Succession Game (SG)
A succession game is a Single Player (SP) game played by a group of people.
While playing the person must keep a timeline of the most important events that occur during his reign. When finished, he passes on a saved game to the next player (either by uploading it on the site or by mail) and posts the timeline in the game's thread so that other players are informed of what happened.

It generally works like this. One player (the moderator) opens a thread and post the first timeline log and the first game file. Then other players sign to the game (until the limit set by the game moderator), and the succession begins. Each player plays fixed number of turns (usually 20 turns). The moderator may also add extra rules (usually in the first post).

This can get really interesting as everybody has a different way of playing Civ, and all strategies are tried out in one same game.
Here's an example (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12355).

Rules normally used:
- 5 players.
- 20 turns.
- 24h confirmation period (you have to say you’re playing; otherwise you’re skipped).
- 48h to 72h (since the saved game was passed) to play the game.

Open Succession Game (OSG)
An open succession doesn’t have a fixed number of players. After one player posts a game file, the next player in the succession will be the first person to post and say he is playing.

OSGs are faster games because the player has a short period of time to play his turn (4h since the person said he was playing, this period gets higher as the late game is a bit slow). That way, every time you get to the forums, there’s a good possibility that you'll find an OSG in which you can play. Another attribute of OSGs is the fact that they hardly stall.
Here's an OSG example (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13162).

Training Day Games (TDG)
A game where an expert of that level trains newer players. The expert may or may not start off the first 20 turns, after that, the player (trainees) play 10 turns, and post a detailed log for each turn. Play does not resume until the expert has reviewed and commented on the save.
Here's a TDG example (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35826)

If there’s something I forgot to say, or something hard to understand, please post here and I’ll edit this post to make things clear.

I have a few newbie questions. :)

One, those dots... Did people just paste them (rather nicely) there, or is there an ingame function?

Also, what's this "Culture Flipping" thing that I keep reading about?


Anyway, this seems interesting, I'll have to try it. (With my skill, I'll probably end up driving the Civ world into a depression or something, though..) :nuke: But, a good change of pace, nevertheless, after playing for Civ1-3 for 11 years! :king:

Originally posted by Chieftess
One, those dots... Did people just paste them (rather nicely) there, or is there an ingame function?

Also, what's this "Culture Flipping" thing that I keep reading about?First, if you're talking about the white dots in a picture in the first SG example, they were done with help of MS paint. There's no in game function.
Second, culture flipping is the act of receiving or losing a city due to culture level. For instance, when you have lots of culture buildings and a high culture rate (points), and there's a foreign city close to your border, there's a chance that the city will leave the other empire and ally with you.
You can check the culture flipping rules at this thread (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14337).
I hope this helps you. ;)

Hi,

Just wondering how much time would you have to commit? Becasue committing time would be my problem.
Fascinating idea though:egypt:

Originally posted by Angelic_Tyrant
Hi. Just wondering how much time would you have to commit? Becasue committing time would be my problem.
Fascinating idea though:egypt: I don't think there's an absolute answer for that question. It all depends on the game you enter. If you don't have lots of time, you shouldn't enter a huge/large map game (they really take long towards the modern age), or more than one game at a time. Also, if you can't play your turn, you can notify the players so they can skip you. Then, you come back in your next turn. Does that help you? Or do you need more precise numerical statistics?

I think first it would be nice if I saw the end results for a game that has finished whenever that will be, is that possible?

The best one I've read is this German Sucsession Game (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10354&pagenumber=1) The same group have jsut started their 2nd German sucsession game
They can get very long but its spread out over time. And as Pggar said, all u have to do is ask to be skipped.

Additionaly, as you play SGs you get to know the people you play with. This includes what times they are available to play. If there is one time that you are always busy just tell them and usually they can arrange it so that you don't end up playing during that time. Also, If there is a certain time that you CAN play, you can tell them that also so they will know that you will play.

i just have a newby question; i never played a succesion game and i wanna try it

when you are the one who is playing, you need to write everthing that happends on each turn

but u cant run notepad and civ3 at the same time ?!

so do u like write on a piece of paper first and then write it in notepad ?

Originally posted by rus_tenisist
but u cant run notepad and civ3 at the same time ?!

so do u like write on a piece of paper first and then write it in notepad ? Yes you can. Civ3 is "Alt+Tab" friendly.
Just open both programs and hit "Alt+Tab" to switch between them.

Can I make a succession game where I don't play. I have played about 13 games and still haven't won yet. So I wouldn't trust myself playing in one. I would just like to have other people play on the settings that I post instead of watching other ones that I don't like? This is a stupid question, I know.

As long as you find people interested in playing your game, I don't see any problems with you not playing. I believe some people already did that.
You can join the sucessions (of lower levels) to learn how to play the game. Don't be afraid, just play. You'll end up learning how to play or at least how not to lose.

