C3C "101" Top level COTM players PBEM

[LouLong]

This PBEM is invitational only and restricted to the top players of the COTM 4.

Akots, EMan and Kuningas will be playing it.

I have called it "101" (albeit the name can be changed by the players if they decide so) as I hope it can be a kind of tutorial for all of us here who are not among the top players. Therefore spoilers are welcome.

At the moment the settings (subject to modification) are the follwings :

- Game : scenario MesoAmerica
- Civs : complete randomization
- Level : Demi-God or higher (Akots)
- Accelerated Production : OFF (Akots)



Players : 3

- Akots :
- EMan :
- Kuningas :

 

[akots]

Many thanks to Loulong for the possibility to play in this one.

Just general comments: The scenario is rather well balanced IMO and map is small and with only 3 players it can advance rather rapidly.

There might be a few delicate issues regarding the rules but hopefully we can settle them down between the player with the help of Loulong. As well as whether the map modifications are desired. The 3 "playable" human civs will then be Aztec, Maya, and Inca with Toltecs, Moche and Olmecs played by AI. They have somewhat handicapped start so Deity difficulty would be rather fair. The scenario also does not have artillery units iirc which might be a unique feature of it.

It would be also nice to decide apart from the rules, is use of MapStat allowed. The new version has some PBEM support but might provide a few pieces of info which can be considered as a spoiler.

And I would encourage all players to post spoilers with screenshots refreshed every 10 turns or so either at CFC or CDZ. I hope we can just trust the players for not lurking into these.

 

[akots]

Please, any suggestions from the players? Kuningas? E-man?

I guess we wait for Loulong to return and start on this one.

 

[EMan]

Hi to akots, kuningas, LouLong and lurkers, if any!

Thanks to LouLong for setting up this game and to the other players for accepting his invitation.

I have to confess that I haven't played PBEM before, so "PBEM 101" is a very appropriate title for me!

In fact just finding the Mesoamerica scenario was the first challenge!

It didn't look as though the standard scenario had an AP option, however, as with akots, I would prefer "Off". (Simply because I haven't played that way.....very "sheltered" Civ-Life!)

Am still reading LouLong's "Guide to PBEM for Newbies" thread, so perhaps some of the lurkers will also get into PBEM for the first time also..........it has to be a great way to improve your game.........human players are generally going to play better than the AI.

I'm glad that LouLong is away for a few days as it gives me time to answer a few questions I have by reading some threads on this site! (e.g. Who gets what civ, posting spoilers, barbarian level? etc.)..... AND, I'm in Mexico at present enjoying the beautiful warm and sunny weather!

As far as playing level goes, Deity or any other is fine with me (although I guess Sid might ensure a swift human demise depending on the relative location of the AI civs! )

I hope CRpMapStat can be allowed.....it has built-in "anti-spoilerware"..........obviously with the players posting spoiler info as we go along, the honor system will be heavily relied upon!.......BUT I haven't tried it with PBEM, so will defer to the other players and LouLong.

So, there you go akots.....my opening thoughts!

Good Luck and Fun to everyone.

Regards, EMan.

 

[Kuningas]

Hi all

LouLong has done excellent job in pbem field.

quick replies:
AP off. No disagreements.
I prefer AI level deity.
Maya have starting location in the middle. That player is between a sandwitch. Not a big problem anyway
Mapstat should be allowed, if you ask me.

 

[akots]

OK, just to summarize:

Game Administrator - Loulong. He will be the only one who has the admin password for the game. Players can direct all complaints to Loulong and hope for fair resolution.

