Beyond the Sword: GOTM Implementation Issues

[ButSam]

Back to the original topic...

It is possible that a random number seed could be specified, and saved with the game, in order to make it so the "randomness" of bad rolls will vary depending upon the play.

Sure, that may mean one person gets a bad event, while another gets a bad combat... but as long as events aren't unbalancing, it will hopefully not break the game too much.

Since it is all hypothetical right now, I lean toward keeping events on as the default position...as long as events aren't an extremely major part of the game that can quickly reverse your fortunes with little you can do about it.

 

[Seidrik_The_Gray]

I think of it like gambling at the casino. Players get streaky, that's how the laws of probability work, but in the long run, it all balances out. however, just like poker, a player's true skill comes in handling the good AND the bad, and converting the random events into a strategy for victory.

 

[LowtherCastle]

One solution to playing all three XOTMs might be for the admins to make at least one of them a "shorter" game. Quick speed, smaller map, etc.

Now if Firaxis is planning to bring out a third expansion pack, then probably the easiest solution is Game of the Week...

 

[12Voltman]

Anyone heard anything about actually implementing a BTSOTM or are we still just speculating? Just curious as I have installed the game and can't wait to see what the team comes up with for a game challenge!

 

[AlanH]

We don't have a HoF Mod for BtS yet. when we do, rest assured we'll let you play with it

 

[ButSam]

Any word yet on when BOTM will start? My guess is likely mid-month August, with BOTM replacing WOTM... or (less likely) 20 Aug, with BOTM in addition to the others.

My only real hope is that, without a patch out to fix Epic/Marathon espionage missions, the first BOTM will occur at Normal speed. Otherwise, BTS has been incredibly enjoyable! Random Events on, and espionage from nearly the beginning... thank you Firaxis!

Sam

 

[Thrallia]

It won't be at least until the BtS HOF mod is finished, and there's no word on that yet. It may be September when we finally get it...it depends on how much spare time Denniz can devote to rebuilding the mod.

 

[ainwood]

Looking through, there are a number of issues that I think need to be resolved first. A HOF mod may address some of them.

 

[MarkM]

As someone who was expressing reservations about rushing into this, I have to say I've come around 180 and would like to see a game as soon as the HOF is ready & the admins think we're good to go patch-wise, & have a set of options that are stable. I haven't played BTS that much yet, but enough to not really want to go back. As it is I'll probably not even bother to go back and finish WOTM11 (even without considering the hassles of undoing the new patch). I only have so much free time to play, and I'd prefer to p,lay BTS when I do (one game a month is all I usually find time to play anyway, I think I'll just give up on trying to play two). No rush, I can live without xOTM for a while, but just thought I'd throw in my comment.

p.s. boy is it hard to play without the HOF mods once you are used to them!

 

[Ani]

Been years since i last played the Gotms. (before the HOF mods came)
Realy looking forward to BOTM, so thanks for using the time to make the HOF mods.

 

[MarkM]

Well, the BTS HOF mod 3.02.001 is out, it's not 100% of the old HOF mod, but it fixes notable bugs (poison wells, all that).

 

[Thrallia]

well, since that's done, I expect we'll have the BtSOTM debut either in August or in September.

 

[cabert]

Well, the BTS HOF mod 3.02.001 is out, it's not 100% of the old HOF mod, but it fixes notable bugs (poison wells, all that).

some guys here are just brilliant

 

[MarkM]

It looks like they are accepting HOF submissions already using 3.02.001 link. Is this enough to say that we'll take a crack at a BTSOTM as early as next week?

If mods still think things are "not ready for prime time," may I suggest just calling it a "beta BTSOTM" (meaning it doesn't count for awards rankings etc). You could even not accept submissions at all (or accept them for purposes of a beta, but don't publish results if you don't want to), just give the save & open spoilers. Personally I'm mostly interested in seeing the spoilers, seeing the new strategies that people have come up with in BTS by playing the same game as them & see what they do different; I could care less whether it "counts" for anything ...

Just call it "BTSOTM0" (zero)

 

[chopster]

I also like the sound of that suggestion.
I'm not a submitter very often, but I do like to see how my game is progressing compared to others strategies.

 

[grahamiam]

Well, I haven't played gotm's for a very long time, but my suggestion, in regards to Dojoboy's concern on random events in BtS, is to talk to Sirian about it as he's the one who designed this feature.

Also, according to his description at his forum (and if my reading comprehension is ok ), if everyone plays the same original save, they will get the same random events, in the same order, and at the same time. However, since GOTM has 3 different saves, I'm not sure if the "random events deck" gets reshuffled each time.

 

[cabert]

Well, I haven't played gotm's for a very long time, but my suggestion, in regards to Dojoboy's concern on random events in BtS, is to talk to Sirian about it as he's the one who designed this feature.

Also, according to his description at his forum (and if my reading comprehension is ok ), if everyone plays the same original save, they will get the same random events, in the same order, and at the same time. However, since GOTM has 3 different saves, I'm not sure if the "random events deck" gets reshuffled each time.

It doesn't seem true. It would only be true if you did exactly the same moves.
However, the "random" events aren't totally random.
For example, the more you whip the more you get slave revolts (at least that's my experience), and the quests you get depend on what you did.

So IMHO, the random events should remain in the game of the month.

 

[grahamiam]

Well, here's the thread where Sirian discusses the events -> http://realmsbeyond.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2396 Post #9 is where he compares them to a card deck, though it would make sense if slave revolts happen more often with whips.

 

[cabert]

Well, here's the thread where Sirian discusses the events -> http://realmsbeyond.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2396 Post #9 is where he compares them to a card deck, though it would make sense if slave revolts happen more often with whips.

After reading this, here is my understanding : in each new game, only a given number among all possible events is selected. So all the players will have the same "deck".

(my opinion, not based on the link)Some events may not be totally random, like the slave revolt, and will certainly be included in every game, and happen if the circumstances are there.

 

[wwassme]

I interpret Sirian's comment differently. I think what he is saying is that some of the possible random events from the entire universe of random events are randomly removed from the deck at the start of the game. That means that everyone in a BOTM would start with the same, now limited, deck of cards containing random events. It eliminates some, but not all, of the variability between players starting from the same save.

However, I don't think he means that random events would occur in the same sequence at the same time for every player starting from the same save. If the likelihood of random events is influenced by game conditions and decisions (use of the whip increases likelihood of slave revolt, for example), then it can't be that way. Although I don't have the know-how to look at the code for random events, I suspect that there is a check each turn for whether a random event occurs and, if so, a further check for what random event, with the probability of particular random events being influenced by game conditions. It may also be that some random events (such as slave revolts) are independently checked for probability of occuring each turn.

That is somewhat like how popping a hut works as I understand it. What you get out of a hut is influenced by original game settings (difficulty level) which establishes what is in the deck and sets initial probabilities as well as an in-game decision (popping with a warrior vs. a scout).