PBEM Game Discussion, Tips and Introductions

[rd13]

At first I used to keep track of the status of all the games on an excel spreadsheet, including grand strategies, troop positioning, plans for cities, etc etc.

Sweet! Why would you ever stop doing that??!

 

[Nighthawk419]

Sweet! Why would you ever stop doing that??!

Eh... All the ideas are usually in my head anyway, so I didnt really need it, and it was becoming a bigger waste of my time to update it than it was worth to have!

 

[Calanthian]

One simple thing to use when you want to make sure you remember things between turns:

use the Alt-S key: just put on the map what you want to do..

(one standard thing for me is: spy missions and the turn they were conducted, especially counter spy)
(and rename some geographical features for more immersion)

 

[Imperator Knoedel]

I could probably write up a small scouting report on at least a few players around here.

Uuuuuuuuh am I one of those?

 

[Nighthawk419]

Uuuuuuuuh am I one of those?

Actually no. The scouting report on you is incredibly small and easy to remember

 

[Imperator Knoedel]

Actually no. The scouting report on you is incredibly small and easy to remember

You aren't that difficult to see through either.

 

[Nighthawk419]

You aren't that difficult to see through either.

I'm only like that in response to you! In games not involving you I'm very different, and in fact, even with other leaders I'm very different!

 

[Imperator Knoedel]

I'm only like that in response to you! In games not involving you I'm very different, and in fact, even with other leaders I'm very different!

Yes yes, keep telling that yourself.

 

[Core Imposter]

I have a question for some of you...what is the average number of human players in a CIV PBEM?

 

[Imperator Knoedel]

In my experience 6, although I also partake in games with 4, 8 or even as many as 18.

 

[Nighthawk419]

I'd agree with 6.

 

[Tigranes]

Guys, I have an idea and would like to have your input on that...

Basically I was toying with idea of playing PBEM in hot seat mod. Let's assume we have 7 players who are gentlemen. THey just don't cheat. Then we could save tons of time on reloading when one controls 5 civs in a row, like I have adjusted for the big DominEarthion game. Each PLayer would need to set up a password for his first civ during the first turn. By the time we ready to play second turn -- last player plays his last civ, presses F11 key and saves his file before hitting end of the turn. He emails this hot seat save to the first player. He needs to load the turn of the last player, then press end of the turn without unzooming. Then he will enter his password (just once for the next 5 civs) press unzoom button and play his 5 civs.

No peeking! Simple as that! If one could resist that urge -- loading turns would be so much faster. Less time waiting = more time working And yes, I meant playing of course

 

[Nighthawk419]

I don't think that would work, the temptation to take a peek would be too great. For me the loading up of turns doesn't take long at all. The first time loading BTS or any mod takes about 30 seconds, after that its 10 seconds or less to load a turn, really not that bad.

 

[Luthor_Saxburg]

I have an interesting ethical question... how do you feel about testing specific MultiPlayer situations in SP environment?

Let's say I have a complex military situation in a MPP game so I create a similar situation in SP (using WB) and I test different battle options in that SP game... how would you consider it? Perfectly normal? Not very ethical? Completely forbidden?

 

[Imperator Knoedel]

I have an interesting ethical question... how do you feel about testing specific MultiPlayer situations in SP environment?

Let's say I have a complex military situation in a MPP game so I create a similar situation in SP (using WB) and I test different battle options in that SP game... how would you consider it? Perfectly normal? Not very ethical? Completely forbidden?

I see what you did there.

I´m perfectly fine with it, just like I am with the Advanced battle odds of the BUG-mod.

 

[Tigranes]

I find it perfectly ethical too, if you are so committed to the game that you can be bothered to run game-related tests -- then I will be cool about it! If I win over you -- I will give myself even more credit , if I loose -- I will confort myself, like -- well, that dude invested so much more into this game than me, he deserves to win,

Spoiler :

for a change .

 

[rd13]

I have an interesting ethical question... how do you feel about testing specific MultiPlayer situations in SP environment?

I guess since the random seed is always different, simulating in WP would not give you "a peek into the future" and therefore is not cheating. Then again, it does help you to solve complex problems that are not so easy to solve by just using your own brain and memory (like whats the best attack order in a 15 unit stack), therefore making you a AI-augmented warlord I suppose puritans might have an issue with that.

 

[rd13]

I´m perfectly fine with it, just like I am with the Advanced battle odds of the BUG-mod.

Does the Advanced Battle Odds thingie work on the Mac OS X ver of Civ4? So far i've been using this battle odds calculator http://c4combat.narod.ru/c4c.htm but maybe im missing out on a much better tool here.. ?

 

[kiwitt]

One of the things that annoys me, is that I am waiting for my next turn and then realise I had forgotten to send it to the next person.

 

[Tigranes]

PBEM tracker becomes import thing to consider...