Return to Orion- Sphereworld PBW game.

[Deathstalker]

New game on PBW: Return to Orion (Sphereworld)

"You are Overlord of your domain. The planets populace worship you as a god. Crime has been eliminated, work is plentiful, disease is unheard of and money is no longer needed in your utopia. Suddenly the skys around your planet grow dark, storms light up the sky and the earth trembles. Your people grow afraid and look to you to solve the problem. A screaming like no other fills the planet, seeming to be everywhere at once, it almost makes you believe the tales of the banshee wail of 'Bhritny Spirs' the Death Goddess. Your scientists work feverishly to understand the screaming, if indeed it is a communication from above or below. Then as sudden as it started it stops, the night sky clears and you see strange stars and constellations above you. The universe is no longer a friendly place. Your scientists have your answer.

"I come from Beyond! You have been selected to do battle in this realm with others of your kind. Beings of this small dimension. Survive and wonders of your wildest dreams shall be yours, or fail and your names shall be as dust to the solar winds. Out there also is the planet of the Ancients, a marvellous world of metal and machinery. This may be the key to your victory. Go now, time grows short"

Your people tremble but are stout of heart. This world and its wonders will be yours and your enemies shall be trampled beneath the feet of your armies!

OK this is a basic SE4 Gold 1.67+TDM Modpack 3.11 game. 10 Players plus some modpack AI's of the very annoying kind. There is a SPHEREWORLD out there somewhere, as is a Ringworld hidden as well. The universe is not as you know it, systems may not behave as they usually do. You have been warned. Alliances and roleplay is welcomed, winner shall be determined by the virtue of surviving everyone else. The Sphereworld is not a requirement for winning, just a help/hinderance along the way.

The Sphereworld is ROCK/OXY but the map will be of 'equal' other planets.

Starting resources:100000
Starting planets: 1
Home planet value: Good
Score display: Own
Technology level: Low
Racial points: 2000
Quadrant type: Special
Quadrant size: Special
Event frequency: Low
Event severity: High
Technology cost:Medium
Victory conditions: Last man standing or Majority Vote.
Maximum units: 20000
Maximum ships: 20000
Computer players: Special
Computer difficulty: High
Computer player bonus: Low
Neutral empires: NO
Other game settings: Possibility of NO INTEL, this is up to a vote by the players.

PLEASE NOTE WHICH SHIPSET YOU ARE USING, DUPE'S WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. TURNS WILL BE 48HRS, THOSE WHO MISS 4 TURNS IN A ROW WITHOUT DUE NOTICE WILL BE KICKED, AS WILL ANYONE WHO 'CHEATS' (PRE-GAME ALLIANCES ETC.)

SURRENDER IS DISALLOWED! AND PLEASE DO NOT TRADE COLONY TECH WITH THE AI'S, THIS IS VERY CHEEZY! TRADING TECH MAY ALSO BE DISALLOWED, THIS WILL BE DECIDED BY VOTE.

But most of all, HAVE FUN!

[Lemmy]

A screaming like no other fills the planet, seeming to be everywhere at once, it almost makes you believe the tales of the banshee wail of 'Bhritny Spirs' the Death Goddess.<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Alpha Kodiak]

If this game is still open by the end of June, I will be interested in joining, as it sounds great. Unfortunately, I will not be in a position to join any games before then. Don't wait on my account, but if you need more players, I will plan on joining then.

[Deathstalker]

At the rate these games fill up it might just be open. Hopefully this will fill up though, looking forward to getting back into PBW again.

[Deathstalker]

bumpy bump. Still open http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Deathstalker]

Very lonely out here, I am willing to start with 6 or 8 players. Is there a problem with the settings?? I could change them to suit players requests. What would it take to make YOU join this game?? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/confused.gif

[CW]

What would it take to make YOU join this game?? <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If you could kill the lecturers, burn down the university, or otherwise free me from the slavery of the upcoming exam! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Deathstalker]

"If you could kill the lecturers, burn down the university, or otherwise free me from the slavery of the upcoming exam! "

Sorry, nope. Despite the name I am a fairly non-violent kinda guy. (unless you get in the way of the TV when Buffy is on http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif ).

I could however start the game once your exams are finished. Somehow I think there will still be a spot open. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

[Alpha Kodiak]

Ok, I am back and I am in!

[Deathstalker]

Game should start when we get a few more players, and I get a new modem....hopefully in a few weeks.

[Unknown_Enemy]

Is it still open ?
Would it be open to a complete beginner ?
well not a complete , but that would be my first play versus human oponents.

[tesco samoa]

www.ncix.com (http://www.ncix.com) has cheap stuff.

Are you cable or dsl.

or dial up.

Modems are cheap either way.

If you have to buy a dsl or cable. I suggest ebay.ca
if you have to buy a phone modem... you can get a good one for 30 dollars at futureshop

[Deathstalker]

Ok, apparently I am back, little 'data' light started flashing when I woke up this morning. Gotta get to work but will update later tonite. and YES this game is still open. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Unknown_Enemy]

well then count me in !


