Write-ups, turn logs and notes

[Pacioli]

While playing several games for the HoF, I found that I generally play too quickly for my own good. I play for the enjoyment of the game but use the HoF as a benchmark to monitor my game play progress. I did not take notes or write a turn log during my recent games and therefore missed some opportunities and made some mistakes. There are a few but not many links to a game’s “Write-up” in the HoF tables. How often do you take notes or write a turn log for HoF submissions? Only when you plan to post a “Write-up”? Occasionally but just do not post them?

 

[del62]

I did try doing some turn logs, once, but abandonned them

The problem is I will play a start then decide to abandon or not dependent on factors.

Keeping a turn log for games that will probably be abandonned is just too much for me.

 

[Pacioli]

I understand how you feel del62. I usually play a game with an acceptable start for 20-40 turns and then re-evaluate the situation to determine if I want to play to completion. Not many games get past this stage.

 

[AutomatedTeller]

It has been a long time since I did a Civ III game or posted here.
Turn by turn writeups can be pretty useful. I'd suggest doing the GOTM and doing some detailed writeups for that.

I generally don't do them for HOF games, mainly because to get a top score on many games, the winning strategy is to roll a bunch of starts and retry until you get an SGL for your first tech and build Pyramids, so you throw away 30-70 games.

 

[Pacioli]

Thanks for your thoughts AutomatedTeller. I'll give the GOTM a try in the future.

 

[CommandoBob]

How often do you take notes or write a turn log for HoF submissions? Only when you plan to post a “Write-up”? Occasionally but just do not post them?

Since I got involved in SGs I now turnlog just about any Civ game I play. In my HOF games I don't get quite as detailed but I am still amazed at how much verbiage I churn out.

I track, almost out of habit, these things:

• Building new cities
• Trade deals
• Great Wonders started by other civs
• Great Wonders completed by other civs
• My own Wonder builds
• Conquering/razing cities
• Wars of the other civs, as reported by the Foreign Advisor
• When luxuries and resources are connected
• Tech learning
• New civ contacts
• MGL creation
• SGL creation

I will then use this turnlog as a basis for a much shorter and illustrated overview of the game.

Regarding short, try-out-this-start games, I haven't done anything like that. And right now I would still turnlog those games, too.

And I must admit, most of my HOF submissions have to be tables that still had empty slots, so I knew that my game had a very good chance of being accepted. So I did a turnlog to help those chances, in case there was something questionable in the game I would have a place to explain what happened.

Turnlogging does slow down gameplay, far more than I expected. The biggest advantage for me is having a place to put down ideas and plans, so that I don't forget them between game sessions.