New MP games (not blitz)?

[Morkilus]

I haven't seen any posts to begin any multiplayer games lately. Is everyone too busy with other ones? I'm only in one game now, and I had a disastrous turn 2 so it doesn't take up much time (other than the BS'ing). I would try to host a PBEM myself, but I'm a n00b and would probably screw it up...

I was thinking smaller map, with the CB 5.1 mod. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Ironhawk]

It's due to the advent of Civ4, I believe. Regardless I will be hosting a new MP game soon. Probably later this week or the begining of next. Have faith! (tho not so much faith that you kill my dominion)

[Morkilus]

Bleh! Forget Civ4! Does Civ4 have a giant clay pregnant thing that stomps knights and calls down flaming blue rocks?

Anyway, I'm accepting copies when you get sick of it. Don't forget the foldout tech tree.

[Shmonk]

That, and the upcoming holiday people could be too busy for anything new. I wouldn't mind getting into another game (only in 2, and 1 could end soon), but I'll wait until next year, at least not until after Jan 2.

[Huntsman]

I'm in 3 at the moment with one likely to end next hosting. So i think I'll be up for a new game. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Dimaz]

I'm ready for another game too.

[Rathar]

I too seek a game to play.

[Folket]

I would like an other game as well. But I prefer TCP/IP games.

[Morkilus]

What kind of options do you guys like? (I'll likely do whatever Ironhawk suggests, though I like the current mod)

[Cainehill]

I'd be interested, and I like using the latest balance mods; would also be pretty interested if it involves Ironhawk's thoughts about starting nations with certain artifacts.

Settings wise : lately 4 out of 5 games I entered were using _very_ difficult research, which gets old - like having tofu 4 out of 5 dinners. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif I'd be happy with normal difficult or below, or ...

Something like Quantum Mechanic's Twilight of Magic settings might be cool, if others think so : he was doing difficult (or worse) research, pretenders couldn't have extra magic added to them (example : Wyrm starts with no magic paths, can't have any added; Rime Mariner has 1 cold, can't have any added), and high magic nations /themes are outlawed - doesn't do for 5% magic site setting, but Pythium starts with 7 income instead of 5.

Might be too much work to figure out which themes are okay, but it does make for a great game - national troops hanging around much longer.

Another alternative might be : No pretender with more than a total of 5 (some number between 3 and 8) in magic paths. So no one is going against uber-blessed critters, likewise the killing-dead nations aren't so appealing because of scale issues.

Finally, there's a mod that allows limitting magic to level X (ie, only level 2 research or less, level 6 or less, etc). Might be interesting.

I'm not wed to any of those, just putting them forth as suggestions - starting artifacts, or ... Chazar's latest Chandrea map, (all nations start with some sage-ish mages, and items) would be cool, in balancing nations or at least changing them.

[shovah]

i would join if it wasnt pbem (im a lazy ****)

[Folket]

I could be able to host a game at work, but that would only last one and a half month before it has to be moved to a new server. But I would need an other code for dominions. And the game will have to be TCP/IP.

[Dimaz]

I can host PBEM, already hosted 2 of them, and 1 in progress.

[Huntsman]

Anything that makes national troops more prevalent, more useful, and more bettererer is a good thing, IMHO! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Folket]

No magic research at all. Just national and 0 level spell.

[Huntsman]

Folket said:
No magic research at all. Just national and 0 level spell.



Is it even possible to limit spell levels? That could be very interesting.

[Morkilus]

Well.. you could leave score graphs on and watch for changes on the research graph to detect the savage cheaters... another house rule. I'm not sure eliminating magic would make for an interesting game, though. And wouldn't undead be ridiculously unbalanced?

[shovah]

either outlaw them or just laugh at the fact that they will have very few people to command them (and all the fancy magic they can stuff on their pretender goes to waste)

[Morkilus]

AE Ermor with good scales? *shudder* eh, it probably sucks. Are there even any pretenders that start with enough Death to summon their big mage? If there is, then they have no problem summoning commanders. House rules usually feel icky to me in most other games. Usually they seem to unbalance things to the point where even more house rules are necessary. Witness Emporer in Online M:TG... ugh.

I'm still new enough at this game to where even the default settings are exciting; I can understand why expert players are looking for new challenges, though. What does everyone think of Chandrea4? It's small enough to where the game should move along, and with low magic the independent trinkets should be fun to find. I am WAY too inexperienced to suggest a head-to-head team game unless there are many to each side.

Well, I'm likely to go with whatever Ironhawk chooses if he still wishes to host.

[Huntsman]

I'm in a game on Chandrea now. It's a neat map but very small and not particularly forgiving if you get a poor starting spot. Lots of indies are downright nasty with multiple spellcasters (Lizard Shaman and Cursing comes to mind!) with items and bodyguards.

I'll play anything. I really don't care. I just want to play. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Alneyan]

Huntsman said:
Is it even possible to limit spell levels? That could be very interesting.



The Null Spells mod allow to do just that, by making a few "Find and replace" (find #researchlevel 0, replace it with the value for impossible to research, etc).

I have made a Null Items mod that can be used just the same, if you also want to knock out items out of play. Null mods change *nothing* at all from the basic game, so they can be used for virtually any global change you have in mind.

[Ironhawk]

Alneyan said:

Huntsman said:
Is it even possible to limit spell levels? That could be very interesting.



The Null Spells mod allow to do just that, by making a few "Find and replace" (find #researchlevel 0, replace it with the value for impossible to research, etc).




Yep. In fact I used that particular mod in one game to limit all spell schools to level 4. Was a pretty fun game. Tho sadly we decided not to limit Construction at all and artifacts turned out to be incredibly powerful as a result. Ooops!

Anyway, about the new game: I will definitely be starting one soon. Currently I'm doing some contracting and getting ready for a big party on saturday at the same time so there isnt much free time left over. My hope is to post the new game by monday-tuesday.

[Morkilus]

Has anyone played a "no research" game before? I searched the Multiplayer thread and couldn't find anything specific, besides the "twilight of magicka" game Cainehill mentioned. I suspect things would be in favor of Ulm and undead themes, but I could be wrong. Even a no-magic slog on a small map would be interesting once diplomacy got involved http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif I'm not sure Ermor and Mr. Armorall would be appreciated by mutiple starting neighbors.

[Cainehill]

I'm thinking it would be unbalanced - not just those two nations, but others with solid starting spells : Marignon's holy pyre. Limitted magic, like Null Spells to limit it to level 4 or so (including construction) would imo be more balanced, not to mention more fun. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Morkilus]

Do you have (or have the resources to make) that particular mod? I'm all for it, since I rarely make it past 4th level anyway.

[Ironhawk]

My apologies for the delay. Some snags are popping up in the modding of the artifact game which are currently being discussed in the modding forum. Shouldnt be long now...