Event frequency: Low
Event severity: High
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Are you sure of this ? It's friends bashing/trashing/killing/torturing, not random problems lurking on players.

[ July 03, 2002, 14:52: Message edited by: Unknown_Enemy ]

[capnq]

High severity isn't the worst rating; very few PBW games use the default Catastrophic severity.

[Spuzzum]

I'm not exactly sure how big "Special" is (heh), but whenever I play a game solo in a Large quadrant, it's not at all fun for me if I'm playing a game where it's completely up to the enemy to cause me trouble. Plagues and planets blowing up are what make the galaxy go round! If the events are set any lower than Catastrophic and the frequency set any lower than High, I get the feeling that I'm in a dry and pointless featureless room, not a living, breathing fantastic quadrant.

I'm not sure how it works in PBW, but my playing style probably wouldn't be much different in an Online environment either.

(I had started a PBW game yesterday, but then got the impression that the only players I was going to get or play against were going to be arrogant jerks (no offense to the non-arrogant non-jerks) who would focus entirely on destroying everything and "winning".)

[Lupusman]

Oh sure, it might be fun for you, but think about your poor colonists.

President Bush thinks to himself:
"It's much more exciting to run the country when there are lots of tornados, floods and earthquakes."

[capnq]

If the events are set any lower than Catastrophic and the frequency set any lower than High, I get the feeling that I'm in a dry and pointless featureless room <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'm almost the exact opposite; I've only played one solo game with an event frequency above Low, and that was enough to convince myself that Medium frequency/Catastrophic severity is too frustrating for me to enjoy.

[ July 04, 2002, 20:48: Message edited by: capnq ]

[Deathstalker]

Ok fellow rulers, posing a question here. For the game settings do we want (or not want) Intel on?? This is entirely up to you guys (personally I've never actually used intel, I just tend to bash away http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif ). The biggest downside I can see about intel is someone PPP (if that is the correct term) the Sphereworld.

To those who havn't joined yet, shame on you http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

I would like to start this game Monday if we have 6 to 8 players. (currently sitting at 5).

[Alpha Kodiak]

I think I would prefer Intel off. It's one less infrastructure item to worry about. I have enough problems keeping track of everything else!

[Unknown_Enemy]

intel off.

With intel on I would steal every AI starship I could find to help other gamers to die a painful and slow death. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[Evil Rich]

I'm up for another game, but I'm bored to tears with tech trading. If the option is enabled then it seems like a no-brainer to trade everything with everyone as quickly as possible.

This is a) tedious, I'm fed up with writing endless emails asking if x wants to trade y for w.
and b) you miss out on several features of the game. Like fighting wars with low tech ships, and having three different colonization phases in the game.

[Deathstalker]

Good point Evil Rich, what do the rest of you guys think?? So far for Intel the vote is to kill it for this game.

[Alpha Kodiak]

I could go with no tech trading. Sometimes it is fun, but a game without it would be nice for a change.

[Nodachi]

Let me toss my vote in, no intel and no tech trading.

[Alpha Kodiak]

Ok, I have uploaded my empire with the assumption that there will be no intel and no tech trading. I will be using my newly uploaded Azorani Alliance shipset.

[Deathstalker]

Ok, no tech trading and no intel it is. Once everyone's empires are uploaded we shall start the game. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif And as for the "Azorani Alliance", I fear them enough without a human intelligence behind them! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif Seriously though, they have become one of my 'standard' favorite opponents.

[Deathstalker]

Question: With no tech trading do we also want 'allow gift/tribute??'. I realize that this is a way around the no tech trading (ie, trade ship then analyze) but we can always rely on peoples honor to just accept the gifts and not analyze them.

So: 1)No gift/tribute
2) Yes, gift/tribute Honor system.(IMO no problem here)
3) Yes, gift/tribute, we still want to analyze tech.

Just wish there was a way to turn off the 'analyze' button.

[Evil Rich]

Easy then, IMO no gifts and no tributes. If you can't get it together to survive on your own then so be it.

Diplomacy should revolve about things you want to act upon. Not about things you want to scratch each others back with.

[Alpha Kodiak]

Originally posted by Deathstalker:
Just wish there was a way to turn off the 'analyze' button.<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Oh, I don't think we want to turn off the analyze button. Bwahahaha! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

Question on trading, though (and this is tied in with the gift/tribute question, since gift/tribute can just as easily be used as a trade): are we disallowing tech trading only or all trading. A side effect of disallowing all trading is removing the ability to trade population for population that can breath a different atmosphere. I'm not saying that is a bad thing, since it seems like a practice that governments probably wouldn't really practice (or at least their populations might object!), but it is definitely an effect to be aware of.

So I guess that leads to the next question, do we want to allow population exchanges, or should the only way to get a different breathing population be to capture them?

[Unknown_Enemy]

I would guess that we are allowed to trade everything we want only if it does not lead to new tech gains.

