Department of General Musings

[Tubby Rower]

I'm doing my best to get a loaner laptop to take with me. I still have two months to get it straightened out. It's really not that big of a deal what I've been doing. What's more odd is that I don't do it during a "normal" game.

It seems as though the moderators/admins of this game are getting tired of Provo's antics. Is it possible to ban someone from MTDG for being annoying???

 

[Kickbooti]

Maybe the city you name is also your responsibility to understand (or get help) with its interworkings.

I'm fine with this idea (to start whenever the current system becomes unweildy and a change is desirable/necessary).

But as a squirrl-feeding technological illiterate who thinks that Jiffy Pop popcorn is a technological marvel, I will need some simple and clear instructions. Would the player send the save file to the different governors so they could run CAII, or would screen shots be forwarded and the calculations done on paper or spreadsheet?

So many questions, so little understanding...

So again, I am in no rush to start this since Tubby and Crakie are doing a fine job, but when our anarchist collective thinks its prudent, Field Marshal Karl von Kickbooti is ready to take control of our military city and my name sake - Dunderhead.

Lest any of you worry, I plan on modeling my military rule on a combination of Gen. "Buck" Turgidson (George C. Scott) and Brig. Gen. Jack D Ripper (Sterling Hayden) from Dr. Strangelove. I will ensure our Purity of Essence - don't you worry about it

Sleep well fellow Kissers...

 

[gmaharriet]

Maybe the city you name is also your responsibility to understand (or get help) with its interworkings. Those on the back end should chip in where their strength is.

Um, due to my computer/game analysis expertise, I'm changing my name to zzzzzzzzzzzzzzmaharriet.

It seems as though the moderators/admins of this game are getting tired of Provo's antics. Is it possible to ban someone from MTDG for being annoying???

Wonder what would happen if we proposed a formal rule change suggesting this. Also to be included in said rule change would be wording to make abstentions a vote to ban said annoying individual. Some folks might just be shy.

 

[Whomp]

No worries "Ze" Gram, we'll help. It's a good practice to look at the save, though.

Booti...gotcha covered, Cap'n. We'll handle Dunderhead for ya. Personally, I think you need to be part of the diplo team. You, Soul Warrior, Bede, Admiral K and Igor. Fahgetaboutit! I think anyone who's doing diplo will need "instant messenger", for sure.

Ban Provo? Are y'all nuts? Provo is our single greatest friend ever! The more he talks, the deeper the hole TNT digs.

 

[Tubby Rower]

bootilicious, I go out and download the save regardless whether I'm playing the turn or not. It's relatively small right now (& I have dialup) so it's not that big of a deal. CAII will show you what tiles are being worked and if there is going to be any waste in that city (food or shields). I've been playing around with it since Ainwood graced us with the new version and it's fairly powerful. Just try it some and it'll grow on you like a bad fungus too!!

 

[Kickbooti]

Diplomacy...

I may like the sound of that. I would be happy to sit and learn from Bede and Soul Warrior, et al.

It's been awhile since I read Kissinger, but here, let me practice.

When we meet TNT I may quote from one of my favorite literary diplomats - Exeter from Henry V



EXETER (read noble and true representatives of the happy anarchist kingdom of K.I.S.S.)

...bids you then resign
Your crown and kingdom, indirectly held
From him the native and true challenger.

KING OF FRANCE (read Provo)

Or else what follows?

EXETER (you know, the good guys)

Bloody constraint; for if you hide the crown
Even in your hearts, there will he rake for it:
Therefore in fierce tempest is he coming,
In thunder and in earthquake, like a Jove,
That, if requiring fail, he will compel;
And bids you, in the bowels of the Lord,
Deliver up the crown, and to take mercy
On the poor souls for whom this hungry war
Opens his vasty jaws; and on your head
Turning the widows' tears, the orphans' cries
The dead men's blood, the pining maidens groans,
For husbands, fathers and betrothed lovers,
That shall be swallow'd in this controversy.
This is his claim, his threatening and my message...

Yeah, diplomacy. That could be fun.

Exeter, add a little Teddy Roosavelt, sprinkle some William Wallace as played by Mel Gibson. That could keep our Purity of Essence.

 

[gmaharriet]

No worries "Ze" Gram, we'll help. It's a good practice to look at the save, though.

I'm partly just kidding. I've kinda gotten some idea of how TR does his analysis with just one city, but the F11 screen will show the same info for 1 or 25 cities. How can a person track what's going on in city #10 (or whatever number) from that same info?

