Through my failings to get online to play internet games (see earlier post), i was wondering if there would be interest to play a PBEM game. Slow paced is fine.

However, i have absolutely NO idea how to setup a PBEM game, so any more thoughts would be appreciated. As well as this, i'm easy with regards to world size, number of players. Not so sure about difficulty (this will be my third civ4 game, my first one still playing, my second as a multiplayer hotseat game)... i haven't got past swordsmen yet....

Just some thoughts.

Joul

I would join. Any others?

I'll join!

Woo! Got some responses :)

Anybody else interested, probably someone who has done a PBEM before and knows how to set it up...

Joul

I'd like to join up, and my wife too if possible. I played PBEMs in Civ3, was looking forward to start one in Civ4. I can set it up if you want. What kind of game do we want ? I like the map "balanced" most. Make me know.
With me and my wife we would be 6, I think that's enough for a standard map.

PS: write down the timezone you live in please.
PPS: nevermind you've all written your location ;)

I would like to join as well please.

I'm PST.

This is sounding good.

Onedreamer: Any chance i could leave this in your capable hands for deciding map sizes etc? Unless you want to put a few options up for voting for sizes of map/difficulty. Bear in mind this will only be my third Civ4 game ever... How about Prince difficulty?

6-8 people seems fair for PBEM, especially considering its my first so it will take AGES for me sort it out. Lol

Anyone else want to join? It appears we still have a space left. Once its gone, its gone...

Joul

Sure, why not. To make things much easier down the road, you are going to want to get everyone's email address, the time of day when the usually play and their time zone.

Example: My screen name at gmail.
I usually play between 9 pm and 1 am.
I'm on Eastern (American) Standard Time (GMT -5: So I play between 01.00-06.00 GMT.)

Knowing the time people usually play lets you maximize the efficiency of the turn order.

Right, screen names it is:

email - Alexander__Harris[at]hotmail.com (note the two _ in the name: Long story)

Time to play: I'm on GMT time, and can respond to emails any time. Doing an MA history degree so only in uni 4 hours a week. When i get the email i will respond asap :)

Joul

OK, my turn:

Player name: Corossol
corossol[dot]civ[at]gmail[dot]com
I usually play between 6 pm and 11 pm Eastern Standard Time (GMT -5) so that's 23.00-04.00 GMT.

I prefer playing Egypt but any Civ is fine.
Also I prefer Continents or Terra but any map type is OK as well.

Player name: Pirke
Email: peter[d0t]bouwmans[at]gmail[d0t]com
I usually play between, let's see, 17:00 - 23:00 GMT, but I don't have much to do during the 6 hours before that on most days (also working at home most of the time).

I'll try the Russion this time, Catherine.

Are we playing with AI players, or only human? And I'd say standard options, all victories allowed.

I'll play if you need more players.

Name: jhauser
email: jhauser42@adelphia.net
country: random
TZ: US EST (GMT -5)



Joe

Ok, I usually play PBEMs in the morning and in the evening.


Since we're already 8 human players I wouldn't put any AI in, it will make things more balanced and interesting ;)

Map: Balanced, Standard, temperate, medium lvl seas, ancient era, normal speed.
Victory contitions: all but Time.

If you don't like it we can vote for it.


Right now on the deck we have:
Pirke - Russia (Catherine) - GMT +1
Onedreamer - Spain (Isabella) - GMT +1
Stella (my wife) - China (Qin) - GMT +1
Joul Ironhand - Civ ? - Nickname ? - GMT
Corossol - Egypt (Hatshepsut) - GMT -5
Herandar IV- Civ ? - GMT -5
Jhauser - random - GMT -5
HeroFromHyrule: your email ? - Civ ? - Nickname ? - GMT -8


If everything is ok I need the missing information, then I can launch the game :)

Well, considering my Civ4 game now refuses to open at all, claiming that there is an error and windows "apologises for the inconvenience", i cant join until i get it sorted :(

Any thoughts?

