New Orbis PBEM Game: It Takes Leadership

[onemoreturnmike]

Looking for 4-6 players besides me who are committed to playing PBEM games.

The idea of my game is for each player to run 1 empire with 2 leaders: a Major Leader and a Minor Leader (In essence a 'Team'). When applying say which Nation and which to Leaders you wish. Remember 1 has to be a Minor Leader.

Also cast your votes for what is vote-able

Non-Vote-able
1. The game will be played on the Erebus Continent Map at Monarch Level
2. Ancient Era Start
3. High Cohesion
3A. Full Flavor
4. Barbarians on
5. No Random Seed on Reload
6. Tribal Villages on
7. Compact Enforced (No Infernals or Mecurians) Unless someone can give me a persuasive arguement why we should allow it...and then if we do- why we should allow the Infernals to have Hell Terrain (so if they were in, Id like to have No Hell Terrain 0n)
8. All Unique Features
9. Quick Speed
10. World Wrap: East-West Wrap
11. Climate: Temperate
11A. Smart Climate On-On (Modify Selection)
12. Mountains: Standard
13. Deserts: Standard
14. Tundras: Standard
15. Jungles: Standard
15a Low Sea Level
16. Rivers: Standard
17. Forest Density: Standard
18. Advanced Terrain: On
19. Ancient Ruins: Off
20. No City Razing - Off (You can Raze Cities)
21. Challenge- lower XP: Off (Normal XP)
22. No Worker XP- Off (Workers get XP)
1A. World Size Standard Low Ocean Levsl
1B. AI- no
9A. No Advanced Start
23. No City Flipping from Culture Off (so they can flip)
24. No City Flipping after conquest Off (so they can flip)
25. Challenge- Raging Barbarians ON (so be prepared for lots of barbarians)
26. No Tech Trading Off (so you will be able to trade techs)
27. No Tech Brokering On [ But only if you discover them...]
28. No Espionage On (so no Ratchatchers)
29. Challenge- End of Winter--- ON (so we will gradually thaw..and hopefully gradually freeze again )
30. Wildlands (doubles beasts)- ON (and be prepared for lots of scouts to die)
31. Living World (doubles events) OFF- normal events
32. Hallowed Ground (no armageddon counter) Off- so the Counter will be present should someone want to call the infernals or see the four hourseman ride...
33. Start- normal (placement) or same space (and run for city build)- Normal



This will be my first game that Im 'running' and so any pointers will be well received.

Those of you who's game Im playing in know Im a responsive player and check in pretty much every day if Im in town (which usually I am)

I will need Timezone and email addy contact PM'd to me if you desire to play as well as choices


1. onemoreturnmike- Illians Major: Auric Ulven Minor: Raitlor
2. cypherwulfe Ljosalfar Major: Amelanchier Minor: Duke Ivelleth
3. Jarrema- Tlacatl. Major: Kolsehvahn Minor: Khset
4. Old Lion- Malakim Major:Van Gosen Minor: Kane
5. benema- Kuriotates Major: Cardith Lorda Minor: Lamalha

 

[mcwill123]

I'd like to volunteer to be a substitute. I think that you'll find the game will drag with seven players. I would suggest 4-5. But maybe you will be lucky with the players that you get. Also, I think you will find that the game will be very very long, even on quick speed.

 

[Old_Lion]

I'm willing to play provided there is not more than 5 human, and speed is quick.
Speed has to be quick. The game will not go to its end otherwise.

I don't know yet who I want to play yet.
I play everyday, except sometimes during summer holidays, but I have no problem with being replaced.
EDIT : I'm GMT+1, playing around 22h00 GMT

I vote for
East-West-wrap,
no espionnage,
no tech trading

I'm willing to consider advanced start for a change.
I never tried this, even in solo, but PBEM games are slow to start. On the other hand, I fear suboptimal city placement.

btw, Team "members" have to play in a sequence. AMajor-Aminor-BMajor-Bminor_CMajor-Cminor, etc..

 

[onemoreturnmike]

I fear playing quick will drive players away. Most don't like to play quick..I dont mind, but if too many others say no...then Normal might be better.

Now remember because you're running a team teching will be quicker....

yes you get the idea on the leaders turns

 

[onemoreturnmike]

I'd like to volunteer to be a substitute. I think that you'll find the game will drag with seven players. I would suggest 4-5. But maybe you will be lucky with the players that you get. Also, I think you will find that the game will be very very long, even on quick speed.

