Building a Community

[Buster's Uncle]

Thank you for your kind support, sir.

[Mart]

AAR's are so much work. Even more then medium demogame turn reports.

Yes, they are. For example, I am going to complete "Gaian Luck" but have no definite deadline.
What I have though, is graphics, that is there for later use. Re-usability, it will help future posting.

So, what do you think about "Blind research" setting in the next DG? Succession game gives some feeling how that would be.
Having no Industrial Automation in 2230 convinces me, that was really as the game was intended to be played.

[Buster's Uncle]

I take it we're sorta waiting for the succession game to wind down before we bear down on firming up the plan and going full-court on talking it up to people (or talking then firming w/ feedback)?  And who do you see in charge of the demogame as it's in progress?  I assume you intend to do setup, but if you want to play -if that's ethical for the one who set up in a team game- I'll have to unless sisko or someone steps up.  Just wondering.

?

[Mart]

I was hoping to play. I'm on this side, as for demo games. In that case, I could advice only how to prepare the game. I should have no access to scenario etc.

Yes, in some days or few weeks we should see how succession game completes. At this moment, I can see players are interested in the next succession game. And we possibly would have these interesting twists, like faction switching.

I am thinking about "Blind research" option for the DG. So far, none of the DG games, as far as I know, had that. Simply, cause majority considers that as too random.
But observing current succession game, I have impression, this actually opens a lot new strategic options, tricks, that players can do, increases diplomacy value, etc. Not to mention, that would be new and interesting experience for MP DG.

---
And this is time, to start preparing a txt file with highlights of this DG, comments/explanations, proposed settings, etc.
I will start one.

[Buster's Uncle]

New and interesting is always a selling point for getting people involved...

I will run it if I have to...  Maybe you can put sisko or t-ras on doing up the scenario.

[Mart]

Would you like to play, as a player?

[Buster's Uncle]

I figure I'll enjoy it no matter my manner of participation.

[Geo]

So, what do you think about "Blind research" setting in the next DG? Succession game gives some feeling how that would be.
Having no Industrial Automation in 2230 convinces me, that was really as the game was intended to be played.

I'm definitely in favor of blind research for players as the standard. But then again, I've felt so for most of the game's existence.
I also feel that MP players better take a faction with the alien flag enabled. Makes for more honest diplomacy in the long run.

[Mart]

...
I also feel that MP players better take a faction with the alien flag enabled. Makes for more honest diplomacy in the long run.

Like the MP players could have no diplomacy whatsoever? Just "slash and burn"?
... I'm not sure all MP are like that

[Geo]

They usually end that way though...
I don't know if this has ever been tested that MP factions at war can actually exchange stuff in diplomacy?

[Mart]

Every SMACX player has these two elements:
- conqueror (momentum)
- builder

Some may have extremely small percentage of one of the above.
Probably the game would be most interesting if we get mixed teams. Not that we conquer all AI by tech level 3 and tech level 4 would saw the winner.

[Buster's Uncle]

Valka suggested bigger avatars in the middle of a conversation - and 14 minutes and change later:

Okay - I went 150x, which makes everything in the user galleries instantly obsolete (something north of 2,000 of my work, I think, that didn't size/crop themselves, and some were a lot of work, like the one I'm wearing was), and I don't care for really big avatars - but I ain't running this place entirely for my own benefit, and it's stupid for a place that's co-owned by a big avatar guy to be stuck in the 90s.

Enjoy your voyage. 

Service with a smile.

[Unorthodox]

They usually end that way though...
I don't know if this has ever been tested that MP factions at war can actually exchange stuff in diplomacy?

I saw plenty of demogames a long while back somewhere else, where the SMAX community was HILARIOUS.  They all played their factions VERY HARDCORE roleplay style, and it made for some fascinating reading.  Got me to buy SMAC even.  As such, this severe roleplaying tended to not lead to the typical experience I had been trained to expect from Civ III (at the time), the diplomacy was more interesting and involved.  It was rather nice. 

My attempts at roleplaying teams in Civilization games...um...well...I really pissed off people with that idea.  Twice.  Personally don't know how you can be upset when I state the team is going to be a mercenary faction up front.  Always confused people when that team would act not to win, but for the cash.  DESPITE it being described up front, and in the name. 

Ah...that one civ III demogame.  We were "insane".  "no chance".  "what are you thinking".  "listen to reason".  "just surrender, your death will just make them the winners".  Dead last in the power rankings, fighting the top dog everyone was fretting over, and we had been paid to severely damage them.  That poor french team never even saw it coming when we completely leapfrogged them by leaps and bounds in the power ranking in 5 turns, flanked their entire army, sacked 10 cities, and started auctioning the resulting slaves.

The second merc team was fortunate enough to be on a continent with 2 teams that had grudges against each other.  Somehow they were shocked we took money from both sides, and both turned on us.  As if we weren't prepared for that. 

[Buster's Uncle]

Uno - there's going to be a role for reporters in this...

[Unorthodox]

Well...that would be fine now....but about end of August you know I'm gonna be getting scarcer and scarecer (not a typo)  till November.