New game starting on PBW, "THE GREAT EXPIRIMENT"

[dogscoff]

QUOTE:
>>"Research the technology if you want, but
>>no building Intel centers until I say, or
>>suffer the wrath of the Ancients once
>>again."

>I like that idea. The Ancients, being
>persnickety anyway, will not tolerate
>intelligence until they deem the child
>races are worthy. Or something like that.

/QUOTE

This gives me an idea for this game and others: Geo plans to host the game without partiipating, right? But as the "ancients" he wants to be able to punish anyone who breaks the rules.

This would be difficult as just a host, but what if he played a "gamesmaster" race of ancients? It would be simple enough, it's just scenario modding. Here's how I see it:

The Ancients occupy a single system in the far corner of the map. This system has a sphereworld and a host of maximum value planets. Their immensely powerful tehnology and carefully constructed defences make them utterly impervious to attack (except maybe at the end of the game, when the triumphant race must challenge the ancients to win their freedom).

Using racial traits, advanced intelligence capabilities and super-cloaked sensor satellites, the ancients can see anything and everything that happens in the galaxy. When they don't like what they see, cloaked warships stationed in nebulae can react quickly to chastise anyone who breaks the rules.

Fortunatly the ancients use their vast power responsibly. They have a strict policy of non-interference excpt in crtain circumstances which have been made clear to all the member races. The ancients are interested only in observation, not the petty games of conquest and expansion played out by "lesser" species.

Of course with the intel bug this could backfire, and someone could hit an ancient megaship with a crew insurrection, but once that problem has been solved, gamesmaster races could allow interesting scenarios with more complex rules to be developped, since there would suddenly be a way of enforcing those rules.


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"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
"I think so Brain but, if you replace the P with an O, my name would be Oinky, wouldn't it?"

[Puke]

this is thoroughly inspiring. The only regret I have is that the GM will not be able to fairly participate in many scenarios created in this fashion, as they will have fore-knowledge of the geography or of other players placements.

I do think that the one or two super-ships or super-planets at the start is a cool concept. super-planets could even be designed by editing the default construction file and the facilities.txt once the game was generated, the facilities would revert to standard and it would have high production, or whatever. you could even make tiny planets with 50 facilities or something.

super ships would actually require playing a turn as each race though, and while it sure would be neat, it means the GM has to sit out unless there is a room for a 'supervisor' race. I like the idea of the players having to overcome the GM at the end... I think i am going to have to start one of these up, since i obviously have too much time to spend posting on this forum, i should probably be playing games instead.

all those silly people that think I should spend my time designing networks obviously have not played SEIV yet. who needs income.

------------------
"...the green, sticky spawn of the stars"
(with apologies to H.P.L.)

[geoschmo]

Ok, we have ten players now. Will start as soon as I get all the empire files and can get the scenario set up. Probably will be a few days.

Regarding the empire passwords....

I have changed my mind a couple times and I know I have caused some confusion. This is the OFFICIAL statement of what to do regarding your empire password for this game. Please disregard any previous statements or emails if they contradict this statement.

IF YOU HAVE NOT UPLOADED YOUR EMPIRE FILE YET:
Upload their empire file to PBW with a password on it. Please make sure the password in the empire file matches the password you used when you joined the game on PBW. Then email me the password. This is because I need the empire passwords to run through some turns and set the scenario up correctly. (Keep in mind, I do NOT need your PBW login password. You should NEVER give that to anyone.)

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY UPLOADED YOUR EMPIRE FILE:
If you uploaded it with a password, great! Now email it to me.

If you uploaded it with no password and you did NOT take the ancient race racial trait, then no problem. You can just change your password when you do your first turn. Noone will get any advantage from peeking at your starting position, as you will all be in the same position anyway.

If you already uploaded your empire file with no password, and you DID take the ancient race racial trait, then the problem is when the first turn goes out to the players, someone who did not take the ancient racial trait could open your empire and get a peek at the quadrant for free. If this is you, just email me the password and I will change it before I send the first turn to all of you.

Geoschmo

[geoschmo]

Well, after one false start cause I fubar'd the initial setup, we are underway!

Thanks alot to SJ for the tips on using mod files to setup the scenario. That took a LOT less work the the way I was going to have to do it.

Geo