GhostBat - MA game for new players (starting)

[llamabeast]

Since FruitBat and VampireBat filled up insanely fast, I'm creating yet another overflow game for new/newish players. I'd recommend players who've played 0-2 games previously - if you've played more than that and would like to play regardless, post here and you can play if we're short of players. This should be a nice, fun and friendly game, a reasonable size but not too huge, and generally ideal for new players (that's the plan, at least).

This will be an MA game and will use the Worthy Heroes mod. Renaming will be on, graphs will be on, and everything else will be standard.

The map will be my modified version of Parganos, which is modified (a) to have a much more fair and even spread of terrain types, (b) to have fair-ish start positions, and (c) to have no gold or magic sites in the seas - so this will be a land-nation only game.

Please sign up and choose a nation!

So far we have:

Marignon - OoohSnap
T'ien Ch'i - Donny
Agartha - Cipher
Bandar Log - Zogger
Pythium - nozshand
Abysia - Real_friend
Eriu - Starshine_Monarch
Ulm - TREAD_HEAD

[Starshine_Monarch]

Heyyo llamabeast. Starshine's back and ready for action. Seeing as unforeseen circumstances had me drop out of several games early, I think the only real MP experience I've gotten was your game "Jaguar". You think you can include a download of the map you mentioned too?

So middle age, huh? Well, I was going to call Rl'yeh, but seeing as you've limited it to only land nations (Likely a good move for newbies), I'll pick something else. I did Bandar Log last time, so I don't feel like playing them again. I think I'll let a few others pick first before I decide on one.

One more thing: I told my father about the game and he seems like he's interested in playing as well. Problem is we used the same game disc to install it on each of our computers, so we have the same product code. He thinks that the game might not let us play together because of that. I was wondering if this was true or not.

[Donny]

So here is the MA bat game. GhostBat sounds cool.

I'll take T'ien Ch'i for the first several games. Probably will try other nations after that. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Wish good luck to everyone, and many thanks to llamabeast. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[LordCalvert]

Hi everyone. I'm Starshine Monarch's father. I'm the one who introduced him to the game and taught him everything he knows, which is why he now beats me on a regular basis. I have no experience playing D3 against opponents other than my two sons and have never played online. I have gotten the impression that two players playing the same copy of the game cannot play and even though we have it installed on several different computers in the house, it is still from the same activation code. If this means the two of us can't get into the same game together, so be it. I'm more than willing to step aside to let him get in another game.

If this is going to work I'll take Marignon. If not, then it doesn't and I'll get into a different newbie game.

[llamabeast]

Hi LordCalvert! Indeed you can't play in the same game as Starshine. I've just started up a LA newbie game as well - I'll see if anyone in that one would like to swap into this game, in which case you can take their place.

[LordCalvert]

I was pretty sure that was true but I thought I should at least confirm it. Thanks for the help.

[OoohSnap]

Let's hope I can get a place in this one xD, I'd like to sign up as Marignon!

[Cipher]

I am a newbie, I wann sign up for Agartha http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif, my first mp game

[Andronor]

Newbie - it's me! I'd like to sign up in my first MP game for Bandar Log.

[nozshand]

i'd like to play pythium.

[Real_friend]

Sign me in as Abysia.

[Starshine_Monarch]

I think I'll go with Eriu for this one.

[llamabeast]

Great! Space for one more.

[TREAD_HEAD]

Hi sign me up for Ulm.

[Profanicus]

Hi I'm looking for my first multiplayer game and am a few hours too late for this one it seems, dammit!
Any chance of yet another overflow game for new/newish? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[MartialDoctor]

As one of my games is, basically, over, I'll sign up for this one. Still new and figuring this great game out :-)

I'll sign on as Vanheim.

May I ask why the graphs are on? I would think it would be better if they were off so that you can't sneak a peak at how well others are doing...

Edit: Oops, disregard that. I didn't realize it was already full.

[llamabeast]

Okay guys, here's how to upload your pretender:

- Make sure you have the same mods enabled as the game you're playing in (Preferences->Mod Preferences) although only mods affecting pretender design, such as Conceptual Balance, actually matter
- Go to Game Tools -> Create a pretender god in Dominions. Don't set a password, since for PBEM games they're not helpful and occasionally annoying (e.g. if you need a sub)
- Go to the savedgames/newlords folder in the dominions directory, and find your pretender file (e.g. mid_pythium_0.2h)
- E-mail the file to: pretenders[ at ]llamaserver[ dot ]net
- Crucially, you must have the game name 'GhostBat' in the subject line of your e-mail

[llamabeast]

Out of laziness, I direct you to the first post of VampireBat to find the mod and map.

