks luster. AIs just will not recreate human intelect..not yet at least..so no need to push for it if its not really attainable..


but for TCP IP....smaller Groups playing will be workable..and as long as its "STABLE" the most key word..ill be happy..with all the games worts and all..because i will be playing my comrade.

The game is just a tool to play opponents..not beat up on a AI...big woopie
who cares how you beat up an AI, unless it cheats you should win a majority of the time.


i think the game is great..and feel free to TWeak away! make it better..make AI better..but without a truly stable TCP IP ability..its not going to meet potential..

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Waves his Red flag

Socialist

[Socialist]

Put it this way,

I have a comrade who has been my fighting buddy on tons of strategy , turn based games.
an excellent opponent. I told him about this game..that i had found..SE 4. He thinks it would be an excellent game..but will probably hold off..since we cant play each other till they bring it out TCPIP

Im very interested in playing him as soon as possible..and this format for our ongoing Feud :P would be perfect. I also have a second comrade who would probably play as well, but since he cant kick my butt without a way to connect..wont pick it up either..

im sure MM already knows that there are more than just me, with my comrades, who would see
TCP IP as a major selling point and way to expand their player base..and bottom line.

more sales..more upgrades..sad to say its still capitalism (bah). So without this handy dandy way of connecting..you got a lot of single player recluses out there..(phoey)
and a smaller base of players.


..remember.single player is only a way to learn game...playing a human is the only real competition..



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Waves his Red flag

Socialist

[imperishable]

Why not let the player who sets up an IP game to choose between letting combat be tactical or strategic only. I know that I would rather wait 5 extra minutes every turn and be able to move my ships rather than let AI screw up everything in combat.

[Talenn]

Imperishable:

EXACTLY! I've never understood it when games dont allow for tactical combat between players and state that its because 'No one would want to wait yadda yadda yadda'...NONSENSE!

In my experience, half of the fun of playing these games is arraying your fleets and tactics against those of your opponents. If the AI isnt capable of performing complex tactics and fleet cooperation (and it never will be) then its left to the players to provide that. When the game doesnt allow it, a HUGE chunk of the incentive to play multiplayer goes out the window.

I 100% agree. Let the PLAYERS decide if they want to 'waste their time' or not.

Talenn

[dmm]

If MM makes TPC/IP, I hope they'll put in the abilities to:
1) Set a (player-negotiated) time limit / turn (which can be changed upon agreement), and
2) Watch other peoples' battles (CNN on steroids), and
3) Have an integral chat window, with public and private rooms (with option that private rooms are only available to players who've made contact in the game).

These abilities would relieve the boredom factor, increase the social aspect, and improve diplomacy. I might even use TCP/IP under these conditions.