New game?

[Khan]

I would like to play.

I have a preference for quick speed but am fine with normal if it won't make the opening turns too slow.

[Khan]

Making a presumption that there is space for me to play, my vote for settings are below. I would hasten to add that I am not particularly concerned with any of my choices so take them with a pinch of salt. A mild preference, occasionally made on a whim, nothing more.

Barbs: Off
Huts: Off
Events: Off
Corps: Off
Difficulty: Prince
Diplomacy: No diplomacy
See starts: A picture before we start? I really don't mind. If this is a spelling error and is referring to the geographical location, then I would say this is at the discretion of whomever creates the map.
Espionage: Passive
Civ/leader pick method: Snake
Bans:
*Standard RB: no vassal states, no nukes, no WE, no spying missions, no AP/UN resolutions, no diplo victory, no blockades and no tech trading or brokering.
*Civ: India and Inca banned
*Leader: I don't mind.
*Wonders: Up to the map maker.

[Zero_1627]

See starts: A picture before we start?

AFAIK it's 'before start' as in 'before ANY choices are made'. eg. choice of civ and leader. This allows players to value their civilization choices for known immediate surroundings (eg. start with Fishing would be quite nice if You have coast with crab and a pair of fish, less if You're completely inland). Similarly Financial would gain with lots of rivers and coasts/lakes, lose with loads of forested hills with little water.

[Zero_1627]

I'll play then!

Then You got Your first dedlurker. I'll try to help as well as I can. And nag You about thread updates and screenshots :P

[Zero_1627]

I'll allow myself to quickly compile map preferences, from what I see in Your posts. Just so future voters only talk about things that aren't agreed upon (or they would like to change really much)

Know what You want:

Huts: off
Events: off
Essentially You do not want random elements.

See starts: yes
Most of You want to see starts first (this makes for more informed choices before game actually starts).

Espionage: passive espionage (don't build Spies; can view graphs)
...as seems to be standard here

Difficulty: Prince, _maybe_ slightly higher
You want low difficulty.

Civ/leader pick method: snake
...and unrestricted leaders I assume. So standard again

Diplomacy: no diplo between players / AI diplomacy
So no diplomacy or diplomacy limited to in-game options (trade mostly, and meaningless NAPs). ANd I saw tech trade bans proposed, too. Perhaps Always War would be a good option then? Plus a banter thread if You really want it.

Game speed: normal
Most of You want normal speed. This has many advantages, but makes for much longer game (and slower start), which is very important in multiplayer - essentially all games here are played on (edit)Quick for a reason.
If You want to keep this setting, maybe consider accelerating early game by some means (eg. extra Worker+Warrior for every player at start). This would influence starting choices of course .

Bans:
*Standard RB: no vassal states, no nukes, no WE (Ballista Elephants excepted), no spying missions, no AP/UN resolutions, no diplo victory, no blockades, no tech trading and brokering.

on this at elast You agree :P . Other bans below.



Do not know what You want:

Corporations: mixed ideas
Some of You want it, some not. Frankly - I do not expect that to be relevant :P , they are very late game and multiplayer tends to finish earlier than single player...


*Civ: India banned and depends on map. Aren't the Inca kinda nerfed in MP?
*Leader: Willem + Pacal banned, only preferred
*Wonders: depends on map. GLH if there are a ton of islands. I doubt it'll get that far, but The Internet should be banned too.

It seems to be a very personal choice. Post above is probably the most restricting (for civs/leader/wonders) of what I've seen. SO You must talk about it some more

Note that Statue of Zeus is usually banned on RB too.



not talked about:
What map size do You want? Or You leave this to map maker, to be appropriate to number of players? Perhaps decide whether You want it cramped or have some room to peacefully expand first. And whether You want to have resource rich map? I assume You all want to ensure strategic resources reasonably close to every player.
Also, toroidal wrap has been mentioned by some.

[Alhazard]

FYI I do prefer quick speed, but I am open to either quick or normal speed.

[ipecac]

My votes-

Barbs: No preference
Huts: Off
Events: Off
Corps: Off
Difficulty: no preference
Map type: Any
Diplomacy: Strictly AI diplo
See starts: Yes
Espionage: Passive espionage
Civ/leader pick method: Snake

As to bans I'd like to defer to the RB collective experience.

[Khan]

not talked about:
What map size do You want? Or You leave this to map maker, to be appropriate to number of players? Perhaps decide whether You want it cramped or have some room to peacefully expand first. And whether You want to have resource rich map? I assume You all want to ensure strategic resources reasonably close to every player.
Also, toroidal wrap has been mentioned by some.

I leave this to the judgment of others. If I were forced to choose at knife point, I would plum for room to expand and resource rich and a flat map.

[DTG]

Sign-up list (1 more slot / will close @ end of Saturday):

1. DTG
2. Alhazard
3. LogicalTautology (+ Zero_1627, dedlurking)
4. ipecac (needs cover for 1 week in June)
5. Khan
6.

+ a few unassigned (ded)lurkers.

I would appreciate a dedlurker, btw, to pick up the odd turns that I am unable to play, and to occasionally type "DON"T DO THAT YOU MORON" whenever I am about to do something stupid.

5 players seems enough for a good game with a reasonable turn pace, and I think 6 would be ok too. I suggest that we close sign-ups on 12:01 a.m. (EST) on Sunday, if that sounds okay?

----

I proposed the game by saying that base BTS and normal speed were my two strongest preferences. If normal speed just doesn't work well in MP, or if there is unanimous support from the other players for Quick speed, I'll relent.

BTW, I really like the idea of using an accelerated start on normal speed... some combination of a free Worker, Settler, and military unit would present interesting choices during the opening 15 turns and speed up the game.

*Civ: India banned and depends on map. Aren't the Inca kinda nerfed in MP?
*Leader: Willem + Pacal banned, only preferred
*Wonders: depends on map. GLH if there are a ton of islands. I doubt it'll get that far, but The Internet should be banned too.

It seems to be a very personal choice. Post above is probably the most restricting (for civs/leader/wonders) of what I've seen. SO You must talk about it some more

Note that Statue of Zeus is usually banned on RB too.

Most of this was me. Nothing here forms a deal breaker. But I do think the Fast Worker gives an unfair advantage compared to any other strong civs. There are drawbacks to rushing to attack with War Chariots or Praetorians or Cataphracts... but building Workers is inevitable, and Fast Workers make snowballing too easy.

The Inca seem good, because the Terrace is fantastic. But I asked if they're "nerfed" relative to SP, because humans don't spam Archers for defense like the AI. I am happy either way (maybe they are overpowered in MP too).

I suggested banning the GLH on a water heavy map, but this is just a preference. Other teams can still close borders or attack whoever builds it.

I'm happy to ban the SoZ because war weariness is a lame mechanic. The wonder is awful in SP, because the AI is awful at warring. But in MP, I can see it being a drag.

not talked about:
What map size do You want? Or You leave this to map maker, to be appropriate to number of players? Perhaps decide whether You want it cramped or have some room to peacefully expand first. And whether You want to have resource rich map? I assume You all want to ensure strategic resources reasonably close to every player.
Also, toroidal wrap has been mentioned by some.

I'm open on this too. General preferences are: (1) room to expand; (2) resource rich; (3) water provides strategic options, but there no huge Oceans to cross.

PBEM39 contains an example of the sort of thing that I would like: http://realmsbeyond.net/forums/showthrea...27&page=14 (scooter's thread chosen at random for the screenshots).

[Zero_1627]

I'm not a core RB player (just a lurker), so below are just my personal opinions/observations.

But I do think the Fast Worker gives an unfair advantage compared to any other strong civs.

Indeed, India is considered strong precisely due to Fast Workers - and if any civs are banned at all, India is usually on the list.

The Inca seem good, because the Terrace is fantastic.

From what I see Incan civ is considered a strong option and are often considered, but by no means broken or a mandatory first choice.

I suggested banning the GLH on a water heavy map, but this is just a preference. Other teams can still close borders or attack whoever builds it.

I doubt very heavy water would be all that fun. And if You get such map - banning Netherlands seems mandatory (otherwise no reason to do so).

I'm happy to ban the SoZ because war weariness is a lame mechanic. The wonder is awful in SP, because the AI is awful at warring. But in MP, I can see it being a drag.

Precisely the consensus AFAIK