[llamabeast]

Those who missed out on this game: I made yet another overflow game, FunnelEaredBat. Please sign up to that.

[TREAD_HEAD]

pretender uploaded....

[Cerlin]

If you still have a spot i would be interested...Id try Shinuyama. Hurray for dead mountain!

[Andronor]

Pretender sent to server.

[Cipher]

Hi there, please tell me where to get your modified version of Parganos. And where to upload the pretender http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif, thx

[llamabeast]

Scroll up a few posts Cipher. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

The mod and map are linked to in the first post of VampireBat. Instructions on uploading your pretender are towards the top of this page, or alternatively in my FAQ (linked to in my signature).

[llamabeast]

I've set this game up to start automatically when all the pretenders are in. This'll be the first game ever not to be started manually, so let me know if everything's okay when it starts!

[Cipher]

ok, sorry I didn't read it carefully. Gonna upload my pretender after back to home http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[llamabeast]

Ooh, started! Cool, it worked! w00t.

The first turn has 48 hours on the clock (in case of problems), and subsequent ones will have 24 hours.

So, How it works is that the server hosts either 24 hours after the last hosting or when everyone's turns are in, whichever is sooner. This means that the hosting time tends to gradually creep forwards. It's important to be aware of that. Remember you can check out the game status at any time at www.llamaserver.net (http://www.llamaserver.net) .

I'd like to ask for a volunteer to admin the game. The admin has to do two things:

1) If a player asks for an extension or anything then do it (provided it's reasonable; a day or two is reasonable, if they are going away for a week they should get a sub). It's super easy via the interface on the website.

2) If the admin gets knocked out of the game, pass the password on to one of the remaining players.

It's a really easy, almost zero-work job, but it keeps me from having to carefully watch 20-odd game threads (which I tried for a bit, and it hurt).

Right, enjoy the game guys!

Incidentally I highly recommend roleplaying on the forums to add to the fun of the game. The FruitBat lot are getting well into it! Diplomacy is also good fun, as well as important for victory!

[llamabeast]

Oh dear, we got a CD key violation - it looks like Bandar Log and someone else have the same CD key. This turn Bandar Log didn't get their moves executed. What happened Andronor?

[Cipher]

Bandar log and who have the same cdkey? I bought the game and didn't tell anyothers the cdkey, I guess it's not me.-

[llamabeast]

Bandar Log and Abysia, it turns out.

[Starshine_Monarch]

Uh-oh. So what's going to happen now? Do we need to start over or what?

[llamabeast]

Hrmm, I was hoping Bandar Log or Abysia would speak up and explain. Maybe they're two members of the same family or something? If they do have two CDs but accidentally used the same one we might be okay - otherwise I guess we had better restart. Bummer.

[Donny]

Wired...

[llamabeast]

Aaargh. Bandar Log staled turn 2. I guess we should see if they play turn 3, and if not maybe we should do a restart or something. Unfortunate.

[Aezeal]

If you restart I want in http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[OoohSnap]

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Injured.gif Stalled my second turn because of Yahoo Mail having problems...

[Real_friend]

Hi. Not the same family as Bandar Logs, I think we have another ind of problem here- I bought the disc in Ukraine where I live and it can be not original (as in China, you never know, me). Maybe Bandar Logs alo from Ukraine/Russia region.

[llamabeast]

Simply going from his e-mail address (...@imbox.ru), it does look like the Bandar Log player is Russian, so maybe that is what happened. Very unfortunate. Real_friend, I would try if you can to get a legitimate copy - Shrapnel will post you one directly from America to arrive in only a few weeks. That's how I got mine in the UK.

Anyway - I suggest we carry on with the game now. I will sub in for Bandar Log for a bit to nurse them back to health, then will try to find another newbie to sub in for them, which I think will be quite easy.

[Metalking]

I am down for playing Bandar Log once they get back to health or right away. Either way is fine with me.

[llamabeast]

Hey guys, should have done this a while ago: I'd like to ask for a volunteer to admin this game. The admin has to do two things:

1) If a player asks for an extension or anything then do it (provided it's reasonable; a day or two is reasonable, if they are going away for a week they should get a sub). It's super easy via the interface on the website.

2) If the admin gets knocked out of the game, pass the password on to one of the remaining players.

It's a really easy, almost zero-work job, but it keeps me from having to carefully watch 30-odd game threads (which I tried for a bit, and it hurt).

