Announcing the 2005 PBW Open Tournament

[geoschmo]

Announcing the 2005 PBW Open. This will be a single elimination, head to head tournament. The tournament is open to all players and the bracket will be randomly seeded. All games will be 1 vs 1 with no AI. Matches will be set to 48 hour fully automatic turn processing on PBW. Allowances will be made for periods where you cannot play your turns, within reason, if you notify me and your opponent in advance and the absence is not too long.

Other settings optional upon agreement by the players, with the exception of the quadrant. The quadrant will be a smallish (20 to 25 systems) midlife map randomly created using the Balance Mod, with pre-set common starting positions to ensure some space between players at startup. As I will be participating in this as well as administrating it, at least for the first round I will have a non-involved third party create the map for the first round games which I will use to create the games without looking at it.

If the players cannot agree to game settings, the following default settings will apply: Stock SEIV, version 1.91 (At some point I’ll be upgrading to 1.94, when we get it setup on PBW.), No ruins, no events, 20000 ships, 20000 units. All else will be the default SEIV game settings, this includes all technologies and racial traits being allowed.

To join the tournament go to PBW and locate the “2005 PBW Open Tournament” game in the open game listing. Apply to join this game. I will allow as many players as want to join to participate in the tournament. Initially I am assuming we will get 8 players. I will randomly seed the first 8 players to join the game on PBW and remove you from the feeder game and assign you to a one on one game with your first round opponent.

If we get more than 8 players, initially I will keep the additional players as alternates in the event anyone of the original 8 players abandons their first round game. In that event the game will be restarted with the alternate player against the remaining original player.

If we get 16 players I will expand the bracket. If by some chance we get enough interest in this that we get 32 players, I will expand the bracket again. I doubt highly that this will happen though.

[Renegade 13]

Ooops. Shoulda read a little more. Post deleted.

[geoschmo]

Five players in. If you want to guarantee a spot in the tournament you need to be one of the first 8, so three spots left for that.

[Slynky]

Thanks for plugging me in, Geo.

Hehe, you get any of that snow that swept in from Chicago the day before Thanksgiving? It was a real treat for my daughter who doesn't get to see snow too often here in Atlanta.

[geoschmo]

Yeah, it snowed a bit. None of it stuck though. It was all gone by the next day.

[geoschmo]

The first 8 players in the tournament are set. Here are the matches:

2005 PBW Open Tournament, Round 1, Game 1
Thermodyne
Intimidator

2005 PBW Open Tournament, Round 1, Game 2
Khyron
Slynky

2005 PBW Open Tournament, Round 1, Game 3
Parasite
Violist

2005 PBW Open Tournament, Round 1, Game 4
geoschmo
Renegade 13

[geoschmo]

If you are kicking yourself for not getting involved in this when you had a chance, we have five more people signed up and if 3 more people join I will go ahead and expand the first round bracket to 16 players.

[Slynky]

geoschmo said:
If you are kicking yourself for not getting involved in this when you had a chance, we have five more people signed up and if 3 more people join I will go ahead and expand the first round bracket to 16 players.

Surely there are 3 more willing to jump in. Everyone can't be waiting on SE5 (grin).

[Parasite]

I would make it the 2006 Tournament.

16 players means four games in a series to win. Average of one year per game and we can see a winner before the years go two digits on us. :-)

(Moved Y10K comments to another thread to prevet hijacking this one.)

[geoschmo]

Well yes, I'm sure it won't end in 2005 but it started in 2005. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

I centainly hope that the games take less than a year. With only 2 players per game they should go fairly quickly. Some Koth games get done in less than a week. I'm not expecting that from every game here, but they shouldn't go longer than a couple months for the slowest/longest ones.

[Parasite]

Yes, It is fast. We have done 20 turns in two days, but this is just the start.

Three more players???

[Paladin_SE5]

I'd love to participate, but I'm on a business trip t'ill the end of December... So I don't have SE4 installed.

[Will]

Ahem... one more needed.

[Nicolai]

Not anymore. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[geoschmo]

Yep, I'll be setting up the new bracket shortly.