No problem to capture a ship and analyze it, but we are not allowed to trade a ship to analyze it.

[Evil Rich]

There are two buttons in the game setup that you can turn off the.

Allows Gifts/Tributes &
Allow Technology Gifts/Tributes/Trades

If these are both turned off then there is no direct trading of tech.

Given that as far as I know is no way to stop people building ships, trading them away and then the recepient analysing them, then I don't see any point forbidding such practices.

It might still allow trading of certain techs, but it is going to be much slower, cost more resources and is going to be limited enough that it will no longet dominate the game.

If there is a way to turn off the analyse option then that might be interesting but I don't know if that is possible.

[Deathstalker]

One spot left for anyone who wants to join up. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Alpha Kodiak]

Any final thoughts on trading/gifts/tributes?

[geoschmo]

I am pretty much in total agreement with Evil Rich. No direct tech trading, but ship trading to get tech the hard way is fine. Any other gifts trades are fine with me as well.

But of course if the decision is no ship trading I will comply.

We need clarification though if we disallow ship trading for the puposes of accquiring tech, do we still allow it for the purposes of population swap? Do we allow pop swap at all, or make people get the pop the hard way as well? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Geoschmo

[ July 09, 2002, 17:53: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

[Deathstalker]

"I am pretty much in total agreement with Evil Rich. No direct tech trading, but ship trading to get tech the hard way is fine. Any other gifts trades are fine with me as well.

But of course if the decision is no ship trading I will comply.

We need clarification though if we disallow ship trading for the puposes of accquiring tech, do we still allow it for the purposes of population swap? Do we allow pop swap at all, or make people get the pop the hard way as well?

Geoschmo"

I'm with you. As far as I am concerned no direct tech trading (I will turn both of the 'allowed' options to off) but if you want to trade ships so be it...just good luck gettin them back to your shipyards in one piece http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif As far as pop swap this I leave up to roleplaying, if your Emperor would trade masses of his population like herds of cattle then it's ok. I just can't see some benificial ruler doing it. Immigration and emmigration sure, it happens in real life. (but again, those pop liners are sure targets for capture or blowin'up.)

The only request I have (and this is a personal one) is no Colony Ship trading (I guess capture is fine). All empires having all three colony tech's by turn 15 is just cheeze IMO.

[geoschmo]

Yeah, I can see your point there. I am not a big fan of tech trading either. If you want to eliminate the colony swapping entirely the only option beyond a house rule I guess is to make the game only colonize own type. It can slow things down a bit. But not too bad, as long as you don't make it colonize own atmosphere as well.

We are opposed to slave trading, but my empire being a informed republican form of government has been known to allow emmigration/immigration. After all, no matter how good a job you do as a leader there are always going to be those that dont agree with your style. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

I am also not above capturing populations in war and "relocating" them deeper into my own territory, for their own protection of course. We wouldn't want their former empire coming back and glassing the planet now would we? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Geoschmo

[ July 09, 2002, 19:38: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

[Evil Rich]

I have to say, I hadn't thought this one through as much as you guys.

I hadn't thought about trading colony ships, presumabley if you analyise a ship with a different colony module on you get the colony tech, which is the most rewarding abuse of the tech system.

As suggested I suppose the only way round it is the honor system or restricting people to there starting planet types, neither of which seem entirely appealing.

My instinct is that it would be better to simply agree not to trade any ships at all inc colony ships & transports.

If you want to buy slaves off each other then just trade planets, and return them if necessary when finished. Or just colonize a planet in someone else territory and then give it to them.

Then I suppose you could colonize all the planets of your starting type in there systems and then hand them over. Again hopefuly the difficulty involved would limit the abuses.

[Evil Rich]

Ah Nuts,

I'm not sure I agree with myself.

Rather than risk arguments, accusations and strife, when somebody goes all out to research one of the colonization techs early, and everybody else’s suspects them of wrong doing, I reckon everything allowable by the game should be permissible.

Turn the options off but accept that ship trading is OK. I suppose this means that everybody’s going to get the three colonization techs quickly, which is a pain, but c’est la vie.

The tech trading should become less of an issue, but until SE5 it looks like were stuck with it.

[Alpha Kodiak]

Originally posted by Evil Rich:
Ah Nuts,

I'm not sure I agree with myself.

Rather than risk arguments, accusations and strife, when somebody goes all out to research one of the colonization techs early, and everybody else’s suspects them of wrong doing, I reckon everything allowable by the game should be permissible.

Turn the options off but accept that ship trading is OK. I suppose this means that everybody’s going to get the three colonization techs quickly, which is a pain, but c’est la vie.

The tech trading should become less of an issue, but until SE5 it looks like were stuck with it.<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I think this sounds like the best alternative. As stated, this removes the grounds for arguments and accusations. At least the only way to trade tech (including colonization) is to actually swap ships, which takes much more effort than just agreeing to trade a whole shopping list of technologies.

