Just picked up the PTW expansion and was wondering how long a typical game lasts? Also what is the longest game you have played? I like to play huge maps & lots of other civs.

Hi eric, welcome to CFC!

I've only played LAN and PBEM so far, but a large map with 6 AI took about two weeks to complete with lots of play per day, while PBEM can take several months, or even years (DDPP (see PBEM-forum) is now almost a year old, and we're at 730 BC). :)

As for online play, I hav little experience with it, but I don't think many people play large maps, usually small or tiny maps with accelerated production to speed the game up.

Kemal:
Thanks for the greeting and the info; I will check out your PBEM page.
I have heard of modifing the game to start with more settlers and workers. Sound like a good way to kick start a game, have you tried this?

Yup, on the pbem ladder you can do a diety light game where you start out with an extra settler and I think an extra worker(?).

Now for MP online. After playing a dozens, it varies greatly. A game can go from a couple of minutes (if it crashes) to a couple hours. The games that last the longest are games that are part of another ladder on another page. I'm sure if you go into the lobby for MP, you can get the link from someone idling there. Games that last a couple minutes are because the people are all random and none of them know eachother. This is a problem because if there are 5 people starting the game and person A doenst like his starting position, he will quit not caring about the other 4. So possibly, each person might quit because the map might of been standard or bigger and it would take to long to finish.

Also, to give you some hints, be a civ with a early and good UU for mp games as people like to rush others a lot. The Aztecs (in the right hands) are feared greatly. Also, don't focus on wonders, as you should settle and build defense (or offense) and try to win ASAP.

Welcome to CFC :)

It would be good if you could assign your CIV to the AI if you want to quit, then the other players could continue.