Megatherium - MA PBEM. Started.

[Gregstrom]

Greetings all readers!

Megatherium is a MA PBEM game, and as you can tell from the name it will be hosted (with llamabeasts kind permission) on llamaserver (http://www.llamaserver.net).

Megatherium will be a slower-running game than most, as it is intended for those Dom3 players who have to work their games in around other major time commitments (small children, jobs in the medical profession, or just several other ongoing PBEM games). It will therefore spend most of its lifetime on a 96 hour (4 day) quickhost. How quickly the first 10-15 turns can be run through is a matter for negotiation. Extensions on individual turns will be granted freely.

Skill level: This game is intended for players with roughly 5 games under their belt.

Map: Currently undecided, and dependent on the number of players interested in joining.

Mods: This game will use the Worthy Heroes (http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=560854&page=1&view=collap sed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1) and Epic Heroes (http://www.mediafire.com/?5qynuxwshci) mods - I believe they're compatible with each other. It's worth toying around a little with these mods before starting if you haven't used them before. I believe they place a little more value on luck scales and higher dominion scores.

Players:

1. Greenaris - Vanheim
2. LDiCesare - Arcoscephale
3. Aapeli - Ulm
4. Gregstrom - Pangaea
5. Thrawn - Abysia
6. Niarg - Czelum
7. Agema - Pythium
8. PAR - Machaka
9. Semigall - A water nation.

[Aethyr]

I'd really like to join, but I'm probally a bit overloaded right now. I your like the idea of "slower" games and I hope you'll consider organizing more in the future.

[Gregstrom]

I certainly shall. I'm not sure how often would be ideal at the moment.

[LDiCesare]

I'd be interested. Not sure about the nation yet, let's say C'tis?

[GreenAris]

Thanks Gregstrom and lamabeast. How do I use the mods?

[Gregstrom]

Download the files, unzip them into the dominions3/mods directory and then start the game. Go into Preferences, then Mod Preferences, then click on the mod titles to enable them.

[Aapeli]

I could join. I was in the epic heroes game and would like to give Ulm and the black duke another shot. Ive got about 5 games (wich two im playing) in tough I didnt go over mid game more than in just one of them (suricate wich is still running).

[Zeldor]

When do you plan to start? I could consider joining that one too as Pythium. I got extremely bad luck in Epic Heroes II.

[Gregstrom]

I don't have expectations on a start time, beyond 'when we have about enough players'. The game setup is slightly unusual (turn time, mods), so I'm not going to set an arbitrary deadline when I'm not sure what demand will be like.

Joiners have been added to the top post, btw.

[Zeldor]

Gregstrom:

You could also use Conceptual Balance Mod.

[Thrawn]

Gregstrom,

I would like to play as Abysia, if possible.

[Gregstrom]

Sorry Zeldor, but I'm not interested in running a CBM game at this time.

[LDiCesare]

OK, I changed my mind. I'll take Arcoscephale.

[Gregstrom]

Duly noted. The proud nation of mystics and prophetesses has replaced the dodgy bunch of bog-living lizards in the starting line-up.

[Niarg]

I'd like to play as Caelum.

[Gregstrom]

Oh, I forgot to note the staling policy.

Once we're in 96 hour quickhost, there will be a fairly tough staling policy in place. 4 days is plenty of time to get a turn in, after all.

If a player goes 6 days without submitting a turn (a turn and a half), I'll post a note looking for a sub. At that point, the staling player will have until the next turn is generated to make a post in this thread or PM me. After that, either a sub will take over or the nation will be AI'd.

My experiences in SlowBoat thus far are that repeat staling on a slower game (without the staling player popping up to talk about it) is very frustrating for the other players, and I'd like to keep delays to a minimum.

[Agema]

I'll play, not sure of race yet.

[Gregstrom]

Ok, 7 players up. One more and I guess we'll have enough to start.

A quick question to all: How quickly do we want to take the first few turns?

[Agema]

I'll take Pythium, by the way.

[Gregstrom]

Duly noted.

I'll go Pan.