Ban Provo? Are y'all nuts? Provo is our single greatest friend ever! The more he talks, the deeper the hole TNT digs.

I to your greater wisdom, Whomp! He really is his own worst enemy, isn't he?

 

[gmaharriet]

Sorry to start a new post on the same topic, but I do have some additional questions.

Originally Posted by Whomp
No worries "Ze" Gram, we'll help. It's a good practice to look at the save, though.

I downloaded turn 24 and looked at the save. Um, I'm kind of afraid to move anything, since it has to be saved upon exit, and I don't know if I could get it open again. I also downloaded and tried to open the save we forwarded to D'nut, but it wouldn't allow me to look at it. I guess I'm just not sure what to do with the unplayed save, and I can't make suggestions without being able to see the results of the played save. Am I being totally dense here?

The past 2 weeks I haven't had much actual playing time, so I've been focusing on just starting new games and setting up settler factories, playing enough add'l turns to be sure they continue to work, then quitting and doing the same with a new game. I've managed to get a factory working in 4 out of 5 tries so far, though I couldn't describe how I managed to do them. I've read the "theory" many times, but I learn best by doing.

Maybe some of you could suggest what would be the best "new" thing for me to learn, both to be helpful in this game and also for a future SG. I seem to learn best when focusing primarily on just one new technique at a time, but there are so MANY things I don't yet know.

Right now I wouldn't have a clue how to manage just one city in this game, since the workers would be shared by all of us, or would it be a matter of discussing whether "my" city or "yours" needs it worse? I just find the concept of looking at a single city very different from considering the needs of the empire as a whole. I tend to be a bit shy and will say "somebody else do it", when I don't understand what's wanted of me. (pulls blankets over head and hides when in a quandry.)

Another question... I've been using MapStat and I've been wanting to get CAII, but I keep reading the posts on the CAII thread, and it seems like several people have problems with their computers running slower or getting strange graphic effects. Could this be due to their using browers other than IE? Have any of you experienced problems with it? I love the look of the city planning feature, and I'm never sure of the values of what tech to trade for another tech to get a reasonable deal.

Sorry to make this so long. I really want to help and I don't want to mess anything up.

 

[RegentMan]

I downloaded turn 24 and looked at the save. Um, I'm kind of afraid to move anything, since it has to be saved upon exit, and I don't know if I could get it open again.

You can exit without saving. When you're finished looking at the save, end your turn. A box will then come up. Select "Save & Exit" and when you're prompted to name it, hit the "X." You will leave, with the save intact.

I also downloaded and tried to open the save we forwarded to D'nut, but it wouldn't allow me to look at it.

That's because the save you forward to Team Doughnut is their turn. If you can access their save, let me know so we can smuggle you out and throw you in a river.

I've managed to get a factory working in 4 out of 5 tries so far, though I couldn't describe how I managed to do them.

Write things down. If you do, I'm sure that you'll notice a pattern in each settler factory (amount of food saved, number of bonus grasslands or forests, etc.).

Have any of you experienced problems with [Civ Assist II]?

I haven't had any. I guess they're the 1% that is having problems.

Maybe some idiots can offer different and better views.

 

[gmaharriet]

You can exit without saving. When you're finished looking at the save, end your turn. A box will then come up. Select "Save & Exit" and when you're prompted to name it, hit the "X." You will leave, with the save intact.

Thank you. That helps me understand what happens.

That's because the save you forward to Team Doughnut is their turn. If you can access their save, let me know so we can smuggle you out and throw you in a river.

Um, if I somehow manage to do that, I'll just disappear quietly...never to be heard from again. I can take a hint. Please don't hurt me.

Write things down. If you do, I'm sure that you'll notice a pattern in each settler factory (amount of food saved, number of bonus grasslands or forests, etc.).

Good idea. Maybe a comparative Excel spreadsheet would help. It's hard to remember from one game to the next exactly what I did.

I haven't had any. I guess they're the 1% that is having problems.

OK, you've sold me. I'll have a 3-day weekend coming up to play with it. I've heard so many good things about it, and I can use all the help I can get.

 

[Daghdha]

In a thread about "roleplaying" where other teams were named by TNT un-official UN-rap I posted this:

"Celts-Feadaíl Caora
Iros-BlasdaToll
Greeks-Sleagh Glas
Persia-Dian Luch"

Here's what it means:
Feadaíl Caora=Whistling Sheep
Blasda Toll=Tasty Hole
Sleagh Glas=Green Spear
Dian Luch=Eager Mouse

 

[Tubby Rower]

Have you been to the gmail inbox? (If not, then goto gmail.com & enter our our email address <teamkiss> and our password <sillywabbit6>.) All of the saves are under the Received Saves label (green heading on the left of the screen). You can download them from there.