[Renegade 13]

Sorry for the slowish turns so far Geo, work has me beat. But I should be able to make it up over the weekend http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[geoschmo]

Bracket has been updated:

2005 PBW Open Tournament, Round 1, Game 1
Thermodyne
Intimidator

2005 PBW Open Tournament, Round 1, Game 2
Khyron
Slynky

2005 PBW Open Tournament, Round 1, Game 3
Parasite
Violist

2005 PBW Open Tournament, Round 1, Game 4
geoschmo
Renegade 13

2005 PBW Open Tournament, Round 1, Game 5
okmnji
landorl

2005 PBW Open Tournament, Round 1, Game 6
Grandpakim
berendtium111

2005 PBW Open Tournament, Round 1, Game 7
Nicolai
Tiberius

2005 PBW Open Tournament, Round 1, Game 8
Nomis
Blueoriontiger

I've shut down the tournament entry game. If anyone wishes to be considered for an alternate in case of people dropping out, make a post here.

Geoschmo

[geoschmo]

Congrats to Parasite, the first round one winner after defeating Violist.

I've created a more visually appealing bracket. You can see it here:

2005 Tournament Bracket (http://seiv.pbw.cc//2005PBWtournament.htm)

[Grandpa Kim]

Geo, I assume the next round will be on a new map...?

Hey! Am I counting my unhatched chickens?

[geoschmo]

Yes, round two will be on a new map. Should be similer in that it will be Balance mod or something like it, but not exactly the same map.

[Slynky]

Reporting the completion of the game between Khyron and myself (with the win going to me). Interesting game with only colonizing breathable. Khyron played it very well considering he didn't quite get half the galaxy and even produced ships to the extent I was quite surprised even after losing even more of his chunk of the galaxy. Of course, when we fought (where I was almost always outnumbered), his ships lacked the necessary training to do well.

It was a good game and well-fought!

[Thermodyne]

The Thermolian Empire reports that they have defeated the Intimidator in tournament combat.

It was a well fought game, with the early rounds going to Intimidator. He really had me worried for a while. In the mid game, a series of tactical changes turned the game to the Thermolian advantage.

Good game Intimidator, Thanks.

[geoschmo]

Well, it looks like the left bracket is about wrapped up then. Just me and Renegade left. We just had a big battle with about 100 ships on both sides. Pretty much wiped out both fleets. It's been one of the more enjoyable games I've had in a while. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Slynky]

geoschmo said:
Well, it looks like the left bracket is about wrapped up then. Just me and Renegade left. We just had a big battle with about 100 ships on both sides. Pretty much wiped out both fleets. It's been one of the more enjoyable games I've had in a while. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Renegade has been honing his talent since I first played a game with him in it long ago.

Nice to hear the game is enjoyable--after all, that's what it's all about, right?

[Intimidator]

Indeed Thermodyne did win our game, had a lot of fun playing it.....
Indeed I was on the winning side (atleast I tought http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif) but due to those "tactical changes" of Thermodyne my largest and best trained fleet stuck up at the wrong side of the galaxy, while Thermodyne took 3 of my systems. And an much needed supplybase for my fleet which was now runing out of supply.......... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif
But again, had lots of fun and Thermodyne played great and thanks again.

Intimidator,

[Renegade 13]

Well I'm pretty sure you're going to end up beating me Geo. I expanded too fast in the early game, ending up with about 2/3 of the systems, but didn't concentrate enough on the military. Oops! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif After losing that many systems I doubt I'll be able to come back, but I'm sure going to try! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

And I'm happy this has been an enjoyable game for you, it's been one of the better games I've played in a while too. Thanks a lot for setting up the tournament! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

[Renegade 13]

Slynky said:
Renegade has been honing his talent since I first played a game with him in it long ago.

Nice to hear the game is enjoyable--after all, that's what it's all about, right?


I'm not too sure about how much talent I have, luck plays a part in many of my games http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

The enjoyment is most definitely the best part of playing games like these. Winning is secondary or tertiary to the other factors. Pitting yourself against a skilled player and fighting it out is one of the best parts of SEIV. I just wish more people would be willing to put in the time to play PBW!

[Will]

Damn, all these games finishing before turn 100... I don't think my game is going to end that soon. I would estimate that I'm about double the size of landorl's empire, but it seems every time I try to attack in his territory, I succeed, but have a crippled fleet that has to limp back home. He's got pretty good defenses. Add to that, I hardly defended the outer colonies at all... playing against AI all these years has given me very bad habits http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

Been really fun though. Makes me think I should join in on KOTH or the SEIV rankings.

