Multiplayer PBEM Automated Server

[MercantileInterest]

In last year's multiplayer game, my group discovered it is possible to resign, thereby transferring control of a human faction to the AI. It's also possible to switch sides using the scenario editor.

It recently occurred to our Morganite player, that it should be possible to create an website which runs SMAC or SMAX. Players would record their game passwords on the site and, at the end of every turn, upload their saved games to the site. Now, this is the really interesting part. It might be possible for the game to temporarily switch a faction to AI, play the turn, and send it on to the next player, if a predesignated time period were exceeded, perhaps twenty-four hours.

Basically, the site would play the turn for procrastinating players.

Any people with technical skills have thoughts on this?

[Yitzi]

Once you have an automated server, you might as well have it keep the game going for a play-over-IP game.  Which has been discussed before.

[MercantileInterest]

Automated server may not be the right term. This is basically just an upload site which pushes a PBEM game along when players take too long.

[Vishniac]

Would be interesting.
It's how PBEM of Dominions 3 worked. (and probably 4 too) though the AI doesn't play the turn: only automatic things happen (cashing gold and gems, repetitive actions already ordered...)

Either you play or the AI plays without you would be cool. At least people would be forced to post to delay their turn instead of reappearing three months later without even excusing.