Recruiting players for a Newbies game (finished)

[lch]

Hi, I'm starting a game for multiplayer newbies soon. Here is the gist of it:
intended audience: players who are very new to multiplayer gaming, with little experience in that area
some experience with single player gaming strongly recommended
game age will be middle age or late age
no mods of any kind
nations will be randomly assigned to you, you design a pretender for that nation and hand it in
at least 6 players need to sign up before I prepare the game (around Saturday or Sunday), but more than that can join until we start
turns will be done with quickhosting and a 48 hour timer

Don't forget to take your turns in time. If you need an extension that's possible. You'll be well-informed over email and the web how the game has progressed - in return, don't just silently go away if you quit but tell the people about it here. We can then maybe find a replacement for you.

I think that's all for now. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Janlm]

i'm interested.

[Sivoc]

I'd like to join aswell

[Cicadian]

I'll be up for this. On turn 13 of my first MP game right now.

[BigandScary]

I'm interested, but I am unsure of whether I qualify as a newbie. I am in three(about to be two) games right now, but my newbie status is really showing in those games, as they are my first in multi. So I'm interested, but...whatever.

[Alneyan]

I'd be interested, but I have no idea if I qualify. I have some ten games in Dom2 MP under my belt (but no experience in Dom3), and my last MP game was nearly two years ago. That, and the random factor could make or break me: I'm fairly familiar with Arcoscephale, whereas Agartha... well, bleh.

[Eldanesh]

I'm interested as playing ma arcosphale, la ryl'eh(heheh)

[Egoix]

I´d like to play this game.

Regards, Egoitz.

[parcelt]

I'd like to play, would be most interested in MA.

I don't mind the random nation pick, as long as we have no water nations, or give players the option to a new random pick if they get a water nation initially. Is that something you would consider?

Are we asking Llamebeast if we could use his server? In my previous MP games (all 2 of them) I found his server very pleasant to use.

[Starshine_Monarch]

Me too, I could use another new MP game. Random nations is good with me, saves me the trouble of deciding for meself. If we are doing LA, I'm good with no water nations (seeing as there's only two and one is particularly annoying to deal with).

[coturnix]

I am interested in joining the game too. My online experience is reduced to Platypus game.

[dmentd]

I would like to join a game. I have played in 1 multiplayer game of DOM3, so I am not sure if I qualify. I have never played any other MP game.

[Loren]

Interested. Two multiplayer games in which I've never won any real battles.

[fabio80mi]

Interested
Only 1 multiplayer game (still running) but have enough time to play another one, especially with such a slow quickhost [if it were 24h better imo:P]

[Aapeli]

Yeah truly intrested. A huge fan who just found this forum so it would be my first actual multiplayer game.
If its early age i would want to take Abysia. If midlle or late, ulm.

[MrSparkle]

I would like to sign up. Random nations sounds like fun.

[cleveland]

I would like to play.

I'm currently on turn 14 of my first & only MP game.

[lch]

I guess I'll just create two new Newbies games, then... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[WonderLlama]

I'm interested too. Random nations sounds like a really good idea to me. I'd like to second the suggestion of no water nations.

[GC64]

I'm interested too, never played a game of Dominions multiplayer. MA or LA are fine with me.

[konming]

Count me in.

[lch]

Okay, this here is the first batch of players then that will get together into one middle age game:

Janlm - C'tis (pretender received)
Sivoc - Ulm (pretender received)
Cicadian - Man (pretender received)
BigandScary - Mictlan (pretender received)
Alneyan - T'ien Ch'i (pretender received)
Eldanesh - Jotunheim (pretender received)
Egoix - Pangea (pretender received)
parcelt - Caelum (resigned from the game)
Starshine_Monarch - Pythium (pretender received)
Loren - Machaka (pretender received)
imp - Arcoscephale (pretender received)

Those who are not on the list yet, you'll be in the second game, which will get sorted out shortly.

Those who are in the list, please create a pretender god for your nation with the 3.10 game (through "Game Tools -> Create a pretender god" in the main menu), don't forget to set a password for it, and together with the password, send me the pretender file, which you'll find in your savedgames/newlords folder, to this email address:
http://i21.tinypic.com/121g7t2.png

You'll get a notification via email when the game is starting, please whitelist the above address if possible.

[lch]

This here is the second batch of players that will get together into one late age game:

coturnix - Abysia (pretender received)
dmentd - Utgard (resigned from the game)
fabio80mi - Ulm (pretender received)
BigJMoney - Mictlan
Aapeli - Pythium (pretender received)
MrSparkle - Caelum (pretender received)
cleveland - Agartha (pretender received)
WonderLlama - Patala (pretender received)
GC64 - Pangea (pretender received)
konming - Arcoscephale (pretender received)
coobe - Atlantis (pretender received)

See above:
Those who are in the list, please create a pretender god for your nation with the 3.10 game (through "Game Tools -> Create a pretender god" in the main menu), don't forget to set a password for it, and together with the password, send me the pretender file, which you'll find in your savedgames/newlords folder, to this email address:
http://i24.tinypic.com/233dsp.png

You'll get a notification via email when the game is starting, please whitelist the above address if possible.

[Aapeli]

It´s nice to now that there are veterans takin care of us newbies who havent yet played much. So many thanks to you mate.

[fabio80mi]

Indeed :-)
Thanks for hosting this game so we can learn and improve!

(pretender sent!)

[lch]

The pretenders are pouring in... Don't forget to send the password you chose for them together with the file! Thanks.