[Gregstrom]

Speaking of which:

The people of Pangaea greet the other folk of the world in friendship, but offer a warning: The fabric of Nature has been disturbed. Cities scar the grasslands, and mines burrow into the hills and mountains like maggots. The plants and beasts of the world are becoming angry, and you must limit the damage you do to the world's fabric if they are not to become savage.

[Agema]

What's the point of a forest, if not to supply the wood needed to make spears to kill damn tree-huggers more worried about forests than the greater glory of civilisation?

[Gregstrom]

Big words for someone with a nature reserve right next to their capital.

[PAR]

i would like to play if it is still open

machaka if there is still room

PAR

[Gregstrom]

No problem. I'll add you in.

Now we have 8 players in, I'm going to say we're okay to plan the game start. I'll aim for getting everything settled to start submitting Pretenders by Monday UK time.

To do that, I'll need a couple of points of order settled.

Firstly, the map. Aran is about the right size, although I don't know how it plays. Suggestions will be welome, so please chime in with opinions.

Secondly, scheduling of the early turns. To get things started quickly, I suggest doing the first 5 turns on a 30 hour quickhost (1 day with a small safety margin), then the next 10 on a 50 hour quickhost (2 days, effectively), and after that going to 96 hour quickhost.

Note for the new: quickhost means that a turn automatically generates when all files have been mailed in, no matter how long it has been since the last turn was generated.

Third, game settings. I'm thinking standard MA, with 15 slots in the HOF.

Please respond on these two points (and raise any others that come to mind). All opinions will be considered. Plus, if you respond I'll know you still intend to play. So post even if it's to say 'I agree on all points'.

[LDiCesare]

Aran looks ok to me, although there are no water nations if I'm correct, so it may bias things a bit (someone starting near the coast with a wyrm or other awake ampjibious pretender could take all water regions for instance without being contested). I don't know of land only maps however.
Schedule's ok for me although I may ask more time for the first week end (actually depends on when turns are hosted but I'll be 36 hours without internet access).
Settings ok.

[Gregstrom]

Well, I guess we could go for a random map if necessary.

[LDiCesare]

There are eight gates and Infinite Sands on http://dom3maps.wikidot.com/system:newmed
that are usable for 8 land players but I'm afraid the latter is way too big and the former is quite big too (about 29 prov per player).

[Gregstrom]

29 provinces/player is rather too large, I fear. On 96 hour turns that'd take nearly forever.

8 Gates can be a VP game, can't it?

[LDiCesare]

I suppose it could be. I just browsed for maps without too much water. There are some which would be too small, most are too big.
Random maps can be ok, the only thing is sometimes two players start near one another and that can lead to a fast death in case of rush.

[Niarg]

We could just play Aran with the understanding that nobody enters the water before turn 20?

I think Aran is about the right size for 8.

[llamabeast]

Parganos is good for 8. I have a modified version that has less unfairness in the distribution of terrain.

[Agema]

I agree to the terms suggested.

There shouldn't be that much trouble with someone taking the seas, as Shambler Reefs and Merman Villages are not uncommon; some creative conjuring or items on a thug or SC can also get into the water. Once you're in the recruitment is never that tough. Secondly, you could take an amphibious pretender, but you've no guarantee of being near the water.

[Gregstrom]

Well, I can cheerfully do Aran or Parganos - I understand that the balanced version of Parganos is pretty good.

[Semigall]

Would love to play, but:


Skill level: This game is intended for players with roughly 5 games under their belt.


I'm new to the game, so... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Gregstrom]

Well, we could go for Aran with you as a water nation. Water is a good shield for a newbie.

[Semigall]

Gregstrom said:
Well, we could go for Aran with you as a water nation. Water is a good shield for a newbie.


Ok, sounds good enough, count me in then http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Gregstrom]

OK.

With that, it looks like the best bet is Aran with Semigall as a water nation. I'll mark the game up as full.

Semigall, could you look at a nation choice?

I'll contact llamabeast with our map choice and hopefully we'll be ready to start uploading pretenders soon.

[Semigall]

Ok, i'll take Atlantis http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[LDiCesare]

I saw on llamaserver the game's waiting for pretenders. Can we start sending them or is there anything special to wait for before?

