EitB PBEM XLIII

[Qgqqqqq]

(The above is why players should be grateful when they do get a mapmaker willing to put work in, rather than sniping at them and saying that they didn't ask for them to volunteer for mapmaking when they make decisions that are the mapmakers' prerogative.)

/rant

Not related to this particular game or these particular players.

[DaveV]

Here's a tentative playing order for discussion:

Ventessel 4:30-5:30 AM or lunchtime or 6-9 PM EDT
DaveV 6-7 AM or lunchtime or 6-9 PM EDT
Aurorarcher 2-4 PM EDT, sometimes 1-4 AM
jalapeno 8 PM-midnight EDT
Dreylin 8-11 PM CDT (9PM-midnight EDT)

I used the morning windows for Ventessel and me since we all seem to be in the same time zone and there's a lot of overlap. Dreylin and jalapeno might need to be reordered if Dreylin is more likely to be able to play early.

There's a very good possibility of blitzing through the early turns if we can find a time when we can all be available.

I, for one, promise to keep my map whining to a minimum if someone volunteers to make one. I also agree that playing on a random mirrorland map is better than letting the game die on the vine due to lack of a mapmaker. Should we set a deadline for a mapmaker volunteer? Say, this Sunday, May 10?

Wanted: mapmaker. Experience preferred, but not required. Your minimal duties: roll a random starting player based on the list above. Generate several mirrorland map scripts, pick one that looks interesting to play (this is what I did on 39). Preferred: generate several torusland scripts, pick one that looks interesting, make sure it's reasonably well balanced.

[Mardoc]

If you can't find anyone else, I can make a map. I'm pretty well booked this week, though, so I wouldn't be able to start working on it until the 12th or so, and you'd be looking at the 17th as most likely earliest chance to start.

[Kragroth]

I might be able to assist. It would help me if we could get one consolidated post with the settings and preferences of the players.

Also exaclt how much post map creation manipulation do you all want?

[Ventessel]

DaveV's proposed settings:

No lairs
-Aurorarcher expressed interest in leaving distant lairs on the map, and I agree that they add a little randomness/choice that is fun.

No huts
-I am inclined to agree, since popping an early tech can be unbalancing. It seems that everyone agrees on this setting.

Emperor/Immortal
-I would vote Emperor, since it strikes a nice balance. No one else expressed a preference between these two.

Normal barbs
-Agreement on this from everyone. Didn't see any requests for raging barbs (which might be a fun game, though)

No Orthus
No Acheron
-Agreed.

No tech trading
No vassal states
-Agreed to both.

As far as mapscript goes, everyone seemed to be alright with Torrusland. Personally I liked the inland seas setting (29%+ water). There was some discussion of speeding up the early game with a lush capital or free units. I'd be alright with a free scout or shade, and a lush capital would be good too.

As for post-creation mapmaker tinkering, I always enjoy a few finishing touches (i.e. round out a mountain range here, drop some islands there, etc.) Kragroth, feel free to call on me to mapmake in exchange for one of your games should you need it.

[DaveV]

For a mirrorland map, I don't think the mapmaker needs to do much more than pick a map that looks fun to play. For Torusland, I'd like him to check for reasonably balanced starting positions. The map generator and placement algorithm are set up to rate crabs or plain hill sheep as being just as good as wet corn. I would ask that everyone start with a grain resource, a reasonable amount of commerce, and access to strategic resources (using the "balanced strategic resources" setting in the map generator can still result in copper that's only 8 tiles away as the crow flies, but is across a huge bay and can't be used until your 10th city).

In general, I think less is more in global map adjustments. It's nearly impossible to have a perfectly balanced non-mirrored map, and events within the game will have more impact than small map imbalances. As long as everyone has a realistic chance of winning the game at the start, I'll be happy.

[Dreylin]

I'm back!

Looking at recent posts I have 2 comments to add:

1) I'd be in favour of a few lairs, but nothing too close to the start ('39 distance was good).

2) None of my current games require me to play the turn promptly, so I could prioritise this one and have it out by 9pm Central (10pm Eastern) if that would help.

[jalepeno]

...

2) None of my current games require me to play the turn promptly, so I could prioritise this one and have it out by 9pm Central (10pm Eastern) if that would help.

I think I'd prefer to stay before you in the order if that's alright. Over the course of the next 6 months, one of those other games may take some precedence. Barring something crazy, I can get saves back out by 10pm Eastern as well, and this is the only non-duel game I'll be playing in.

[Dreylin]

...

2) None of my current games require me to play the turn promptly, so I could prioritise this one and have it out by 9pm Central (10pm Eastern) if that would help.

I think I'd prefer to stay before you in the order if that's alright. Over the course of the next 6 months, one of those other games may take some precedence. Barring something crazy, I can get saves back out by 10pm Eastern as well, and this is the only non-duel game I'll be playing in.

I'm easy either way, so it works for me.

[Kragroth]

A final consolidated turn order and list of settings is needed for me to assist with map creation.