[murci3lag0]

Sign me up for oceania please~~

[llamabeast]

Hi murcilag0,

This game is already running in fact, but there are a couple of games which are open at the moment. LeafNosedBat has just one space left and is Early Age, and VesperBat has lots of spaces and is Late Age. Both are land-nations-only though, so no luck with Oceania I'm afraid.

[Cipher]

Hi llamabeast, since no one wanna be admin for a long time. I would help to admin this game, even I was kind of busy recently, meetings, presentations http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif. I will try

btw, are you still nursing Bandar log or somebody already sub it?

[Zogger]

Hi guys, I will take over Bandar Log as soon as llamabeast has time to change it to me. It will be my first MP, so be gentle http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[llamabeast]

Right, Zogger has now taken over from me as Bandar Log (thanks Zogger!). I've added 12 hours to the clock for this turn so that he has pretty much a full day to take his turn.

[Donny]

It was llama playing. lol

[llamabeast]

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

I would like to claim that the rapid rise in the Bandar Log province chart was a result of my extraordinary tactical genius, but in fact all I did was build a whole load of elephants!

[Zogger]

This may well be the peak of Bandar Log civilization http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif But lets see if I can fill the huge boots left for me.

[Cipher]

hey guys, llama just accept me as the admin of this game.
I am going to another city and work for three days. I will bring my laptop with dom3, but I am not sure if I can get internet access. So I hope we can postpone the next for 72 hours, sorry. As long as I find out I can access the internet, I will change the next turn time back to normal.

[nozshand]

quite threads suck :/

hows everyone doing in the game, i think there are currently two wars going on, judging from the graph chart, looks like abysia and bandor log is getting the worse of it

still its too early to tell

[Zogger]

My Bandar Log career is almost over. Pythium forces are sieging our capital. One more fight to come...

[Starshine_Monarch]

Guh, I just staled 3 turns already, (not in a row, but they were close enough . . .) just because of my own forgetfulness. I don't want this to keep up, so effective in 2 turns, Eriu will be going AI. It was fun while it lasted, but next time I'll make sure I can keep up.

[Donny]

It's a better idea to look for a sub. You are not losing Starshine.

[johnarryn]

Hi folks... I will be taking over for Starshine. He has let me in on all diplomatic agreements already in place, which I assume will be honored. I hope we have a good game!

[Cipher]

welcome johnarryn http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif-

[johnarryn]

Thanks... I have asked both llamabeast and cipher to delay this turn, if possible, as i still havent received it... I would prefer not to stale. Thanks!

[AlgaeNymph]

(With minimal fanfare, Pythium easily transitions emperors.)

[johnarryn]

The nation of Eriu expresses dissapointment at the shameful actions of Tien Chi. Already hard pressed, we must endure Tien Chi's treachery and the invasion of our defenseless hinterland. The words of the ruler of Tien Chi are worthless; let all take notice.

[Donny]

Just a suggestion: shall we change the hosting interval to 48 hours so that we have more time to do our turns?

[johnarryn]

I'm fine with changing it or leaving it the same... whatever everyone else wants is fine.

[AlgaeNymph]

Thanks, Donny. I'd also like to extend the interval to 48 hours.

[Cipher]

ok. I will change it to 48 hours http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Cipher]

Hi guys, strange thing happened. I submitted my turn today, and I got the information it is staled. It looks like all players staled the turn? -.- did your guys also stale?

[llamabeast]

Here's what happened: Firstly dominions tried to host as normal. However, it hit an error:

Något gick fel!
hitwhere: bad x,y
Något gick fel!
hitwhere: bad x,y

and so failed to host. The LlamaServer then did its normal stuff of archiving 2h files etc out of the way. Then it tried to host again (not quite clear why), and this time succeeded, but with no 2h files so everyone staled.

I'm not entirely sure how to fix this, but what I've done is roll back to turn 79. It would be good if each of you could reopen your turn 79, hit "end turn" again (to rewrite the 2h) and send it in again. In the past that has helped, I don't know why.

[Bwaha]

hi i want to play ermor any room? Bwaha

[Donny]

Thank you for your work llama~
And we don't have Ermor in this game. Sorry Bwaha. You can wait for some new games or look for subs.

[AlgaeNymph]

What happened?! I sent in my turn on time, but I staled anyway.

*checks e-mail cache*

I think Llamaserver's been skipping a turn, at least for me. Getting turn 79, then 81, then 81 again doesn't seem right.

[llamabeast]

DryaUnda: First read my post above.

Okay, we got exactly the same error again. I don't know how to get around it (it's a Dominions issue, not a server one). So I think what we will have to do is simply give up on turn 79 (everyone staled because of the error) and move on to turn 80.

