Wondering if there is enough interest around for a new Pitboss game for some less-than-pro folks?
I've been hanging around for a couple of months at least now and am interested in setting up a proper game with folks in a similar situation - that is, folks who love playing Civ, whatever version (although this would be Civ4 BTS), and who have been drawn to RB for whatever reason.
Only thing I'd stipulate is - and by way of explanation - I myself don't have a huge amount of Civ XP and would really like to play against other similarly placed folks. Also I'd say that enthusiasm for the game at hand and.. um.. 'sticktuitiveness' are the most important parts of something like this.
Best case scenario is each player might have an expert player or two providing some advice, but never turnplaying or dictating turns. Micros plans from expert = sweet, in the spirit of, "well if you want to do this, then you'll get a blah worker blah or else theres blah, needs fishing, blah blah, I'd recommend - whatever (hey, what a narrative huh)"
I'd expect that learning would be the focus!
If this is of interest (to veterans as much as any of 'we' interested greens), I may be able to get a pitboss server environment set up with some advice.
What say ye, folks?
This thread was originally titled "XP Players Sponsor a Greens Game (warcry of the knewb)"
Team BoldXenuBrick: Boldly Going Nowhere, spacetyrantxenu, BRickAstley - De Gaulle of Byzantium
Idea of this game:
Open to players with minimal multiplayer experience
Focussing on a fun and educational introduction to PitBoss@RB and multiplayer games - hopefully there are enough Veterans interested enough to participate and provide advice.
Relaxed lurking: RB Veterans are encouraged to lurk as they please and provide gameplay, micro, c&d, strategic, and any other advice. Caution is appreciated regarding situationally specific advice, but grey areas are at the advice-giving lurker’s discretion.
Game Settings:
Mods: None, visual interface only allowed (as long as it doesn’t break the PB server), no mods which provide additional automated info
Map: Random settings determined by mapmaker; no ‘ILOSE button’ starts but no guarantee of perfect balance
Civilization Picks (Unbound leaders): ‘Random’ list rolled with best and worst removed. Randomly assigned with lurker discretion for balance & previously played.
Diplomacy: AI diplo only
Espionage: Can't build spies, Great Spies must be settled or used for Golden Age
Technology Trading: Off
Barbs, Huts, Events - On / Off / Off
Bans: Corporations, War Elephants, Blockades, Nukes (& India)
Start: All Civs start with a scout rather than their default unit
Normal Speed
24h Turn Timer (48h for First Turn)
No cheese gifting etc (not quite a setting, but nevertheless)
Turn Timer & Gameplay: 24 hours (adjusted for realtime). Real Life delays are okay but make sure to let someone know as soon as you can if a delay is involved (eg tech thread post, email, PM etc). If things happen in RL which change the ability to regularly play, say so and consider bowing out gracefully
Turns & War: Simultaneous turns, no double moves. Gentleman’s understanding of ‘fair play’. If you feel you’re getting an unfair advantage based on turn split vagaries, ask (in your Spoiler thread or shout out that you need a hand in the Q&A thread)
When a player makes a Declaration of War, they must play after the other player on subsequent turns, until peace is made.
A third or subsequent player DoWing in the same fray becomes the new last in the turn order, in order of declaration. Any confusion or grey areas could rely on experienced player advice direct to warring parties’ spoiler thread (or a shout out for Spoiler help to the Q&A or tech thread if needed), however if that is not available then last player to DoW is now last in the turn order. (up for discussion)
Updates Recommendation: City-screen and overview updates at turns 10, 20 and 50 is recommended for posterity. Additional updates are excellent!
While I understand the core of your model is the "sponsor" relationship (which shouldn't IMO include micro as once your planning ordinary cities -wonders fine - they're practically playing), I think people need more info on what you're suggesting.
By that I mean diplo, map (mirrored or random), tech trading, random civs/picked and so forth.
I would also say that a SG might be of more worth then a pitboss - especially as a PB means a lot of work.
Without that people won't know if they're interested. (FTR I have no desire to play in this, so just take that as advice.)
Erebus in the Balance - a FFH Modmod based around balancing and polishing FFH for streamlined competitive play.
I can probably host the pitboss myself if someone like sunrise089 can give occasional advice and expertise.
'Sponsor' is just guff & hopeful. The game would be driven by people who've joined RB and haven't yet played. No timeframes at this stage.
Game settings - happy to go with suggestions but also be a bit of an ogre to keep things real. Some diplo's okay I reckon and part of the fun, but I don't want to drag things out either.
I mean people won't volunteer until they know whats under discussion, and that a lot of work is in a pitboss game because there is (hopefully) a turn every day for probably 6 months.
Seriously work out the rules you want and post them!
If people want to play but don't like x they'll say so - see pbem47 tech thread for a good way to start.
Sunrise is normally good for hosting.
Erebus in the Balance - a FFH Modmod based around balancing and polishing FFH for streamlined competitive play.
So ok, to be more specific, and these dot-points *aren't* so succinct:
* I wouldn't expect sunrise089 to have anything to do with this unless he was interested and volunteered. I'm more than happy to investigate and implement a pitboss server within a reasonable period of time and some advice would be a bonus.
* I'm here because I'm a fan of Civ and have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of RB, for the experience of the way that really good players play. I've played some limited MP in other settings (read: gamespy) but it's nothing like a proper pitboss game.
* I would hope and expect that there are other new players around who would be interested in playing a pitboss game over the next - 6 months or more - who will sustain the enthusiasm they've already mentally committed to!
* If any XP-ed players wanted to take occasional advisory roles, I'd see that as a bonus too, and for them to show discretion with advice.
* Game settings, I would think, are fully up for discussion if people are interested. We could have as few or as many players as suited. I think tight turn timers are fine, with some negotiation for RL flexibility in advance. No dragging things out! Perhaps AI takeover=enabled if 2 turns missed, or something... Anyway, specific ideas are a bit premature at this stage!
If anyone's interested feel free to say hoy anyway, if it happens it does. If it doesn't I'd still be up for something!
It's a great idea, teleh. I think what Qgqqqqq is saying is it's helpful to say something like "how about a mirrored toroidal lakes map on Prince with full diplomacy but no tech trading and a reverse-turn-order snake pick with no civs or leaders banned," just to get the discussion started. That's just an example (what a mouthful!).
Cool, I think I've actually edited and deleted more posts than are in-situ here. Respect!
I'd probably say something like, random map and start with script-balanced resources if an excellent mapmaker is willing, random (unknown) wrap and map, unbound civ/leaders with random order of first pick (starting with civ) which is known by the next player in advance of choosing and starting from same with civ pick but perhaps civ is unknown? (ie 12341234).
Quick speed for this one. And perhaps an FFH-style 'lush' or extra-resources start to accelerate the game.
I dunno. I think interested peeps is more important, else game settings are imaginary...
re greens game: that pretty much what pb10 is, and that game is still ongoing, so it might be hard for you to get enough players. I could be wrong, but I think you'd have better luck with a pbem.
Please don't go. The drones need you. They look up to you.
(March 3rd, 2012, 21:07)antisocialmunky Wrote: Civilization Economics: You have 1 Cow. You build some pastures around it to feed your people. The population grows uncontrollably. You enslave everybody and work half of them to death.
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