[Fyron]

I think this sounds like the best alternative. As stated, this removes the grounds for arguments and accusations. At least the only way to trade tech (including colonization) is to actually swap ships, which takes much more effort than just agreeing to trade a whole shopping list of technologies.

How about this: I trade a shipyard and a ship with all the comps I want to trade to you, and you give a shipyard and a ship to me. I use your shipyard to analyze the ship you gave me, and you use my shipyard to analyze my ship. Then, we give the shipyards back to the other party. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Evil Rich]

Here, we still seem to be waiting for the same bloke to load up his empire.

While we've been waiting someone else has joined, which is good, and has been sorted enough to get his empire up already.

Without being overly pushy, I am addicted to this bloody game, so is there a deadline before we start anyway.

[Deathstalker]

He has been emailed to upload his empire, I shall wait a couple of days at the most before taking 'other' actions. Quite sorry for the delay guys.

[Unknown_Enemy]

I just can't see some benificial ruler doing it. Immigration and emmigration sure, it happens in real life. (but again, those pop liners are sure targets for capture or blowin'up.)
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Uuuurk ? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/confused.gif
Whaz-this bloody freakinn uman speaking of ???
If they were'nt worthy being warboyz they are catle.

Catle is cheap.
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Evil Rich]

So your choices are,

between living in a pLastic dome or an underground city on a planet with a hostile atmoshphere under the rulership of a human goverment you don't like,

or living outside on a planet where you can breathe the atmosphere, go for walks in the woods, skip through the meadows, swim in the rivers etc, under an alien government you don't like either.

I choose the 2nd option.

Assuming of course you had a choice. Given that Space Empires allows the forced migration of 100's of millions of people without any complaint, I don't reckon any of us get to considered beneficial rulers.

Maybe in the history books, assuming you write them

[geoschmo]

Yeah, there is a lot of funkiness with SEIV and population. It may not be very realistic, but on balance it's a very playable system. And that is the important thing anyway, more so than realism.

I mean if we think about how planetary colonization might really occur, it's more likely the initial colony would have thousands, not millions of colonists. Then once the colony was established maybe millions of people would move there over the months and years to follow. But that takes a hefty amount of micro managment to move those people around, especially in a more "realistic" system with regards to hom many people could fit on a ship. Unless you have some automatic system.

Maybe popultion transfer could be handled in the background, where you don't have to build the ships and physically move the people. You would send a colony ship that would start it off, then have a "population transfer window" where you set the population goals for each planet. These would be met gradually over time and would deplete the populated worlds automatically, offset by reproduction.

Of course in an emergency, or when dealing with other empires you could still load them in a cargo ship and ship them off like so much cattle too.

Also, why can't you have a domed colony exsist side by side with races that breathe that atmosphere? That would require some changes, but it would be neat.

But like I said, the current system may not be realistic, but it is very playable.

Maybe we could approximate some of this ourselves in a mod. Proportions tries, but even with it you are carting around a miilion people in a relativly small ship.

We'd have to change the scale in our minds. Anywhere you see 1M of population, read that as 1 thousand. Then greatly increase the population levels allowed on a planet. Instead of a medium planet holding 2,000M, make it hold 6,000,000M. If 1M is 1,000 people then 6,000,000M would be 6 billon people. Then a colony component would hold 4 thousand, a much more resaonable number.

Does the game let you set the population that high? Sphere worlds currently are 64,000 million. Is that as high as you can go or can it go higer?

Geoschmo

EDIT: This is kind of off topic for this thread, so I am going to start a new one to dicuss it.

[ July 10, 2002, 15:38: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

[Fyron]

Did noone notice my post? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/confused.gif

[Phoenix-D]

"Maybe we could approximate some of this ourselves in a mod. Proportions tries, but even with it you are carting around a miilion people in a relativly small ship."

Relatively small ship? The starting tech lets you "sqeeze" 1 million people into 400kt. Assuming each organism is 200kg (beefy..) that leaves half the space for air, food, room to move around, etc. Cramped, but probably not unlivable.

Phoenix-D

[DirectorTsaarx]

Originally posted by geoschmo:
Yeah, I can see your point there. I am not a big fan of tech trading either. If you want to eliminate the colony swapping entirely the only option beyond a house rule I guess is to make the game only colonize own type. It can slow things down a bit. But not too bad, as long as you don't make it colonize own atmosphere as well.
&lt;snip&gt;
Geoschmo<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">One minor point from an impartial outside observer - since a major goal of this game seems to be finding the ROCK/OXY sphereworld, wouldn't it defeat the purpose to set "only colonize own type"?

Oh - Imperator: I saw your post about trading a space yard ship/base along with another ship. Neat idea; but again, it's a bit more involved than straight tech trading. Yes, it gets around the whole "drag that traded ship back to your own territory", but the originating empire had to build & maintain the space yard ship and the receiving empire has to remember to trade it back, and the whole process takes up a couple turns, not to mention that you can't send other diplomatic Messages while you're doing all the finagling.

