STACKERS, newbie game, (started)
 

STACKERS
This is a game which is good for people who are playing their first multiplayer game of Dominions 3. Its on a tower map which means it will be limited battlefronts. From the early to mid game you will probably have only 2 people to worry about. The one above you and the one below you. Later in the game Tower maps cut down micromanagement, and make the F1 menu work better.

Era: Middle Age ...... Mods: none ................ Indy strength: 7
Magic Sites: 65 ....... HoF Entries: 15 .......... Renaming: On
going AI: off ..............Cheat Detection: on .... Multiplayer check: on
Server: game.dom3minions.com ... Port: 10555
(this is a direct connect game)

Scores and other files will be web posted at http://game.dom3minions.com/games/stackers/
Turn notifications are available by email or text messaging. PM me your email or phone number info. Turn files are available by direct connect (recommended), email, ftp, or browser download. Turning in of turns can be done by email for one-time special situations but is not recommended, this is a direct connect game. The ability to set yourself to Computer Player will be off in this game. You are encouraged not to give up. If someone absolutely must drop out then all effort will be made to get a substitute. As a last resort I might manually set the person to AI so the game can continue. Rollback policy will be extreme. Backups will be made but rollbacks unlikely. Going stale twice in a row without explanation will be cause for being replaced.

If we dont get enough players after awhile I may turn some on as vanilla AI's (computer players) in order to start.
The asterisk * shows that the pretender has been received for that nation

Land Players:
01) Verigorm -------- Man ------------ *
02) Jorus ------------- Jotunheim ---- *
03) Greyjoy --------- Ctis ------------- *
04) KrPeters--------- Ermor ---------- *
05) coffeespoons -- Pythium ------ *
06) Nauquan -------- Ashdod ------- *
07) Freykin ---------- Agartha ------- *
08) Otic --------------- Shinuyama -- *
09) Amadamus ---- Abyssia ------- *
10) computer ------ Marignon ------ *
11) cwkjc ------------- Bandar Log -- *
12)

Water Players:
01) 13lackGu4rd --- R'lyeh --- *
02)
03)

The map can be viewed here http://www.dom3minions.com/files/SmTower.jpg
Or available for download at http://www.dom3minions.com/files/SmTower.zip
It is not necessary to download the map. If you start the game and do not have it then the game will send a temporary map to you. Downloading the map ahead of time will allow you to skip that step and give you a personal copy you can play with locally. But doing that for every game can eventually clutter up your maps directory.

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For those who have not played a direct connect game, here is whats involved for this game.
First, turn off any mods.
Design a god for Middle Era in the Game Tools, give it a password, save it.
Use the Network menu in the game, connect to game.dom3minions.com, and then port 10555
Choose your nation then scroll down and hit disconnect (NOT START)

That will upload your god to the server and close the nation you chose from selection by others.

Once the game begins it plays pretty much like a solo game but with more people. About once a day you will want to connect to the server which will automatically give you your turn. Make your moves and when you hit "end" it will automatically be sent to the server. Then simply disconnect. Anytime up until the game "hosts" the next turn you can reconnect to make changes in your actions.

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I would like to join if possible...?

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Sure. Do you have a preference for a middle era nation? One that matches your style of play?
Mentioning it now can reserve it while you work on your pretender for it

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I often play with marigon,so I would reserve it...:)

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ok the first post has been edited that you have claimed Marignon. Welcome aboard.

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Ok thx...:D

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well, I'm a little past newbie stage, but not by much, and I never played in a huge all nations game before, so this seems like a pretty good opportunity. all 3 UW nations would be at a huge disadvantage under those settings, having so little water and only at the edges, so by taking an UW nation I'm evening the playing field assuming everybody else who will play is also a newbie.

so if everything goes according to your plan Gandalf you can sign me up for R'lyeh, hopefully I'll be able to actually be a contender...

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I've been meaning to try out MP for awhile, but my time is limited. How often would turns go in this game? One per day?

Ken

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@kemtraveller yes Im afraid this one is setup as one a day.

@13lackGu4rd yes I know. I have no problem if only 1 water nation joins. But on the other maps with enough water to give 3 water nations equal prov-counts to the land nations tend to cause the other problem since often only 1 water nation joins. Also, note that the map wraps top-to-bottom. So there isnt water at each end, there is just one water. So if another water nation joins you will be neighbors

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I'm not really that new... but I am newish to MP Dominions 3. I will take a spot, but I would like someone else to choose my nation.