Map - original scenario unmodified. Normal production.
Difficulty - Deity.
Victory Conditions - Default as in the scenario.
Human players - Aztec, Maya, Inca selected randomly.
Rules - Aggie's PBEM ruleset? All list of common RBC exploits banned and GOTM exploits banned. Only a single alliance against a human player is allowed by another human player with AI at a given time point. Also just to note: no Goto orders and no IBT city scrolling except from preventing civil disorder, no going behind "WITBP" screen. It might be better also to ban the UN rule exploits as well.
MapStat - recent version 2.8.0 is allowed.
Preserve Random seed - on.
Barbarians - noaitrol=0 may be? but it is Ok also to play without this line. This is up to the ini file of the last player in the turn. So, the last player has to inform the others on what are these settings.

 

[akots]

Please also note that Loulong being Administrator requires that he will play the first turn by himself, hence we would need to pm our passwords to him. I pm'ed mine already.

 

[EMan]

PMed my Password to LouLong also.

 

[EMan]

Rules - Aggie's PBEM ruleset? All list of common RBC exploits banned and GOTM exploits banned. Only a single alliance against a human player is allowed by another human player with AI at a given time point. Also just to note: no Goto orders and no IBT city scrolling except from preventing civil disorder, no going behind "WITBP" screen. It might be better also to ban the UN rule exploits as well.
Barbarians - noaitrol=0 may be? but it is Ok also to play without this line. This is up to the ini file of the last player in the turn. So, the last player has to inform the others on what are these settings.

I'm familiar with GOTM Rules but that's about it.......Am happy to give Aggie's PBEM ruleset a try, however philosophically I favor "Firaxis Rules" (viz. NO modified Rules except to deal with game bugs), with the latest patch of course.

Don't know what RBC, IBT, WITBP, "UN exploit" are!?

noaitrol=0.....Don't know what this means either!

 

[akots]

This is the link to the UN rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2174104&postcount=10

And the Aggie's ruleset: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2174119&postcount=11

The PBEM game has certain pecularities which make it clearly different from a single-player game which gives more room for additional exploits and bugs.

IBT - In-between turns; WITBP - "What is the big picture" screen; RBC - Realm Beyond Civilization ruleset.

Adding noaipatrol=0 to ini file makes barbarians behave in PTW-style not in C3C style.

 

[LouLong]

I have been trying to contact Akots to no avail (PM, mail, etc...). Does anybody know if he is away ?

 

[akots]

I'm here. I did get your e-mail and answered to it iirc.

 

[Kuningas]

I approve Aggie's ruleset. However I do not believe that it is necassary to have UN rules. I want to keep rules at minimum.

PW sent to LouLong.

 

[akots]

OK, we all seem to agree with Aggie's ruleset. Hopefully, there will be no need to impose a penalty for their violation! Let then Loulong start the first turn and we can move on with this highly anticipated game!

 

[Kuningas]

I highly doubt it, but if there is a rule violation. What kind of penalty you get?

 

[akots]

May be we just replay that particular turn? If notice in time? But if not, really don't know.

 

[Random fan]

How about "universal condemnation"?

 

[LouLong]

First turn "played" and turn sent to Akots.

I used the passwords you gave me but contact me if any problem occurs.

Civs have been attributed randomy :
Akots : Aztecs
EMan : Mayas
Kuningas : Incas

Have a nice game !

 

[EMan]

Suggest always using LATEST version of CRpMapStat, currently 2.8.1.

Suggest LouLong arbitrate Rules violations and apply penalties, if he's willing.

I'm probably the most likely to inadvertently break the PBEM Rules since I'm not familiar with them!

(That's why I agree with kuningas to keep the Rules to a minimum, where practical! )

Here's to a fun game!

EMan.
P.s. 2 questions:
1. What's the Barbarian Level?
2. Protocol for Posting Spoiler info here?

P.p.s. Do we really have 2 out of the 3 players in Houston at the moment?

Trivia Question: What was the first word spoken from the Moon?

 

[LouLong]

Barbarians are restless.

Posting spoliers : best might be to create your own thread. Alternatively you can use the new "spoiler" tag in your posts here.

Akots has asked me about the map size I used before and the level.
I might have used a different map than the one you play on (my bad !) but level was deity for everyone so there SHOULD not be any pb with level.