Looks like there are very few workable options to automatically prevent people from gaining techs via "cheesy" trade methods.

[geoschmo]

Originally posted by DirectorTsaarx:
[QUOTE]One minor point from an impartial outside observer - since a major goal of this game seems to be finding the ROCK/OXY sphereworld, wouldn't it defeat the purpose to set "only colonize own type"?
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Uhhh, oh yeah. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif OOPS!

[Deathstalker]

Ever had one of those days where your head is just not screwed on straight?

I just kicked the wrong empire from the game. Yep, not the one that was holding us up but the first person to join all those weeks ago. Damn.
Barrybeal if you get here before you check your email I am sorry (and damn embarrased) about this. Please join/upload your empire again, a spot will be saved for you. This game will start once Barry is back.

Geo, any chance you could add a 'Are you sure you want to kick player 'XNAME' from the game?' message for dunderheads like me to the pbw admin section?? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

[Deathstalker]

And we are off! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Any questions/comments/general player annoucements don't hesitate to post here/pbw site or email me. (I_8_BAD_GRAPES@Hotmail.com). If you are taking vacation please let me know and I will see what I can do so your turns don't get screwed up (just as long as your not taking 3 months off or something to seek your inner self in Tibet.... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif ).

And yes, the map is a bit strange, your home system and a few others may have some adverse effects (ie shields don't work or combat sensors are reduced.) yes this is the intended effect. My Version of the 'QuadMod' was used to create a random map and then the Sphereworld was introduced.

Above all HAVE FUN (yes that is an order), its just a game. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Unknown_Enemy]

***FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION***FLA
--STOP--Ork Warchief Groumph died of excessive lead ingestion--STOP--New warchief took other name/Harem/possessions thus becoming warchief Groumph II--STOP--Internal infighting has resumed--STOP--Assume Ork behavior changed from Violent/Stupid to Violent/Stupid--STOP--
***FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION***FLA

[Skulky]

don't mean to interupt this discussion but what exactly is tech trading? What's the big deal?

[capnq]

don't mean to interupt this discussion but what exactly is tech trading? What's the big deal? <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">When you make a trade offer to another empire, one of the things you can trade is technology.

This can really be exploited against an AI player, since they're not good at judging "fair" trades. For instance, you can convince a neutral to trade their Colonization tech for yours; they can then colonize a few more worlds in their home system, while you take the rest of the map.

I'm less certain about why people dislike tech trades between human players; someone else will have to explain that.

[Unknown_Enemy]

***FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION***FLA
--STOP--Ork Warchief Groumph VI issued orders to have all Orks Boarding partiez fitted with fusion hand grenades to please the war Gods--STOP--
***FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION***FLA

Galaxy Encyclopedia Universalis
Ref 191628.1267.924 Chapt 12.9 Quadrant 67.2

Race Orks Variant Burning Teath Clans

Subject : Weapons of choice Ref W61.36U
Item : Fusion hand Grenade
Low tech device containing a small fusion field and some nuclear materials in suffisant quantity to create a weapon of 10 to 30 Kt fusion bomb. Mostly used by Goblins (Ref Orks sub-type O46.78D) on ground assault duties. No Orks were ever plausibly recorded to launch one and survive the bLast under standard (1g) gravity.

Subject Orks sub-type : Goblins Ref O46.78D
Orks usually sort their own populations in 3 parts :
- Warboyz warrior class
- FunzOrks reproductive females
- Cattle general labor class
When a Cattle class Ork is deemed too stupid to accomplish the easiest work, he is called "Goblin" and send into special assault squads. These units usually have a strategy summarized as "we have more troops than you have bullets".

[ July 18, 2002, 17:31: Message edited by: Unknown_Enemy ]

[Skulky]

So for example i would say that i will research chemistry and sheilds and sensors and my ally would do research in PDC and PPB and we woudl trade those techs along the way so taht we wouldn't be redundant in researching thigns 2x?

[geoschmo]

Exactly. In fact we had a game a while back with four man teams and research was multiplied 4X in effect, but it was a big hassle coordinating it all. I think in retrospect such a team game would have been better just starting as high tech. But that's just my opinion. Some people prolly get a kick out of it. And I like research myself, I just get annoyed having to do all the trade Messages back and forth.

Maybe if SEIV had another level of treaty beyond partnership that did this automatically I could go for it. Subjugation treaty transfers tech automatically from weaker to stronger. You'd just need a new treaty that would do this both ways. What would you call it though?

A Union treaty maybe? Let each other view each other planets, and cargo, automatically transfer resources by simply clicking a slide bar somewhere, without having to send an offer and wait for it to be accepted. View each others communications both ways, although not be able to send comms for each other. Maybe even be able to take population and cargo from each other by simply loading it from their planet to your ship. Give control of a ship or fleet to the other, without losing ownership. (That Last one I have heard before. That would be a nice feature without having to have a Union Treaty)

Geoschmo

[ July 18, 2002, 20:30: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

[geoschmo]

Originally posted by capnq:
[QUOTE]I'm less certain about why people dislike tech trades between human players; someone else will have to explain that.<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Personally I don't like it because it pushes the game into a predictable rut. One person will meet another person and they will begin to cooperate and do research and trade all the techs, thus doubling the amount of research. It ends up being not oen or two techs that they need at the moment, but all the techs.

