Ladder game: lorddragonhat vs Armageddon

[sisko]

This is a "best of 3 games" challenge between lorddragonhat and Armageddon (if someone wins in the first 2 games, there is no need to play the third, if we have a tie after the first 2 games, then the third game will be a tie-break).

Rules for all 3 games:
- SMAX v2.0 + XP patch + unofficial (scient) patch;
- large maps, all random, with the CMN (me), checking first for unbalances;
- a random faction out of the following pool: will be assigned to the players (as per Earthmichael's proposal);
- transcend difficulty level;
- expected turn rate is 48h; In case of inactivity of any player, for more than 7 (seven) days, the turn will be 'pushed'; after 30 days of inactivity the player will lose the game. Obviously out-of-town and vacation periods are excluded if properly announced in this thread - the game will be stalled during these periods;
- you don't have the commlinks of the other factions so you should look in the alphaX.txt file for the following line:
"If non-zero, humans can always contact each other in hotseat/email games" and set the switch to 0 (zero). This is to avoid questions like: "Have we made contact or not?"
- additional rules as per: http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=1519.0
This is the correct faction order for the .ini file of the first game:

Code: [Select]

Faction 1=CYBORG
Faction 2=GAIANS
Faction 3=HIVE
Faction 4=ANGELS
Faction 5=MORGAN
Faction 6=UNIV
Faction 7=PEACE

[sisko]

@both: i'm waiting on your preferences for this game.
do you want a game on the vet's map without AIs like we had here: Earthmichael vs Roninscg, or a full seven factions game?

[Armageddon]

I would prefer a full 7-factions game.
On the other preferences I lack the experience, so I would like to await lord's suggest.
But anyhow, I do not care that much about all the preferences...

[lorddragonhat]

Thanks sisko for your speed at setting up a new thread

As Armageddon, i prefer 1 faction per player too.

Myself not having too much MP experience neither, i suggest playing what i consider standard game.

PREFERENCES
All victory types allowed
Blind Research Off (directed research)
Random Events On
No Unity Scattering Off (pods all over)
No Unity Survey On
Do or Die Off (second chances)
Look first On

MAP
Random Huge Map
All Random Settings (ocean coverage, cloud, etc)
Transcend Difficulty

FACTION
If SMAX, give me 
If SMAC,  would do
Or maybe random, im not that decided on this.

OTHER
48hr turn rate

mmm have you considered sisko making a gdocs spreadsheet with the preferences, so the players can fill it and then import to the forum? or am i breaking forum etiquette? I am thinking on something like you posted here http://alphacentauri2.info/index.php?topic=1371.msg3794#msg3794 It makes so much sense to me, as you can organize the rules at once.  Its just an idea.

Looking forward to it

[Armageddon]

I go along with all the preferences!
And let's take random factions, it will put us somewhere we haven't been before I think.
So, I'm fine with this! I am curious about what will happen!

[lorddragonhat]

Cool.  But i had the following afterthought... what if our random preferences put ourselves where a one of us get pirates for a waterworld? or a builder-oriented faction for a segregated huge world? perhaps this effect could be minimized taking best of 3 random games.

This would take naturally more time to do, so i suggest playing 2 simultaneous random maps.  If one of us wins both, then he is the winner of the challenge.  If not, we would have to play a 3rd scenario to see which of us is most fit at adapting to random situations.

What do you say? Sisko, is it too much trouble setting this kind of game? What do you say Armageddon?

[Armageddon]

That's okay with me, I would have  a try

[sisko]

if i give you a random setup in these games, there's a very high chance you won't get fair starting position. the game engine does a poor job on this respect. so, i don not recommend it.

still, if you want go that route, it will make my job easier as i will only have to assign the passwords. please send by PM.

[Earthmichael]

I strongly suggest that if you randomize factions, you drop some factions from the list of candidates.  On a huge map like you are playing, if you get started with the Spartans or Believers or Prophets, you have a hopeless start.  I would only randomize from a list of candidate builder factions.

Also, I would ask the moderator to check the random map for sanity before starting the game.  It is frustrating to play 80 turns, only to realize that you or your opponent had a hopeless start, which completely ruined the game.

Not my game, you do what you want.  I just want to keep you from getting frustrated by random factors that give one of you a hopeless game.  I am just as frustrated if my opponent has a hopeless start.  Here I am, pouring my time and best strategy into the game, and my opponent had such a bad start that I could have won playing blindflolded.

Good luck and have fun!

[lorddragonhat]

Thank you both for your fine feedback.

I thought it was the best to play all random because it gives you the possibility to measure the adaptability to the circumstances of each game.  We are put on charge on a random faction, on a totally unknown world... that gives a +1 on my enjoyment scale.  Of course i realize there is a good chance a game can get shot down by a hopelessly bad position, a bunch of bad neighbors... bad luck.

In that basis... how viable you look at playing 2 medium sized games, too keep them relatively short, and see how many games each one wins? if there is a 1 and 1 result, we could play a third game on a larger map, and possibly on a more standard basis.

Armaggedon? Sisko? Earthmichael? I hope i communicated my view.

Please if i am getting this too long to stand, also tell me.

[Earthmichael]

My earlier reply was long, so to summarize:

1. If you want to randomize the map, have a moderator to check it first, and regenerate it (or fix it) if it looks severely unbalanced.  That way you get the thrill of random discovery, while having some confidence that the map is reasonable.

2. If you want to randomize factions, don't put ALL of the factions in the hat.  Only put in the factions that could plausibly play on the chosen map. 


For your huge map: Putting a momentum faction on a huge map is a lose, so drop all momentum factions.  This still gives a reasonable list to choose from:  for basic factions, Morgan, University, Peacekeepers, Gaia, and Hive; if you want, you can fill in with CyCon, Free Drones, or Data Angels, and have 8 factions to randomize to pick up to 7 for your game.

One thing I have done in the past is allow each player to vote on what factions that each would like to see on the random list, and randomize the game from the factions that appear on both lists.  Or let each player have a veto or two to get rid of factions they don't like to play.  Or whatever works for you!

[lorddragonhat]

Looks all good to me.

So lets say we play this:

Large all random map, with Sisko check for unbalances
A random Earthmichael's faction (with SMACX ones added) 

Have you Armageddon got any faction you do not want picked up from the list Earthmichael graciously provided? I do not.

Absolutely looking forward to it

[Armageddon]

No objections,  looks all fine to me. Thx for the advises.
I can go with that.

[sisko]

ok. i will need your passwords. please send them by PM.

[sisko]

i have received only lorddragonhat's password. Armageddon?