Choose your leader challenge

[pomthom]

Yo yo!

I was wondering if people would be interested in playing maps where you can choose 1 of 2/3 possible leaders for the exact same map and starting location. Don't know if it has been done already and I'm not even 100% it is feasible technically... (the idea was inspired by a "choose your scenario" thread initiated by Tachywaxon - which unfortunately didn't work out)

So for example I would host a map with 2 saves: 1 with Suleiman and 1 with Mehmed () and people could choose whichever and be able to compare. Apart from the leader, everything on the map would be exactly the same (starting location, opponents...). Shadowers could then explain why they chose this dude or that dudette and illustrate their opinion by writing up their progress.

I don't expect the outcome of this to be revolutionary but it might be fun!
Heck maybe it was already tried and failed miserably but no one can say there are too many games proposed around here these days so why not get the suggestion out!

If you'd fancy playing a game like that what would you suggest on the following items:

- Difficulty level: imposed? free (as per NC's games)?
- How many different leaders for same map to choose from?
- Should there be an extra objective to compare leaders better?
- Other parameters?​

EDIT - PS: of course you can always tell me to choke on my stupid idea and die

 

[Patchface]

I think its a great idea.

I'd suggest that to best compare leaders, go with a flat difficulty. Maybe people can weigh in before hand who they are going to pick so as we get close to an even 33/33/33 or 50/50 distribution, then at the end sum up the average finish dates for each leader to determine who's "best" (for that map, at least).

Probably go with 2 leaders instead of 3, if you went that route, to increase your sample sizes.

As for difficulty, I'd suggest it should be easy enough that players will actually finish, but not so easy that you can pick any old strategy and win the game guaranteed. Emperor would be my choice.

edit: if you want to really be scientific, I'd even go with a set difficulty AND a set Victory Condition.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

It was done in the days of yore, when I was a relative newbie here. There were two styles:

Pick Your Leader: You could play as anybody on the map, usually themed games in some way.

PYL: Same Start Challenge - worked exactly as you describe here, except more leader choices.

I always liked this style of game, so maybe I'll patch my Linux installation up for it and play as "Sid", for lulz purposes (no traits or starting techs), unless we really need #'s for a non-favored leader.

 

[Htadus]

Yes there was a game about a year or 2 ago too where you could choose 1 of several leaders on the same map. I remember playing as Peri.

 

[MarigoldRan]

Days of yore....

 

[enKage]

Charlemange vs Tokugawa, always war, monarch (?), no tech brokering to weaken AI's, ancient start to enable great wall and raging barbs to force players to take advantage of this wonder

UU about the same time, it would be nice to see what would be more appreciated here - better "fresh" units of Toku and UU easier to get with an additional promotion which stays after upgraiding to gunpowdre units OR extreme use of Charlie's great generals, especially boosted by great wall.
It would also be nice to have a second leader on the map present, so in case you choose Toku, you have Charlie as an opponent, if you take BK, Toku takes Charlies starting position

 

[TheMeInTeam]

No, it's better to use identical starting positions, and no harder from a map making perspective, also.

 

[FlyingSwan]

you could use the mirror map in the custom maps.

 

[pomthom]

you could use the mirror map in the custom maps.

The land would be identical but not the opponent locations etc...

Will try to find the threads TMIT and Htadus mentioned and mull this over

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Haha it's not a hard setup. Just do the usual "create worldbuilder save" steps, and then use the leaderhead XML to know what to call the new leader/civ you're swapping in. Experienced players who DL it could then switch their leader to anything they wanted, or if you want it to just be between 2 leaders just do that.

 

[pomthom]

Haha it's not a hard setup. Just do the usual "create worldbuilder save" steps, and then use the leaderhead XML to know what to call the new leader/civ you're swapping in. Experienced players who DL it could then switch their leader to anything they wanted, or if you want it to just be between 2 leaders just do that.

Yep that's exactly what I had in mind, I'm more interested in how the challenge was presented and how people submitted their games

 

[tijup]

That would be fun. Is it possible to leave player 0 as a non assigned leader on the save file ? Thus, if one load the scenario, he/she could choose his/her favorite leader.

As per reading the .CivBeyondSwordWBSave, it involve quite some modifications in that file to let people do it by hands each time.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

The only required modification would be starting techs and civ data.

 

[Sleepless]

It was done in the days of yore, when I was a relative newbie here. There were two styles:

Pick Your Leader: You could play as anybody on the map, usually themed games in some way.

PYL: Same Start Challenge - worked exactly as you describe here, except more leader choices.

Mmm nostalgia.

Actually don't remember the second but certainly the first was fun to play.

 

[Htadus]

The land would be identical but not the opponent locations etc...

Will try to find the threads TMIT and Htadus mentioned and mull this over

Here is the game I remembered.

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=449597