And everybody HAS to do it, because if you choose not to, you fall behind in tech and get spanked. The game ends up being about who can coordinate there research projects bettern. Very boring IMHO.

But it is a part of the game, so I almost never ban it outright in my games, but put it to a vote of the players. If enough of them want to I will allow it. But I always vote agaisnt it, and if it's allowed it will make me very much not want to play in the game.

Geoschmo

[Deathstalker]

*******************************
Alert! Alert! Priority One Distress!
*******************************

"General! Ships entering Home Sector!

"Scanners Ensign! Who and What are they!"

"Data confirms it sir! Both the Xi'Chung and Aquiliaens are heading straight for us!"

"Ready the main guns and send someone to wake the Primus. We're in for a bumpy ride son."

***************************
End Priority Alert. Waiting for Response
***************************

Ohhhh, this is gonna be a tough one. It's what turn 7 and at war X2 already!

[geoschmo]

Jeez, war already? Or you just made contact?

[Deathstalker]

Oh definitly war with the bugs, they declaired it after I said 'hello'. As far as the other race it is quite 'murderous', and in my home system to boot. Gonna be fun http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif (if I can Last that is).

[geoschmo]

I forgot you were putting AI players in the game. Did you set the game to team mode? That would explain their rapid hostility. Of course, if you met them this quick they must be close by and that would probably be enough to tick them off.

Geoschmo

[Alpha Kodiak]

And just think of how easy it will be to defend a system with, what, eight warp points or so. I'm just waiting for the nightmare to begin! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

[Deathstalker]

Nah, no team mode. Only 4 ai players and one of them about 6 sectors away from my home planet http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif . Could have been worse (I think, though I don't know how right now).

[Unknown_Enemy]

***FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION***FLA
--STOP--Due to lack of enemies in the 4 surrounding systems, severe infighting has resumed in the Orks clans. Warlord Groumph IX declared that "natural selection" should apply on all warboyz unworthy of war--STOP--
***FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION***FLA

[Unknown_Enemy]

***FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION***FLASH INFORMATION***
--STOP--Contact established with Zadoni Imperium--STOP--Ork infighting suddenly stopped on all worlds--STOP--Diplomatic Messages has been written on missile warheads--STOP--All production abruptly turned to War material--STOP--Warboss Groumph XI ready to sacrifice all goblins on the fight for system GLC-2041--STOP--Probability of Ork Clans self destroying themselves is now very low--STOP--
***FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION***FLASH INFORMATION***

[ July 24, 2002, 10:33: Message edited by: Unknown_Enemy ]

[geoschmo]

Now of all people in the game, why did I have to be the one to run into this guy? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Unknown_Enemy]

GREAT NEW !!

The Orks just discovered that customs Messages can be sent directly from the game, which can allow direct player-player negociations.

You are all authorized to yell "What ?? but how did they not discover that before http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif ??? they must be completely stupid !!"

But what could you really expect from Ork ?

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[ July 28, 2002, 14:17: Message edited by: Unknown_Enemy ]

[Unknown_Enemy]

***FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION***FLASH INFORMATION***
War ?
Tensions arise between Burning Teath clans and the Zadoni Imperium --STOP-- War drums are now heard in all Orks warships while Zadoni fleet has put themselves in strike position --STOP-- Informators suggest ships are being unmothballed on both sides --STOP-- New joke within the Orks is to put a lizard in your bed. A few thousands casualties has been accounted for as most Orks lack the most basic sense of humour --STOP-- No words from Orks leaders who are currently in a new election process after the death of Groumph XV
***FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION***FLASH INFORMATION***

[ August 05, 2002, 09:51: Message edited by: Unknown_Enemy ]

[Unknown_Enemy]

***FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION***
---STOP---Uneasy peace standing between Orks and lizzards---STOP---Ork weapon testing lead to disaster---STOP---A goblin biomorphed with strong bio-reactors and grabing a fusion warhead was tested in a shipyard as a cheap missile replacement---STOP---Weapon deemed very efficient if a way to prevent the goblin to come back home is found---STOP---warship teath of God wrecked---STOP---one of the goblin loose its warhead and crashed on the ship's hull---STOP---The corpse of this still living goblins was discovered to be a valuable hull protection---STOP---full squads of goblins dispatched to biomorphing units to serve as ships body-gards---STOP---
***FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION***

[geoschmo]

****FLASH TRAFFIC*****Scout Ship reports location of Ork Homeworld discovered*****Requests further instructions*****

******Instructions as follows:******Current relations between between Zahdoni Impreium and Ork Clan currently listed as peaceful*****Standard rules of engagment when travelling through allied space apply******No hostile actions to be taken********Withdraw from Ork home system immedietly*******Continue scouting mission as ordered before*******No further action neccesary at this time******Location of Ork Homeworld to be filed with Zahdoni Defense Ministry in case it is needed at a later date*******

