Hello all,
I am pleased to announce that, after being asked to do so, I have brought the "Faces of Apolyton "interviews back. This time I am interviewing Lancer, a well-known member of the 'Off-Topic' forum community and a hardcore Civilization player.

Next time you read an interview, it will be with Xin Yu, the master analyst of Civ games.

ACS Interview Chief - Solver.

Solver: Just something to begin with - as always, how did you find Apolyton?
Lancer: Solver, first let me say that I'm glad you resumed the "Faces of Apolyton" interviews. I have alot of respect for those that contribute to the site as you do, and as the mods and admins do. So I'd like to take this chance to thank you and them and everyone who does something to make Apolyton the resource that it is.

I found Apolyton by doing a search using the keyword 'civilization' . I'd already played Civ[I] and CivII and was looking to see what discussion forums were out there that might make me a better player. I gave my 2 cents in Yin's list for CivIII. Interestingly that is what caused Sid to call me the first time to ask advise and thank me personally. I was happy to hear from him at first but it got to be every 5 minutes...;) Ok so Sid never called, but it was an interesting time nevertheless and I got an appreciation for how people at Apolyton attacked the problems of making the game better. That was a high time with new ideas every hour and posts by the thousands! That was my first experience with Apolyton. The honest unselfish dedication of the people to the game impressed me.

Solver: You were one of the guys to still play CivII often in 2001, but you didn't engage in multiplayer fun. Why so?
Lancer: Well Solver, I used to multiplay CivII at the Zone, but I always won and people got tired of getting beaten...well ok that's not true...The truth is that I had a hard time finding folks that would continue to play in a losing situation or try to make something of a bad start. Many would depart the game for a new one where they might have better luck. People would fail to meet at the appointed time. Games that I was interested in would fall apart. Games where I had a bad start I would continue and I'd try to do my best in a bad situation, but even these games would fall apart. You can say many things about the AI being dumb, but at least it's dependable, will stay with a game and try to make the best of a losing situation. In multiplay I always enjoyed the chat, the politics etc... The AI is no respecter of persons, while one of the pillars of my multiplay style was coalition building. The problem of players dropping out was too much to take. The time invested was wasted. The game creates quitters because of the way winners are determined. Consider a game in which you have a bad start. You can play very well and never win, but in my view if you play well and advance your Civ much past what might be expected, you've won. However the game takes no notice of those that play far above themselves and do something with nothing. Too bad really, but maybe in CivIV...

By the time I got to Apolyton I was too jaded for multiplay which was a mistake I think. My guess is in hindsight that the Apolytonners would have had more staying power, the love of the game being so much greater.

Solver: What was it that made you stick with CivII, not playing CTP or the SMAC series? You ever tried either of those alternatives?
Lancer: I played CTP[I] and enjoyed it. In fact while waiting for the latest patch for CivIII I loaded CTP again, downloaded some excellent mods from Apolyton and had a blast with the game. Amazing what the good folks in the CTP forums have achieved with their mods. They do good work, they really do. I salute them.

SMAC...eh.

Solver: You are a well-know poster in the "Off-Topic" world. How did you become an off-topicer?
Lancer: Well, once the list was done I wanted to continue with the friends I'd made. I found the OT and we had some great discussions about all sorts of things, whatever anyone might think of, as long as it was decent. So, discussion tended towards the technical, or the different aspects of peoples lives. I really enjoyed myself in these discussions and made even more friends, people I still make a point of remembering, though many are gone from Apolyton now. I'm a sentimental person you see, though by nature joyful in general.

  I've met two Apolytoners, Sten and SuperSneak, both great people. I've also met SuzeeSneak and ProsperSneak. Prosper is the strongest baby I've ever seen. Kids got hands that clamp like a vise.

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