Because of the confusion the LlamaServer thinks the current turn is 81, so I will set it back to 80 (which is correct) and we can just move on from there.

[Cipher]

everybody please request 80 turns file. lets try

[AlgaeNymph]

llamabeast said:
DryaUnda: First read my post above.

*looks upthread*

Oops, cortisol-addled for a moment there. I was stuck in an alternate universe where my lab burned down.

[Cipher]

Hi all. I am playing a MP game. Last turn there was a big fight when I (ma agartha) try to storm Pythium's capital. After a huge fight, my force manage to make Pythium's force route, at that time I still have a big army including 8 Marble Oracle (fully armored) many mages and agartha statues. see the screenshot here
http://lh6.ggpht.com/cipherxu/SDQ5_PiVu-I/AAAAAAAAAyQ/1tUu_4PtdMI/s144/vsPY3.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/cipherxu/Zaku/photo#5202847228184869858)

Then incredible things happened, this big army just disappeared step by step. I watched the battle slowly, noticed that in one turn, suddenly 3 MO disappear. All MO has more than 100HP, It's not likely the Phantasmal Warrior can kill it by 1 hit. I have no idea about this. Is this because Mists of Deception has the function that enemy could lost himself in the mist? or a big bug?

If it is a bug, I strongly request re-host this turn and forbidden to use this magic.

The starting force before battle can be found here

http://lh4.ggpht.com/cipherxu/SDQ2zviVu8I/AAAAAAAAAx8/FuRnwq4g0Xc/s144/vsPy1.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/cipherxu/Zaku/photo#5202843732081490882)

http://lh4.ggpht.com/cipherxu/SDQ2zviVu9I/AAAAAAAAAyE/9iMuNLkqptU/s144/vsPY2.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/cipherxu/Zaku/photo#5202843732081490898)

[johnarryn]

Weird.

[Donny]

So what are we going to do now?

[Cipher]

Shall we we re-host this turn and I will not storm the castle next turn. What do you think.

[llamabeast]

Okay, I loaded up Drya's last turn and made the single change of switching the Harbinger's "Mists of Deception" order to "Mist". Everything else I left the same, then I rehosted.

The difference is, unsurprisingly, dramatic.

Incidentally, that was a staggering battle. When I saw Drya's lineup I thought there was no way Agartha could ever, ever win. All those kitted Archangels and even a Seraph! And all with Phoenix Pyre and reinvig. Really an incredible fight.

I hope people are happy with this resolution - I did it as fairly as I could. Sorry you've come out much worse as a result Drya.

[AlgaeNymph]

llamabeast said:
Sorry you've come out much worse as a result Drya.

No problem.

Although being at war with everyone, and losing, means that I'm at the "lost the will to fight" part of the game. Is it all right if Pythium goes AI?

(In the meantime, I should hope the patch fixes the Mists bug to make up for being late. I wanted to play Hinnom for the Mega-age game.)

[johnarryn]

Well, I did offer you peace at one point, which you turned down in a rather cavalier manner =)

Being a sub, and at war with everyone, I can understand your desire to go AI, but I would ask that you remain in if you can... I imagine Pythium still has some fight left in it. I also understand if you don't care to spend your time fighting a losing war, however.

[Cipher]

Actually before start the war against Pythium, I have no confident to win. Even I have army of gold counter flame storm, army of lead counter astral spells, but it also bring me 100% shock susceptible, how could I deal with those TS.... I was expecting huge casualty for the battle in Pythium's capital. I guess I am quite lucky that Py script too much astral spells for my SC but no TS at all.


PS: llamabeast,do we need to upgrade the game to 3.17 now?

[llamabeast]

Yep, go for it. Well, read the message on the front page of llamaserver.net for clarification.

[johnarryn]

Eriu has attacked the treacherous Tien Chi oppressors. We can see the writing on the wall, and will not wait to be conquered by the land-grabbing hordes. Rather, we shall take the attack to Tien Chi, though we may perish in the process...

[johnarryn]

Wow, that was a really bad turn to accidentally stale on =(

Not like I had much chance of winning, but that really didn't help.

[johnarryn]

Ugh. Im a bit overworked, both in terms of actual work and Dom3 games. Given my very bad position, both in provinces and magical research, i've decided to go AI.

It was quite a fun game while it lasted, though. I think i did fairly well overall at frustrating the invaders of my territory =)
It was fairly rough coming in as a sub, and my complete lack of magical diversity on pretender didn't really help. Still, quite a fun game. Good luck guys!

[Cipher]

Good luck Johnarryn, fair played.