PBEM duels

[SlowThinker]

Originally posted by Darius in another thread
I don't think there's enough interest lately for another game, regardless of the scenario. Just look at how many open slots there are in the players needed threads.

Originally posted by conmcb25
Yep, I agree with Darius, PBEM's dying right and left. Maybe this is the death throws of the community?

Why don't you try something new?

Recently I have tried one MP game and the game speed was quite high for me - I got confused easily. Then I joined one 7-player PBEM and it is quite slow... For me a disavantage of a standard PBEM game is that time periods where I concentrace to the game are short.
So ... my thinking heads towards something between MP and standard PBEM:
why don't you play PBEM duels? you could play in agreed time periods (like MP, but there is no time press): 1 or 10 hours, you can manage 5-10, maybe 20 turns per day), a game may finish in 2 weeks or 2 months...

 

[Darius]

Actually it's been done numerous times; there's been at least 4 games of Falklands War, several Axis/Allies duels of Gigamap 2194 Days of War, and even an Axis/Japan duel of Gigamap 2194 Days of War. There are also four two-player Spanish Civil War games still underway at CDG and Apolyton. Duels have been among my favorite games.

If you're interested in one btw, just let me know.

 

[SlowThinker]

Darius,
I prefer to play 'in blocks': to be sitting on the computer, to do also some non-Civ work and to play a PBEM.
So there is a question if we can agree on some time blocks. I am GMT+1. I suppose you are in USA, so you would have to be able to play in daytime.
And I warn you: I cannot play everyday.

Type of game: I prefer
1. a world building game
2. a fast game - a very small world (no gigamap!)
3. not to have to learn a new scenario now.

So possibilities are:
a) vanilla Civ
b) a scenario played as a mod on an unrevealed and unknown map. I could ask Kull if he can provide a small map of Seeds of Greatness for duels...
Would you like it?

 

[Aravorn]

I did one of these duels with PinkyGen, last Fall, The Falklands war by Academia.

Lots of fun. We have both said we should do it again but never had the time.

BTW Darius is GMT-6.

 

[academia]

I did one of these duels with PinkyGen, last Fall, The Falklands war by Academia.Lots of fun. We have both said we should do it again but never had the time.

It´s good to know that
Well, i´ve been busy during the last 3 months... not enough time to redesign my falklands scenario.
However, i think that in october i´ll release a new beta version so you and pinkygen could fight again for the fate of the falkland islands

 

[Aravorn]

Originally posted by academia

It´s good to know that
Well, i´ve been busy during the last 3 months... not enough time to redesign my falklands scenario.
However, i think that in october i´ll release a new beta version so you and pinkygen could fight again for the fate of the falkland islands

Thats good to know, and Im sure PinkyGen would agree with me that we will MAKE time for that one.!

 

[Darius]

Originally posted by SlowThinker
I prefer to play 'in blocks': to be sitting on the computer, to do also some non-Civ work and to play a PBEM.
So there is a question if we can agree on some time blocks. I am GMT+1. I suppose you are in USA, so you would have to be able to play in daytime.
And I warn you: I cannot play everyday.

Why are we discussing time zones anyway?

Originally posted by SlowThinker
Type of game: I prefer
1. a world building game
2. a fast game - a very small world (no gigamap!)
3. not to have to learn a new scenario now.

So possibilities are:
a) vanilla Civ
b) a scenario played as a mod on an unrevealed and unknown map. I could ask Kull if he can provide a small map of Seeds of Greatness for duels...
Would you like it?

Frankly I wouldn't ever play regular Civ in PBEM; why wait a day to move a single settler or archer around? Any nation-building game altogether seems impractical to me, but if Kull could make some sort of small-map duel I'd play it (Greeks vs. Persians perhaps?)

 

[SlowThinker]

Originally posted by Darius
Why are we discussing time zones anyway?

I can imagine 2 ways of playing PBEM:
A) You accomplish a turn and go away. You dont know when your opponent will play and so you suppose you will not be able to continue at least several hours (or days). I think this is how standard PBEMs are played.
B) Both players agree on playing time. They can have some other work on a computer, but they have enough of time for a PBEM. This way 5, 10 or 20 turns may be managed in one session (it may last 1, 3 or 10 hours...).
(This is similar to MP but you needn't to be undivided on Civ2 only. You can do other things too.)

On way A) I dislike I bury myself in the game and then I must go away. I understand A) is good if players have not enough of time, but I would like to use also B) when possible.

Originally posted by Darius
Any nation-building game altogether seems impractical to me, but if Kull could make some sort of small-map duel I'd play it (Greeks vs. Persians perhaps?)

Hm. I like building an empire and unrevealed maps. I think if Kull places barb towns on the map then it might be more interesting also for you. Also the game could be fastened by some gold in the beginning. Also I have an idea that each player could get 2 or 3 settlers (sorry farmers) on different parts of a map. Then the game might be very interesting.

 

[SlowThinker]

Darius, did you read my PM? Germanos is willing to prepare a map for SoG, but you should confirm you will play...

 

[Darius]

Sorry, I never check that email addy, and I forgot about the PM. I expected you to just start a thread for the game and didn't see any.

 

[SlowThinker]

Will we be able to agree on sessions for playing? I would like to mix both A) and B) methods so that the game don't last years...
(I am GMT+1, sessions are possible on evenings and weekends.)
Can you play by e-mail? Forum is slow for my dial-up.

 

[Darius]

B) of course, I'll only be able to play once or twice a day. If you want to do it by email then play the starting civ and send the file.

 

[SlowThinker]

Darius,
I have to confess I prefer a faster game - with those 'sessions' (not necessarily faster, but concentraced to shorter playing periods: I prefer to be concentraced on the game one day in a week rather than 10 minutes each day).
So I am going to retreat now. I will let you know if I won't find any faster game.