Players for New Epic Game Wanted

[Onan]

Likewise, I *might* be able to play earlier, but it might be a bit short notice for everyone else to get the message in time.

To complicate things further: my system was having what turns out to probably have been power issues (shutting down randomly, not loading windows properly). My box is currently at the shop and is meant to be back sometime today....

Just in case all this adds up to us not playing today (which looks rather probable), let's start another look at everyone's availability for the week:

Sunday (I think this is already out for Tabarnak)
Monday (June 6th)
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday

What days can you play?

I know this may be discouraging, but we've been working at this for about two months now. If we keep at it, we'll get there.

Onan

 

[Tabarnak]

For Sunday i can for now. For other days as well but i will tell at least 24 hours before if something is wrong. If i play until 6am, i must crap the rest of day if wake up right after just before work(when i can use the sunlight and can do some shopping and stuff). I usually go to bed around 4-5 am to let me some time to do important stuff.

But Sunday is ok because i don't work and have nothing planned so far that day.

 

[Onan]

I spoke to our techie and he said he'll do his best to get the rebuilt machine (it was the motherboard) back to us today.

If two hours earlier doesn't work out today (assuming our machine makes it back, I'll jump on Steam two hours earlier than usual, to see if by chance everyone has been able to make it), let's plan on Sunday at the usual time...until we hear different from anyone that they can't make that time.

And if anyone can pass word of the changes to Brenador / KevinJ, if you happen to find them on Steam, that would be helpful--currently on my wife's laptop and no Steam available.

 

[Brenador]

I saw the changes. Would that be 11:00 my time? (I'm in California)

 

[Onan]

It would be, but I'm afraid it's not going to work for me tonight after all--sorry about that. Our tech is recommending he keep our machine to test it overnight again with the new parts installed before we get it back.

Good to know you're watching the thread, though. Let's try again tomorrow, Sunday, at the usual time. Sigh. Thanks for your patience and persistence, guys.

 

[Mesopotamian]

Sunday (June 5th) Free
Monday not free
Tuesday not free
Wednesday free
Thursday free
Friday free
Saturday (June 11) not free

this is my schedule based on our usual timing

 

[Brenador]

Sunday (tonight) is fine with me

 

[Onan]

Hey guys,

My system is back and loading / running civ about 3 times faster. Nice.

So, I'm good for tonight as well: in about 6 hours 20 minutes from the time of this post, by my watch.

See you guys there!

p.s.: I should be able to host as well so Tabarnak you no longer need to worry about the trials and tribulations of multiplayer saves.

 

[Mesopotamian]

Great news Onan so everyone is set

 

[Onan]

Nice to have gotten a session under our belts!

Here are a few game details: random civs except for Pitt/meso picking France.

Settings: Tiny pangaea, low sea level, strategic balance resources, disable start bias, default CS (8 I think) and difficulty (prince). Timer enabled.

Onan - Japan
Tabarnak - India
Brenador - Egypt
Mesopitt - France

We stopped on turn 83. We agreed to no war (vs. other humans I think we meant, as most of us warred vs. CS at least a little) before turn 100.

Everyone but Tabarnak seems to have started off with a single city National College approach; I'd bet Tabarnak just did his with two cities. I believe it was Tabarnak who took over Cape Town towards the end of our session. I also built Stonehenge, and Brenador built the Great Library just as we ended.

Score order was probably Tabarnak, Onan, Brenador, Mesopitt.

Next session: How's Wednesday-Friday for everyone?

Wednesday 8th
Thursday 9th
Friday 10th

p.s. Save info: I and possibly others (redundancy is good!) hit ctrl S to save in game. I also copied my last three autosaves into a different folder as backups.

 

[Onan]

We didn't really discuss alliances in any detail. What are people's thoughts?

We could allow any and everything (except 3 v 1, which would be lame)...or at the other extreme we could be really strict and say no trading of anything, RAs, resources, and no cooperative military campaigns. (honor system of course, though the game would notify of RAs). The last would be really hard though, as it's almost inevitable someone will end up getting attacked by two others at once, and suspect he's been teamed up on.... Almost better to allow them to try to defend against such a situation.

If we have alliances, then one ally rule I think is wise (in terms of non-aggression and/or shared military campaigns). However, alliances can be tricky--they're not usually as simple as these two civs together forever. Often they're time limited and outlive their usefulness. Not to be entered into lightly or vaguely.

Do we want to have any rules about alliances / trading up front? Or do we want an anything-goes approach (barring dogpiling on one poor SOB).

Oh and what do you think about using this rule from ladder play: no exchanging of map information within or out of game. Do we want players to only go on what they can see in-game, or do we want passing information / intelligence to be allowed?

 

[Mesopotamian]

I think any form of trading is fine

I see it as A wants to buy a building for Gold B wants to sign a RA & C upgrades his units with his gold etc. i think it should be left in the game and totally be legal because that promotes less violence (me won't start a war with someone i have a pending research agreement with) that adds more depth and complexity.

Also gold is limited and both players must have it at the same time so there is not much of a room to exploit (we are only 4 human players, there is no 10 deity AI's with 4000 gold each ready to grab a lux for 900G )

You guys decide whatever u think is appropriate for alliances and military rules because i don't have a specific opinion about that right now.

 

[Tabarnak]

I have 4 cities so far...and a puppet. That may explain my top score but i did not build a wonder during last session, too busy to expand. I agree about no 3vs1 and keep it fair. All trades can be accepted i guess.

I think i'm building the NC in my cap right now. Lack of ressources already hurt me but from my position i don't have to panic, i'm well situated in a corner and can technically defend myself...

 

[Brenador]

Research agreements and luxury trading should definitely be allowed. Removing them would unbalance the game - Money would be less important and excess luxuries would be useless. Alliances and military cooperation should be temporary. I really dislike the idea of the world being permanently divided between two alliances. If we wanted that we could have had teams. I agree with not passing map information through chat. If you want to know what is in an area you should see it yourself.

Any of those three days should work for me.

 

[Onan]

Okay well it sounds like we want to have it relatively open, anything goes with trades, and alliances will be negotiated and likely short term. Also remember, it is possible to *break* alliances...meaning give complete trust at your peril--and also you may take a reputation with you into the next game. Just some thoughts there. There's nothing in the game mechanics to prevent the old backstab.

Okay, so it looks like we just need to hear from Tabarnak when he's free? Everyone else can play any day Weds/Thurs/Friday.

 

[Tabarnak]

These 3 days are fine for me. If i can't, i will post here at least 12 hours in advance.

 

[Onan]

Okay, so we'll shoot for Wednesday then, and take it from there?

See you guys in about 26 hours.

 

[Onan]

Here's where things stand after our second session:

Turn 136

Tabarnak 543
Onan 513
MesoPitt 434
Brenador 377

Wonders this period: Onan: Hanging Gardens and Porcelain Tower. Brenador: Oracle. Tabarnak: Himeji Castle? Mesopitt: not quite hanging gardens.

City states have been dropping like flies. There seem to be three left in the game, with Brussels protected by Tab and Florence basically being protected by me (within my borders). People are wondering where all the wonders are....

No wars yet although the mandatory peace period expired at turn 100. I've had the tech lead though now Tab says he's equal first. I'll trust him on that. Apparently Pitt is not far behind. Pitt has narrowly avoided diplomatic incidents with his loose chat skills and his penchant for selling arms.

I think that's all I have to report.

It would be interesting to try a similar game with AI included too. This map is roomy, but four civs seems like too few to me.

So...you guys want to play again tomorrow (Thursday) or wait till Friday? I'm not sure I can get away with playing both days.

 

[Mesopotamian]

This is the stats at the end of today's session:

Score:

Spoiler :

Demographics:

Spoiler :

Social policies & Wonders (My screenshot does not show my stuff) Renaissance era .. No wonders .. 5 Tradition 1 Piety SP

Spoiler :

 

[Tabarnak]

Not quite sure for tomorrow. If it's not in 2 days. One or the other, i will decide later today.