Any interest in a FFH/EITB Pitboss/PBEM?

[Lord Parkin]

Please reply to this thread if you're interested in an EITB Player vs Player PBEM and/or Pitboss, so we can judge numbers.

Additionally/alternatively: Proposal for a Player vs AI Pitboss

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So I've been getting quite into FFH/EITB recently, and I'd be keen to try a multiplayer game at some point. I've never been a huge fan of PBEM though, since it intrinsically limits you to rather small games. (Also my past experience with PBEM is that it can have quite slow turnarounds and long "dead" periods, though it seems that isn't generally too much of an issue here.)

Anyway, I was looking up the completed games forum, and noticed that apparently only one FFH/EITB pitboss has ever been attempted here. That one was a teamer, so as far as I can tell there's never been a single "regular" FFH pitboss in RB history. Is there a logistical reason why this is so? Are there not enough active/available FFH players, or are there technical issues with Pitboss and FFH?

[DaveV]

1. Double moves. There's a reason Hippus and Kurios are considered the strongest civs by the online MP crowd.

2. Blinding light. Timer camping (or being first in a turn split) will let you keep the other guy permanently immobilized.

3. The leaders and civs are much more imbalanced than BtS; in a large game, assuming no duplicates, some players would be starting with a significant handicap because of their leader/civ.

[BRickAstley]

1. Double moves. There's a reason Hippus and Kurios are considered the strongest civs by the online MP crowd.

2. Blinding light. Timer camping (or being first in a turn split) will let you keep the other guy permanently immobilized.

3. The leaders and civs are much more imbalanced than BtS; in a large game, assuming no duplicates, some players would be starting with a significant handicap because of their leader/civ.

Maybe a smaller game with limited bans could work though?

Also, I think if i remember right something is borked about base FFH Pitboss, and you have to do it in EitB if you want it to work.

[Qgqqqqq]

Yes there is.

The issue with FFH pitboss is sequential turns, which breaks when magic becomes involved. Sure blinding light is a horrible issue (whoever goes first in turn order can fix the enemy stack indefinitely, but even more then that - whoever goes first can maelstrom, RoF, tsunami or whatever the opposing stack, meaning they can always attack at full health, the player who is first in turn order has summons which last until its next turn where the others are disappearing before they can defend the stack and so on.

[novice]

Not quite sure, but it sounds like you mean that simultaneous turns is the problem, Qgqqqqq. After all, PBEMs are sequential turns.

[Bobchillingworth]

FFH Pitbosses will also break if an AI enters the game (which in practical terms means either Basium or Hyborem). I believe EitB fixes this, which is nice if you want to play a game with the potential for Hell terrain.

[Lord Parkin]

1. Double moves. There's a reason Hippus and Kurios are considered the strongest civs by the online MP crowd.

Would be ruled out of course.

2. Blinding light. Timer camping (or being first in a turn split) will let you keep the other guy permanently immobilized.

Isn't this also a problem for the player going first in a war in PBEM too?

3. The leaders and civs are much more imbalanced than BtS; in a large game, assuming no duplicates, some players would be starting with a significant handicap because of their leader/civ.

Of course, but the imbalance is part of the fun of playing FFH. Also you could set up bans if desired.

Maybe a smaller game with limited bans could work though?

I agree.

Also, I think if i remember right something is borked about base FFH Pitboss, and you have to do it in EitB if you want it to work.

Sorry, I should have clarified I meant an EITB Pitboss.

Yes there is.

The issue with FFH pitboss is sequential turns, which breaks when magic becomes involved. Sure blinding light is a horrible issue (whoever goes first in turn order can fix the enemy stack indefinitely, but even more then that - whoever goes first can maelstrom, RoF, tsunami or whatever the opposing stack, meaning they can always attack at full health

Isn't this also an issue in PBEM?

the player who is first in turn order has summons which last until its next turn where the others are disappearing before they can defend the stack and so on.

Okay, this seems like a genuine issue. So with sequential turns (like in PBEM), I presume all summons disappear before the next person plays (i.e. attack only unless you've got the Summoner trait)? And in simultaneous turns Pitboss they last until the turn flip? If so that seems like an issue you can't get around with simultaneous turns. However, you can still have a sequential turns Pitboss - which offers some advantages over PBEM, like no possibility of reloading to get better results.

Not quite sure, but it sounds like you mean that simultaneous turns is the problem, Qgqqqqq. After all, PBEMs are sequential turns.

Yeah, from context I presume he meant simultaneous.

FFH Pitbosses will also break if an AI enters the game (which in practical terms means either Basium or Hyborem). I believe EitB fixes this, which is nice if you want to play a game with the potential for Hell terrain.

Yep, I meant EITB sorry.

[Ellimist]

None of these issues occur in pbem. Spells/summons/effects expire* when they're meant to. Some of this is avoided with sequential turn pitboss, but I think some problems persisted.

Just give pbem a shot, I think you'll be surprised.




*Most spells, effects, and summons expire at the start of your next turn.

[Lord Parkin]

In that case... is anyone interested in a new EITB PBEM with a guy who doesn't have much idea what he's doing?

[Qgqqqqq]

Woops! Yeah I meant simultaneous.

Sure I'll pay a pbem - what do you say about waiting fir version one of the update to be out so we can test it?