Civ4 and GOTM

[occam]

Re: cheating.... Cheating is all too easy with reloading. People who are happy that LARGER forms of cheating are curtailed are fooling themselves about security.

I am not sure if anyone else plays bridge (the card game), but that is another game where cheating is quite easy. Knowledge of whether or not partner has a specific card (say, a particular Ace) would be easy to communicate in some binary way that is hard to detect - and would be an immense competitive advantage in the long run (cards in the short run are unpredictable) - some events are decided by tenths of a percentage point difference in performance. At the professional/expert level* there have even been cheating scandals (they aren't satisfying with just one card). But the game still functions across the world at all sorts of competitive levels.

So don't be too pessimistic about the gentlemen's agreement failing. Even cheaters quickly learn the true joy comes from fair competition.

- Occam

* At the very highest levels several devices are employed to screen particpants and track these things.

 

[Megalou]

What makes you think he was on the beta team? I haven't seen him around the forums for ages - he was busy with work.

It is an interesting issue though - beta testers participating in the gotm. I think we'll allow it - but maybe identify them? Not sure.

There was just a rumour that the work was beta testing. I have no personal knowledge to back it up. Indeed he would probably have visited the forum if so.

 

[Randy]

I would vote to leave GOTM and cut-out COTM, because there are still players who play on Vanilla. And PTW/Vanilla is more interesting than Conquests, IMHO.
Maybe we should have a poll on that?

I'd second this. I like PtW a lot more than C3C.

 

[Randy]

It is an interesting issue though - beta testers participating in the gotm. I think we'll allow it - but maybe identify them? Not sure.

Not everone has the same forum names at Civilization Fanatics as at civ sight. And I think there 250+ alpha/beta testers. Only a small handful would play GOTM4

 

[Sabre]

Personally I'd like to see as many beta testers play the gotm as possible. The amount of info that I've learned from the better players for CivIII - I cringe to think of how I used to play. Ugh. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the more experienced play compared to me. And let's face it - SirPleb would probably be a tough opponent, beta-tester or not!

 

[Abegweit]

We are starting a Civ4 gotm soon (after the first patch, probably).

Why wait? Give us a random map, random civ at continents, Noble or Prince, and let us tell each other our stories. It's a huge help in learning the game.

We will continue running the GOTM/COTM in the near future. Once the Mac version of Complete is out, we may reassess depending on participation levels. Maybe cut-out the GOTM and have only the COTM?

How about alternating months? They are different games and both are fun.

 

[ainwood]

Why wait? Give us a random map, random civ at continents, Noble or Prince, and let us tell each other our stories. It's a huge help in learning the game.

Because people can play those themselves!

Patch should be out this week, in which case we'll start the game on the weekend. In the interim, there are too many game-killing exploits and cheats - the diplo cheat (getting all cities & techs etc for peace) can be triggered nearly accidentally....

 

[ControlFreak]

Maybe cut-out the GOTM and have only the COTM?

Please don't cut out the GOTM! I'm stuck with PTW and won't get Conquests or CIV. (If you must cut one, cut the COTM since most players that could make the Conquest purchase can also make the CIV purchase. )

 

[Abegweit]

Because people can play those themselves!

The objective is for everyone to play the same game. I believe that the early GOTMs for Civ III were done that way. Anyway, if Aeson has made a map, then

Patch should be out this week, in which case we'll start the game on the weekend. In the interim, there are too many game-killing exploits and cheats - the diplo cheat (getting all cities & techs etc for peace) can be triggered nearly accidentally....

Fair 'nuff. So far I've spent my time learning the mechanics of the early game so such things haven't really impinged on me.

 

[AlanH]

Will SirPleb be eligable to submit the first CIV-gotm, having thoroughly tested out the game? He would have a huge advantage if the first game starts really soon. Not that I mind if he does submit...

CivRules published a list of players credited as beta testers here, and I don't believe I see SirPleb among them.

 

[Megalou]

CivRules published a list of players credited as beta testers here, and I don't believe I see SirPleb among them.

I'm an on and off fanatic, not really knowing what I'm talking about.

 

[Aeson]

The objective is for everyone to play the same game. I believe that the early GOTMs for Civ III were done that way. Anyway, if Aeson has made a map, then

The map is pretty much just what you suggested. It's just an unaltered random start. So nothing special and/or deviant.