PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

Just curious, for those that play PBeM for fairly small Company+ battles on about 40x40 maps.

How long do your games usually take in real time to complete based on a 20 Turn game? I am considering a future group project (if enough interest and assistance) and basically I am looking for a average turnaround time in days for a 20 turn PBeM game. ;)

Re: PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

In most cases it takes me about 30 days at the most depending on any RL issues that may pop up. Usually closer to 20 though.

Re: PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

Did not use poll but in most cases between 20-30 days say average return of 5-7 a week. For a small one like that though have done 6-10 turns in a day passing back & forward

Re: PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

It really depends on who you are playing.
I can submit up to 10 turns a week (one turn a day sometimes more on weekends)that's when i can find a real active player which is rare.
With a slower player 2 turns a week that's why i like multiple games going at once,
In most cases it's a month or longer.

Re: PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

I like to play at least 10 turns a week, and sometimes find opponents who can play that or more; but the average - in my experience is about a turn a day.

I think one of the main issues is the time zones where the two players live. If I send a turn in the early evening, and my opponent is asleep already - and won't get to his PC for another 18 hours - you can figure it's going to be a slow game.



cheers,
Cross

Re: PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

I did a total of 10 turns today, spread over 4 opponents. About normal.
What sort of help do you want/need?

Re: PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

Probably a tournament of some type. I am trying to determine average 20 Turn PBeM turnaround time so I can plan accordingly. In previous attempts I have found some it frequently gets dragged out longer and so I am trying to determine the approximate time frame where I need to start really nagging and dropping non-compliant participants. :D

Re: PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

I think nagging email after a month automatic loss after 5 weeks is quite acceptable to keep it moving & make it fair on the faster players. Even if you are on hols for 2 weeks with game size you are suggesting & short turn time easy enough for most people to arrange an evening at the computer & knock out half a dozen turns. Even with diffrent time zones I have done this its the tourney players resposibility to complete on time. that being said perhaps asking for peoples hols dates might make sense if both are off for a few weeks could be tricky. 5 weeks is 4 turns a week so state if you cant manage 4 short turns a week please dont play.

Re: PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

Agreed. One thing I think aggravates the whole tournament "flow" is when a fast play get paired with a much slower player. In some instances, the faster player tends to nag the slower player until the slower player says screw this and bails. I don't mean a regular prodding, but outright antagonism. I know this is not the case in the majority of situations but I have been doing this multiplayer stuff for a few years and have gotten feedback over time that indicates it is more prevalent then one might think.

Re: PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

Over at The Blitz wargaming club, I think you are given an automatic win if an opponent is MIA for 3 weeks. Fortunately, I have never had this happen.

In my pre-game preferences I always mention 7-10 turns a week; because I get antsy after a couple of days of no contact. But always keep the emails polite.

My main concern is that I will start to 'lose the plot' if I don't remain actively engaged in a battle.


cheers,
Cross

Re: PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

I understand what you mean firstly it makes the battle more engaging keeping the flow if played regulary, for me over 3 days l lose the flow of the battle & have to think what I was doing trawl up from memory where that ATG fired from etc. Inevitably you forget something & get caught out because of it. Becomes trickier if have several games on the go but I would rather limit my playing so I can return turns pretty much when I get them. Luckily 1-3 day returns seem to fit with most peoples lives & in my experience 5-7 turns a week is the norm. If you share the same time zone can sometimes be higher.

Re: PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

Yeah, I know your current opponent really well and it's really agrivating when he goes a couple of days without posting. You're good to be patient with me. OH! I mean him. :)

RL has been a little interesting of late, so my games have been "choppy" to say the least. As I play in the mornings before work, it only gives me about an hour to play tops, and if the night before wasn't so good....you can understand. Luckly my computer, which we are replacing here soon, is running better now that I removed 1/8" (3 mm) of dust from the vents and fans.

I do like the smaller games better as I'm able to fit them in to my schedule. I accually had one opponent send me a set of files, and then sent me a new set up on a smaller scale so it would work better with my schedule and computer (pre-dust clean up). I was and am very grateful to him.

I would be interested in doing a small scale tournament and would be willing to committ to one, in the circumstance that I have finished my other games and able to give it top priority. I feel confident in committing to at least 4 turns a week. Now, as a few oppoents can attest, as far as MBT is concerned, I'm a beginner and so may be out early on. I'm okay with that so long as I get an opportunity to learn how to be better.