Additionally, is there to be a gentleman's restriction on clamming or are we all bound to the almighty Clam of Pearls?

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Well we can leave you set as ??? and let you inherit the last nation. I rather like playing that way also. It lets me experiment with the "everyone knows it sucks" nations and throw surprises into the game :)

There are no rules or mods. This is strictly a newbie game with as few complications as possible. If anyone wants to pursue one of the popular strategies then they may.

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I actually like this semi rand concept for not 100% newbies who wish to join this game, that's the reason why I chose a water nation instead of a land nation, as the map severely disadvantages them. as for Verjigorm, I'd suggest a semi rand concept but with all the strong nations removed from it, so the newbies can have a shot with a stronger nation. powerful nations for real newbies only should be in my opinion: Niefelheim, Mictlan, Lanka, Sauromatia and Hinnom. the rest could go into the bank pool from which random nations would be chosen to those not 100% newbies who will play here, cause well, you won't be able to fill this game up with just 100% newbies.

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13lackGu4rd, I think you are mixing with EA in your list of "stronger nations" for newbies.

I would like to candidate for Pythium. I may have some 24 hours without internet access, though, not much I can do (Central Asia is a remote place).

Gandalf, do we have an expected kick-off date?

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oh yeah, forgot this was MA :o
so ugh, I guess Pythium, Ermor, Jotunheim and ugh... MA is more balanced than EA as far as nations go... so not all that sure which nations should probably not be in the hands of decent people.

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No specific start date. The map has 378 land provinces. So 20 land players would be about 18 provs each which is a large game. Id hate to start it with less, and dont want to have more than half the nations be AI.

Im abit spoiled by other forums where games fill in about an hour :)

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sign me up for Jotunheim

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I'd like to take C'tis, and yes, I realize this could get interesting depending who I get stacked anywhere near.

But they're the MA nation I'm by far most experienced with, and quite fun if you don't mind miasma upsetting people.

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yeah, under these settings Miasma isn't as big of an issue, as you can only really upset 2 neighbors at once, so worst case scenario you'll be fighting 1v2, nowhere near as harsh as a 3-4 nation gang bang that sometimes happens to MA C'tis on larger games due to the Miasma effect.

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They're still a bit iffy in the early game, before they can get their death gems (and those sexy, sexy couatls) rolling, and before they have the defensive depth to roll with the punches and let their dominion wear you down. But yes, I'd be leery of my first more-than-two-player Dom3 game EVER being the swamp lizards if it weren't a tower. If I start next to one of the giants, some rapid reevaluation may be in order.

That or a summary execution. Given that I'm spoiled for death mages, maybe not in that order.

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Wow...indipendents strenght is 7...is not that a bit to strong for noob game...?

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Noobs can kill them. Carefully.
But it is also a no-ganging, no rushing game. :)

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So is this project still going forward? If so, I'd like to play MA Ermor. I have gobs of SP experience and zippo MP experience, so I expect I'll be strong at the beginning and then get crushed brutally :)

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I'm interested, please.

Previous MP: being butchered in a solitary game.

Any non-gimped land nation please

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My dear Tonno... we are noob, right... but not that noob that we can't defeat independents who are just waiting to be slaughtered.

By the way, I am running a test game, I have the feeling that with such settings we also get more events like vampire counts and barbarian hordes popping up, am I right?

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I don't see an adjustment to random event percentages in the original post, so they wouldn't be more likely. Those particular events are both negative events, so even if random event % was increased, the chance of getting good events would also be similarly augmented. Taking misfortune would increase probability of those events occurring over good ones and taking turmoil over order increases the overall probability of events. Turmoil/Luck can occasionally be an interesting combination to play if you like gambling.

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If anyone has questions about the game, or really anything, I can often be found in the chat room of this forum. Up near the top of your screen, the link next to Forum Rules.

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Further to my post above could you put me down for Pythium, please.

Thanks,

James

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Is this a newbie only, or newbie friendly game where we are expected to not attack too quickly or aggressively. If it's the second, then I'm interested in playing Bandar Log.

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Well I was hoping to fill it with newbies trying out their mp legs.
But it doesnt work well unless its fairly full.