[Gregstrom]

Nope - I've just been afk all day.

Upload pretenders now, guys.

[Semigall]

Gregstrom said:
Nope - I've just been afk all day.

Upload pretenders now, guys.


How do i do it ? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Gregstrom]

Read all about it here http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif (http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showthreaded.php?Number=531116)

[edit] Hey, clickable smiley! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Ylvali]

Just checking the thread out, looks it will make a nice game. Too slow for me though.

@Semigall: To balance your lack of experience, you could read Baalz exellent guide to MA atlantis: http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=576620&page=0&view=collap sed&sb=5&o=&fpart=&vc=#Post576620

[Semigall]

Ok, i sent my pretender http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Gregstrom]

You should have received some sort of acknowledgement email, then.

Remember peeps, pretender emails need to have the word megatherium in the subject line, and you need to run turns in a folder called megatherium.

[Semigall]

Ok, there was a mistake, i had sent wrong age pretender, sorry http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Now i did everything correctly http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Gregstrom]

Only two pretenders left until we start the game. Aapeli, Agema - this means you!

[Aapeli]

No worries mates Ill send it today and we shall be ready.

[Gregstrom]

One to go!

[Gregstrom]

None to go!

<klaxon sounds>

And they're off - as soon as everybody's friendly Llamabeast sets things in motion, that is.

Massive thanks to Llamabeast and vfb for all their help - without them the game as it is wouldn't have happened.

[Niarg]

Is there any way to change the pretender you've uploaded?
If not it doesn't matter as it was only a minor change.

[Gregstrom]

I think you can just overwrite by mailing in a new one the same way as you sent in the first. You'll have to hurry though.

[Niarg]

No, I tried that and it said the game was full.

[Gregstrom]

Best to PM llamabeast then.

[Niarg]

Ok, all fixed and ready to go now.

[llamabeast]

Game started! Hope you all enjoy it.

[Gregstrom]

Yay! Thanks, llamabeast.

The first turn gives you 48 hours to respond. As discussed, 2 through 5 will give you 30 hours, and 6-15 give you 50. Well, as long as I remember to change the settings http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Pangaea resent not starting in the plentiful woodlands available on this map, and we hereby declare war on the RNG (Random Number Generator). In pursuit of this end, our greatest minds will be playing Nethack for some time.

[LDiCesare]

Gregstrom said: our greatest minds will be playing Nethack for some time.


That's good news. Most of them will starve to death or be killed by grid bugs before we even meet.

[Agema]

Remember to feed the kittens/puppies.

[Agema]

Turn 9 has apparently been sent out, but I haven't received it. I requested a resend, but that hasn't arrived either.

[Agema]

It's okay, it arrived, just very late.

[Gregstrom]

I've tried getting a resend to you just now.

Your email host isn't going to be blocking the mail for some reson, is it?

I can try resetting the email address llamaserver has for you, if you wish.

[Agema]

It's fine now, thanks.

I got internal emails, I wonder if the server at my end wasn't putting external ones into the in-tray for about 12-24h.

[Semigall]

I inform you that i set my nation to AI, as i will be away from my pc for a long time and i couldn't find any subs.

My apologies for this, of course.

Also, in game i've warned about this everybody who had any diplomatic deals with me, just in case you wouldn't read this post in time.

[Agema]

Hi, I'm putting in the current turn (22) and probably the next, and after that Shovah32 will be taking over, if you can please sort out the transition.

[Agema]

Can you switch to Shovah32, please?

[Thrawn]

Has Shovah taken over? What's going on with Pythium?

[Gregstrom]

I haven't been given an email address by Shovah32. I hadn't given it much thought, but I don't want the game to stale for the sake of it so the next turn has been postponed for the moment.

[LDiCesare]

Although the game is stale for the moment, I'd like to let you know that I'll probably be unable to play my turns between the 7th and 14th of april. I might play if I can get a connection and the time to do so during my travel (job) but it's unlikely.
Given that we're waiting for a perm sub, do you want me to post and ask for a temp sub here for next week?

[Gregstrom]

I had been under the impression from communications outside the thread that Shovah was a temp sub. I may have been wrong about this though. As Shovah isn't responding to pm at the moment it's a little hard to tell.

