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Topic: Do You Play SP or MP ? |  |
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SlowwHand
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 08:50
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I keep finding myself having to specify if I mean single player or multiplayer.To the people who ONLY play SP, why?
This is assuming you have MGE. Why would you have MGE, and evidently an internet connection, and only play SP?  ------------------
It's In The Way That You Use It
Tuatha De Danann Tribe |
Mixam
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 09:19
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I don't have MGE so I play SP  I won't play MP till Civ 3 comes along I think. |
SlowwHand
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 09:22
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I figured there were some like you around, but is it a time issue with those who DO have MGE? It's like 2 completely, yes completely, different games. ------------------
It's In The Way That You Use It
Tuatha De Danann Tribe |
DaveV
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 09:46
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Yes, a time issue. I rarely have an uninterrupted block of several hours I can devote to Civ. The computer is happy to play 30 minutes or an hour at a time, but not many humans are. MP is unquestionably a better game than beating up the AI, but it takes (at least) two to tango. I'm hoping Civ III has a good implementation of PBEM. |
Paul
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 10:03
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I agree with Dave. I rarely have more than an hour at a time to play civ. I play CTP and SMAC PBEM games and I hope Civ3 will have a working PBEM option. You can play PBEM if you have 30 or so minutes per day (much less in the earlier turns, but later in the game you will need more time). |
East Street Trader
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 10:19
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I've seen reference to PBEM before but have no idea what it stands for or how it works. |
SlowwHand
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 10:31
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Me either.Believe me, I recognize about time, and what that can lead to.
Just was curious. ------------------
It's In The Way That You Use It
Tuatha De Danann Tribe |
DaveV
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 10:35
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EST: PBEM = Play By EMail. You play your turn, send the save file to the next guy, who plays his turn and sends the save to the next guy...Civ 2 was not really designed for PBEM, but it can be done if you're willing to work around the bugs. Other big problems - everyone has to wait for the slowest player in the group; start is kind of a problem (PBEM games I'm involved in either used accelerated start or an online kickoff session to get past the early game when your entire turn consists of "press ENTER"). I'm hoping Civ III has a better (more even, at least) accelerated start and/or the capability of starting everyone with, say, five settlers. Edit: an alternative, which several people have tried, is to use a scenario (like the Rome scenario, anyone  ?).
[This message has been edited by DaveV (edited May 04, 2001).] |
East Street Trader
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 11:05
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Thanks, DaveV.Sounds a bit like postal chess. I must try it some time, I think (and the times I've seen references people seemed to think it is good), but I harbour a doubt as to whether I have the patience. |
EOL
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 11:26
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I only have SP. This PBEM sounds more convenient than trying to get everyone on line at the same time though.EOL |
airdrik
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 11:57
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I only play SP, because I don't have MGE and I don't want to tie up the lines playing civ all day |
lord of the mark
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 12:04
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quote:
Originally posted by East Street Trader on 05-04-2001 11:05 AM
Thanks, DaveV.Sounds a bit like postal chess. I must try it some time, I think (and the times I've seen references people seemed to think it is good), but I harbour a doubt as to whether I have the patience.
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PBEM is of course an update of PBM, play by mail, an old way to play board war games long-distance. LOTM
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Paul
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 12:40
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PBEM games can certainly take a long time. That also depends on how many players you have in a game. Games with more players take longer. In games with less players you can sometimes get to a turn per day, but in games with the maximum number of players that hardly ever happens.One of my CTP games (originally 8 players) is new almost finished after 240 turns in 18 months and there are even slower games. But I have also had 3-player SMAC games finished in about 3-4 months. |
kcbob
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 12:50
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I think I'm correct in stating that PBEM is another way to label "succession" games as they are know here.To the question at hand... I have MGE but only play SP. I only have one phone line and MP would tie that up. Plus, I recently changed to a non-unlimited access rate for my internet connection. All things considered, however, someday I will play MP. The interaction with the AI is great but real people contact would be better. ------------------
Frodo lives! |
East Street Trader
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 12:59
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Donkeys years ago we used to play Diplomacy by post. People diplomed away and then sent their moves to a guy who published them in a sort of magazine. That then triggered the next diplomatic round.Folk got up to all sorts, even travelling to call on you and pretending to be one of the other players! But the games never finished because too many would lose interest along the way or were just too disorganised. |
Marquis de Sodaq
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 13:45
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I play SP but own MGE. I got MGE to be able to play many great scenarios that require it. I simply don't have the time to play MP, altho it sounds very appealing to me. The occasional half hour before going to bed is usually the best I can do, hardly adequate for a game.------------------
"There is no fortress impregnable to an ass laden with gold."