Now, here are some tips for the game:
Try to get some good scales, Order is always useful (unless you're Pangea and want to bathe in Maenad armies). Some nations have preferred climates which you have to take which will get you free design points for your pretender.
You should play a couple of test games with your nation before we start. Find out your strength. Find out your weaknesses. Is your pretender useful? How can you tackle independent provinces? Which units / setups are the most successful? Which independents should you try to avoid?
You have to pick some levels of "Dominion". It's important, so don't disregard it because you can't see what it does. At least a level 4 is usually needed, higher levels spread your dominion faster and lets it get more powerful. Provinces in your control where your dominion doesn't reach will suffer from unrest, which will get you less tax income. But you don't have to take too much dominion unless you go all the way to 9 or 10 (this makes your pretender get Awe).
In the same manner, don't waste money on temples in the early game unless they are well defended (by a fort). Don't rely on PD too much. You're dealing with humans, not the AI here. Your enemies will try to find your weak spot and hit you there, or overpower your defenders. PD becomes more expensive every time you increase it, after a while it gets insanely expensive compared to the regular unit price.
Don't disregard diplomacy, it's the most powerful tool. Talk with your neighbors. Try to win allies. But remember that the game can only be won by one person alone, so if an alliance isn't doing you any good anymore, try to get out.


Now for some rules:
Once a turn hosts you will get an email notification that tells you about it. You then have 48 hours to play your turn. Play your turns in time, don't stale.
If you can't play your turn in time for whatever reason, then tell me about it. I can reset the timer if necessary. Failing to play your turn for two times in a row will result in me getting a replacement for you or setting you to AI.
If you don't want to continue playing anymore for whatever reason then say goodbye in the game thread. We can try to find a replacement player for you or set you to AI.

[Starshine_Monarch]

Pretender sent.

[coturnix]

Pretender sent.

[Cicadian]

Pretender sent. Which map is the MA game going to be on?

[BigandScary]

yeah, and what settings?

[parcelt]

Ich, thanks for hosting.

This will be PBEM, right? (can't do direct connect because of firewall)

[Zeldor]

Nah, wanted to make one newbie game too where I could play. If anyone is interested I can make new PBEM game for new people, MA with choosing nations.

[lch]

parcelt said:
This will be PBEM, right? (can't do direct connect because of firewall)


No, these will be network games, I am afraid. PBEM is too much of a hassle for both host and players IMHO. Are you 100% positive that your firewall doesn't let you connect? I think I can come up with something so that you can play in any case.

[parcelt]

Too bad. I tried it before, its a strict firewall that for some reason prevents Dominions from making the connection.

It's ok, I'll keep looking for a PBEM game.

[parcelt]

Zeldor, I only now look at your post. I'd be interested in that.

[Zeldor]

Ich:

I am afraid there is a huge amount of people that have problems with both hosting and playing on network games for reasons that cannot be understood.

[lch]

Hosting network games, that I can understand. To have trouble when playing in network games is rare, unless you are on some ultra-restrictive network. But since I don't expect that somebody tries to play from work, that shouldn't be the case. If you have your own ISP account you should have no problem.

[Zeldor]

Ich:

I think it is quite common still. Shared networks, playing from work [yeah, many people do that], playing on universities and so on. Not many people have that but it still happens.

[lch]

Well, in any case, I guess parcelt's spot is free then, if somebody else still wants to join the game... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Zeldor]

All good nations in MA are taken. And parcelt had the weakest one so he would die very fast anyway.

[lch]

Cicadian said:
Which map is the MA game going to be on?


I think both games will play on Ballbarian's AomOrc map (http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?Number=465570). There is even enough room for some more people.


BigandScary said:
yeah, and what settings?


Pretty much everything at standard except Hall of Fame with as many entries as possible.

[lch]

Zeldor said:
And parcelt had the weakest one so he would die very fast anyway.


Caelum and "weak" in the same line? That's a new one... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif

[lch]

Nation list has been updated with the pretenders that I received by mail.

[dmentd]

Ich, I sincerely apologize. I cannot play in a network game. We have a dual layered firewall system that would require me to setup your host computer as a VPN or registered in our domain in order to connect. I cannot do that for a game. I should have asked if this was through llamaserver before asking to join. Thank you though.

[lch]

No problem, too bad that this is a problem for you. I have all the pretenders for the mid age game and it will go up shortly.

[fabio80mi]

So how many spots left for the late-era game? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[lch]

Some, yeah. One person opted out and two persons haven't sent me their pretenders. I'll wait two or three more days but then I'll have to start with what I got. Others can still join.

[UhhhClem]

I'm interested, hope I'm not too late.

[fabio80mi]

No no uhhhclem you're most welcome!
Strangely in this topc we had like 20 people signin up in 12 hours and now noone more! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

We just need 1-2 more and we're redty to go aswell in this random late age game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[shard]

I'd like to have a shot. First post, so not exactly a dominions veteran. If it helps i've played mp games in uhh... EU1/2, wc3 and WoW.

I've only played Jomon in late era I think, but I'm not really bothered. In fact, any race will do.

[darkchampion3d]

This would be my first MP game. If there's room, just tell me what race I got and I'll send in a pretender.

[lch]

Very well, then I can start the second game, too. I'll have to put BigJMoney off the list again since I haven't heard for him for almost a week. I hope you get your pretenders in very soon so that we can start. Email them together with their password as told before (http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?&Number=559635#Post559635).

The lottery picked the following nations for you:
shard - Man
darkchampion3d - Jomon

[darkchampion3d]

I messed with Jomon for maybe 5 minutes or so before sending in my pretender. If I live past turn 20 I'll be happy! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[lch]

Okay, both games have been created and received a seperate game thread:

Onomancy (http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?Number=559989)
Rhoscrowther (http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?Number=560550)

Please reply in the relevant game thread if there is anything. This thread has served its purpose and can be abandoned now.