--edit: And perhaps I spoke too soon... landorl is offering surrender after 99 turns. He put up a really good fight, considering that I have yet to see a Rock or Ice colony in his territory, and I am in control of about 2/3rds of the systems on the map, and most of those are completely colonized. Huge economic advantage leads to having bigger fleets, and I guess he just put a decent dent in one of my attacking fleets with his last trained fleet.

So, I guess we're the first to finish in the second bracket?

[geoschmo]

Round 1 game 4 is over. Renegade has surendered to me. It was a tough fight and a blast of a game. We burned up 200 ships in a massive battle. Only a handful of wounded survived the first combat, and all of those were picked off within the next two turns before they could get back to a planet for repair. I can't remember a game where 2 fleets of such size were completely obliterated before. Usually the battles are much more one sided. Well played Renegade.

We've got 5 of 8 first round games completed. Things are going much more smoothly than I anticipated at this point.

[Slynky]

geoschmo said:We've got 5 of 8 first round games completed. Things are going much more smoothly than I anticipated at this point.

Looks like Game 8 might be the slow cog in the system, though. It might speed up, though.

[Renegade 13]

Thanks Geo, though obviously you played better than me http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif Congratulations and good luck in your next game!

[geoschmo]

Slynky said:
Looks like Game 8 might be the slow cog in the system, though. It might speed up, though.

Yes, I think one of those guys is fairly new to PBW. I'm not sure he's quite got the flow of how it all works. I'm hoping it will speed up a bit as it goes.

[Nomis]

I hope the Game 8 will speed up too... I'm doing my best to upload my turns as quick as possible, but I think my opponent doesn't care about a game. Maybe (like geoschmo said) he don't know how PBW works...

It's look that Blueoriontiger is going to miss another turn. ;( He has just one hour for uploading...

[geoschmo]

I've sent him an email.

[Nicolai]

Hm, game 7 is about to be wrapped up. Tiberius's forces just arrived in my last system, so the game should be finished in a few turns.

[Grandpa Kim]

Berendtium has surrendered to Grandpakim.

Ya, I won but damn, it was ugly.

I started off badly overextended. I felt like a gangly, gawky teenager, all skin and bones, by the time we met. We were soon sharing three systems but for me it was just a false front; I had to fill out my empire.

In the meantime, berendtium won a few early victories. Then a few more early victories. Then some victories that could no longer be called early, before I managed to stop him.

Then the bashing began. Because our empire and ship designs as well as tactics were wildly different victories went to the one able to take advantage of his setup. He'd destroy my fleet, then I'd destroy his. This went on for quite a long time. I never exceeded 150 ships till the very end, the attrition was so heavy.

Finally I was able to solidify my defenses and prepare for a big attack, while gaining back some of the ground lost earlier. But berendtium managed to find my weakest point and send his last big fleet on a riot run. Now things got really ugly! berendtium, with the luck of the Irish was far more successful than he should have been. That success forced the cessation of all ship production and eventually a few riots. In the meantime I was steadily eating away at his holdings. Slow work, for berendtium is a formidable defender. I paid for every inch.

Eventually his riot fleet was destroyed and I began the slow rebuilding process while never stopping my steady whittling of his empire. Soon it became apparent berendtium was on his last legs and it was just a matter of time. His capitulation came just today.

* * *

Rarely do I learn much in victory. This game was an exception. berendtium is by far the most imaginative and tenacious defender I have ever run up against. I learned a bunch. If you have the opportunity to play him I guarantee it will not be easy. berendtium, congratulations to you on a well played game and the best of luck to you in the future. I enjoyed this game immensely. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[geoschmo]

Round 1 games 1 through 7 are complete. Game 8 appears to me moving a little better then it was previously, so hopefully it won't take too long to complete.

I've gone ahead and setup the first three games of round two. I'm in no hurry to get them started until the first round is completely done, so don't feel like you are rushed or anything. If you talk to you opponent and decide on settings, let me know and I can get you started.

[Tiberius_Ak]

Tiberius here. Game 7 was my first PBW game in a couple of years, and I had a good time :-) Thanks Nicolai!

The game started out slow, and I wasn't sure how it would turn out at first--Nicolai's first fleet had me outnumbered and outclassed, two ship sizes ahead. In the end I think just managed to out resource him. Overall it was a good game, and I'm looking forward to my next one.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Welcome to the forums. Cheese?

