Results 1 to 18 of 18

Thread: Civ IV: BtS PBEM

  1. #1
    Vindicative son of a gun Member Jolt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Chuck Norris' hand is the only hand that can beat a Royal Flush.
    Posts
    3,740

    Default Civ IV: BtS PBEM

    With the blunder of Victoria (I shall see the forthcoming weekend if I'm able to get a multiplayer game started)

    I was wondering what would be the availability of people to start a Play by E-mail game of vanilla Civ 4: BtS (3.19?) I never played a PBEM before, but supposedly, we no longer need to congregate at the same time to play, which would make the availability much easier for all involved.

    I do not understand the mechanics involved behind such a game (I suppose it would need for each player to put a password to protect their game, and mail to the next player or host the save game file in a place where every player could download it when it was their turn. Unfortunately, due to the secret nature of these turn-based PBEM games, AAR's would be lacking, and probably only public events could be listed (Wars, Wonder construction, etc.)

    EDIT: It would also make for a nice diplomacy game here in the forums, as our civilizations meet and begin forging alliances and backstabbing each others. :P
    Last edited by Jolt; 10-20-2009 at 13:37.
    BLARGH!

  2. #2
    Bureaucratically Efficient Senior Member TinCow's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Washington, DC
    Posts
    13,729

    Default Re: Civ IV: BtS PBEM

    Sure, I'll play. PBEM games should be done on smaller sized maps though, as they take a VERY long time to play. We're talking many months to finish one.


  3. #3
    Vindicative son of a gun Member Jolt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Chuck Norris' hand is the only hand that can beat a Royal Flush.
    Posts
    3,740

    Default Re: Civ IV: BtS PBEM

    Yeah? I have absolutely no idea. Small map means how many players? 5? We'll do it in Quick Speed setting to ensure a quicker game.
    BLARGH!

  4. #4
    Bureaucratically Efficient Senior Member TinCow's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Washington, DC
    Posts
    13,729

    Default Re: Civ IV: BtS PBEM

    Dunno how long it would take exactly, only time I've ever played Civ via PBEM was with a single game of Alpha Centauri many years ago. That one took about a month to go 10 turns. I would pick whatever map size is optimal based on the number of players we get. I also recommend that we use the advanced start option, where everyone gets a certain number of points at the start of the game to place some basic roads and build a building or two. That portion of the game usually involves a LOT of hitting end turn and not a whole lot else... using the advanced start option will let us get to the more entertaining bit a lot faster.
    Last edited by TinCow; 10-20-2009 at 14:13.


  5. #5
    Enlightened Despot Member Vladimir's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    In ur nun, causing a bloody schism!
    Posts
    7,906

    Default Re: Civ IV: BtS PBEM

    So no online multiplayer? Or are you accounting for time zone differences.


    Reinvent the British and you get a global finance center, edible food and better service. Reinvent the French and you may just get more Germans.
    Quote Originally Posted by Evil_Maniac From Mars
    How do you motivate your employees? Waterboarding, of course.
    Ik hou van ferme grieten en dikke pinten
    Down with dried flowers!
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 



  6. #6
    Pious Augustus Member Krauser's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Washington
    Posts
    296

    Default Re: Civ IV: BtS PBEM

    Quote Originally Posted by Jolt View Post
    I do not understand the mechanics involved behind such a game (I suppose it would need for each player to put a password to protect their game, and mail to the next player or host the save game file in a place where every player could download it when it was their turn. Unfortunately, due to the secret nature of these turn-based PBEM games, AAR's would be lacking, and probably only public events could be listed (Wars, Wonder construction, etc.)
    If you want to talk about strategies, you can just do a regular single player game but take turns making moves. Say you make the game, you can start the first turn. Then the computer goes and you save the game when your turn starts again. You send this save file to the next person in line to play a turn. They play a turn, discuss strategies, etc. and send it to the next person in line. Eventually, you finish the game and each of you cooperatively played the same civilization.

    Quote Originally Posted by Vladimir View Post
    So no online multiplayer? Or are you accounting for time zone differences.
    It has online multiplayer but no one wants to wait 30 minutes for their turn to come around again. I mean some turns are pretty fast, but towards the end of the game one player's turn could take 10 minutes just looking at the possibilities and deciding how to move.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Senior Member Beefy187's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Tokyo
    Posts
    6,383
    Blog Entries
    15

    Default Re: Civ IV: BtS PBEM

    You turn on the simultaneous turn option.
    That way, all players will take their turns simultaneously and next turn begins when everyone finished it.

    While email will grant me more free time, I would suggest playing online till Medieval or something then switch to email as ancient goes very fast.


    Quote Originally Posted by Beskar View Post
    Beefy, you are a silly moo moo at times, aren't you?

  8. #8
    Mr Self Important Senior Member Beskar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Albion
    Posts
    15,930
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: Civ IV: BtS PBEM

    Yeah, I been playing online with Beefy recently.

    I suck in the military department, because I am always building and never have an opportunity to have free building time to produce units. (The thing I dislike about Civ4)
    Days since the Apocalypse began
    "We are living in space-age times but there's too many of us thinking with stone-age minds" | How to spot a Humanist
    "Men of Quality do not fear Equality." | "Belief doesn't change facts. Facts, if you are reasonable, should change your beliefs."

