12-03-2002 19:09									#1
	First Blood Remove this text

OK, my first CtP Internet multiplayer experience begun yesterday against Gavrushka for the March Tournment run by Blackice.

I had only played once in the past for half an hour to see how it is.

Settings

Skill level: Emperor
Barbarian Threat: Ruins Only
Map Size: Regular
World Shape: Doughnut
Bloodlust: ON
Pollution: ON
Map: Random, wet with some sea and much goods.

	12-03-2002 19:11									#2
	Full PM-box? Change here!

Garry managed to rip 5 or 6 techs from the damn ruins while I only got gold.

Way ahead in science and population Garry will probably be the winner.

Currently the initiative of the moves is in my hands but not for long. I managed to penetrate Garry's territory and reveal many of his city, pirated some trade routes and razed a city of his.

I hope to give some strong fight before I lose

	12-03-2002 20:24									#3
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

What the difference of atmosphere and strategy between a LAN game and a PBEM game ?

	13-03-2002 06:03									#4
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

Huge difference

	13-03-2002 09:53									#5
	Full PM-box? Change here!

Huge difference...Gavrushka and Blackice would kick your ass on LAN. But can't play PBEM as well as say. Swissy..... The fast paced decision making has alot to do with it. Whereas, PBEM. Before I make a decison I sit and think for somtimes a whole hour. What I want my empire to look like, where to place my cities. And in the later parts of the game ; wether to attack a) if he is belligerent or b) being an ass.....

In which case the actual buildup takes months of planning. And Coordination with allies. Just as we figure it out. You must not be discovered. What takes 6 months on PBEM takes 2 hours on LAN. So the time to think things out is not there. You just move on instinct and some thinking, not much tho.


Tho I always appreciate the planning into PBEM invasions. It is a time when you are exploring a range of options with your allies. Evaulating, planning, buildup. Lots of Idea's fling about. A few I wish I would have taken, at the time they seemed stupid, while a few others were totally flawed and would turn out to be a huge disaster. Then I regret and wish I had listened.

Always have allies in PBEM. Never go in alone.

	13-03-2002 13:40									#6
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

Well, if you are an experienced CtP player the less time thinking is not an issue. Besides the same goes around for your opponent too. You've got as much time as he's got

The main difference I spotted is the lack of diplomacy and extended arrangements. You can easily patch your weaknesses with an ally backing you up either militarily or scientifically. In Internet play you simply don't have that luxury. Your weaknesses is the main factor for losing there Even if you ally with someone the lack of proper cooperation doesn't favor your weak points either.

Regarding the game.

I was doing relatively good in harazing Garry with continual invasions, trade route pirating and pillages. I managed to hold the initiative for long time but my lack of population and gold lead to a diminished production and science.

Now the countdown has started and Garry's counter-attack despite kind late was severe.

I expect a decent defeat tonight so yes, Garry will be the winner as I had predicted.

Who's next? I need to kick some ass for revenge

	13-03-2002 18:32									#7
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

Keygen was crawling all over my civ, pirating, took out a newly built city, attacking wherever, But I refused to be distracted from developing civ... I thought if I lose a city ot two, so be it..... But to change strategy just because you see enemy units is suicide, I think Keygen must have been scratching his head wondering why I wasn't attacking- But unlike PBEM play you kind of do things on your own terms, not dictated by the opponent.. I think I have around 4 times the production of Keygen, which is the clincher, I went modern on the final turn of the last session, and will now be in my military phase, the trundling lines of units.... I also have many sols dropping off units to attack Keygens mainland.... It does look kind of inevitable the result, but I know that Keygen will learn a lot from this game, You never attack with anicent units, yeh try your luck with scouts, but stacked Legions will not worry a city. Two very different games, PBEM and Internet play out of the same box... aren't we lucky!