Pasha makes me RANDy!

[anticipatient]

I was hoping someone could host a RAND. It sounds like a blast to me http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Executor]

What do you mean a radnom game, I mean random nations or what,
ahhh, don't tempt me I might join this one too!!!

[PashaDawg]

RAND stands for:

Random nation assignments (by the host)

Anonymous (only the host knows who is playing which nation)

No - Diplomacy: Players cannot contact each other about the game to engage in diplomacy, trades, etc., or otherwise reveal their nation.

It is not hard to host. I'd be happy to host one more. Someone else is welcome to host in my stead, of course. The host cannot play obviously.

One note: It's pretty darn important that players be extra committed to staying in the game until the death. It's hard to find subs for a RAND game, and going AI spoils the fun.

Pasha

[GrudgeBringer]

SIGN ME UP...........I'll play anything blind, makes it easier.

I have only played a couple of games but I WON'T quit till the last dog is hung.

Ask anticipatiant

[WingedDog]

I would like to join too, if you let me.

[anticipatient]

No problem, no problem. I was thinking it might be interesting not only to obscure who is controlling what nation but also to hide who plays at all. It'd be a little more work for the host, dealing with PMs and all.

Any thoughts?

I'd prefer not to start a game for a week or more, but I wanted to gauge interest and hear peoples' thoughts. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[llamabeast]

We could team up to host if you like Pasha. If you could sort out the early assignment of nations, then we can run the PBEM on the LlamaServer so you don't have to handle all the e-mails. I think that'd be good teamwork. Whatever you think best though.

[PashaDawg]

That sounds great, Llamabeast! Thank you. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

RAND games are particularly fun to host, because you get to watch the game, and the players are eager to have *someone* to receive their comments about how things are going. One player in the current RAND is essentially spinning me a mini-yarn. So, I encourage other hosting-types to host a RAND now and again, if it interests them.

Regarding anticipatient's idea of obscuring who is playing the game, I think part of the fun is knowing who is playing but not knowing what nation they are. The guessing game is fun, particularly if the players already know each other fairly well.

[Zeldor]

And you think that you get owned by QM and after that it appears that you got killed by someone playing first MP game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

But I would suggest really bigger map than current RAND, that may be good for 5-6 player blitz.

[PashaDawg]

I agree that a bigger map would be better. The lords of creation map was used because a few of us really wanted to give dust it off and give it a whirl. It was a special K.O. map from the Dom2 days.

[Amhazair]

I liked how the lords of creation maps worked out so far. It was very cramped on the sides, with the enemy capitals very close at your sides, but quite a lot of room to expand towards the middle, giving you the extra headache to decide how far to keep expanding - risking to leave your flanks undefended for your close neighbours.

I do agree it is more of 'an intresting change of pace' rather than a 'standard' map you'd want to use time and again though.

[quantum_mechani]

I'm very fond of Rim of Darkness but I guess you knew that. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

I do think it's probably best suited to a few less players though (perhaps someone should have gone in the middle?).

[anticipatient]

I'd really feel sorry for someone starting in the middle in a Rand game. I think your only hope if you're in the middle is diplomacy :p

[llamabeast]

Hmm, if you use the LlamaServer (and are not me), it is actually a little tricky to watch the game. You could periodically redirect a nation's e-mail address to your address, request a resend so you get their turn, and immediately change it back. But it's a bit fiddly. So probably it would be easier but less fun to host. Anyway, entirely up to you.

[GrudgeBringer]

Pasha, I think Anticipatiant might have an idea...

IF noone knew who was in the game then they couldn't tell if they where up agianst a Noob or a real vetern.

It would also ensure (although I would guess most here ar honorable anyway)there would be no communication between factions.

It just sounds REAL intriguing...

Just draw names out of the air if someone (me for example doesn't make it then there is always the next time.

Just a thought, anyway YOU wanna do it is fine with me http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[PashaDawg]

A BLIND game would be fun. It's just different than RAND. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[PashaDawg]

I will start a new thread in about a couple of weeks to get this game going, etc.

[anticipatient]

OK http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif What's a blind game? (I guess I was just talking about random blind http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Zeldor]

Probably RAND with graphs off.

[PashaDawg]

Blind would be RAND but where no one even knows who the other players are. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[DakaSha]

im definitely up for a RAND once i get some normal game experience in http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif