Nobles Club?

[hankinsohl]

I've greatly enjoyed the Nobles Club series here on Civfanatics. It seems though that this series has died ever since the website switch.

Does Nobles Club have a new home? Is anyone interested in this series anymore?

 

[Dhoomstriker]

Since you haven't had any responses yet, I'll mention that a recently-started BtS (Beyond the Sword) of the Month (BOTM for short) game is being played at Noble Difficulty Level:
BOTM98: Justinian and the Hippodromes

The BOTM games aren't played quite the same, in that people only write messages about their games after two important milestones: once after 1 AD and once after the game is finished, and you can't read about other players' experiences until you've played your game until the same point (either until 1 AD or after having finished the game).

But, the games are similar in that players will play on the same map as each other. Also, players can discuss their progress to a limited amount: discussions can occur of events that happened pre-1-AD after having reached or passed the 1-AD mark in one's game. That's a good time to make a proposal for your plan for the rest of the game and to ask for feedback on your plan from other players.

Further, prior to starting the game, players are free to discuss what they PLAN to do in their games inside of the Pre-game Discussion thread, based on the game's settings and the initially-revealed terrain (provided via a screenshot).

In addition, it is important to note that you only get 1 chance to play each scenario, with no reloading.

It's not quite the same thing as Nobles Club, but it could prove to be a suitable replacement for you if you're looking to have a fun romp of playing Civ 4 on the same map that other players are playing on, in an environment that promotes sharing of experiences and learning amongst players.

We've just switched the Schedule for Game of the Month games to have Noble games once every three months in Beyond the Sword, with incremental games every month taking you also through the slightly higher Prince and Monarch Difficulty Levels, before starting again at Noble.

 

[lymond]

In addition, it is important to note that you only get 1 chance to play each scenario, with no reloading.

Although you can certainly play the maps again as much as you want, but can only submit your first unadulterated attempt.

GOTMs are a lot of fun, with some interesting map designs and some discourse between players. It's one of the best features of the site. And don't forget the HOF as well.

As for Noble's Club, anyone can start it up again.

 

[elitetroops]

Is anyone interested in this series anymore?

Only one way to find out. I'll put up a game later today!

 

[Keler]

I'd enjoy a custom 18 civ Standard/Large noble game any kind of map

I hope in few weeks when current games are done someone would do that

 

[Gumbolt]

Many don't play large maps as it often crashes their systems late game. Especially if you only have 4gb of ram. Of course large maps would make it more like Prince in terms of difficulty.

 

[elitetroops]

I'd enjoy a custom 18 civ Standard/Large noble game any kind of map

I hope in few weeks when current games are done someone would do that

I was playing around with the thought of making something a bit bigger and tougher for Pericles next, if nobody else wants to make a map in a couple of weeks. Pericles has cheap libraries and unis, for cheapest possible Oxford, so it would be nice with a map where that is likely to come into play. Was thinking techtonics with 60% water and maybe 4 added AI. With those settings, the amount of land can easily be 2x that of a pangaea and the map might require astro to find all civs. (Layout and amount of land varies a lot, would need quite a few rerolls to find a suitable map.)

Not quite 18 civs, but 11 is still better than 7, right?

 

[Noble Zarkon]

Last time we tried a larger map in Nobles Club it wasn't very popular!

 

[lymond]

Last time we tried a larger map in Nobles Club it wasn't very popular!

yeah..I know I won't be playing it

I think if someone wants a larger map, they can simply post their own game here.

 

[Pangaea]

I agree. Large and Huge maps are too time-consuming, and easier/more difficult depending on speed setting. I only play that for Hall of Fame games, and even then it can be brutal to get across the line. Think Standard/Normal is the best basis. Most people probably play that, and I believe the game is best balanced for those settings.

 

[elitetroops]

yeah..I know I won't be playing it

I think if someone wants a larger map, they can simply post their own game here.

I agree. Large and Huge maps are too time-consuming, and easier/more difficult depending on speed setting. I only play that for Hall of Fame games, and even then it can be brutal to get across the line. Think Standard/Normal is the best basis. Most people probably play that, and I believe the game is best balanced for those settings.

Were these in response to the idea of 18 civ large huge, or the idea of using map scripts that have more land than the basic scripts on standard size and require added AI to compensate?

A lot of the non-standard map scripts have a lot more land than pangaea and will create maps comparable to large or huge pangaea even on standard size. I suppose with those we could use small, or in some cases even tiny maps, to get a game similar in size to standard pangaea or fractal. A tiny map game with 6 AI could be quite interesting. 15% cheaper techs could possibly make the tech speed quite insane...

 

[Pangaea]

My response was mainly about genuinely large or huge maps, filled to the brink with AIs. Games like that tend to take lots of time. The Nobles' Club is supposed to be a good learning environment, to learn the game better, and I'm not sure those kind of scenarios are the best for learning. I assume most people play the more 'normal' settings.

