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Author Topic:   The Nature of Acceleration

Adamant posted 03-20-99 02:29 PM ET
I just finished using Time Acceleration on a PBEM game I just setup. Oddly, after running a few test games on my own machine, a strange thing kept happening.
When using Accelerated Start (with blind tech cut off), the very first player has his techs randomly assigned to him, while everyone else get to choose thier first 6 or 7 techs. Is the first player compensated for not being able to pick and choose his techs by getting a secret project, or more techs than he normally would?
I'm wondering, because if he isn't then he's losing out in the long run.....
tfs99 posted 03-22-99 04:03 PM ET
That does suck.
Perhaps the only way to get fair MP games is for all of us MP SMACers to get together to construct some fairly well balanced scenarios, that is:
1) Randomly generated maps
2) Pre-selected roughly equivalent starting positions with access to resources at start
3) starting positions spread out across map rather than 3 or 4 bunched together on one continent
4) players/factions randomly assigned to starting positions
5) Have some stock predefined tech sets that players could choose from with perhaps minor mods allowed
I dunno, but placement seems to be a big factor in who is going to dominate in the game. Against AI you can overcome a bad placement with smart play. Against humans who are competent players, you are generally screwed.
And I had no idea about the first player getting random tech Accel Start.
Or maybe it's just a touch of "realism" to reflect the "flakiness" of Lady Deidre Skye when she is the first player.
Dig that crazy Gaia witch ...
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Author	Topic: The Nature of Acceleration
Adamant	posted 03-20-99 02:29 PM ET I just finished using Time Acceleration on a PBEM game I just setup. Oddly, after running a few test games on my own machine, a strange thing kept happening. When using Accelerated Start (with blind tech cut off), the very first player has his techs randomly assigned to him, while everyone else get to choose thier first 6 or 7 techs. Is the first player compensated for not being able to pick and choose his techs by getting a secret project, or more techs than he normally would? I'm wondering, because if he isn't then he's losing out in the long run.....
tfs99	posted 03-22-99 04:03 PM ET That does suck. Perhaps the only way to get fair MP games is for all of us MP SMACers to get together to construct some fairly well balanced scenarios, that is: 1) Randomly generated maps 2) Pre-selected roughly equivalent starting positions with access to resources at start 3) starting positions spread out across map rather than 3 or 4 bunched together on one continent 4) players/factions randomly assigned to starting positions 5) Have some stock predefined tech sets that players could choose from with perhaps minor mods allowed I dunno, but placement seems to be a big factor in who is going to dominate in the game. Against AI you can overcome a bad placement with smart play. Against humans who are competent players, you are generally screwed. And I had no idea about the first player getting random tech Accel Start. Or maybe it's just a touch of "realism" to reflect the "flakiness" of Lady Deidre Skye when she is the first player. Dig that crazy Gaia witch ...