Joul

yep: sort it out :P

'night !

Joul: uninstall and reinstall might work...

Huzzah!

I've got it working, after numerous reinstalls/virus checks/registry cleaning...however, i'm yet to touch the patch...

Any thoughts? shoudl i install it?

Joul

Edit: Nickname will be Joul, Civilisation Greeks or Romans... if someone chooses one i'll be the other. If two people choose both then its very rude :p

Joul,
I think everyone should definitely install the 1.09 patch, yes. Otherwise we will have conflicting savegame versions (and some exploits that the patch fixes).

p.s. Onedreamer, another game I just started playing had no password protection on the first turn. I think you as the admin can assign temporary passwords to each player for their first turn; then each player can change it with Alt+D during their turn. I'm still new to pbem so tell me if I understand this correctly. Thanks!

I feel that further a further Huzzah is necessary...

Patch installed, game runs fine :)

This shocks me, yet i'm not complaining...

Count me in (again)

Joul

So, when do we launch? :)

I think onedreamer is sorting out the tech stuff of the PBEM game, ie the most efficient order of sending emails to people with regard to the difference in time zones...

I'm going to uni and will be in till 5 so i'll be back later tonight to check how things are progressing...

Joul

well, actually I'm at work now ;)
Btw I don't have ANY information at all regarding Hero, and Herandar should choose a civ too.

I will be at home in 3 hours and start this game with what I have, which means Herandar > random and no Hero unless they show up in the meantime.

Anyways I'm going to send a test email now to all of you just to check that everything is ok.

@Corossol I will look into it while creating the game. I have yet to do it with Civ4 actually ;)

PS: the play order will be the one I already wrote in my previous post, if none is against it, that is.

Onedreamer:

further to your email about the game itself i recieved, i've tried to open a gmail account but apparantly i need to be invited to open one by somebody who already has one...

This is so rude!

Joul

hehe, I'll get my wife to invite you if she still has invitations ;)

Game started.

GPS

Password was there and it worked, is it possible to change it or do I have to keep the given password?

And I see a GOODY HUT, only 1 turn away...

Hi Pirke, you can change the password by hitting Alt-D. Good luck with that goody hut!

Turn one done - pirke's mail came through junk mail, but changed it so it goes to inbox. No problems.

Might need to change password though. Meh, can do it tomorrow.

Good luck everyone

Joul

I can invite someone to gmail, I am fairly certain. I haven't used any to date.

I could not change the password, for whatever reason.

Also, hit two goody huts on the first turn and will hit another in two turns. Nicest set-up yet.

Password was there and it worked, is it possible to change it or do I have to keep the given password?

And I see a GOODY HUT, only 1 turn away...

I managed to change my password using Alt-D. We'll see next turn if it works.


Joe

I hit Alt-D and changed all of my info, and typed in my ten digit password over the five digit "*****". I hit OK and the ***** was still on the screen.

Your password was changed even though it doesn't show. Don't trust the ***** (that and the fields not having captions, amazing UI there).

No, it didn't, because my game freaked out and suddenly I had 60 odd scouts running across a flashing black and green screen.

I did my turn again.

Your password was changed even though it doesn't show. Don't trust the ***** (that and the fields not having captions, amazing UI there).

Captions are there only if you do a mouse-over. (and I agree. Quite annoying)


Joe

No, it didn't, because my game freaked out and suddenly I had 60 odd scouts running across a flashing black and green screen.
60 scouts, that's a good goody hut

To combat against boredom in the first 1/3rd of a CIV IV PBEM game, where you are mostly just hitting END TURN and then sending the file forward, my small group of players decided to start 5 games simultaneously. Different maps, eras, settings etc . . This way you have a bit more going on during the beginning of the games and a lot to discuss in the forums. We are playing as a team vs. a team of an equal number of AI players on the default difficulty level and are having a good time of it thus far.