'Unusual' mapscripts can be fun, certainly. However, if it requires 50-100 hours to get through it, I'd prefer to use that kind of time for HoF games. I'm just one guy, though, and others will surely feel differently.

 

[Lexicus]

I've actually been curious about the effect of map size on difficulty level for some time.

IIRC slower speeds are easier, and larger maps are harder.

I've been playing Monarch games on large Pangaea, Epic speed. Is this harder or easier than Monarch at standard size/speed?

EDIT: I also usually play with 2 or 3 extra AIs, as I find the game to be boring when civs are so far away from each other as they are with the standard number of AIs on the map. How does the number of AIs on the map relate to the difficulty of the game?

 

[Gumbolt]

I am currently playing one of the older NC games. I have 20 cities. The issue is the 3 of the larger remaining Ai have close to 15 cities. One Ai I reduced to 2 cities has now expanded to 9. This map only had 6 AI. The reality is it could of used 1-2 more AI to fill up the land.

You know come late game the Ai will spam cities into empty land. On this game lib went around 1320ad by me. For an immortal game that is late. I don't think anyone had edu at this point.

It's one of those annoying things. If Ai expand too much they tech slowly. Give them too little land and they can easily be wiped out or become an AI's vassal.

I think a map maker just has to call it based on the map or look at ways to block Ai from part of map. 1-2 extra Ai will up the difficulty level and lengthen the game considerably. Although on Elites playing skills that could mean 400ad.

Just make it a standard size map and make it a fun game. If people don't want to play it there are 174 NC games to choose from. I am sure Lymond has not played them all.

 

[lymond]

Generally speaking, large/Epic Pangaea is easier than standard. Likewise, with more AIs. More AIs mean more trade, more conquest, and easier Domination.

However, IMO I'd caveat that slower and bigger in CIV IV can be harder for less experienced players if they don't know how to handle the advantages..especially larger maps.

I can't count how many times newbies pop in here needing help while posting Huge/Mara games.

(As for map settings, I was just stating my opinion, but that in no way should preclude using those settings for the next game if that is what folks wish)

 

[Gumbolt]

I was thinking continent maps. With pangea map you can generally chain vassel 4-5 Ai and hopefully peace vassel 1-2. Pends how map is set up of course.

I am sure Elite will be thinking about this. No one wants a map where they can easily take out 1-2 AI.

I think a lot of the players on these map will be seasoned players. The question is do you make the map so all levels can be played?? Deity level can be much harder/impossible on some maps.

 

[Lexicus]

Generally speaking, large/Epic Pangaea is easier than standard. Likewise, with more AIs. More AIs mean more trade, more conquest, and easier Domination.

*ego pierced*

However, IMO I'd caveat that slower and bigger in CIV IV can be harder for less experienced players if they don't know how to handle the advantages..especially larger maps.

Well, I suppose the problem is that I can't (or couldn't, I haven't really tried I guess) pull off rushes on Monarch. On prince and noble more AIs just meant guaranteed rush targets, but the first few Monarch games I played they expanded into all the land way too fast and I couldn't match their production.

Anyway, I know this is off-topic and I'm sorry.

I think a lot of the players on these map will be seasoned players. The question is do you make the map so all levels can be played?? Deity level can be much harder/impossible on some maps.

Isn't the topic noble club though?

 

[Gumbolt]

Isn't the topic noble club though?

It may be Noble club but so far the Wang Kon game has mostly been played at immortal /Deity level.

I think there was an immortal university at some point. Not sure what happened to it. Overall if the game is too easy at immortal level then players at Noble level won't get much of a challenge.

 

[elitetroops]

It may be Noble club but so far the Wang Kon game has mostly been played at immortal /Deity level.

Not entirely sure about that. The saves have been downloaded >40 times, but <10 people have posted about their games in the thread. There is always a lot of silent lurkers playing the games as well, we don't know what level they are playing. But you are right that the active posters play mostly on the higher levels. When I started playing NC 3 years ago, on monarch/emperor level, there was a lot more people playing on prince or lower as well. Many of those same people still play, but have moved up over the years. I hope the NC threads nowadays aren't intimidating to players on lower levels, with all those immortal/deity games...

I was also thinking some kind of continents map for Pericles. (I'd prefer Hemispheres over continents.) Problem with single landmass maps is that once you know how to beat them with classical, or max medieval units, then there's little incentive to do anything else. I haven't had that much time to play in the last year, so I've pretty much specialized in fast conquest, playing HoF and Challenger Series games where the map is won with classical, or sometimes even ancient units. For me a continents map would be a welcome change.

 

[dutchfire]

I'd like something with different continents as well. For me personally, maps that are very big just take too much time to play.