[Will]

Ahem... does blueoriontiger know that if he kicks off turn execution by uploading, that he can wait usually one minute and download the next turn?

Sorry, just getting a little anxious... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[geoschmo]

I've tried explaining this to him several times. Either he doesn't understand, or he doesn't care.

[geoschmo]

That last comment sounded a little more harsh then I intended. I also neglected to mention a third possibility, it could be that he simply doesn't have a lot of time to play, so once he does his turn he has to go do other stuff.

[Suicide Junkie]

Another possibility is the floppy disk relay to get from SE4 at home to the internet at work. (Or some variation on the theme)

[Will]

Ah, could be the floppy relay, yes. I remember I used to have to do that way back in Classic beta, when I lost internet access at home for a few weeks, and had to use school connection. That definitely sucked...

[geoschmo]

The first of the round two games is underway. The last round 1 game is still moving, but still slowly. They are up to turn 46. Woo hoo. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Nomis]

I'm still calm... but I've been playing more than 2 months, preparing the best I can, planning surprising strategy... and after boring 46 turns and exploring almost all galaxy haven't even met my opponent. What he's doing hiding in home system?

[geoschmo]

It's a brilliant judo-like strategy. Boring you to tears and causing you to long for the end of the game so accutely that when you finally make contact with him you will instantly throw down your weapons and surrender. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Slynky]

I'm ready whenever Thermodyne is ready. Let's see, the map is already set, so what kind of game do we want, Thermodyne? Full tech? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[douglas]

geoschmo said:
It's a brilliant judo-like strategy. Boring you to tears and causing you to long for the end of the game so accutely that when you finally make contact with him you will instantly throw down your weapons and surrender. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif


Sadly, there is actually a strategy a lot like that in Warcraft 3. It consists of playing as Night Elves and uprooting your tree at the start of the game and hiding it in a forest, doing your best to hide all signs of your existence. Then wait and hope your opponent gets bored or decides he hit a glitch and has no opponent and quits, giving you the win.

[El_Phil]

Possibly the most boring strategy I've ever heard. Sure it sounds funny, but actually carrying out would be buttock clenchingly dull.

Unless you can set it up and go do something else while it happens, which would defeat almost the entire point of doing it. The tiny point remaining being the 'win' which would be achingly empty and shamefully hollow, like the depths of the soul of someone who has so little self worth they'd go to such extremes for such a tenuous achievement.

[geoschmo]

I did have a PBW game once where I was about to be eradicated by a much stronger opponent and so in desperation I hid a couple colony ships in a storm and hoped that once he killed the last of me he could see then I could start over in a quiet piece of the quadrant while he turned his attention to other foes. Techincally the idea was feasible as long as I had an ally willing to allow my ships to pass unmolested and I could establish the colonies before my resource storage ran out and my ships were abandoned.

I can't imagine it working very well in a two player game though. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Phoenix-D]

El_Phil, people on the WC ladders are a bit..weird. They will intentionally make new accounts if they lose, so they can:
-not have a loss on their record
-get matched up with newbies for easy wins

[Will]

Just a heads up for everyone on the Round 2 map...

Unless there are multiple starting points (which there very well could be), the starting locations are fairly close. I ran into Grandpa Kim on turn 15 (2401.4).

Wheee, let the games begin!

[Thermodyne]

Will said:
Just a heads up for everyone on the Round 2 map...

Unless there are multiple starting points (which there very well could be), the starting locations are fairly close. I ran into Grandpa Kim on turn 15 (2401.4).

Wheee, let the games begin!



Is the round two map more or less the same size as the round one map?

[Thermodyne]

Slynky said:
I'm ready whenever Thermodyne is ready. Let's see, the map is already set, so what kind of game do we want, Thermodyne? Full tech? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif



If we go full tech, then I would think we would want 10 homeworlds too. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Slynky]

Thermodyne said:

Slynky said:
I'm ready whenever Thermodyne is ready. Let's see, the map is already set, so what kind of game do we want, Thermodyne? Full tech? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif



If we go full tech, then I would think we would want 10 homeworlds too. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Well, mostly, I was joking (see the smiley to the right) but I'm always game for an all-tech match.

If you're serious, we just need to decide on other parameters. Ciao!

[Will]

Thermodyne said:
Is the round two map more or less the same size as the round one map?