I would recommend a human team vs. AI game or a Human team vs. Human team game. The team aspect is a lot of fun and allows you a great chance to discuss your strategy with others without letting your opponents know what you are up to.

Good luck and hope you have as much fun as we have been. :)

Turn one done - pirke's mail came through junk mail, but changed it so it goes to inbox. No problems.

Yeah, that's only the slightest problem though. The real one is when Hotmail decides that Civ's saves are potentially dangerous files and will not let you open/download them. The only way to overcome this is to zip the save, though it's a bit annoying... Btw you should have a Gmail invitation, did you check ?

About the passwords, glad that they worked. I put difficulty noble (default) for everyone, since there is no AI.

I would recommend a human team vs. AI game or a Human team vs. Human team game. The team aspect is a lot of fun and allows you a great chance to discuss your strategy with others without letting your opponents know what you are up to.


I tried the team in LAN and while it is truly an additional fun and adds more to strategy, the AI resulted really overpowered in teams of just 2 players. I mean, a noble team game is about the difficulty of a monarch regular game :eek:

GPS

Password succesfully changed. Thx.

Tis an idea for multiple games? how about One v One games against each other? Or teams of three?

Just thoughts of mine

Joul

Third round started.
Nothing in sight... Herandar stole all huts :cry:

Herandar the Hut Stealer!

I suppose it's better than Herandar the Utterly Worthless.

Any sign of the game anywhere? Thought there might be something yesterday...

Meh

Joul

I already sent it to you, maybe it got stuck in your spam?

Joul please register that gmail account you've been invited for !

Ooopps...

My apologies for not replying earlier...taken my friend to A&E since noon, just got back now...

Gmail account is joul.civ4@googlemail.com

I hope this works... sorry guys :(

Joul

GPS

Back on track now. That Gmail seems a LOT easier than hotmail.

Thankies for waiting

Joul

Is it my ineptness with this gmail/hotmail/general crapness which is meaning the game is being slowed down? Haven't got a GPS from Corossol yet.. :(

Joul

Oops, I had played and sent forward but forgot to send you back the GPS. Will do next time around.

No worries :) was just checking to make sure i had managed to use Gmail properly... i SHOULD know how to use e-mail by now.

Thanks for putting my mind at rest :)

Joul

I always forget to send a GPS back, maybe I should do it also :)

you must ! ;)

Can anybody tell me where the game is? Haven't seen it in a long time!

I was kinda starting to wonder as well, perhaps its my ineptness... lol

Joul

Still nothing...

Since Corossol seems to have played the third turn, it seems the game is stuck with Herandar... Corossol you should try to ping him if he doesn't send a GPS within a reasonable time. It's been almost a week now since when the third turn started.

OK, I just sent an e-mail to Herandar, we'll see.

-C.

Thank goodness...

I thought it might have been my inept e-mailing abilities that messed up the game

Looking forward to turn 4

Joul

I sent the game to J Hauser 12/01/05 23.00 my time. He sent me a reply saying he got the file at 23.07, so I am assuming that he played it forward.

I would guess it is in HerofromHyrule's inbox.

I sent the game to J Hauser 12/01/05 23.00 my time. He sent me a reply saying he got the file at 23.07, so I am assuming that he played it forward.

I would guess it is in HerofromHyrule's inbox.

HerofromHyrule does not play as he never pinged back... the next in the list is me, but I checked and I had already played. To cut a long story short, I found out Stella didn't play. Her punishment shall be devasting and ingame ! :nuke:

We're going again! GPS to Joul.

To cut a long story short, I found out Stella didn't play. Her punishment shall be devasting and ingame ! :nuke:

So everyone agrees to declare total war on Stella for this unforgivable act?? :mischief:

Ooh, another goody hut!

And there was me thinking it was my email problem :)

Glad its started again

Joul

YEAH!

Me has popped a tech from the hutty! WOOHOO!