[ August 09, 2002, 16:42: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

[Deathstalker]

LOL

[Unknown_Enemy]

***FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION***FLASH INFORMATION***
WAR !!!!!!!
Following diplomatic incidents with Zadoni Emperium,Groumph XVIII was executed for not attacking the lizards homeworld before they discover their homeworld--STOP--Following this execution, full war erupt between Ork Clans--STOP--Clan Blue Teath and Bad Breath annihilated--STOP--Planatary condition decreased--STOP--Rumors are that new biomorphed warboyz are unable to have children with starndard orks--STOP--Current Ork leaders has not been identified--STOP--Informations suggest that new leader Groumph XVIII is a fake masquerating a hidden Ork clan--STOP--Probability of Ork Clans self destroying themselves unknown--STOP--Azorani Alliance reco ship caugh in the middle of Ork internal warfare--STOP--Strong Ork diplomatic protest, as their ship prevented correct target guidance on their foe--STOP--

***FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION***FLASH INFORMATION***

[Growltigga]

STOP--Strong Ork diplomatic protest, as their ship prevented correct target guidance on their foe--STOP--

LOL+ROFLAO, excellent, excellent, I just love the idea of this..

[Alpha Kodiak]

*** Azorani Alliance scout ship Acbor 1 to Core Command: Reporting mass confusion in Ork space. Request permission to leave area while we still have our sanity, let alone our lives....

*** Core Command to Acbor 1: Get out of there now! Oh the Azoranity....

[Unknown_Enemy]

***FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION***FLASH INFORMATION***
All infighting has stopped or has been crushed--STOP--rebel colony bowed to warchief Groumph (no number given??!!!)--STOP--History suggest this could only happen in time of war, but the clans seem still at peace with the races they already meet--STOP--Intel suggest they could have been hired for war--STOP--question is by who and for what price--STOP--
***FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION***FLASH INFORMATION***

[Unknown_Enemy]

This universe is really weird. But one of the most interesting I've ever played. But I fear that the sphereworld and the ringworld may inbalance the game quite quickly. May I suggest the newt PBM to be run with the same settings, but without these two special worlds ???

What other player do think of this ?

[ August 24, 2002, 11:35: Message edited by: Unknown_Enemy ]

[Nodachi]

The sphereword and ringworld are part of what makes this PBW game unique. Are they unbalancing, I don't think so. Think about how long it takes to build-up an empty sphereworld. During that time the player still has to hold the world which becomes a bullseye to anyone passing by. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[Evil Rich]

All praise the greatest round one of them all.

The great bubble at the centre of the universe is a holy place and to colonize it would violate the sancity of its roundness.

Pestilent aliens living on its surface would only irritate its smoothness, whilst bombarding it from orbit would simply add polish, in the ultimate bubbly fun party of them all.

His holiness, the most serene Gob-Stopper, invites all right minded aliens, to earn there indulgences by glassing the Sphereworld if they are so fortunate as to find it.

Fatso IV
for the Bubbly Fun People

[Alpha Kodiak]

Memo to all Azorani diplomatic personnel:

Open carrying of Class 4 neural disruptor weapons is now mandatory at all times in Orkish space. Deadly force is authorized at first sense of hostile thought in this region. Oddly, our Xenopsychology Department believes that these actions will bring about improved diplomatic relations with the Orks.

Note to security section:

Occasional termination of random Orkish personnel without cause may also serve to improve the diplomatic climate.

[Unknown_Enemy]

***FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION***FLASH INFORMATION***
--STOP--In an attempt to honor the Jraenar and Drakol empires, Ork leader Groumph(still no number ???) summoned these Empires's ambassadors to a ceremony--STOP--The reception was held in an Orkish temple in which the old Drakol ambassador was shooted dead to help his race in the natural selection process--STOP--Due to the running speed and surprising agility the old Jraenar ambassador showed to avoid his fate, natural selection process has been cancelled on him until next year--STOP--Drakol ambassador's body was recycled into tin can rations and sent back to Drakol Empire as a sign of respect--STOP--Orkish anger as no thanks came back from these empires--STOP--Diplomatic incident is a possibility--STOP--
***FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION***FLASH INFORMATION***

[Alpha Kodiak]

Chairman Orizuni looked over the barrel of his Neural Disruptor at the body lying in a heap before him. The foul usurper, Arzonis Imbezilus (henceforth to be known as the Dreaded A. I.) would cause no more trouble. But what trouble he had caused! Wars with erstwhile friends, ships scattered over the quadrant heading out on who-knows-what fools' errands, construction orders in a shambles on planets all over Azorani Space. The Azorani Empire would live or die on his actions to recover from what the Dreaded A. I. did in one short month....

