Game: Dark Matter (in progress)

[CopperMonkey]

Well, it is quite easy to think some possible reasons why Jotunheim went to AI -- why not to avoid commenting pretender names in the forum and maybe it would be better to keep the diplomacy inside the game most of the time? Somebody makes a sneak attack, somebody plays a back stabber, somebody declares the war before attacks -- the playing behavior (I think) should be as a part of the pretender role play. I believe it should be ok to everyone to allow communication through game's text messages or private post to deliver news how some country is behaving and make secret plans together, but the public forum maybe not a good place for diplomacy -- particularly for the critical stuff.

[vfb]

ooc:

Well, in this case, Jotun ignored both a PM I sent, and an in-game message. That's totally fine of course, and eating tasty messenger morsels is something I'd expect Jotun giants to do. I'm not upset about his rush strategy either, it's all part of the game.

I'm pretty sure all messages I sent via the forum concerning the Jotun invasion of the lands of Man were totally in character. CopperMonkey, do you disagree?

I specifically used the forums because Jotun has an awake cold-aura Son of Niefel pretender and at that time could have totally wiped Man out of the game. There is a one-turn delay in using in-game messaging, which I wanted to avoid. Jotun had already scouted my castle, and was two provinces away from disaster (or conquest, depending on whose PoV you have). I needed one turn to request assistance from other nations (for a Frost Ring), and then one turn to reply pretending that someone had actually been kind enough to trade me one. My only hope was that Jotun would read the forums and be tricked into thinking I had gotten a ring.

To improve my understanding of Dominions diplomacy, I have perused many other older game threads, and have seen that the forums are often used to send messages in-character. I do not think I have abused the forums in any way.

Jeez, I even offered the guy a peace treaty in the end. I have no idea why he just dropped out.

[Xox]

You did fine vfb. No reason to worry about using the forums to do in game dipomacy. It is done all the time, as you noticed, and it adds an AAR feel for those of us reading the forums as we follow your game.


I would hate to see that custom stop, it would drain a lot of color from the forums.

[CopperMonkey]

Yes, on the second thought, I don't want to argue against the forum diplomacy as it sure seems to be a common way in the forum and also didn't realize you were put into difficult situation early of the game. This is my first multiplayer game, so I am not that well aware how things are generally worked out here.

[vfb]

Okay, thanks Xox and CopperMonkey. I'm happy there are no hard feelings, and let's get back in character!

[Sorlakind]

CopperMonkey said:
Well, it is quite easy to think some possible reasons why Jotunheim went to AI -- why not to avoid commenting pretender names in the forum and maybe it would be better to keep the diplomacy inside the game most of the time? Somebody makes a sneak attack, somebody plays a back stabber, somebody declares the war before attacks -- the playing behavior (I think) should be as a part of the pretender role play. I believe it should be ok to everyone to allow communication through game's text messages or private post to deliver news how some country is behaving and make secret plans together, but the public forum maybe not a good place for diplomacy -- particularly for the critical stuff.

Not trying to rehash a dead subject, but since this is a topic dear to my heart I would like to say something.

I use diplomacy heavily. The public forum is just another means to an end. It has some purposes that other forms of diplomacy cannot satisfy, e.g. disseminate propaganda. I use, and will continue to use it, unless house rules or the host of the game forbids it. The only rule I *always*, *always* observe is to stay in character - as can be attested by the signature appearing at the end of these posts.

I do not know why Jotunheim went AI. But if he did because of my friendly banter on God's names (and, I repeat, totally in-character) then probably he should not be playing MP games with strangers in the first place.

[Wyehl]

It's actually kind of interesting to me that this became a subject here. I play in a game on another board and we have a player there who more or less informs the entire thread about where his enemies are, what troops they have and whenever he wins a battle

I find *that* to be kind of annoying, especially if it's antagonistic, but a little bit is ok by me.

[lch]

Wyehl said:
It's actually kind of interesting to me that this became a subject here. I play in a game on another board and we have a player there who more or less informs the entire thread about where his enemies are, what troops they have and whenever he wins a battle

I find *that* to be kind of annoying, especially if it's antagonistic, but a little bit is ok by me.

Assuming that you're referring to me: While I may lack the ability to write as awesome in-character posts and roleplay as other people here on the Shrapnel forums, I would hope and expect that players have a lively discussion about the game in the game thread. I'm interested about what is going on in the world, especially in areas that I can't see myself. Otherwise it's a very dull experience, as the Dominions game itself is not very rewarding at all. If I wanted to play against players that are silent as a grave, I'd be playing single player games. Even if I'm not playing in a game, I'm reading the game threads, and if the players are doing it right by discussing and analyzing the game publicly it almost gives you the feeling of being in the game yourself. If you regard that as annoying, though, then I wonder what you are expecting to experience in a multiplayer game other than player interaction.

[Ewierl]

Can the host time be put back up to the longer time for a few more days? While I'd love to see Ermor submit turns more often, I even more would hate to see Ermor stale again, as is about to happen...

[Zachariah]

yah, sorry 'bout that. i will bump it back to 96.