It's quite a bit denser, actually. The first I would describe as "Balanced Midlife", with each system having 12 medium planets of each combination of atmospheres/types (excluding None atmosphere).

This one, from the currently greyed out view of the system map, looks kinda like a flower, with a round central hub expanding out into petals full of systems. Not sure what the connections will be like, but thats what it seems like to me for now. The sytems themselves are still "balanced", but instead have 14 planets (again, combination of every type, including None this time) of varying sizes. So, more variety this time around. You still know exactly how many colonizers to send into an unexplored system, you just won't know how big the colonies will be.

[geoschmo]

Guys, don't be too specific about the map k? Everybody else in round two will be using it as well and we don't want to give away the secrets. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

It was created using balance mod 2.0.

I had Fyron create it for me since I am still playing in the tourney and didn't want to have a veiw of the starting positions.

My only request was that there be some space between starting positions, but not neccesarily in opposite corners. It sounds like he accomplished that.

I have come to the realization over many koth and tournament games that starting on opposite sides of the quadrant may not be the ideal starting position for a two player game. First of all, if you know the map has manual placement and you are in one corner, you know pretty reliably that your opponent is in the opposite corner. Secondly, people expand at different rates so typically the faster expander can trap his opponent into one third to one quarter of the map and choke them off. And finally it can just take forever to meet you opponent sometimes, which is a little boring in two-player games.

My thought currently is that the positions should be about halfway from the center to the edge of the quadrant map. This still gives you half a quadrants distance between you, but allows you to have a little space "behind" you to colonize once the borders are established. This also allows you to be a little more flexible on exactly where you place the players so it's not so easy to predict where they are. You could be both in the same hemisphere when viewing the map from one perpsective, but still half a quadrant away. That can make a significant difference in the direction to your opponents homeworld.

[geoschmo]

Round 1 is complete. Nomis defeated Blueoriontiger to move on to round two against Tiberius.

One of the round 2 games is already up to turn 60 or so. The rest of the round two games have yet to start. I will start pushing things along a bit now that everybody is into round 2.

If you haven't got your empire uploaded, please get it done.

Geoschmo

[Slynky]

Ready for round 2 here! See, we're obedient empires http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

We have agreed upon some strange and interesting parameters for our game, so "listen up"...

There will be NO:

PD
Religious Trait
Carrier ships (e-agreement, 'cause there's no setting)
Mines
Stellar Manipulation
Intel
Shields
Armor

All else is as per the tourney. We used 2,000 points for racial traits.

Finally, we agreed upon 3 GOOD homeworlds.

(if I've forgotten anything, I imagine I will be corrected)

[geoschmo]

No armor, shields or PD? You guys are going to go through a lot of ships. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Just so I am clear, when you say no carrier ships, you mean no ships of the carrier hull-types? I assume you are allowed to build say a light-cruiser and put fighter bays on it? Or am I assuming too much?

[Slynky]

geoschmo said:
No armor, shields or PD? You guys are going to go through a lot of ships. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Just so I am clear, when you say no carrier ships, you mean no ships of the carrier hull-types? I assume you are allowed to build say a light-cruiser and put fighter bays on it? Or am I assuming too much?

Yeah, we can put bays on any kind of ship except carriers. This was to avoid the 800Kt ship after researching fighters.

[Will]

Slynky said:
Yeah, we can put bays on any kind of ship except carriers. This was to avoid the 800Kt ship after researching fighters.


Yeah, GrandpaKim just hit me pretty hard with an approximately 20 ship fleet of 800kT Light Carriers. Combination of fighters and heavy mounts overwhelmed my fleet of about 30 destroyers and light cruisers. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

I had used that strategy vs. the AI before, but I don't think I ever quite got that big of a fleet of carriers together this soon. Seems to be very effective.

[Slynky]

Slynky said:
Ready for round 2 here! See, we're obedient empires http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

We have agreed upon some strange and interesting parameters for our game, so "listen up"...

There will be NO:

PD
Religious Trait
Carrier ships (e-agreement, 'cause there's no setting)
Mines
Stellar Manipulation
Intel
Shields
Armor

All else is as per the tourney. We used 2,000 points for racial traits.

Finally, we agreed upon 3 GOOD homeworlds.

(if I've forgotten anything, I imagine I will be corrected)

Well, it's a very interesting game!