Re: PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

I use the 10-day rule. I figure that 10 days go by without any commo from my opponent either RL has bit him on the arse or he isn't having fun any more. Since I play for fun and I won't have any fun if my opponent isn't, I just ask them if anything is wrong and if so, what can we do to fix it.
Most of the time we communicate, fix the problem and go back to having fun.

Re: PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

Its always hard to keep up morale and interest in your game when you are getting hammered. I try to take solace in the chances that I might get to take down one more tank before my remaining men are ground into oblivion. :D

Another thing I have found is email is not always as reliable as many might think. If you email someone a few times and don't hear back it is probably a good idea to PM them on the forums they normally frequent or post a "Flare" as they do at the Blitz.

Re: PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

Range of comments
Dont put yourself down lots of other people will do that for you, trust me I have played a lot of worse players. Your problems this game were due to a tactical gaff letting me get the main hill early & watch your force deployment. Have now lost sight of your heavies so you can still inflict some damage as its now an even playing field.

Agree but it should not happen really if something crops up sending your opponent a message to say delayed costs nothing. Same with if you have had enough of the game just offer to surrender or say something most players seem pretty reasonable.

DD respect surrender is not an option for your forces I said to you I was impressed how you fought on despite the odds

Re: PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

"Agree but it should not happen really if something crops up sending your opponent a message to say delayed costs nothing. Same with if you have had enough of the game just offer to surrender or say something most players seem pretty reasonable."

Sometimes that just isn't possible. Last year I went to court with my lawyer telling me every_tang was OK and I would get max 30 days time served and some community service. An Hour later I was sitting in the van with cuffs on contemplating 3 to 5 years in Jail. No computer between court and Jail. I looked.
So as much or as little as we want, sometimes things spin out of control.

Re: PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

I usually play 1 or 2 turns a day/game and several turns a day on weekends as long as my partner can keep up. Have played a 30 turn game is 7 days this way but as said before requires the other player to be up to it. So having a turn a day turnaround requirement for a game is reasonable if stated before hand. If the player can not meet this requirement then they should have enough common sense to not register for the tourney. This may limit your participants but it makes a faster game.

Ken

Re: PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

I find my Pbem time comes in spurts. While there are days I simply cannot get to any of my games, on other days I can get a turn rate of 3-4 in a single day for a game.

Re: PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

I have a drill that I use to keep track of the plot as much as possible for a game with this many variables. Of course, that makes me vulnerable to OODA looping. I'm pretty predictable for the first couple of games. Plus I lose a lot. That's OK because if it bothers me, I just start making notes.
When you think about it, the basics are, well...... basic. You go up the middle, left flank, right flan or both flanks. Terrain pretty much dictates which approach is better. Of course, your opponent can see the map also. If he is working of the same platbook as you are, you both pretty much have an idea of what the other will do. Surprise is still possible, but it's mostly in the details.
I just got crunched by an opponent who had pretty much what I thought he did only more. I figured him for a dozen or so ATGM's, which is what he showed me. So when it got down to nut cutting time, those extra 30 or 40 ATGM's he didn't show me reaped a huge harvest. So surprise IS possible. If I had known he had that many ATGM's I would have just built a wall of smoke ( we are playing pre-40 vis era) and ran my tracks up to it , off loaded my Mech squads and had me a fine old time slaughtering ATGM's. So next time I'll know to buy lots of smaller arty, so I can put down more smoke and still stay within the 10% limits. I'll also load up on HMG's. They are great for 'z' keying the area where you think an ATGM is.

Re: PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

I find myself in a strange situation as far as PBEM's go.

I technically am playing three games right now, but no turns are forthcoming from any of them. Now that could change tomorrow but as it stands now I can't get a turn sent to me if my life depended on it.

One game has been going on since 19th,April and seems to be sputtering out...
A second game is caught in some kinda setup stasis. Where I purchased the army and sent it off some 10 days ago...
A third game which was to be my "quick fix" to get things moving
along suffered a setback this evening because of incompatible game versions...

It just isnt meant to be, at least for now.


On the issue of game turn length I can't say for sure because each opponent rates turns at a different priority level.

I've played a few rare games where people will send the turn back right away, and I would do the same. Almost playing in real time and maybe getting 10 turns done in a row.
Then there's other players that put it way down on the priority list,possibly even have too many large games going themselves.

Myself I think one turn per 24 hr period is the happy medium.

Re: PBeM game length (in real time)?
 

Skimisher,
Know how you feel i've got 5 games going and sometimes there will be days before i get any files.
But after seeing the amount of games per month on WaW site, July and august are the slowest months and guess which ones are the highest?
It seems it's that time of year;)