Im not against having 4-5 players, and of course the game will be long. That is the nature of PBEM (Im in several 'normal games that the turns drag with...)

Not every game can be as The No Settlers Game Im in and speeding along...although as you said maybe Ill get lucky again.

What changes would make you step from the sidelines to play instead of subbing?

 

[Old_Lion]

As far as speed is considered :
I never play quick in solo. I'm rather in the marathon thing.

But in PBEM it is a whole different story.
It is quick but you still have the epic feel because you have plenty (and often even too much) of time to ponder your moves.

 

[mcwill123]

What changes would make you step from the sidelines to play instead of subbing?

I'm in 3 pbem games now and could play another, but don't really feel a burning desire. If you can't get enough volunteers, I'd be willing to do it. In that case I'd really prefer quick speed and fewer players. Of course if you are in that situation, you would have fewer players.

 

[cypherwulfe]

Count me in mike.

Do I need to pick 2 different races? With one having a major, the other a minor leader?
I think that is what I understood.


EDIT: Ahh nm, I misread. If I pick Amerites, I pick a major and minor leader for them, and run it as a team.

 

[cypherwulfe]

When I say option off, that means no check in that options box, and vis a vis.

1.(A) No pref
2. Prefer larger maps
3. No Pref
4. No Pref
5. No Pref
6. No Pref
7. No Pref
8. East-West Wrap
9. No advanced start
10. Option Off
11. Option On
12. Option Off
13. Option off
14. Option Off
15. Option On
16. Option On
17. Option Off
18. No Pref
19. Option Off
20. Option Off
21. Option On
22. Option Off
23. Normal

 

[Jarrema]

I would like to participate

But... only if the speed is quick. Anyway, PBEM games are VERY long. If you agree for the quick speed, count me in.(and let me now, I will pick my civ and leaders then

I'm not sure, if I understand your idea - do you mean that we will play in team with AI? And i will lead as one leader, and my AI ally will have the same civ with another leader? Or are you suggesting, that every human player will play as TWO players ? (both from the same civ). If the second, then consider getting no mre than 4-5 human players.
Anyway, 7 players could be too much, but it's your game

 

[onemoreturnmike]

ok Quick speed it is.

yes you would play one civ with two allied leaders; 1 minor...

as an example: someone could play Mechanos with Verocchio and Maer as The Emperor and favored duchess. The two would be listed as Team 1 and would go back to back..., in essence emailing themselves to play the minor leader...as the major leader would go first

as witty Old Lion pointed out...

if the teams were letters

A Major, A Minor/ B Major, B Minor/ C Major, C Minor etc...

and I can see the point on limiting number of players..so 4-5 it is. Ill amend the first post.

 

[Jarrema]

I want to be in.

My options:

1. World Size Small ,
1A. AI: rather no
2. Climate (Temperate)
4. Mountains (Standard)
5. Deserts (Standard)
6. Tundras (Standard)
7. Jungles (Standard)
8. World Wrap East-West
9. Advanced Start: Yes, but with only a small amount of "points" for start
10. No City Razing off
11. No City Flipping from Culture off
12. No City Flipping after conquest ???
13. Challenge- Raging Barbarians [on]
14. No Tech Trading OFF!!!
15. No Tech Brokering ON
16. No Espionage OFF!!!
17. Challenge- lower XP off
18. Challenge- End of Winter On (not sure about it)
19. Wildlands (doubles beasts)- [on]
20. Living World (doubles events) [off]
21. Hallowed Ground (no armageddon counter) DEFINETELY OFF - what if someone wants to play Sheaim??? [off]
22. No Worker XP [off]
23. Start- normal

If you are using "Erebus continents" map script, there are optiosn that I want: Smart Climate: ON (Modify Selection); Starting plot rules: full flavor.

I would also prefer high difficulties (I like having to solve problems with happines and cash shortage), but it is of small importance for me.

I would strongly prefer to know what the settings would be before selecting my civ - for example, I would not dare to play Sheaim if there is no AC, and I would rather not play Tlacatl if there is fewer jungles and Smart Climate off.

 

[onemoreturnmike]

you said you're not sure on what End of Winter does-

it starts with the world being frozen (all under ice) gradually turns to Tundra....and then to plains and grasslands. Ive played it, Its interesting, because you cant tell where most the resources are at first

 

[Old_Lion]

I have not gone with the Malakim for a while :
so : Malakim Van Gosen/Kane

1. World Size : Standard
1A. AI yes, up to 5
2. Climate No pref
4. Mountains No pref
5. Deserts No pref
6. Tundras No pref
7. Jungles No pref
8. World Wrap East-West Wrap
9. Advanced Start No pref but if yes, small amount of points
10. No City Razing Off
11. No City Flipping from Culture Off
12. No City Flipping after conquest Off
13. Challenge- Raging Barbarians On
14. No Tech Trading [cannot trade at all] On
15. No Tech Brokering [can only trade what you discover] On
16. No Espionage [on or off] Off
17. Challenge- lower XP Off
18. Challenge- End of Winter No Pref
19. Wildlands (doubles beasts)- On
20. Living World (doubles events) No pref
21. Hallowed Ground (no armageddon counter) [on or off]--- No pref
22. No Worker XP [on or off]--- Off
23. Start- normal (placement) or same space (and run for city build) No pref

 

[Jarrema]

you said you're not sure on what End of Winter does-

it starts with the world being frozen (all under ice) gradually turns to Tundra....and then to plains and grasslands. Ive played it, Its interesting, because you cant tell where most the resources are at first

yes, I know that. But I do not know detalis - if the speed of "defrozing" is the same for different game speeds? and how it interacts with advanced start?
Generally I think, that it would be a bad combination to have both advanced start and end of winter on, because then one can get really creepy town locations

Onemoreturnmike: please decide yourdelf about map options (smart climate, flavor rules), or add it to the list of "debatable" settings. Those settings would have huge impact on my civ choice. (along with Armageddon counter thing)

 

[benana]

I'd be interested in playing, though I've only really played vanilla FFH in the past.
I'm not sure how many people you have signed up yet from the posts above... let me know if you want me to join.

As far as civilization goes, my favorites from regular FFH are probably Kuriotates, Luchuirp, and Calabim in that order.

 

[cypherwulfe]

I agree with Jarrema, once the settings are finalised, then I will pick my civ.

 

[onemoreturnmike]

Ive made adjustments to the voteable items based on those we already have a majority for.

Jarrema, I already decided on Flavor- High Cohesion.

benana- You can be the last as long as you download all the Orbis items (latest version, and the various changes to that found in the Orbis sub forum) and The Erebus Continents Map.

I can post links later tonight when I get home.

If you do that, successfully, Ill add you.

Ill hold on voting until we have our last player vote to see which my vote needs to be used on.

 

[Jarrema]

Mike: You are talking about something entirely different. High cohesion is one thing. I understand, that we are playing high cohesion.

But totaly different things are:

1. Smart cilmate.
This option has four possible choices. If left off (default) the map will use the standard climate model with no changes to the Desert, Tundra, Jungle and Plains selection you made. If turned on, it can adjust the climate based on the civs in the current game. Think of this as a way of reverse engineering natural selection, since civs will likely adapt to their surroundings this option makes those surroundings appropriate for the civs you have in your game. Instead of saying, "this world has no desert so we won't have a desert based civilization" we say, "this world has no desert based civilization so we don't need deserts." When using any of the three 'On' settings the map will also evaluate the continents and compensate for the potentially excessive deserts, tundra and snow that is possible. If you have a single massive continent the default climate model will naturally create more deserts than you would see with several smaller continents so the smart climate code will decrease the desert and plains amounts slightly for massive continents as well as adjusting for continents that are predominantly in the northern half of the map by reducing the maximum temperture allowed for tundra and snow.

For a more detailed description see this thread:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=308590

2. Starting plot rules: full flavor; limited flavor; minimal flavor
Full flavor starts will follow the preferences defined for each civ whenever possible. Limited flavor starts uses modified preferences for civs that normally start in the tundra and snow so they will try to start at the edge of the tundra rather than burried in it. Minimal flavor rules will try to keep players from starting in tundra and it will add a process to clean up terrain around player starts replacing marsh, tundra and snow terrain with grassland (softly so it doesn't look like a big green BFC in the middle of tundra).

Those two settings could change map a lot. So, it is important to know which are chosen

 

[onemoreturnmike]

hmmmm Im wondering if I have the latest version of that...because I don't recall mine showing an option for Smart Climate. I will double check when I get home. (and here its only been a month since i down loaded it lol )

Though id be leaning towards On (Modify Selection)

Mine does show Flavor though, and It will be Full Flavor.