-Philip of Macedon |
Everyman
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 15:04
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I only play SP. I have MGE but that's because I bought it when CompUSA had a promo to buy the game for $20 and get a $20 rebate -- sure got my money's worth on that deal.I avoid multi-player PC games for two reasons. (1) Like others who responded, I would have trouble getting a totally free block of time at home. Even when I play Age of Kings, my index finger is always poised over the PAUSE key, awaiting the inevitable "Honey, can you open this jar for me?" (I do what I can to avoid the equally inevitable "You care about your game more than you care about me.") (2) I fear that if I were to become involved in MP, my competitiveness might get the better of me and lead me to get even more obsessed about the game than I already am.
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Scouse Gits
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 15:07
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PBEM is not the same as Succession - although they have much in common...In PBEM each player controls their own empire and it is a v slow variant of MP, in a succession game each player takes their turn in controlling the one empire - a v slow SP game. I SP - possess MP - would like to MP, but am concerned about time!!! MWHC too and we have to keep our masters happy don't we... Hey DaveV, I'm up for a PBEM Rome Scenario - as long as you promise not to conquer the universe in 43 years - bet we could interest LaFayette and I shall see if I can get SG2 interested this evening ... ------------------
Scouse Git[1] -- git1@scousers.net "Staring at your screen in horror and disbelief when you open a saved game is one of the fun things of a succession game " - Hueij
"The Great Library has been built!"
"A short cut has to be challenging,
were it not so it would be 'the way'." - Paul Craven |
Blaupanzer
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 16:13
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I SP. Have considered but not bought MGE because I have a wife and she thinks we have a life. So yes, Slowhand, it is time. Also, I get the impression that to the MPers, Civ is a wargame, who can conquer all the rest first. While I can play that way, the game seems to me to be so much more than that. about building, managing, and succeeding as a civilization -- a culture -- in a multi-cultural world. The wargame part might be as well (dare I say better) fulfilled in a session of AOE II. |
Chris1111
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 17:19
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I play SP and probably wont play MP. I've had my fill of "other people" within MMORPG games . Competiveness is ugly |
Scouse Gits
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 17:28
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SG1DaveV - I have SG2's arm twisted up his back and he says he would be delighted to try the Rome Scenario by PBEM ...
SG2[Edit] Why not Red Front?
SG1Lord!! the man is a sadist!!!!
_______________
The SGs in red wine and dialogue mode------------------
Scouse Git[1] -- git1@scousers.net "Staring at your screen in horror and disbelief when you open a saved game is one of the fun things of a succession game " - Hueij
"The Great Library has been built!"
"A short cut has to be challenging,
were it not so it would be 'the way'." - Paul Craven |
SlowwHand
b.02-15-99
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posted May 04, 2001 17:46
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It may not we the answer for you SP people, but I got given time to play, without being griped at, if I limited to 2 nights a week.
From there it became, "just leave me the weekend nights".
Yes!  ------------------
It's In The Way That You Use It
Tuatha De Danann Tribe |
Alexander's Horse
b.02-15-99
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posted May 05, 2001 03:36
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I exclusively multi-play. SP is so easy its boring.------------------
Founder, Dear Leader and Great Helmsman of PROT -the People's Republic Off Topic www.delphi.com/prot1 |
War4ever
b.02-15-99
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posted May 06, 2001 03:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Alexander's Horse on 05-05-2001 03:36 AM
I exclusively multi-play. SP is so easy its boring.
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ditto what he said......... |
SlowwHand
b.02-15-99
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posted May 06, 2001 08:56
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Oh good. I thought all MP people had been taken by a UFO.
I hate SP. Bor-ing. ------------------
It's In The Way That You Use It
Tuatha De Danann Tribe |
drake
b.02-15-99
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posted May 07, 2001 09:55
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Put me on the same list as Ah and War Sloww. My days of playing the retarded at best computer are over. There's no glory in beating a helpless AI. Like Ozzy said in another thread, SP is like masturbation and MP is like sex......... |
kcbob
b.02-15-99
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posted May 07, 2001 12:45
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My AI opponents must be smarter than the average bear. While I do beat them with regularity, if I get a bad start in a game then I'm toast.SG... I take it a PBEM game would take, theoritically, six times longer than a succession game? How would you generate the game to beging with? As a 'Hotseat' game with seven players? If so, has this been done here at Apolyton? Do you see any interest in this among the members? ------------------
Frodo lives! |
DaveV
b.02-15-99
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posted May 07, 2001 13:14
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kcbob - you can find several active PBEM games on the Multiplayer forum:
../../Forum2/HTML/002177.html?46 ../../Forum2/HTML/001922.html?63 ../../Forum2/HTML/002145.html?6 ../../Forum2/HTML/001871.html?12 |
rah
b.02-15-99
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posted May 07, 2001 13:35
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Saying "SP is like masturbation" is an insult to masturbation. One can provide limited amusement and the other can't.
MP only.
