21-04-2005 08:47									#1
	Anyone up for another PBEM? Got spare money?

Now that I've finally got my life back on track, I'm ready to start taking on a few more PBEM's I feel.

What I'm looking for is a high level, 4-5 player game. Newbies need not apply. Standard rules, a CMNed custom map and setup, beefy AI, and a bunch of the best players the community has to offer. I don't know how good a player I'm considered by everyone with my University, but I do know that I'll never find out just how good I really am unless I can get in a game with a bunch of highly respected and experienced players. NE3 on ACOL would've done that for me, but since I took over for Googlie, and Mongoose's position was handicapped because of his win in the first, even assuming I win that, I won't feel like it's proven anything.

So....who's free for a game?

	22-04-2005 04:14									#2
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

I'll humbly put up my hand though I admit your requirements have me a feeling a little inadequate.

Hobbes

	22-04-2005 04:52									#3
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

Now why would these requirements make you feel inadequate? ^^;;

You've been in quite a lot of the PBEM's I've been in in the past year though h0bbes. Most notably BofP and NE3. I was kinda hoping for people I haven't been up against so often to be honest. ^^;;

	22-04-2005 20:27									#4
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

Hmm will I play the university usually as well, but if you don't mind having two university players (I think we can do that) and you keep it AC (I don't have ACX) I would be interested.

	23-04-2005 00:29									#5
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

how can many players play the same faction? won't you get your units mixed up?

	23-04-2005 04:13									#6
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Sorry, I should've specified that earlier. I wanted to play SMAX only, not SMAC.

It's not difficult at all t_ras. You each play a seperate copy of the same faction, and you'll get different faction colours if you're just playing normally and not trying to force the game to show the "right" colours for each faction.

	23-04-2005 04:30									#7
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Naw - a CMN can set up a different graphics set for the second facxtion (eg, the Drones' set or the Cycon, for example) Dacole would then just have to copy that faction into his "custom factions" section of his alpha.txt

Here's one I created a couple of years ago for the Forum Wars series of games

Attachment: academy.zip
This has been downloaded 1 time(s).

	23-04-2005 13:00									#8
	Get a bigger avatar today!

I think I would be interested in this game, perhaps as the Hive, but I suppose everything is somewhat negotiable.

If I might toss out a few possible options for consideration as well . . . no problem with the regular rules if none of them are appealing to you'all though.

- What about blind research - it seems to have the effect of spreading out the mid-game phase a little more. Warships, for example, are not so soon obsoleted by aircraft, or planes by choppers;

- I've heard about the rule where choppers are not allowed to attack bases; that sounds potentially interesting to me;

- I'd also be in favor of disabling the CBA and the SpaceElevator - and the EmpathGuild if the PK are not in the game.

	23-04-2005 13:13									#9
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Blind research would be pretty pointless to be honest. I think any player at our level knows how the tech system works, and together with Minute Mirage's tech predictor, you can easily get the techs you want regardless of if it's on Blind anyway.

The Chopper change would be interesting, I have to admit. I feel my biggest faults are in both offensive and defensive military strategies, so I'm not sure if I'd be testing my abilities there more with this on or off.

I tend to prefer to not disable any SP's besides maybe the EG. I'm rather proud and egotistical about my ability to outproduce most opponents in both raw minerals and energy, so I'd appreciate being able to have a good SP chase.

	23-04-2005 21:02									#10
	Got spare money?

I know I don't fill the "the best of the best" requirement but I'd could step in as the DataAngels, if you'd like, provided NO SP's are disabled. I also like the rule about choppers not being allowed to attack bases. Otherwise, I'd like a huge planet, average native life, directed research, no cooperative victory, and the rest I don't care about.

	25-04-2005 12:51									#11
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I could take the CMN job if you agree - have learned a reel bunch of things recently about AI beef and want to test them out on veterans..

	25-04-2005 12:53									#12
	Put an end to popups!

I've got no problems with that so long as everyone else doesn't.

	25-04-2005 18:54									#13
	Suffering from ads?

I must warn you about choosing binTravkin as a CMN.
Recently a played 2 games CMN-ed by him and both of them were buggy (in one game we found a player on librarian level, and in other one player had wrong SE settings). It doesn't mean he cannot make interesting maps, but he proved to be prone to mistakes. I suggest to find someone more who will conduct control over his work to ensure the game doesn't have any bug before releasing...