[Unknown_Enemy]

***FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION***FLASH INFORMATION***
--STOP--Orkish (so-called) diplomats still at pain to get used to their jobs--STOP--The WizeBoyz are puzzled by the refusal of the Bubbling Fun Embassador to attend (as the ball) to their "Friendship Orkish Football Shooting"--STOP--Warship Die-In-Pain rebelled after Warboss Groumph stopped the hunt for a lone chicken (translate Azorani) colony ship sighted in an Orkish system--STOP--The crew received a blame, as usual written on missile warheads--STOP--No survivors--STOP--
***FLASH INFORMATION******FLASH INFORMATION***FLASH INFORMATION***

[ September 13, 2002, 14:57: Message edited by: Unknown_Enemy ]

[Mylon]

REVOLUTION! The Zhadoni Empire has undergone some drastic changes in government. Expect matters to be a little cloudy for perhaps the next year while the sudden uprising calms down and the new represenatives can settle into their positions. We hope to maintain all previous treaties and alliences, though unfortunately most of records were lost in a... mysterious fire. It would be best that any special requests be resubmitted so that our records will be up to date.

We look to a long lived empire together with the rest of the Quadrant. Cheers!

[Unknown_Enemy]

Are Orks sensitive, thoughtful artists, who rebel only against their unwarranted persecution? Opinion is divided. All the Orks say they are, the entire rest of the universe says that they’re nasty misshapen thugs who would be better off dead. Given this, it’s just as well for the Orks that they’re really rather good at fighting.
"A warboyz is something to be’, sang Orkish troubadour and Poet Laureate Ironbar Legeater, and he knew what he was singing about. Ironbar’s short and tragic life encapsulated the black despair that lies at the heart of Orkish life. A deep stygian despair, enlightened only by music, poetry and the frequent acts of extreme violence that give a dim outline of meaning to Orkish existence.
Ironbar suffered the usual rejection from a universe that both hates and fears Orks. Skin ‘too green’ for flight schools. Tusks ‘too big’ for infantry schools. Crushed by the cruelty of a heartless universe, Ironbar turned to music (and violence) and would often jot down songs, or write his moving sonnets, by the light of burning homeworlds. Since razing a world contributes to raise Orkish moral, a glassed world is a win-win situation, and a cheap price to pay for such great art. The Orks widely imitated ‘grunge’ style of architecture and dress was simply way ahead of its time. So do not rate it as barbaric.

What to know about Goblins :
So what can a Goblin do? On its own, it can either stay at home and be bossed around by warboyz, or it can seek battle and die a pointless and unlamented death. However, a bunch of Goblins, trained quickly and cheaply, will still die pointless and unlamented deaths, but they’ll take some much more expensive, and much more lamented warships with them.
Now imagine the basic impossibility of the job of turning Goblins into disciplined troops. Now imagine the very worst, most intractable of those Goblins. What do you do with them? You could send them on suicide missions, but all Goblin missions are suicide missions. Instead, you turn them into Shamans. Now, all of a sudden, their weirdness, crazy antics and sick experiments with prisonners become imbued with mystical significance.
Later, you’ve sorted out your Goblins. Your ordinary Goblins are just phaser fodder. Your semi-smart Goblins are Shaman. Is the job done? Of course not. You’re left with the lowest of the low, Goblins who are too stupid to dance with a pig. These are special men with a special mission. You tell them that you’ve arranged their rapid transport to the battle, and then strap them into the bio-Gobshooter. They’ll thank you for it, even as the bio-modification shortened their lifespan to 3 months, and even as their tiny green bodies arc across space toward an enemy warship.

What to know about warboyz
Warboyz are actually the intellectuals of the Orkish side. Being intellectuals, they have naturally turned to radical politics, and follow the revolutionary dogmas of V.I. Wargski, who was voted this quadrant’s most dangerous demagogue so many times in a row that he was awarded the trophy in perpetuity.
As a result, Warboyz often charge into battle shouting slogans such as ‘The Orks must control (or raze) the means of Production’, and ‘The Goblins, Orks and all other members of the Small, Medium or Large Class are the vanguard of the revolution’. Unfortunately for the Warboyz, revolutionary fervor is no substitute for decent tactics, and their zeal merely ensures high casualty levels. However, there is no lack of replacements.

To taunt an Ork: Ask him what clubs he belongs to.
To make friends with an Ork : glass some heavily populated world
Motto: Don’t win their hearts and minds, eat them.

Thanks to SSG for this text.....

[ September 19, 2002, 16:56: Message edited by: Unknown_Enemy ]

[Unknown_Enemy]

Hummm, Mylon,

As soon as all players have uploaded their turns, the PBW server will kick off computations and send the new turn to all players. No need to wait for 48h between each turns...
Also when you are the Last to upload a turn, around a few seconds later you will have the new turn ready.

Happy hunting,

Unknown_Enemy

[Unknown_Enemy]

Proverb of the day.

Wise Warboss Groumph said :

The best gunz iz alwayz the biggest gunz