Originally posted by gunning1
Can I make a succession game where I don't play. I have played about 13 games and still haven't won yet. So I wouldn't trust myself playing in one. I would just like to have other people play on the settings that I post instead of watching other ones that I don't like? This is a stupid question, I know. Like Pggar said, no problem with that although really you shld play too. I only play SGs for Civ3. ;) You can learn much, meet new ppl and so on. Try it! :D I think there're SGs too for chieftain, warlord lvls and also all those training games.

I took Pggar's advice and went ahead and started one. But I'm not starting it. I'm going to have someone else start it.

This thread has been quiet for a while but I wanted to add how much I have learned from SG's. It is so informative - you learn from your teammates and you also learn by having to justify your turns via your post.

I used to dread writing the post (It can get very long) but now I see that is how I am learning. Even just writing down the status of each city {whew - there can be so many) you get a grasp of the game and how the AI govenors can changes things so quickly.

Also have been lucky - Padma has overseen my two games - one TD and the other SG - very very helpful and informative. AM going to learn this game!

Also yes - used your "tab - alt" to get to word pad - really helps to record each move - plus hit save over and over :)

I am playing two SG's now - one a TD game and one a team playing against another team.

Mcdan is right. This is a great way to learn the game.

And it is so much fun. Team mates to discuss the game with, and a mentor to keep you out of the ditch. (Or at least tell you if you are in the ditch and why.)

I will confess when I played alone I got overwhelmed in the middle of the Middle Ages with all the cities to manage and would quit.

Now I can't quit. I have to stay the course.

stwils:sheep:

I hear there are some new games out there - everyone plays their turn - and "best man" wins - where is this???

These SG have taught me so much.

Thanks, mcdan
:)

mcdan - Try this

LK33 (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34885)

Originally posted by hotrod0823
mcdan - Try this

LK33 (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34885)

thanks hotrod - exactly what I was looking for ! :)

p.s. I am playing sulla's B game - Can't wait to see how each of our games "played out"

There is now a new catagory (ironic that I'm posting here when one of my very first posts is the 2nd post in this thread. :p), which I'll post about - Training Day Games.

Just one question (don't even know if it's related): What are the 'Epics' that everyone's talking about? Thanks.

The "Epics" are games (*similar* to our "Game of the Month") that are on the Realms Beyond Civilization (http://diablo.realmsbeyond.net/civ/index.html) site. The Realms Beyond players come here for Succession Games, so it is not surprising that their discussions sometimes involve references to the Epics. BTW, I believe anyone can play the Epics, as long as they follow the strict "no spoilers" rule over at RBC. Check with Sirian. He'll know. ;)

Is there any triaing day succession games coming up recently? If so, please tell me (!) cause i would like to be a part of a regent/monarch training day succession game. If so, plz email me @ andvruss@sympatico.ca

Are there any Emperor/Deity Training Games comming up. If So Please PM me since I am interested in Patisipating in a TDG to Rase my Difficulty Level up.

Thanks,
CivGeneral

Originally posted by Chieftess
There is now a new catagory (ironic that I'm posting here when one of my very first posts is the 2nd post in this thread. :p), which I'll post about - Training Day Games.

IMHO , great idea :thumbsup:

I see! Thanx! Now will there be a Succession Game league anytime soon?

Im not sure if im supposed to pose this question here but i see there is a limit to upload files via file management. What happens then? How can i post more files or how can i delete previous posted files?
Also, i'd like to know how u can make a link to a thread in a post

You can delete previous attachments via the user CP, there should be a tab manage attachments.
To post a link, you click the post hyperlink button when you're replying to a topic (with the small earth icon), then you'll get asked for a text (the part in blue with a line underneath) and afterwards you have to enter the link to the webpage (incl http://).

The easiest way is going to the thread you want to link to, selecting and copying everything in the address bar and paste it when asked for the link.

Greetz Jurimax
PS: hope this helps

If I had a idea for a SG-theme, but do not want to be the leader in my first SG ever (not to mention that I have modded my conquests.biq and woulnd`t be suitet well to generate the start save anyway) - what would be the odds to find somebody who would "host" my game?

Zorn: To tell the truth, pretty low unless the idea is really outstanding...
Also, it's a question of the level. You will find more participants for a Deity variant than for a Monarch game.
The SG community is mostly a shrinking pool of veteran players today.

What is your idea? :) (I'm interested).

I was thinking about something like "viking rage"

Archipel, 80% ocean
level emperor or higher, rest standard settings

Special rules:


Every coastal city must be captured amphibiously (if possible, this rule starts after invention if we don`t use a mod).
Every city must be destroyed. We want to burn the world, not conquer it. The only examples are cities with lighthouse or magellan.
If we would play this with the RAR biq, we could also try to ship the workers from the destroyed cities back home and go for a 25k victory with lots of sacrificing instead.

The SG community is mostly a shrinking pool of veteran players today.

Do not be too alarmed Doc, there are a few of us 'lesser' folk who are beginning to flock to SG's. In truth, if it wasn't for Brother Bede's invitation to his training game I possibly would have never strayed to this side of the board. Thanks Bede!

In hopes of learning from the vets!

Just found out about these training games... I'd love to participate in one, but I can't seem to find one. Here is my status:

Civ3 Mac
I usually play monarch/regent (win almost every time on monarch)

I'm also currently in a DemoGame, and I'm already learning a lot there.

I dont know if MAC and PC are compatible (CIV wize)

But all else is just fine...

I've been told they are not compatible, but I haven't tried myself. Send me a save if you like, and I'll let you know what happens.

Just get a download from TGOTM, C3C, PC.... See if it works....

Of course. What was I thinking? I'll let you know how it goes in a couple of days.

@Peter: They are compatible, meaning you could take your mac save and I could play in with my windows os. Granted you can only play off of saves from a windows os if they are vanilla civ.

If you have any more questions about Mac civ I suggest you PM AlanH. He has always been helpful to other Mac players in the past. You'll also notice his sig even mentions Mac.

Civ3 is "Alt+Tab" friendly.
Just open both programs and hit "Alt+Tab" to switch between them.

Civ3 doesn't, however, appear to be "Cmd+Tab" friendly. Is there an easy way to switch between Civ and another program on the Mac? Should I post this in the Mac forum?

Can anyone make a succession game? They just post a thread? I have a few games where I'd be really curious to see how other people would do.Hard to note progress of skill when I have little to compare to (since each game is unique)

Can anyone make a succession game? They just post a thread?

That's about it, although it's usually a good idea state what type of game you have in mind (Space Ship, 100k Culture, Always War, etc), the difficulty level, how many players you're looking for and what experience level they should have, and anything else you believe is important. It's also a good idea to post a link in the SG Registry pinned at the top of the forum so people know there's a new game starting.

In the screenies, the graphics look different than the ones I see in single player. Yes, I do have Civ 3, I got Civ 3 Complete (Windows). And yes, I was looking at games for civ3. Is there just later and earlier versions, or a patch, am I an idiot, or is it just something else?

May not be a big deal, I just want to make sure that If I join a game, I could play it.

Welcome to CFC, Wandering Noob! If you've got Complete, you should be able to join in just fine. The different graphics are just the result of different graphics modpacks. I haven't looked for this specifically, but I think that in some games, you'll see that different players have different graphics.

Thanks, and for such a quick response

Not sure who will read this, if anyone, but I think we need another term for use besides Lurker. I say that as lurker implies one is following the game and reading much of what is posted.

That may not be the case as often you just drop by from time to time and are not really aware of exactly what is going on and are not following the game real close.

How about kibitzer for those types of post or something. I sometimes feel it is misleading for me to post lurker, when in fact I have not read any post in a few days.

Anyway just figured I would toss this out to see if anyone had a similar idea or another term or even if I spelled it correctly.

Kibitzer's note: Fine with me! I was never very fond of the word 'lurker'. I have to admit I had to grab the dictionary for 'kibitzer', but it seems to fit, and yes, spelling is alright.

I think it is a Yiddish word. I remember hearing it used in card games at the pool hall as a 13-14 year old and being told it was basically offering your .02 about what was going on.

Anyway I will start using lurker for when I actually am following the game most of the time and kibitzer when it is occasional.

Yiddish for sure!
This is what the online dictionary gives as explanation of the term:
1. a spectator at a card game who looks at the players' cards over their shoulders, esp. one who gives unsolicited advice.
2. a giver of uninvited or unwanted advice.
3. a person who jokes, chitchats, or makes wisecracks, esp. while others are trying to work or discuss something seriously.

Actually, all of this sounds a slight bit negative about the kibitzer, like you would rather not have him around with his comments!

I think lurker is adequate, and doesn't have the negative connotations that kibitzer has.

I have a question. How do you know who you are playing with?:confused:

I have a question. How do you know who you are playing with?:confused:
If you're considering joining an SG you would first look at the difficulty level and what type of variant. This will also determine what other people will join.
Although there are some SG teams that have been together for quite a few games, I believe all SG's are open for anybody to join.

The standard thing to do when you start an SG is to list anyone that you already know will play. IOW you make a rooster and post it near the start.

It may look like this:

You
Him
Her
Open
Open

As you fill the rooster you edit that post and put in the new names. If you see open, they are looking for players. If not, you could still post to ask to join.