  9. #9
    Member Member Hax's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    5,352

    Default Re: Civ IV: BtS PBEM

    I'd join. Beskar, Beefy, would you like another guy to play with? ^^
    This space intentionally left blank.

  10. #10
    Vindicative son of a gun Member Jolt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Chuck Norris' hand is the only hand that can beat a Royal Flush.
    Posts
    3,740

    Default Re: Civ IV: BtS PBEM

    Quote Originally Posted by Beskar View Post
    Yeah, I been playing online with Beefy recently.

    I suck in the military department, because I am always building and never have an opportunity to have free building time to produce units. (The thing I dislike about Civ4)
    Curiously, I originally suffered exactly from the same thing. Do this. Build one/two buildings then build a unit, always. You'll find out soon enough that you're keeping a large enough amount of units to have your cities well garrisoned.
    BLARGH!

  11. #11
    Mr Self Important Senior Member Beskar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Albion
    Posts
    15,930
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: Civ IV: BtS PBEM

    Quote Originally Posted by Hax View Post
    I'd join. Beskar, Beefy, would you like another guy to play with? ^^
    I have no problems. Do you have MSN or similar? We usually hook up using that. (Also, we play using Japanese time, which is pretty much Twilight/Morning hours for us Europeans)

    Quote Originally Posted by Jolt View Post
    Curiously, I originally suffered exactly from the same thing. Do this. Build one/two buildings then build a unit, always. You'll find out soon enough that you're keeping a large enough amount of units to have your cities well garrisoned.
    Yeah, I will need to learn how to manage my workers better as well. I originally just stuck them on "auto" and what they keep doing is building things then rebuilding things on-top of them, etc.
    Last edited by Beskar; 10-24-2009 at 22:41.
    Days since the Apocalypse began
    "We are living in space-age times but there's too many of us thinking with stone-age minds" | How to spot a Humanist
    "Men of Quality do not fear Equality." | "Belief doesn't change facts. Facts, if you are reasonable, should change your beliefs."

  12. #12
    Member Member Hax's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    5,352

    Default Re: Civ IV: BtS PBEM

    I have no problems. Do you have MSN or similar? We usually hook up using that.usually
    Yep yep! It should be on my profile, but I'll pm it anyways.
    This space intentionally left blank.

  13. #13
    Vindicative son of a gun Member Jolt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Chuck Norris' hand is the only hand that can beat a Royal Flush.
    Posts
    3,740

    Default Re: Civ IV: BtS PBEM

    Quote Originally Posted by Beefy187 View Post
    You turn on the simultaneous turn option.
    That way, all players will take their turns simultaneously and next turn begins when everyone finished it.

    While email will grant me more free time, I would suggest playing online till Medieval or something then switch to email as ancient goes very fast.
    This is an awesome idea.
    BLARGH!

  14. #14
    Member Member Hax's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    5,352

    Default Re: Civ IV: BtS PBEM

    Yes, I agree. A very good idea.
    This space intentionally left blank.

  15. #15
    Senior Member Senior Member Ibn-Khaldun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Estonia
    Posts
    5,489
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default Re: Civ IV: BtS PBEM

    I wish I would have bought that CivIV:Complete when I had the chance.
    I always wanted to play it against human players.

  16. #16
    Senior Member Senior Member Beefy187's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Tokyo
    Posts
    6,383
    Blog Entries
    15

    Default Re: Civ IV: BtS PBEM

    Last time I saw the price in Australia, BtS was fairly cheep.
    Just buy Civ4 and BtS. You won't need anything else.... Maybe Colony or what ever the new one is called.

    And Hax. Today would be the last time I can play until in 3 weeks time.


    Quote Originally Posted by Beskar View Post
    Beefy, you are a silly moo moo at times, aren't you?

  17. #17
    Member Member Ituralde's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    1,749

    Default Re: Civ IV: BtS PBEM

    I would be up to it. I agree with TinCows observations though. The initial phase is just a lot of hitting "End Turn". Even if some quite important choices are made during those initial turns.

    I would usually play these with my brother during holidays and we would get through one game in about two to three days. That is with simultaneous turns though. We usually play together against the AI though and stop once we've reached that point where the challenge is gone and it's just a matter of conquering everything that remains.

    So yeah, count me in!
    The lions sing and the hills take flight.
    The moon by day, and the sun by night.
    Blind woman, deaf man, jackdaw fool.
    Let the Lord of Chaos rule.

    —chant from a children's game heard in Great Aravalon, the Fourth Age

  18. #18
    Relentless Bughunter Senior Member FactionHeir's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    London, UK
    Posts
    8,115

    Default Re: Civ IV: BtS PBEM

    Hmm might tive this one a try, not that great at it though.
    Want gunpowder, mongols, and timurids to appear when YOU do?
    Playing on a different timescale and never get to see the new world or just wanting to change your timescale?
    Click here to read the solution
    Annoyed at laggy battles? Check this thread out for your performance needs
    Got low fps during siege battles in particular? This tutorial is for you
    Want to play M2TW as a Vanilla experience minus many annoying bugs? Get VanillaMod Visit the forum Readme
    Need improved and faster 2H animations? Download this! (included in VanillaMod 0.93)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Single Sign On provided by vBSSO