New (Maybe Greens) PBEM?

[BRickAstley]

I would like to float an idea for this game: Open diplomacy, same as in PB7.

All communication between players must be done publicly, on the forum. With 4 players, we'd only need 6 diplo threads for that for easy overview. This way the role of diplomacy is toned down, also reducing the time requirements of the game. At the same time it'll still be in the game as a slightly less effective means to take down a runaway player. It might also be a little more greens friendly, allowing the focus to be on in-game decisions rather than backstabbing and intrigue en masse.

Depending on the diplo volume, one thread would work too. Given that there is likely to be less diplo if it has to be public, that might be an option. Regardless, compared with the effort of keeping up with normal diplo (or lose out big time), I do think this will be easier. While at the same time not resorting to simply eliminating diplo completely, which I'm not a fan of.

Yeah, while it might be novel to have different threads for each person's diplo, it would needlessly complicate things, and people would forget to check some of the threads, and then people would get politically peeved at each other, so that doesn't sound like a good plan.

If everyone playing would like to do reduced diplo, we can do so, and open up a single diplomatic thread for common communication, or just say no communication outside of in-game trades altogether.

I Might be in ... although i got half an argeement with Catwalk to join forces so we'll might make a team (which would help his load as well)

...i'm probably somewhere halfway between greens and veterans either somewhat outclassing, or certainly being outclassed.

Howdy Sian! As to play ability, I think it would be fine if you teamed up with Catwalk, as long as you think your skill level difference wouldn't be too much. I think whether you do or not it'll be a good game, so welcome aboard :D

I'd certainly be interested in playing.

Good to have your name in the hat slowcheetah!

So here's the tentative player list as of now:

BRickAstley
Yell0w
Catwalk (And Sian)
slowcheetah


Also, we'll need a mapmaker to present us with our field of battle. Anyone interested in playing god for us?

[Catwalk]

I think my idea would be fun to try out (with one thread or multiple ones), but it's not a must-have for me. How about a vote on it?

1) Open diplo
2) Other

If Open Diplo is voted down, we then vote on other alternatives (AI only, no diplo, normal diplo).

I'll put half a vote on 1) Open Diplo.

[Yell0w]

Hmm, never played an open diplo game so

vote: (1 open diplo


I think open diplo can bring an interesting new layer to Civ4 (new for me at least)

On the other hand, reading some PBEMs with open diplo.... well either what happened there is really realistic compared to real diplomacy (men fighting over the size of their virtual penis), or real politics work quite differently. However I'd like to try out for myself

EDIT:

I also just found out you are talking about BtS not about FFH2. So count me out. Sorry for the confusion.

[BRickAstley]

1) Open Diplo for myself as well.

And yeah, this was going to be a BTS game. Sorry that that means you can't play Yell0w

[Catwalk]

To my knowledge, only game this system has been attempted is Pitboss 7. That's a complete mess with 18 players, but it also uses Always War and does not seek to be balanced at all so most players have a more leisurely approach to it. You may be thinking about the public threads in most PBEMs which have little other purpose than a bit of horsing around and measuring penises.

No worries about opting out, hope you will find an FFH2 game to join.

[slowcheetah]

I'll go with Open diplo as well, although I would prefer one thread rather than a multithreaded Hydra.

[Sian]

Howdy Sian! As to play ability, I think it would be fine if you teamed up with Catwalk, as long as you think your skill level difference wouldn't be too much. I think whether you do or not it'll be a good game, so welcome aboard :D

Something you have to consider, is that teams (that are able to work together) are generally stronger each player would have been alone, since they're often strong in different areas, having that much more areas where they're stronger. So if the general argeement (which I doubt i'd disargee with at the end of the day) is that i might be a wee bit to strong it would probably be better to set me up alone

about 'open diplo' ... for me it most of all sounds like a "have you cake and eat it to" ... in terms of wanting diplo but not diplo, which just goes into the sphere of bizarre in my opinion ...

[BRickAstley]

Well Sian, since Yell0w isn't going to be able to play then we only have 3 teams/players as it is, so there's room if you'd like to be your own team and than that would balance out any issues that might come up with you and Catwalk teaming up.

[slowcheetah]

about 'open diplo' ... for me it most of all sounds like a "have you cake and eat it to" ... in terms of wanting diplo but not diplo, which just goes into the sphere of bizarre in my opinion ...

But... But... Double Cake

[Catwalk]

While I would like to team up with Sian per earlier discussions, the 4 of us playing alone sounds good. With 3 votes for Open Diplo (with one thread) and 1 against, Open Diplo has been agreed on.

Other settings:
- Spies banned
- Nukes banned
- Blockades banned
- War Elephants banned
- Normal snake pick
- Quick Speed
- Ancient
- Huts, events and barbarians off

The above are standard settings for most games, if anyone wants any of it changed speak up and we will discuss it. Also, should any leaders or civs be banned or restricted somehow? Any other ideas for the setup? Should we give the mapmaker any instructions or tell him to go as crazy as he pleases?