SEIV poker

[couslee]

As most of you know, I am going to forego Simultaneous and PBW for at least a couple of months. So I will not be getting involed in this. I have read a lot of dissent over race settings and the impact of those on a game. It inspired this idea. if someone wants to take it and run with it, be my guest. I think it would be an interesting PBW game to say the least. You race developement tactics will have no outcome on whether or not you win at all, quite the contrary in fact. Here is the set-up idea.

1. There would be two games set-up, each with ten players. The game setting can be determined by whom ever wants to run with this (IE galaxy type, size, and such). this could be done with two five and five games, if it is too hard to get 20 players for it

You design a race, using however many racial points the game master decides on. Any combo is fine, and any advanced traits are fine, no limitations. All points have to be used, no left-overs. un-modded ship sets only. (standard deck)

each of the players submits their races to the game master, who then "shuffels" the deck. randomly picking what players are in each game, and randomly giving those players one of the shuffeled races.

Play Last man standing, maybe a single co-op victory could be allowed (no 3 player teams). If you do align yourself with another race, you can't ally yourself with another race at the same time. A good backstabbing (the bluff) is allowed as well, so be carefull in who you pick as your friend, if you choose to do so.

If you get dealt a crappy race (pair of deuces) no complaining about it.

Be cautious in your race design. If you make a real piece of scat, you just might end up having to play that race. If you design a 125/125 berzerker, that race may end up being your first, first contact. It all depends on how the cards fall. You will most likely have to overcome unfamiliar defiencies, as well as the possibility of not knowing how to exploit your own strengths. if you want to win, you will have to rely on a good strategy, and not so much on a good and familiar race. And luck certainly will play a part.

Since their would be two games running, the race you design might not even show up in your game (bottom of the deck).

The game master could design a couple of extra races to put in the deck, just to make it even more interesting. If the game master plays, they would be an 11th race, using "neutral" tactics. IE no expanding, no alliance, just basicly an observer. (the dealer don't play the game). Kinda like the master of orion game, game master set-up.

I think this would see a number of "balanced" races created. no one will want to make an uber-race, or be a chump and make a toad. but a good balanced race. And they will get to test their game strategy playing it on-the fly. I think it would be a fun challange for those acclimated with simultaneous games and PBW.

Of course, any of this is open for change and ideas, it was just a thought and I wanted to toss it out there for the dogs of war to fight over. If I didn't post the idea, I am sure it would have slipped into the black hole called my memory.

[DavidG]

hehe did you get this idea from my post in one of those threads you mentioned?

I think it's not a bad idea but I think you would need to set some limits or rules on race design. Everyone is going to design the crappiest race they can since the odds are you won't get it.

[couslee]

Originally posted by DavidG:
hehe did you get this idea from my post in one of those threads you mentioned?
I think it's not a bad idea but I think you would need to set some limits or rules on race design. Everyone is going to design the crappiest race they can since the odds are you won't get it.

I was already thinking about it, but added the possibility of the game master also playing. I know in smac, setting up a PBEM as a CMN was fun, but mising out on actually playing the game you built was stressfull. I had no problem filling in for players that withdrew, and the only time it really was an issue was during early game, when the map had not been fully explored by everyone.

If everyone submits a crappy race, then every one will end up with crappy race too. Not to mention their is a chance you will end up with your own crappy race, and if everyone else is not being cheezy, you would get rewarded with an.. ahem.. early exit.

I don't think that would happen tho. Most of the players on this board seem like they are fair, and a good sport as well. I would not expect a player to fold either if they got a bad hand. All the more of a challange. I guess you could put a 80 - 120 limit. but the game master could have some influence on that when he decides how many racial points you start with.

A race player and a race builder could discuss those selections made afterwards (post game, or loss). Any fights could be taken into a head to head pbw game (out side the casino fellas)

I am hopeing this would create a lot of talk along the lines of
"I would not have done that and this is why"
with replies
"I did choose that, and this is why"

That might help newbies understand race selections better, and help them design a better race for themselves.

Ruatha is the game master of the "master of orion" idea. See his thread for details about that one.

[ February 02, 2003, 21:58: Message edited by: couslee ]

[DavidG]

The thought I had about creating the other guys race is that you would try to create a bad one(within limits) It would not be considered 'cheesy' but expected. The challange would then be to play with a crap race.

[Taera]

count me in.

[couslee]

Originally posted by DavidG:
The thought I had about creating the other guys race is that you would try to create a bad one(within limits) It would not be considered 'cheesy' but expected. The challange would then be to play with a crap race.

I must have missed that post.

No, the intention here is to have a competition with fairly balanced races. The concept of balance would come from the race creator. Then allow someone to test that balance without forehand knowledge of it pros and cons. If someone makes a race that is balanced in their opinion, but is based on a specific strategy style. And the person playing that race has never thought about that kind of strategy style, their opinion may be they got a "hand with two pairs", and the creator would want to explain (I hope) that the two pairs, was actually a "four of kind".

Of course, I think it would be best, if the player does not know who the creator is and visa-versa until after the player is eliminated, or the player "wins the pot". (trying to stay in role play with a game I won't be in. lol. then again, who knows)

[ February 02, 2003, 22:57: Message edited by: couslee ]