	25-04-2005 19:12									#14
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

quote: I must warn you about choosing binTravkin as a CMN. Recently a played 2 games CMN-ed by him and both of them were buggy (in one game we found a player on librarian level, and in other one player had wrong SE settings). It doesn't mean he cannot make interesting maps, but he proved to be prone to mistakes. I suggest to find someone more who will conduct control over his work to ensure the game doesn't have any bug before releasing...

Should I report your evil-headed posts to someone here?

I can show those people the discussion where you tried to prove exactly just how bad I am..

To others:
This person is trying to make a personal Vendetta on me after an incident in one game, namely CGN 22, which he won by incredible treachery (which, of course made me pretty angry) and then claimed things which were simply funny to me (like being the "bestest" and somesuch ).

Ever since he has been making insulting posts and sending stupid mails just to make me angry or denote me.
I can provide numerous links if someone has deeper interest.

Once I tried to make a little bit of revenge on him (you know such persons usually shut up after first loss), but he disgraced himself by signing out of that game immediately.

You know, there always are some schoolboys around which want to improve their self confidence by annoying others..
Take EN and BlockHead as historic examples.


And yes, it is true those 2 games had a mistake, but I've created a bunch of other games since then and none had any such things in them.


However, if you decide to not take me as CMN I will accept your decision.

	25-04-2005 19:47									#15
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please provide "the links", binTravkin.

	25-04-2005 19:48									#16
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quote: Originally posted by Sebed I must warn you about choosing binTravkin as a CMN. Recently a played 2 games CMN-ed by him and both of them were buggy

\

When I first started CMN'ing why I made quite a few mistakes, and its been pointed out that some of my most recent efforts had significant, game altering mistakes made by me. CMN'ing is by no means an exact science, but the alternative of having a game randomly set up by the computer, or with AI's that pose no real challenges, are significant enough that I would alwways want a game set up by a CMN, even if there is a risk of mistakes being made.
I would also make the observation that binTravkin is volunteering a considerable amount of his time to CMN games. He doesn't get paid for his efforts, and he will always get blamed when things go wrong. Yet he persists, and I feel he will learn from his mistakes (I did, and I'm sure Googlie has as well). He is also giving back to our community in a way that very few people choose to do, or are capable of doing. I would therefore say that keep these thoughts in mind, and understand that learning the CMN trade is not as simple as it might appear on the surface.


D

	25-04-2005 19:49									#17
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

I can already see several of those in CGN23's thread, where you've just joined the game Sebed. Frankly, given the evidence thusfar, I'd prefer to believe bin. So kindly stop spamming up my thread.

	25-04-2005 19:58									#18
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

well, i just wanted to warn you about it and suggested to find someone who will just take a look before you start...
i'm very sorry for this misunderstandind...

	25-04-2005 20:03									#19
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A PM rather than a public denouncement would have been sufficient if that was all you really intended, IMO...

	25-04-2005 20:13									#20
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it's just because binTravkin put my words in different light...
my intend was only to help - mistakes are happen - even the best admit to make them...
believe - there is nothing worse to find a buggy game in the middle...
and i admit that bisides those bugs i like and ENJOY the map created by binTravkin...
try to find a single good word about me in binTravkin's post - don't go blamed by insults directed to my address...

	25-04-2005 20:23									#21
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

Is the discussion over then?

Thanks, Darsnan, for a helping hand!
And thanks, Sebed, it's a wonder to find even a single good word about me in your post.

Im ready to start working on game, but thusfar have no input, so there's a little list what needs to be named:

1.Map size
2.Map prefs - erosion, NL, rain, ocean
3.AI factions (please leave them to me, I won't betray your expectations! )
4.victories, co-op (I see one vote against co-op already)
5.other settings, blind-res, do-or-die, survey, etc.

And I would warmly advise not to have any SP disabled.
There are 2 tradeoffs of such situation:
1.Takes out some fun and flexibility of game.
2.Takes out the possibility to grab some good SP apart from that of Uni (IMO - the moreSPs, the bigger possibility to grab one!).

Awaiting input.

	25-04-2005 20:48									#22
	Full PM-box? Change here!

ok, it looks like i'm attached to this thread
i'm ready to join this game and hope it won't be 3rd buggy game, binTravkin and we will find someone to make it sure.
my prefs:
-idea to disable choppers attacks sound interesting
-against blind research
-support coop to be disabled
-support bT advise not to disable any SP

I can play any faction, but i never played PK in multi yet so this is my choice...
I also promise not to be an easy opponent

	25-04-2005 20:54									#23
	Inflate your Upload Space

Anyone able to comment on just how good Sebed is? I've honestly never heard of him before this thread, so he's not exactly the kind of celebrity highly experienced player I was really looking for, but if he can play as good as them...*shrugs*

	25-04-2005 21:39									#24
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

He does not play bad, although if you knew someone I knew I'd say how much times he is.