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question...
I want to bring a friend in this game if possible,and can I reserve abysia for him,he is noob in pvp mode just like me...

And what with turns,I would realy like that thay go every 12h,if possible,but day is good as well...

gandalf what is with dom3 servers,do thay work...
and I think i have a problem as well,so can I pm u...?

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If the has a copy of the game, sure. And should post his choice of nation here.

The game might go every 12 hours. Thats up to the players. The 24 hours thing is just a maximum deadline to make sure everyone doesnt wait a week on one person

Sure PM me. Im not sure of your question. Or meet me here in the Chat room.
I recommend people try the little games on the server because any problem playing those is usually something to do with firewalls and routers and protection software on your machine. Its best to iron that out ahead of time.

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I just realized a potential issue regarding my participation -- in July I'll be out of the country for 9 days. I don't know if I'll have computer or internet access. What's the preferred way to handle this?

1) Smuggle a copy of Dominions with me and install it on the internet cafe computer

2) Arrange a sub in advance

3) March all my troops home to my capital and set them to patrol, then stale out for the week+

???

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Short Answer: YES.

Longer Asnwer: Binary true. All of the above. Pick one.

The choices you listed are all in the area of your preference. If you had said sub or go AI then I could say the preference is definitely sub. Or quitting without telling anyone and only apologize when you get back, I could say that doesnt go over well.

I guess if I had to pick just one, it would be sub.

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Yes, I noticed you mentioned you didn't want anyone going AI.

OK, so we'll see who (if anyone) has been eliminated by then, that would make a natural sub, since they'll know what's happening in the game at that point.

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Looks like it is done for me...:(

I have to give up from the game for now...
I hope u will have good time playing it...

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I would like to join. This will be my first MP game. Please select a nation at random for me. Thanks.

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YAY! NEW MAP! SMALLER GAME!
The first post of this thread has been updated to reflect the new map. We can start soon.

After generating maps all night I finally got one that had water at the top and bottom (so I could wrap it with my really bad paint program skills). Its only 200 provinces, 180 land and 20 water.

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If we are starting soon, may I have a selection for my nation so I can start thinking about pretender design and overall strategy?

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Do you play RPG games?
Do you prefer to play warrior, mage, priest, thief, druid, barbarian, undead, ranger, sea elf, cthulhu?

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If I were choosing based on aesthetics, I would have selected earlier. ;) The idea here is to have what should be considered to be an "underdog" nation either by virtue of overall ability or difficulty to control or by virtue of the nations selected by others.

I have the most experience with Arcoscephale, Marignon, and T'ien C'hi, so none of those would be terribly appropriate.

I was thinking maybe Man, Agartha, Ermor, or Mictlan.

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My idea of best choice would be whatever matches your gaming style. And worst would be the least match.

I love playing underdogs to be a surprise. :) Pick any you like. Just be sure to pay attention to the built in pros/cons of that nation.

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Very well then, I will take Man.

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MA Man: one of 3 nations out of over 70 that gets temples at half price in a game called Dominions

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That's one of my favorite features of Man. My least favorite feature is their 1h basic priest... The two things probably add up to about a wash.

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I would like to play but sadly I cant because I know i will stale on next friday and saterday if its 24 hours per turn game. Hoping there will be a 48 max delay limit game up for newbies soon. Tower map looks great for newbie game.

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never played on your servers Gandalf, so I have no clue, but can't you insert delays for games on them? the "standard" PBEM games on Llamaserver have no problems delaying the game, is there any particular reason for this pretty necessary feature to be excluded from games on your servers?

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Yes I can take requests for extensions and handle them. Anything available on pbem servers is available on direct connect also. But Im not sure it would be fair to hold the game for a weekend for one person.

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well, it's only 1 delay relatively early in the game, so personally I don't see the big issue. especially when such delays are pretty common in the other games around here, the PBEMs, and well, there would be situations in which other players would need delays for a variety of reasons... also, the main issue here is whether Willburn or other players will join us or not, knowing they'll need an extension or 2 relatively early in the game. I think they should be able to play and we can grant them the necessary delays, but that's just me...

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Its ok guys just have fun :) I just ment to say this seemed like great settings for a newbie game. I am sure there will be other oppertunities for me to play in the future :)