[Will]

Will said:
Yeah, GrandpaKim just hit me pretty hard with an approximately 20 ship fleet of 800kT Light Carriers. Combination of fighters and heavy mounts overwhelmed my fleet of about 30 destroyers and light cruisers. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

I had used that strategy vs. the AI before, but I don't think I ever quite got that big of a fleet of carriers together this soon. Seems to be very effective.


And, we now have the first finished game in the second round. Grandpa Kim has three 20-ish strong fleets of light carriers running around capturing all my planets, and one of them slaughtered what I think would have been my last hope, a fully trained fleet I had guarding a warp point. My colonies are beginning to riot, most of them are either Unhappy or Angry... not a very good situation. I just sent in my surrender.

Good luck to everyone else in their Round 2 games, and good luck to Grandpa Kim for your semi-final game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Thermodyne]

This one goes to Slynky. It was over a while ago, but we played on because of the odd setting for the game. The settings really made for a different feel to the game.

[Slynky]

Thermodyne said:
This one goes to Slynky. It was over a while ago, but we played on because of the odd setting for the game. The settings really made for a different feel to the game.

Quite scary settings knowing one had NOTHING to stop missiles with or even "pad" their hits (no armor or shields). Even then, fighters weren't to be discounted, either as one could hit them with regular beam weapons but hopping through a hole was a bit tough as beam weapons don't get to fire defensively like PDs do, so you had to withstand that first onslaught of fighters.

Thanks for a good game, prompt turn turnaround, and dialogue on playtimes and availability. Made it a pleasure!

[geoschmo]

Round 2 is over. Round 3 games have been setup.

Game 1, Slynky vs Parasite

Game 2, Grandpakim vs Nomis

Let me know when you've decided on settings.

[Grandpa Kim]

Grandpakim surrenders to Nomis. He got there fustest with the mostest.

[Nomis]

Playing with Grandpa Kim was a pleasure. I made many mistakes during this game and learned a lot. I set some dump fleet strategies and after battles realized how dump! I had worse economy and research, but time was working for me. If only Granda Kim attacked me earlier I would surely lose any battle (with my –25% to hit). Thanks to Grandpa Kim for great game.

Well, I'm pretty new PBW player, only half year playing against human opponents. I hope I would be enough good to play against such experienced players like Slynky or Parasite.

[Parasite]

An update on the other game. I have recently dropped from first as Slynky's larger slice of the galaxy is starting to pay off. We have not really had any big battles yet as one of us is either not ready or unwilling to risk the game and tournament chances on one shot attacks. Right now we are in the Phony War stage with only sniping going on. But the lines are drawn.

Congrats Nomis and good luck in the next game!

[Caduceus]

It would be fun to hear reports from the players in the final round every dozen turns or so. On an "honor system", of course, with the other player not looking at the posts of his enemy in a separate thread perhaps.

[Slynky]

Congratulations, Nomis (Simon?), for winning your side of the tournement bracket! Not bad at all for a person only playing with humans for 6 months.

Maybe you should stop by the KOTH tourney and try your skill.

[Atrocities]

ONe step closer to finally getting those five ship sets released. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Captain Kwok]

Atrocities said:
ONe step closer to finally getting those five ship sets released. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Err... this is not the same thing. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Atrocities]

Captain Kwok said:

Atrocities said:
ONe step closer to finally getting those five ship sets released. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Err... this is not the same thing. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif



Dammit! Your right of course.. I am an idiot. I guess it was just hopeful jump the gun lac of thinking on my part. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif I do so wish we could get news about the RTSEV contest.

[Parasite]

I have surrendered to Slynky in our game of the Tournament. I held out for 75 turns, but there is no more light. In the interests of my people and those of his race following my banner he is the winner. Let there be no more death.

I think we both played very well. His empire was set up for more long term play while mine was a little better on the shorter game side. Once I became unable to break through his ships, he could win by attrittion. He also realized that and played it to a tea.

I have reasonably complete game notes. I hope to clean them up a little and post them here. I can't figure out how to make the system names mean anything. I will just have to wing it.