Once you get it open, if you are just looking around what I do is look around without moving any units .

Then in order to get out, just press space for each unit to make them use up their movement points and press enter at the end of the turn. Select Save & Exit and then just cancel the save. It will return you to the main menu.

Make sure that you are not moving units around. That is a big

 

[Rik Meleet]

lurker's comment:

(..)Then in order to get out, just press space for each unit to make them use up their movement points and press enter at the end of the turn. Select Save & Exit and then just cancel the save. It will return you to the main menu.(..)

That will work, but a lot easier then pressing enter for each unit is: CTRL-SHIFT-Q (Quit) and say "no" when prompted if you want to save. You are then immediately returned to the standard Civ - menu screen, with the save closed. Perhaps <ESC> (escape button) does the same, but I don't know as I don't like that button.

 

[Tubby Rower]

Ahhh. I learned something today. Do you think my boss will let me use that as an excuse to go home early?? Thanks Rik

 

[Kickbooti]

Huzah!

Did I ever mention that Tubby is a genius? His "How to Download Saves/Wipe Your Own Keester/Buy Property With No Money Down for Mental Defects" tutorial was brilliant.

It changed my life. Not only did I dowload the save, but I no longer emit offensive odors and I bought an apartment complex despite the fact I am an unemployed, undermotivated, credit risk. All in one day by following his easy easy steps.

Thanks Tubby!

PS Do you have a weight loss program?

 

[Tubby Rower]

Do you have a weight loss program?

Yes amputate a leg!!!

 

[soul_warrior]

i know its going back to an annoying subject, so here's another Provo rant.
*&^*&^ 8976897^*^ 986(*^*(&^ 98&(&(*&
yes. that was pre-mod edited.

if he keeps up yapping.....
nuff said and mums the word

 

[IroquoisPlisken]

lurker's comment: That will work, but a lot easier then pressing enter for each unit is: CTRL-SHIFT-Q (Quit) and say "no" when prompted if you want to save. You are then immediately returned to the standard Civ - menu screen, with the save closed. Perhaps <ESC> (escape button) does the same, but I don't know as I don't like that button.

Or, if you're like me and don't like remembering tons of hotkeys, just press that oval on the top right of the box in the bottom right (where selected unit, current gold, gpt, and date are shown).

 

[soul_warrior]

and regarding diplomacy...
let me quote some speeches im saving up for Provo's troops:
when we meet them. they wont know sarcasm if it hit 'em in the face and yet Huzzah!!
"O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?". - (Act II, Scene II).
right before we declare on him...
"Good Night, Good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow." - (Act II, Scene II).
and my speech... my favorite speech ever...
i'll let you guess who that one is aimed for

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead!
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man As modest stillness and humility:
But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood, Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage;
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;
Let it pry through the portage of the head
Like the brass cannon; let the brow o'erwhelm it
As fearfully as doth a galled rock O'erhang and jutty his confounded base,
Swill'd with the wild and wasteful ocean.
Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide, Hold hard the breath, and bend up very spirit
To his full height! On, on, you noblest English!
Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof;
Fathers that, like so many Alexanders, Have in these parts from morn till even fought,
And sheath'd their swords for lack of argument.
Dishonour not your mothers; now attest That those whom you called fathers did beget
you.
Be copy now to men of grosser blood, And teach them how to war.
And you, good yeomen, Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
The mettle of your pasture; let us swear
That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not;
For there is none of you so mean and base
That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit; and, upon this charge
Cry 'God for Harry! England and Saint George!' Henry V, Act III. Scene I.

 

[gmaharriet]

Once you get it open, if you are just looking around what I do is look around without moving any units .

Then in order to get out, just press space for each unit to make them use up their movement points and press enter at the end of the turn. Select Save & Exit and then just cancel the save. It will return you to the main menu.

Make sure that you are not moving units around. That is a big

I was afraid to even try to move anything. To exit I think I used the menu button on the upper left corner without even using up any movement points...then I wondered if I'd permanently saved it...forever with no movement played...but I was able to open it again and it looked the same as the first time. My "motto" is the same as an MD..."Do no harm"...or at least that's my aim.