Writing in Gunpowder

[Nighthawk419]

Played awaiting Inkies email. This land is not very good, tundra and dessert.

Are we sure about this advanced start?

Hey, I'll take dessert with my start any day

bad joke... mine was ok. no coastal access though...

 

[Eclipse4449]

Even I wanted a challenge I wouldn't be happy with Tundra. I got lucky with an acceptable coastal area.

It's not a big deal to remake, it only takes a few minutes although the pc situation stinks because I don't have a second flat screen to take this week and won't be back until Thursday and at that point I'll have my main pc back from Georgia

 

[Hawklord]

I think I'd prefer a normal start with one city. You lose part of the storyline starting with more than one. If you all want an advanced start I guess I can make up something to explain how we built all these cities.

 

[Hawklord]

I've sent the save

 

[Eclipse4449]

Ok I'll wait "Inky's" comments. We'll have 4 days to discuss options.

The thing for me is I want all 4 players to be happy, it will make a far better game. With the slow start so far and now having the final 4 players we can get it right and make a great game of it. If what they have to work with is weak it could take away from the writing. My hope is people will find us and be Wow'd with what we are doing.

 

[inky13112]

Waiting for eclipse's email. Very jungley start.

 

[Nighthawk419]

I only built 1 city with my advanced start. Not sure what everyone else did obviously... lets take a poll first and if we want to change it up we can.

The problem with the normal start is that it literally takes SO LONG for anything to happen. We could always see if everyone made 1 city or not... this isnt a game to have big secrets or anything. I am satisfied with my start but of course I'll always be happy with my start, I could write a story about anything. Point is this - even if we decide to re-start, my vote is for an advanced start still. We could always make rules saying only 1 city, force 1 worker 1 scout, etc etc... essentially an advanced start but we all play it the same just to get us moving along quicker.

 

[inky13112]

I only built 1 city with my advanced start. Not sure what everyone else did obviously... lets take a poll first and if we want to change it up we can.

The problem with the normal start is that it literally takes SO LONG for anything to happen. We could always see if everyone made 1 city or not... this isnt a game to have big secrets or anything. I am satisfied with my start but of course I'll always be happy with my start, I could write a story about anything. Point is this - even if we decide to re-start, my vote is for an advanced start still. We could always make rules saying only 1 city, force 1 worker 1 scout, etc etc... essentially an advanced start but we all play it the same just to get us moving along quicker.

I have never played an advance start where I didnt build way too many cities and then regretted it... I built 3. If thats a problem I can redo or whatever y'all think is best.

RE advance start: personally, I do find the advance start a bit wierd for the format, but then again I find advance starts wierd period because of the previously mentioned too many cities issue. That said, its true that it takes awhile to get moving without it. I guess it really comes down to how much of a hurry we are in.

So I would very tentatively vote for non advanced start.

 

[Eclipse4449]

OK So far of us 4 we have Tundra, no coast and Oops I'm to close to you, and mine is good.
Not counting my neutral vote on Advance Start we have 2 vs 1 against Advance start.

As inky notes it just depends on how much of a hurry we are in, I don't think we're in a hurry, good things take time, My story so far is very generic so far, there isn't even a mention of it Hehe

 

[Hawklord]

I built 3 cities and a settler. I can see someone elses shaded area too, so I must be close. I vote for a non advanced start too, or at least an agreed set up.

 

[Nighthawk419]

I have the turn currently... can take it after work here depending on what we decide to do.

Can we meet in the middle and do an advanced start with specific setup? eg. only 1 city allowed, must build worker +1 scout, and only minimal money leftover for improvements/tech/building/population etc? That will at least get us past the super slow early turns (having the worker is huge) but force us down to 1 city at least...

But thats just my opinion, I am fine with no advanced start as well, whatever the masses want. I have all the time in the world!

 

[Eclipse4449]

Currently the turn you have is a Standard start

Let's see what the others say.

 

[Mitchum]

If you guys want, I could set up the map to ensure that no one is too close to another human player, that each of you has an AI to take out should you please, and to ensure that everyone gets a "fair" start. I'd have to know the settings you want, of course.

 

[Eclipse4449]

Oh wow that's Nice of you to offer. As you can see this game has had a few issue and finally after a couple of months now we finally have 4 interested players who probably want to get started right away.

I can see how this could solve a few issues I've had. The map is Terra "Old to New World jump and some of us aren't getting coastal starts, I know that's apples and oranges but there is the chance that the coast is gobbled up with 8 Civs.

The one thing I prefer is each civ has their own starting techs and over comming this is one of the best parts of Civ

 

[Mitchum]

Please define/agree on the settings and I'll set it up. I need to know all game settings, leader choices, etc.

 

[Eclipse4449]

Thanks I'll wait for the other's opinions

How long does it take to do this after knowing settings etc

 

[Mitchum]

I don't have much experience setting up advanced-start games. Assuming that there is nothing too tricky about it, it shouldn't take too long. For example, I read above that advanced starts give people points to spend on tech, units, etc. I have no idea how this works. I think I recall seeing a place for this in the game startup screen. If all I have to do is enter a number in the game startup screen, this will be no issue.

Regarding the map, I can be sure that everyone has a coastal start, no tundra/desert, with similar access to happy, healthy and strategic resources.

BTW, do you guys want to use a Mod (i.e. Buffy, BAT, BULL, etc.) or just the generic game.

 

[Nighthawk419]

I don't have much experience setting up advanced-start games. Assuming that there is nothing too tricky about it, it shouldn't take too long. For example, I read above that advanced starts give people points to spend on tech, units, etc. I have no idea how this works. I think I recall seeing a place for this in the game startup screen. If all I have to do is enter a number in the game startup screen, this will be no issue.

Regarding the map, I can be sure that everyone has a coastal start, no tundra/desert, with similar access to happy, healthy and strategic resources.

BTW, do you guys want to use a Mod (i.e. Buffy, BAT, BULL, etc.) or just the generic game.

Yeah advanced start is just a number at the game setup screen.

If this is what the masses want to do, then thats fine with me. However I generally like the "randomness" of differing starts more than an all-things-equal start. Maybe it makes for a more "fair" game and better for competition purposes, but this game is more about the writing aspect and role playing than it is trying to win, so to me it makes sense to just go with whatever the civ gods have in store. I would happily start in the middle of the desert and have to overcome all odds to win haha. But thats just me. In other games I'd be more inclined to be fair, but this one is about writing, not winning. Thats why the AI will only be Noble I believe! haha

 

[Eclipse4449]

We started with the L of R mod and it was a disaster. It was only recently I noticed a post regarding this situation which could have been "Admin Permissions" to the main civ 4 folder(s).

Anyway I'm down untill Thursday/Friday so we'll see what the others want to do

 

[Mitchum]

In one SGOTM game I played, each AI started with a very advanced tech. We could do the same thing here if you guys think that would add a level of interest to the game. For example, one of you could start with Biology, another Economics, the third Constitution and the fourth Steam Power (or any other non-military tech). This may add an interesting element to the story writing. Or each of you could start with a world wonder. Or a great person. Just ideas that could spark something for you guys.