Coming soon, how to not win against Slynky http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Nomis]

Well... I think I know how to <font color="red">not</font> win against Slynky http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif But I'm waiting for your tips http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Alneyan]

It's easy enough to beat Slynky, actually. Just follow these three easy steps:
- Convince Slynky to play in a 2vs2 game, with yourself on his side. You should choose the other players so that they are more or less on your playing field. This step may not be necessary, if Slynky approaches you first.
- Play the game as usual, and defeat the other team. This part is mandatory: you *must* kill the other two players, as otherwise the plan cannot work out. Bonus points if you can impress Slynky in the process.
- You should have played well enough to make Slynky himself recognise your worth; he should concede you the final win, thereby making you the grand victor of the game. This part might be hard to pull off if you didn't play *that* well, but you may still be successful: just be wordy, and it might all work out at the end of the day.

I became leader of the ratings that way myself, so it's a proven strategy. Of course, don't tell Slynky about that... he might get just a wee bit suspicious.

[Slynky]

Alneyan said:
It's easy enough to beat Slynky, actually. Just follow these three easy steps:
- Convince Slynky to play in a 2vs2 game, with yourself on his side. You should choose the other players so that they are more or less on your playing field. This step may not be necessary, if Slynky approaches you first.
- Play the game as usual, and defeat the other team. This part is mandatory: you *must* kill the other two players, as otherwise the plan cannot work out. Bonus points if you can impress Slynky in the process.
- You should have played well enough to make Slynky himself recognise your worth; he should concede you the final win, thereby making you the grand victor of the game. This part might be hard to pull off if you didn't play *that* well, but you may still be successful: just be wordy, and it might all work out at the end of the day.

I became leader of the ratings that way myself, so it's a proven strategy. Of course, don't tell Slynky about that... he might get just a wee bit suspicious.

Wow! You're just beside yourself today... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Slynky]

Parasite said:I think we both played very well. His empire was set up for more long term play while mine was a little better on the shorter game side. Once I became unable to break through his ships, he could win by attrittion. He also realized that and played it to a tea.

Thanks for the kind words.

It was a good game with a good map and good players. I was always on edge wondering just how far I was in 1st place. Of course, I wasn't in 1st place the whole game, you held it for quite a few turns.

I like the game because it wasn't a "one-battle decided it all" sort of game. We risked some large numbers a few times and had some 10-20 ship fleets a lot of times. I took a system, and you took it, and then I took it back, then you took it back. You captured some breathers and wiped out a system on the outside edge. Then I resettled it and broke through your defenses in the middle and outer edge. So, like I said, it was a fun game with a good turn-around time of game turns with a good sport. *bows*

[Parasite]

Now Slynky, you just have to ask me to play a Pairs game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

And thanks for the ego boost. I agree, it was a fun fun game

[Parasite]

Nomis said:
Well... I think I know how to <font color="red">not</font> win against Slynky http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif But I'm waiting for your tips http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif



Ok, They are now posted in the After Action Reports section. Just to warn you there is not too much information about playing styles, more on a measuring stick to see where you are in a game and what tech choices one person has made. Since you play him next, I would be fair and pass him just a bit about your setup and race in the last game. Maybe trade info before the start. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Injured.gif

[Slynky]

Parasite said:
Now Slynky, you just have to ask me to play a Pairs game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

And thanks for the ego boost. I agree, it was a fun fun game

No problem. How shall we advertise we are ready to take on a team of two in a game with no mines and no intel (at the least)? Hmmmmm?

[Slynky]

Well, it looks like we need some settings for the final game, Nomis. I'm sure Geo has set us up with a wonderful map (or will http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif ).

What kind of settings do we want? Let's leave intel out of it, what say you? And since this is the last game, what better way to go out in a blast of glory than a full-tech game (grin)? Of course, I'll understand if that's a bit of a wild suggestion.

Anyway, what kind of proposal do you have, sir?

[Nomis]

"No intel" sounds good. About full-tech, well I don't know... I've never played that way, but I could try.

Standard start settings are pretty fine for me. Perhaps, we could add few other rules. I've played only three 1vs1 online games, so I admit that I don't know how to make a game more fun.

When I watched Final of Champions League, one guy said "final shouldn't be played for show or fun, just should be won". I know that my chances for winning are rather low, so I'm gonna get some fun, at least http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Slynky]

Nomis said:
"No intel" sounds good. About full-tech, well I don't know... I've never played that way, but I could try.

Standard start settings are pretty fine for me. Perhaps, we could add few other rules. I've played only three 1vs1 online games, so I admit that I don't know how to make a game more fun.

