How do Online SE games work.

[President Lomax]

Just out of curiosity. I just wanna know how you would go about playing w/ a friend or someone Online in a game of SE.

[Combat Wombat]

http://www.pbw.cc/

Play by Web is the main way people play Space Empires 4 over the internet.

[Atrocities]

Well if you have the CD it is a lot eaiser.

Basically you can play either TCI/IP, PBEM, or PBW.

TCI/IP = Direct PC to PC game.
PBEM = Play By EMail. A great way to play. You set up the game and email turns back and forth.
PBW = Play By Web. www.pbw.cc One of the best ways to play. Turns can be automated so all you have to do is start a game, set it up, upload the game file and your off. The turn will automatically process after the Last player uploads and all you will have to do from that point is download your turn and play it. Then upload of course which is easy enough to do.

[President Lomax]

What is it like when you play by mail and play by uploading and downloading. I have never heard or done any of these and it sounds complicated. Do you send e-mails to everyone saying what you do?

[Slick]

Originally posted by President Lomax:
What is it like when you play by mail and play by uploading and downloading. I have never heard or done any of these and it sounds complicated. Do you send e-mails to everyone saying what you do?

There are instructions at PBW. Basically you play one turn at a time. Each time you complete a turn you email your "turn file" to the host. When the host receives all the players' files, he executes the turn (pbw can be set up to do this after the Last guy uploads) and then the host emails back to all players the turn. You download your turn, run se4, load that turn, play it and when you hit "end turn", the game will save your "turn file". Rinse, repeat.


edit: I HIGHLY recommend playing some single player games with "sumultaneous turns" selected because this is the only way that pbem/pbw can be played. There are some significant differences in how the game is played. Most significantly, there is no tactical combat which means you must design your ships a little differently and set up ship strategies to use those ships properly. If you have never played with simultaneous turns, you may have a hard time with your first multiplayer game in the beginning.

Slick.

[ March 28, 2004, 00:29: Message edited by: Slick ]

[President Lomax]

okay thanx everyone. i just sort of wanted to know how this worked and i dont really have an intention of playing Online anytime soon. thnx.