Vanilla Game?

[DNK]

New to multiplayer and looking for a large team (3-6 per) vanilla game. Prefer a "cluttered" map: maybe a standard or huge with 10-15 players (not all human). Was thinking 2 continents or fractal. Open to suggestions, though, just so long as it's vanilla.

Anyone interested? I don't feel like waiting a few weeks for something to open up. Granted, I don't know how long these things take... ?

 

[pirke]

The larger the map and the more players: it takes a lot longer...

With 5 players on a small map it will take many months to complete one game, so be careful if you want to start a game this large. On the other hand, if all 10-15 players want to commit themselves for the next year or 2, it can be a great experience

 

[DNK]

Aiee. Then a small game it is. As I said, though, I just want to play! The rest is not so important.

 

[jbieksha]

I am interested. Open to most anything.

 

[DNK]

Cool, we got 2 then.

What's a good size for a relatively short game? 4 maybe?

 

[Port16]

I'm pretty new to PBEM games, and I didn't know what you meant by a "team" game. Does that just mean we won't go to war with each other?

Either way, I'll play. I'm not terribly worried about map size etc, I just want to play.

 

[DNK]

We could play it so it's just a "co-op" game - humans vs. AI.

Or we could play 2v2vAI.

If it's co-op we don't need to wait for a fourth person, I guess.

I'm thinking we could wait a couple days to see if anyone else is interested, if not then start up a 3vAI co-op game.

I'll see if my cousin wants in...

In the meantime, what AI difficulty do you guys play at usually? I'm also thinking we should pick a night to start, just so we can get through the first 10-15 turns quickly (not much planning involved).

 

[Port16]

Did you include me in the count?

Has anyone tried loading a PBEM into a internet game? I tried it, and it seems to let me load it up, although I haven't tried connecting with the other players yet.

 

[Port16]

I just tried it out, and a internet game converts to a PBEM really easily. The PBEM games don't play all that well as Internet games though.

This is, in my mind, perfect. The PBEM games are really slow to start, and the internet games are a pain at the end, when someone has to take 20 minutes for their turn. I bet you guys already knew that though.

 

[DNK]

Yeah, I was counting you in the "3" figure.

How do you convert an internet game into a PBEM game?

 

[Port16]

Cool, thanks!

It was actually pretty easy. I waited until it was my turn, then saved the game and exited. Then copied it into a PBEM save folder.

Go back into Civ, choose multi player and PBEM, and open the game. When your turn is up, it saves it with the PBEM style name, and that was it.

 

[DNK]

I was going to try that, but for whatever reason my game is now corrupted after installing the update I got when I tried to log in online. So I'll have to start over.

I'll post later tonight when I've had a chance to try out internet->PBEM.

What is your guys' patch version?

 

[jbieksha]

If I am still invited I have 1.74

 

[DNK]

Yes, still invited. I'm trying to get 1.74 to work still. I think we should play on 1.74.

My cousin won't be able to play until Sunday at the earliest (probably later). So do you guys want to start a co-op game or wait for him/another player for 2v2?

So answers:
1. 3vAI coop or 2v2 and wait?
2. AI difficulty level?
3. Size (or don't care)
4. Map type (or don't care)
5. Game options (like no barbs)

I'll PM for final details once we have this stuff decided.

 

[DNK]

My answers:
1. Don't care
2. Prince or monarch
3. Standard or large
4. continents (2-3) or pangaea (don't want any "lonely hearts")
5. No barbs (for 2v2 permanent alliances)

 

[Port16]

I'm 1.74. My friend had some problems with that patch, and he had to update his direct x. I actually bought Civ on Steam, so I don't have a choice but to stick with the latest version.

My answers:
1. I'm fine with waiting, or going ahead. No hurry either way.
2. I'd prefer the easier of the two (can't remember off the top of my head). I actually usually play at Monarch, but I'm fine with the higher difficulty.
3. don't care
4. or don't care
5. no barbs is fine by me.

The thing that I was playing with recently is the starting age and the game speed. I'd prefer to play anything after an ancient start, but I'm flexible.

I started a game with some friends at normal speed, in the ancient era, and it took like 2 weeks before anything happened, and that was with 3 players. The farther the starting era is, the faster the game progresses.

 

[jbieksha]

1) Never did an internet co-op start. Not completely comfortable with that. Don't mind waiting.
2) Monarch is the higher difficulty. I play well on Prince. Monarch usually kills me. Might be able to survive in Team Mode though. Either or.
3) Don't Care.
4) Continents will be fine. Brings in teh naval and air force aspect if we get that far.
5) Whatever.

 

[DNK]

Alright. It seems we're all about the same in skill level. Since it looks like we'll wait until my cousin is ready, then we'll stick with prince difficulty and 2v2.

I fixed the DX issue. It plays fine now. 1.74 it is.

We can start in the classical era on quick speed. I don't mind skipping ancient.

I tried moving an internet game into PBEM but I'm not sure it will work since there's no way to add e-mail to the PBEM game if it's started as an internet game from what I can see. Let me know if you find a way, but with quick/classical it should go fast enough I suppose.

Alright then. So thanks, and I'll let you guys know when I hear back from my cousin.

 

[Port16]

That is a good point. I didn't notice it, because I use PBEM Emailer to do my emails.
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=249788

I use Google for the mail server, and Civ doesn't support SSL for the SMTP server.

I'm fine with going straight PBEM though.

My email is ms.thenetworker AT gmail DOT com.

 

[Port16]

Sorry, I also wanted to mention that I'm in Colorado, GMT -7.