When I watched Final of Champions League, one guy said "final shouldn't be played for show or fun, just should be won". I know that my chances for winning are rather low, so I'm gonna get some fun, at least http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

If you consider yourself the underdog, then I shall do the honorable thing and let you choose any settings beyond these:

No mines;
No intel;
3 good planets;

The rest is up to you--racial points, races, and any other settings you would like to ban.

Looking forward to a fun game like the last one where I was on edge for 3/4 of the game. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[edit] - I like the thrill of fulltech but considering your relatively newness to the 1 vs 1 games, it might not be very fair.

[Nomis]

Ok. Let's play with pretty standard settings.

No mines.
No intel.
3 good planets.
100k starting resources.
Tech start lev: low.
Tech cost: medium.
Racial points: 2k.
No ruins and events.

Anything else?

Edit: ... and no shutting down power plant in my town. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Slynky]

Nomis said:
Ok. Let's play with pretty standard settings.

No mines.
No intel.
3 good planets.
100k starting resources.
Tech start lev: low.
Tech cost: medium.
Racial points: 2k.
No ruins and events.

Anything else?

Edit: ... and no shutting down power plant in my town. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif




Agreed. And I'll leave the power plant alone in your town. Errr, where do you live? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

PS: I'll work on my empire in about 2 hours, I have something to do right now.

[Nomis]

My empire done and uploaded.

I live in Krosno - little town (~40k inhabitants) in Poland. Believe me you won't be able to find it on a common map.

And you've asked me about my nickname. No, it isn't a reversed "Simon".

[Slynky]

Nomis said:
My empire done and uploaded.

I live in Krosno - little town (~40k inhabitants) in Poland. Believe me you won't be able to find it on a common map.

And you've asked me about my nickname. No, it isn't a reversed "Simon".

Just uploaded mine, so whenever Geo has time, we can begin.

Krosno? Poland? Hmmm...got me worried now. Foreign players are often very crafty and skilled.

So...

Good luck and good gaming!
Slynky

[Slynky]

<div align="center">


<font size=1>-bump-</p>

[Slynky]

Whenever the game gets started, please send me my password. I've already forgotten it... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/redface.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Nomis]

There is no surprise this time. Slynky has easily defeated me, and he is the winner of 2005 PBW Open Tournament.

I'm proud that I could play against him.

[Slynky]

Nomis said:
There is no surprise this time. Slynky has easily defeated me, and he is the winner of 2005 PBW Open Tournament.

I'm proud that I could play against him.

Well, I wouldn't call it easily. It took getting the bigger part of the galaxy, stealing some oxygen breathers, and stellar manipulation to overcome the Talisman.

And the "twist" Geo put in the game (making the map circular) was a surprise that had me in panic mode as I learned my "back yard" was NOT safe from attack.

It was a good game, nomis. You are quite the player for only playing humans for just a few games!

[geoschmo]

Slynky said:
And the "twist" Geo put in the game (making the map circular) was a surprise that had me in panic mode as I learned my "back yard" was NOT safe from attack.


Hope you both enjoyed it and didn't feel that it gave an advantage to one of you. I tried to setup it up carefully to balance the positions.

[Slynky]

geoschmo said:

Slynky said:
And the "twist" Geo put in the game (making the map circular) was a surprise that had me in panic mode as I learned my "back yard" was NOT safe from attack.


Hope you both enjoyed it and didn't feel that it gave an advantage to one of you. I tried to setup it up carefully to balance the positions.

No, I don't think it was unbalancing. Actually, I found the first one on the back top left and had to keep counting the holes. I was like, "Wha tha...?" So, I sent a ship down and was only a turn or two ahead of nomis. THEN, never thinking for a moment the top right would be another one, took my time getting to that one. BOOM, another one! But it was such a long journey for me, I hesitated sending a ship down it. Especially a colony ship (I had already captured one from noomis and didn't want the same thing to happen). So, I had to build another ship to go check. He was already there with a bit more than me, so I just started building and defending the hole like crazy. Never moved across it at all and at the end of the game, nomis was a bit in desparation status and he attacked through it the turn before he surrendered.

So, all-in-all, I think you guessed right at where to put them so no one really got in the back yard of the other player.

Thanks for hosting the game and tourney. It's a lot of effort to do something like that for the enjoyment of others. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif