Not having much luck with Multiplayer

[Maxx]

I have joined several games but no one ever starts the game. I created my own game but no one ever joins it. Is there a place where you can just play some straight up multiplayer with out all the PBW or e-mail. I was recently on Kali which still hosts a multiplayer Version of moo2 and they constantly have games going. Someone Posts an I.P and everyone joins up and you have a game. Is there anything like that available for SEIV ? I see that PBW is pretty cool but usually you can get good I.P games on the weekends if there is a service somewhere.

[Suicide Junkie]

How long are you waiting?
This isn't some FPS or RTS game where you jump on a server, frag for an hour and leave.

24 hour turns are pretty good for multiplayer, since everybody has different schedules.

If you have one or two friends, you can set up a TCP/IP game, and bLast through 50 turns on a weekend, then move it over to PBW to finish it during the next few days.

A while ago, I was running some "Turn Blitz" games on PBW. They had 1 hour turns, and the TDM AIs would play for you while you ate, slept and worked. Games were over in about 3-4 weeks, which is blindingly fast.

[Maxx]

LoL . I realize that it's not a FPS. If I can go somewhere and get in a game of Moo 2, there should be a place where you can get in a game of SEIV, or at least be able to chat with other people waiting for games. I guess from your response that no one has anything like that going. I guess I will check into it myself.

Yes the PBW is good for playing games like that. I plan on using PBW, but usually on the weekend people have time to get involved in games. Is there a MIRC channel for SEIV anywhere ?

[ March 16, 2003, 02:22: Message edited by: Maxx ]

[Suicide Junkie]

I think I see.

If you want to chat about a game, this is the place. Start a thread, and haggle the settings and rules or just find a set of people who like your rules.

Once you're ready, open a game on PBW, and let them join.

Also, when joining a game on PBW, be sure to check when the latest comments, news, etc were. If there hasn't been any activity for a while, the game may be dead.

[Maxx]

Sounds like a good Idea. Thanks for the help.

[Fyron]

It takes a bit before games begin. They rarely start on the day they are created, unless the settings and empire files have all been made before hand. It takes time to hammer out the details. MOO2 has very few critical initial settings compared to SE4, so games of it can be started in less time.

[Grandpa Kim]

It also seems PBW is not played as heavily on weekends. I stay busy all week what with work and playing my turns at my usual glacial pace, but on weekends, I sit idle in front of the computer saying , "C'mon you idiots! Play your turns!"

Another thing S. J. hinted at is that we live in virtually every possible time zone. Makes it hard to have even a short blitz. I've never been in a game without at least an 8 hour time difference and most pretty much cover the globe.

If your new game fills up in less than a week, you have a winner. If it takes too much longer than that, try to figure out whats wrong with your game. Could be as simple as too many open games out there competing with yours. Other possibilities: new, unknown host (yes, that's you! But don't let that stop you.), too long or too short turn duration, bland game with no quirks to interest the oldtimers, too many players (takes longer to get 20 than 6.) etc.

Anyway, playing at the usual 24 to 72 hr. pace may be the best way to play. You become very attached to your empire and when the bad guys try to take it from you, you will fight with a tenacity you didn't know you had. Stick with it you will enjoy PBW.

Kim

Which game is yours? I'll check it out.

[ March 16, 2003, 17:30: Message edited by: Grandpa Kim ]

[capnq]

Here is a thread about #se4 on Gamesnet IRC {link}.