Lab Rats Wanted - An IOT Demo Thread

[CivOasis]

Spoiler Reason for this thread, if you care :

Any GM who has tried to create an original ruleset or mechanic has found, fairly quickly, that not everything works as well in practice as it does on paper.

Any GM who has tried to run a beta in an SG has probably noticed that word doesn't get out very well, and players tend to forget to check SGs.

And, even if you overcome both of these issues, you don't really get a chance to see how most players will react to a single mechanic, or how one operates independently of another, or you don't always make it to the point in the beta/game where you can test a mechanic.

So, to that end...

Welcome to the official IOT Demo Thread - where you can opt in to test specific mechanics in a more casual environment!

Wait, what if I don't want to play a full game, or I only want to test one type of mechanic?

Quite simple, I have a list of topics you can opt-in for below, with additional posts for links to where specific mechanics were tested, and their results!

 

[CivOasis]

Opt-In Topics and Rules

Simply put, sign up for which of the topics you want to be a participant in. The list will change constantly. When I have a demo involving said mechanic, you'll be contacted, and asked if you'd like to participate.

List of Topics:

Expansion
-Colonization

Military
-Navy
-Army
-WMD
-Other

Economics
-Trade
-Industry
-Trade Routes
-Other

Technology

Diplomacy

Miscellaneous
-Non-traditional IOTs
-Nation Diversity (Unique Components/Classes)
-NGOs

 

[CivOasis]

Test Runs and Results

 

[CivOasis]

Anything else I might need.

Alright, go ahead and post whenever.

If you're another GM interested in using this thread, go ahead and put your own topic list, and I'll link you here.

 

[Bowsling]

Down to help out anyone that wants it.

Also, should we really only being testing one mechanic at a time? I've had some ideas about industrial economics, but I can figure out how it would work in a vacuum on my own. The real question is how will it work with elements of military, technology and diplomacy, and that wouldn't be answered by testing the economic system itself in on its own.

 

[NedimNapoleon]

I may need to test NPC spheres and or internal division.

 

[Mosher]

I am willing to help.

 

[CivOasis]

Down to help out anyone that wants it.

Also, should we really only being testing one mechanic at a time? I've had some ideas about industrial economics, but I can figure out how it would work in a vacuum on my own. The real question is how will it work with elements of military, technology and diplomacy, and that wouldn't be answered by testing the economic system itself in on its own.

It doesn't need to be one at a time or a vacuum, this is just to provide a forum more controlled than a full game, yet incorporating the player element.

Anyways, I have some colonial ideas I want to try, so I guess that'll be my first attempt.

 

[Terran Empress]

the colonization mechanic sounds interesting ill be willing to try it out. along with nation diversity

 

[Arrow Gamer]

I'll help with anything.

 

[McWinniage]

I'll be glad to help.

 

[CivOasis]

Alright, running off the first attempt; I'm going to run a test for a few colonial, expansion, and military mechanics reminiscent of the Scramble for Africa.

Anyone who wants to participate; I need the following nations:

In Africa:
At least one native nation, restricted to Africa, of medium size.

In Europe:
At least one large colonial power, restricted to Europe
At least one small colonial power, restricted to Europe
At least, but no more than, one colonial power with a small or medium holding in Africa.

Any other nations you want to throw into Europe are also permissible. Hoping for 4-5 testers, and will cap at 8.

Rules to follow, after sign-ups.

Spoiler Map :

 

[Bowsling]

I'll bite. Kongo should be split into Kongo and Katanga, IMO.

 

[CivOasis]

Just recycling an old map, it doesn't particularly matter for the demo how the provinces are split.

 

[Arrow Gamer]

I'll be GB, no Ireland.

 

[Mosher]

Scandinavian Empire, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Livonia, Prussia, Westphalia as large colonial empire

 

[Terran Empress]

Hapsburg Spain (Castile, Catalonia, Andalusia, Austria) Small colonial empire

 

[McWinniage]

Kingdom of Kongo (Kongo, Gabon, Angola, Zambia, Cameroon.) Native African nation.

 

[CivOasis]

One of the European nations (or a new one) should stake a single province claim in Africa.

 

[Mosher]

Scandinavia will take Cairo.