[Niarg]

Agema said:I'm away from 23rd-30th March.


Looks like he should be back now, send him a PM and get the turn resent to him so we can get this game back on the road.

[Agema]

I'm back and can do the turn today easily enough.

[LDiCesare]

I'll probably be unable to play/connect to internet from the 7th to the 14th. I'll try to connect at least once in order to retrieve and play if I can, but can't guarantee this.

[LDiCesare]

What's the current quickhost for this game? It looks like we're almost down to 1 turn/week or am I mistaken?

[Agema]

I think it's currently 5 days, but the odd 12-24hour extension has been applied recently.

[Gregstrom]

No - I had to take time away from the internet at short notice, and had to bump up the host time for a couple of turns. It's back to normal from the next turn on.

[LDiCesare]

Calahan will sub me (Arco) from July 8 to 27.

[Gregstrom]

Cool - if he pms me his email at the appropriate moment, I'll do the change.

[LDiCesare]

I sent my last turn, and told Calahan to pm you so you can change the email on llamaserver.

[Gregstrom]

And all is set up. Welcome, Calahan.

[Calahan]

Hi All

As you all probably know, I'm subbing for LDiCesare (Arco) for a turn or two until he gets back. Not looking to make any major decisions regarding Arco in LDiCesare's absence. Hopefully won't have to make any minor decisions either :-) Just looking to do the basics until LDiCesare gets back :-)

Calahan

[LDiCesare]

Hi all, I am back.
Thanks Calahan for subbing me.

[Agema]

Hi, I put my turn in a few hours ago and it's not registered, I re-sent it about 15 mins ago just to make sure. I know it can take a bit of time but I can't stay up. Can someone please make sure the turn doesn't process without my turn getting in, as there may be a problem?

[LDiCesare]

Did you contact llamabeast? Your turn doesn't seem to be uploaded yet.

[Gregstrom]

It showed up in the end, so I presume that's the problem solved. Was there a similar thing going on for SlowBoat?

[Agema]

I'm guessing so. Incidentally, I'm going away on the 8th October for four weeks on my long-awaited holiday.

I suspect my chances in SlowBoat are somewhat low, and it's just you me Gregstrom, so I'll consider resigning or maybe chuck a sub in and see how he does for when I get back.

For Megatherium, I'll definitely be getting a sub in, as I suspect you two remaining players don't want to wait for that long (or maybe you do!), and it would be shame to quit considering I own half the world.

[Agema]

I've been unable to get a sub, so can't get a turn in until November.

My apologies for the delay, to you both. If the turn processing can be set for 8th November, I'd be grateful. I'm too busy making sure everything's set and I won't be able to get the current turn in before then either.

[Gregstrom]

Turn processing has been set on pause - with Pythium being the largest nation, there's not much option if we want the game to be meaningful :)

[LDiCesare]

We need to bump the game a bit if llamaserver is not to reset it. Gregstrom, can you do this as game admin?

[Gregstrom]

I'll send in my file for this turn tomorrow. I have 24 days before the reset, so it's not an immediate hurry. I'll also give Agema a kick - he should be back by now.

[Agema]

I should have my turn in by the end of tomorrow!

[LDiCesare]

Sorry for the stale turn. I thought I had warned that I'd have trouble playing my turns till the 5th of January due to lack of reliable internet access. Not that my being stale changes much, mind you...

[Gregstrom]

Oh bother - apologies. I'll put the next turn on a long host time.

[Agema]

On the 99th month of campaigning, Pythium's Tartarian might has finally broken the resolve of the other Pretender gods. The Divine Emperor Leo Komnenos can finally rise to his birthright as the Pantokrator - all hail the God Emperor!

Thanks to everyone who took part, it was a huge SC-throwing maelstrom at the end, and many congratulations also to Gregstrom and LDiCesare for putting up a great fight in the endgame. I'd also like to thank particularly Niarg, as the support from Caelum was invaluable when Vanheim and Abysia attacked me early on.

[Gregstrom]

Congratulations, Agema. It took a while, but you got a decisive edge over me.