Like: Sebed is 0.4 Busters or so - means, Buster can beat the heck out of 2 such Sebeds without big problem.
And if someone questions this - I've had infiltration on Buster in one game and I know what Im talking about.

A vet he is definitely not.

	25-04-2005 21:54									#25
	Put an end to popups!

what can i say?
i won cgn22 game in cooperative-mode, i'm doing quite well in cgn26, either...
i'm also playing here:
- Cult of Worls and Fungus game
- Alpha Omega game
i suggest you to see the threads or ask other player how am i doing
I never played with Buster - had no idea and completely unable to any comparison

	26-04-2005 03:00									#26
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

Well, just when I was wondering if this thread was petering out and thinking about whether I would need to try to actively recurit more volunteers .

Just to recapitulate, AFAIK the following have volunteered already:

• Archaic - University
  
• Hobbes - no expressed preferences
  
• Me (johndmuller) - Hive (but see caveat below)
  
• Net Warrior - DataAngels
  
• Sebed - PK
  

Last edited by johndmuller on 26-04-2005 at 03:05

	26-04-2005 04:07									#27
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

I'd like Gaians.

I'm OK with blind though its frustrating as all hell.

I'd like the CBA & Elevator disabled also.

Choppers can't attack bases is fine for me.

I'd prefer a map that is NOT huge.

Regarding CMN'ing: All CMN's have made mistakes & will continue to do so. I certainly have. We endeavor to minimize them & produce good maps with balanced strting positions but no-one is perfect. Play-testing is very important.

Hobbes

	26-04-2005 06:15									#28
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I'm for disabling the CBA and Elevotor too, but not the EG or any others. Wth 5 human players I'd still prefer a huge map, but I'll go along with the majority on that one. I'm still opposed to co-op victory. My feeling is that if 2 or 3 factions team up for a while, they still have to watch their own backs and not go too far with it, which keeps things interesting. BTW, I'm playing the Angels for the 1st time in a PBEM this game, and part of the reason is because I want to try an offbeat beeline, so I need directed research for that.

As for a name, how about "Who's Who"?

Last edited by Net Warrior on 26-04-2005 at 06:21

	26-04-2005 11:35									#29
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

quote: i won cgn22 game in cooperative-mode, i'm doing quite well in cgn26, either... i'm also playing here: - Cult of Worls and Fungus game - Alpha Omega game

Note that it was practically the other player who did all the job, not mentioning that it was 2vs1 victory.
Go compare it for example with JohnDMuller's expierence.

quote: As to binTravkin being the CMN and the flame war going on here, I think it would be more interesting if both binTravkin and Sebel were in the game (I imagine we could get Googlie or Darsnan to CMN in that case).

My answer is no.
Reasons:
1.I've asked for a game against Sebed 2 times. Both times he ran. Even unsigned from one as soon as saw I've signed in. For me he has proven his cowardice.

2.I already have 1 game with him, where he in his usual manner signed up after hearing that the player who needed to be replaced (KK) had built most powerfull faction. A person which runs from games and then signs up after hearing that there's some handicap for him is not worthy to even listen to IMO.

quote: If binTravkin is the CMN instead of a player, I would hope that he would play-test the scenario reasonably extensively before releasing it or perhaps recruit Googs or Lord D to do so. I always playtest games I CMN several times for a considerable amount of game-years to make sure (a) that there are no obvious oversights, like some factions being able to see others' area of the board or some of the stuff mentioned above, and (b) that the AI is not disproportinately hard on any particular players or particularly easy for any player(s) to eliminate. I would think that a serious playtest should expose any game-breaking problems.

Don't worry.
Im very familiar with playtesting.
And Im going to devote a good bunch of time to this game to ensure it's interesting for players.
I've already mastered a way how to make AIs competitive in the late game and will probably play the game over the weekend, because Im pretty amazed myself, how will it turn out.


"Who's Who" sound nice, doesn't it?

I've never been good in thinking up names..

	26-04-2005 11:48									#30
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

And one more suggestion from me:

Are you disabling chop&drop because AI is so irresistant to it?

If so, you shouldn't. I know a good way how to make AI very resistant to chop&drop..

Also - I haven't recieved a single map preference to start working on the map!

It would be very good if I get them till eve (Im GMT +2).