The only SP games that I've played in the last three years were amusing challanges, like the nomad challange. RAH
[This message has been edited by rah (edited May 07, 2001).] |
drake
b.02-15-99
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posted May 07, 2001 13:41
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You're right Rah...........lets find a more appropriate comparison.......How about TBall and Professional baseball |
kcbob
b.02-15-99
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posted May 07, 2001 14:26
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DaveV,Thanks. Those are interesting. But was I on track with my supposition about starting a new game as a 'Hotseat' game? ------------------
Frodo lives! |
solo
b.02-15-99
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posted May 09, 2001 13:34
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I have tried MP with a friend on the internet, but we had problems maintaining connections, with latency, and other bugs that cropped up, such as when my friend suddenly got the ability to move my triremes on his turn, and "forgot" to leave them adjacent to land afterwards. It was also difficult finding free blocks of time to play to suit us both, and actually finishing a game seemed highly unlikely. I guess MP requires amounts of free time and fanaticism I can not afford, but I still wish for a good way to play against human opponents, especially with many of the great players here, so maybe PBEM is the way.As for PBEM, my own experience with PBM (before the internet) in other games such as chess, war games, and Diplomacy were quite enjoyable, very convenient to manage, and only took some patience, as each move took a week or more to exchange. At that time, I would often have 7 or 8 different PBM games going at one time, so never got bored waiting for moves. The quality of play was also very high, as each player could give their turn all the time they wanted before mailing it off. With the "E" in PBM, moves can be exchanged must faster, making it very suitable for Civ II. I would also like to know the answer to kcbob's question about how the PBEM games are played, and would be interested in participating a few, but I think it would work best with just 2 human players in each game. |
drake
b.02-15-99
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posted May 09, 2001 14:00
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quote:
I guess MP requires amounts of free time and fanaticism I can not afford
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We're only talking about 3 or 4 hours one night a week. It's not a huge commitment at all. Instead of watching TV one night (or whatever is done after work/school, or in your case Solo, drug peddling ), play a game of civ! You can do it! (PS- the drug things a joke, Its just that Lowell's a notorious city for drugs in the area) |
DaveV
b.02-15-99
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posted May 09, 2001 14:07
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"Anyone for PBEM" spells out the procedure pretty well. It boils down to: start an internet game, load a saved game, start game (with only you connected), pick your civ.My experience with PBEM has been very positive. It takes a lot of patience, a lot of trust in your fellow players, and some careful setup to avoid AI interference in your civ. During each player's turn, all the other civs are controlled by the AI, so there are many opportunities for the AI to cause havoc. Solo: a two player game has less strategy than a game with more players IMO. In a four player game, you have to watch your back while you're attacking one of the other players. |
solo
b.02-15-99
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posted May 09, 2001 21:48
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drake, how else to support my habit, CivII. I keep trying to get the local junkies to join me in playing Civ II hoping to switch their addictions, but the best I can do so far is weekly Yahtzee marathons with a reformed cocaine user. It's a start. I know if I started MP I would not be able to stop at just 3-4 hours once a week, once I got hooked, so I resist the temptation. I appreciate the offer, though.DaveV, thanks for your info about PBEM games. My preference for a 2-player game reflects my experience when comparing PBM Diplomacy (more than 2) with other 2-player PBM games. The Dip games were often bounced around among different magazines (also known by that catchy "zines" abbreviation), with players dropping in and out, and many never were completed. With skillful and reliable opponents, I found 2-player games to be very competitive and much simpler to organize, play and finish, but that's just my personal preference at the moment. |
drake
b.02-15-99
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posted May 10, 2001 09:27
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quote:
I keep trying to get the local junkies to join me in playing Civ II hoping to switch their addictions, but the best I can do so far is weekly Yahtzee marathons with a reformed cocaine user. It's a start.
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LOL If only you could figure out a way to market the essence of civ 2 in a bag..................you'd be a popular man in your town |
La Fayette
b.02-15-99
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posted May 10, 2001 10:59
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quote:
Originally posted by Alexander's Horse on 05-05-2001 03:36 AM
SP is so easy its boring.
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Have a try at ww2 scenario, played as neutral leader, and let us know!I only played SP (and really enjoyed it) up to now.
But there is a gauntlet on the ground, not far from my left foot. So I bought a MP game 3 days ago and hope it will be at work next week.
(playing perfectionist against greedy ICSers should be fun!)
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drake
b.02-15-99
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posted May 10, 2001 11:07
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quote:
(playing perfectionist against greedy ICSers should be fun!)
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Is that a common stereotype of mp players? I don't think I have played a game with a sleazer in quite some time..........Trust me, there's a lot of perfectionist type Mp players.......... |
La Fayette
b.02-15-99
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posted May 10, 2001 11:12
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'La petite mort' is a very delightful way to translate 'orgasm' into french.
Maybe being destroyed by greedy ICSers is also some kind of 'petite mort'?------------------
aux bords mystérieux du monde occidental |
La Fayette
b.02-15-99
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posted May 10, 2001 11:22
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Please, solo, what is Yahtzee?
(I'm no marathon runner and no cocaine user though, so it's perhaps useless to know). |
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