GPS to Joul

GRRRR, I am seeing the first hut now, may this turn come fast to me !

Just to inform you guys that from sunday i'll be working full time rather than being at uni, over christmas, till the 16th jan.

Of course, this doesn't affect my Civ playing too much, but it does mean that i will be able to check turns at two points in the day: the morning (before i go to work), and the evening (when i get back in from work)

Unless i have a day off, in which case i'll be playing World of Warcraft, but will check email every hour or so.

Thanks
Joul

Welcome to the rat race.

eheh yeah, that's what I do every damn day from years.

Btw, I finally got my first hut, for the grand prize of 28 gold !
wohooo ! (??)

Pirke someday you'll pay for stealing MY hut right in front of me ! :mad: :)

GPS to Herandar the OTHER Hut Stealer :)

What do you mean, "other"? I wrote the history, others are merely repeating it.

Herandar, you got at least 2 techs from huts, you $%£&!"% !!!

btw, a message from Madrid: "Ayaaaah baddaaa rasaaa !"

Yeah, I saw this really nice tribe who wanted to give me 90 gold and I just couldn't refuse..... then I noticed you were standing just beside it :)

(and I kinda hoped you wouldn't notice ;))

Herandar, you got at least 2 techs from huts, you $%£&!"% !!!

Maybe I did, and maybe I didn't. They don't call me the Hut Stealer for nothing.

your screenshot speaks clearly Herandar ;)

your screenshot speaks clearly Herandar

Screenshots can be misleading.

Where's my Hindu Missionary?

I got a save from Jhauser of the last turn which I already have played. If the turn got resent because it was stalled this should be reported on the forum so that we can easily (through GPS) find out where it got stalled and the game can restart from the right point, not just randomly...
Last I know of is Pirke sending a GPS to Stella on the 23rd for turn 2330 BC... what then ?

Oh, this is my fault. I sent the wrong file to Jhauser. Will resend 3320 BC file.

ok

and btw, Merry Christmas everyone :D

I've noticed the new patch was needed to play with the save I got.

It might be a coincedence, but my build queue was empty...

Someone on vacation? Haven't seen this game in a while.

When I started another game with the new patch, the game told me my ONLY city threw over their evil overlords and joined my wonderful empire. And the build queue was empty as a result.

I am having trouble sending the file to the next player (Onedreamer). I have gotten the following twice:

Failed; 4.4.7 (delivery time expired)

I have tried sending it again.

Joe

Can we get a replacement player if Onedreamer does not show up?

I already played the game on the 26th and I know Pirke played the day after... where are we stuck ?

I played BC2920 on the 27th Jan and got a GPS from Joul on the 31th Jan.

Please people, reply here so we can continue as fast as possible.

since Joul played on the 31th (4 days to play one turn ... ?) and Herandar posted on the 31th I guess we are stuck in between at Corossol.
I'm going to ping him and Herandar now.

2960 BC was sent to and acked by Herandar on Mon, 23 Jan 2006. I never received 2920 BC afaik...

Corossol please ask Joul for a re-send.

Done. I'll let you know when I get it.

Got it, played and sent. Looks like I was the one holding up the game after all. My apologies.

np, let's roll again !

My internet connection at home is currently down, I'm sorry for the inconvenience, I'll try to get my turn done as soon as possible.

Any update? Any way around this delay? I miss my poor Persians.

Pirke sent his turn on the 15th... should be arrived to you already. After him there is Joul...

Nope, not yet. Cor must be sitting on it...

sorry guys, I kept the file 4 days, forgot I didn't play >_<

Game sent to JHauser, and already received confirmation that he played it on.

yep I have it, will play when I get home. Super fast turn !! O_O

If only every day was as serendipitous as that one...

would probably more interesting to play this game if it wouldn't take one month to do one turn guys. Is it so hard to play a game within 24 hours ?

I agree, I always play within 24 hours...