Play By Email Game

C

civilframe

Chieftain
Joined
Sep 2, 2011
Messages
2
Hello fellow SMACers!

I would like to start a game of vanilla SMAC, played by email. I am open to rules, suggestions, etc. So... sign up!

Spartans - civilframe
Morgans - ?
Believers - ?
Gaians - ?
Peacekeepers - ?
Hive - ?
University - ?

Also, we probably need a moderator/narrator dude to oversee the game, prevent cheating, etc. Any volunteers?
 
Hi civilframe,

Welcome to CFC and the Alpha Centauri forum!

We don't have much multiplayer action here. If you don't get any replies in the next week or so, I'll see what I can do.

Regards,

Petek
 
I've played loads of SMAC vanilla and a few multiplayer games over a LAN with/against my brother, but I've never done a PBEM game.

I'd like to take part in this. I'm sure Petek can help us with standard rules/procedures and maybe relocate this to somewhere where we'll get more players.

I'd like to play as Hive.
 
Thanks for the welcome, Petek!

I'm not getting my hopes up too high. SMAC is an old game - but a good one.

Spartans - civilframe
Morgans - ?
Believers - ?
Gaians - ?
Peacekeepers - ?
Hive - kittenOFchaos
University - ?
 
I'm still a bit of a noobie at SMAC and have not done any multiplayer, but I'll play. Gaians or Peacekeepers, I guess.
 
Three members have now expressed an interest in a play-by-email (PBEM) game. I think that's about the optimal number (although four players would also be fine, if someone else wants to join). With more than three or four players, the game might drag on too long, possibly leading to loss of interest and dropouts.

Assuming that having three (or possibly four) players is acceptable, then you need to think about the following:

1. Splunge the second needs to make a definite choice of which faction to play.
2. All players in the game need to be at the same patch level.
3. You need to decide whether you want to play on the Map of Planet (regular or huge) or a random map. If random, you need to decide other factors, such as size, ocean coverage and so on.
4. If you want to play on a random map, then a third-party should create the map and place the factions on the map (to ensure fair starting locations). I'll volunteer for that, as well as other CMN (Creator/Moderator/Narrator) duties.
5. You also need to agree on which rules (victory conditions, blind research or not, random events and so on) to use.
6. Do you want the other faction slots to be filled with AI or left blank?
7. Probably lots of other stuff will come up as the discussion goes on.

You should be aware that a PBEM game can easily take a year or more to complete. Please be sure that you can commit the necessary time and effort. If someone has to drop out, it may be difficult to find a replacement.
 
I'll go Gaians
How do you confirm patch level/version?
A custom map with players placed as fairly as possible by the ref would prob be the fairest in terms of start locations.
I suggest all victory conditions, blind research (not critical if others prefer not), yes scattered pods, no random events (get on my nerves), no steal tech when take a setlement.
Yes other factions(more options for tech stealing, alliances)

Can someone help me out with the mechanics of PBEM games? How do they actually run. How does diplomacy work with human players?
 
I'd prefer a random map created by Petek to playing on a 'map of planet' which would remove the 'joy' of exploration.
 
Personally, I'm curious how combat and random events (such as those taken by everybody's favorite 8th faction, Planet itself) will be handled. I don't want to rain on everybody's parade but I just don't see how a play by email is going to work.

I'd think that something like a standard multiplayer game with infinite time controls would work better.
 
I've never participated in a PBEM game, but it definitely works. For example, this forum has several active games.

We haven't heard from civilframe for awhile and it's been a week since he even visited CFC. @civilframe - If you're still interested in a game, please post. Thanks!
 
The previous human player sends you an email with the current save file attached. You load the save file, play your turn, save the file again and email it to the next human player. It's also customary to create a Turn Tracking Thread (TTT) in which the players post after they have sent the save file to the next player. That makes it easier to keep track of who's on move. Is that what you were looking for?
 
Thanks!
Next week I'm playing in a civ 3 trianing day game, so depending on the time dermands of a PBEM SMAC, I may have to aback out. I suspect the interest is waning here.
 
Time demands? Can't take more than 5-10 minutes do a turn, especially in the early stages.
 
There lies the problem, Civilframe has disappeared. I would be more inclined towards a live game.
 
The main problem, IMHO, is that this forum doesn't have the "critical mass" of players needed to support multiplayer games. I suggest that anyone interested in MP games visit this forum on WePlayCiv. AFAIK, that's the most active English language MP site and where you are most likely to find a game.
 
Petek said:
The main problem, IMHO, is that this forum doesn't have the "critical mass" of players needed to support multiplayer games. I suggest that anyone interested in MP games visit this forum on WePlayCiv. AFAIK, that's the most active English language MP site and where you are most likely to find a game.
Click to expand...

My problem is I can't stand SMAX.
 
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