MP Online Scenario Play

[KillCarneyKlansmen]

Hi My Username Here and In the CIV3 Lobby is KillCarneyKlansmen.

I was Wondering if any of you Civ3 Modders, actually ever play online?

I was Wondering if any of you Civ3 Modders, ever play any other Modders online with Scenario's you have made here?

Why is there such a huge difference between those that play online the same way all the time and modders who seem to never play online at all?

Why is There such a huge gap betweeen game development and game play?
When virtually every other game I have played from old school games like Diablo, to vintage games like NeverWinter Nights and Dungeon Siege and newer games like Elder Scrolls and Halo all are modded and Have big Development for online play communities?

Are any Modders here interested in Playing Online? If so post!

 

[LouLong]

Well, Civ3 is not the best game for playing online (very long, difficult to gather many people...).

On the other hand I really like to play vs human players but I prefer to do it through PBEMs.
I guess I can consider myself a modder and I prefer playing scenarios in PBEM, including my own which I often design with PBEM in mind.
I often launch PBEMs based on my scenarii.

But the players who accept to play these kinds of scenarios are few as it requests downloading/installing/getting to work new scenarios and prefer to stick to regular conquests. I tried playing MP at the beginning but nobody was interested. Most just wanted a wuick rush early game which was boring...

It is true most modders I know don't play their scenarii in MP mods (at least AFAIK) because they stick to modding and because Civ3 is not a truly MP game.

So I cannot really answer your question globally... just give you hints from my personal experience.

Anyway if you like playing scenarios/mods you can visit us at the PBEM page. We often play conquests (Rise of Rome, Napoleon...) and some custom scenarios (WWI, my own... )

 

[KillCarneyKlansmen]

Well, I play online all the time, games often dont last long due to quitters. But more often than not last several hours, I've even played more than a few times between 6-8 hours long. However, most good games last between 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours long. Not to bad. But the variety is lacking. Mostly ancient a few futures and modern starts. But never ever hardly, with rare exceptions medevil, industrial, or scenario starts.

Doesn't playing by PBEM take extremely long tho? How does that work! Are those scenario's you have made in your signature?

 

[I_batman]

Well, I play online all the time, games often dont last long due to quitters. But more often than not last several hours, I've even played more than a few times between 6-8 hours long. However, most good games last between 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours long. Not to bad. But the variety is lacking. Mostly ancient a few futures and modern starts. But never ever hardly, with rare exceptions medevil, industrial, or scenario starts.

Doesn't playing by PBEM take extremely long tho? How does that work! Are those scenario's you have made in your signature?

Playing online would be great except there are so many problems with the game in real-time, even though it is still turn based.

A lot of guys hate the fact that many of the graphics don't work.
Also, if you have a lot of players, your wait times between turns is a pain.

I have always thought there would be a spot for a two person scenario, around 100 turns long, which could be played in one sitting.
I have always thought a Napoleonic, WWI, WWII, or Cold War scenario that focused on a specific battle or theatre would be great. There are WWII Pacific scenarios that come real close to that now, but they still are not two person games.

But building that scenario takes a lot of work, as does any modding.

Like it has been said here before, most modders seem to have more fun actually creating the scenario rather than playing the scenario.

 

[KillCarneyKlansmen]

Well, most CIV 3 Lobbiers play Fast Timer games, with Similutanious Moves.

True the Graphics can be a bit Jaded, but what can you do?!? People still show up to play!

Yes Modding scenario's let alone making new units or wonders can be time consuming. And if no plays why do it? Other than the satisfaction of doing it, and the hope a few people might play it, and usually alone!?!

Like it has been said here before, most modders seem to have more fun actually creating the scenario rather than playing the scenario.

I agree, I was just seeing if anyone played online and was willing to play with me or start a league of modders online to make it less repetative.

The offer still stands, If anyone is interested.

 

[LouLong]

The scenarios are in my signature that's right.

The Falkland wars would be perfect I guess. Just two players and very special settings (very modern warfare). But I really need to correct a few things. It works though but the balance is far from perfect. And loading up the troops at the begining is a tedious task for the "British" player.

The Boer War could also be played by 2 humans, the four other countries (very minor) being best played by the AI. I am currently polishing this one to release a new version.
The French and Indian Wars scenario is not very different. The British and the French are the major civs. The Indians can be a pain but they can really be played by the AI. This scenario and the Falklands War one stress the importance of sea warfare, which is omething that could be appealing of you want a rela change of gampeplay.

Most people who play Civ3 play in SP mod, so it is normal most of the scenario players also play in SP mod. Modders really have an audience in Single Player mod.

 

[LouLong]

And PBEMs are indeed long. I have been in one that lasted three years !!
But you can play with more than 1 person and you really play Civ slowly, building, negociating... which is something I have never seen in my (very limited) MP experience.

But they can be fast. A 4-player PBEM can be played one turn per day. That means 1 save played every evening/night. And you can play more than 1 at the same time...

 

[flyingkitty]

I love PBEM, I wish I'd realised it's usefulness earlier. I'm currently playing an average sized map I made with 4 continents with a friend. On Accelerated Production we've got to 1000 BC in perhaps 2 weeks. It's a bit slow for my liking, but better than nothing! Some days he plays around 8 turns, other days 0.

 

[King Flevance]

I am not a modder but I have been playing alot of MP games recently with a few friends of mine. No turn timer, but simultaneous moves. Seems to work fairly well. The only things I dont care for is the auto select of new builds in cities. (I don't know how many times I missed the message I completed a temple and build a warrior - the worst possible thing to build at that time) same thing for auto selecting your tech - I have been getting better at watching that though. And finally no chat log I am aware of.

PBEM seems like too much work to me. To each his own though.