Something to try...

[Marquis de Said]

Thanks, Tricky Lady. Seems easy enough.

Marquis

[Al Khalifah]

The only problem with this format that I just thought of is how to measure each player's success. Obviously, the challenge is part of the game, but it's not going to be a very interesting turn for someone to play a dying faction whose economy is hopelessly in the red. How did you deal with the lack of funds for some factions? When I tried -ian I noticed that the Danes for example had 100 000 in debt.

A players success would have to be judged on its merits rather than qualitatively. Therefore, a record of certain factors should be taken at the start of the players control and again at the end (maybe with a half way indication too). This should include:

* the number of provinces the faction owns (preferably with a list of these)
* the factions annual income
* the factions annual expenditure
* the quality of the factions best general(s)
* the factions it is at war with
* anything else of note: e.g the faction has a citadel/fortress, large trade empire, no good generals, a well developed province, a crusade on the go

By assessing these two in comparison, we can judge how well the player did. The player should also give a detailed account of any significant events during their reign such as territories conquered/lost, wars won/lost, factions eradicated, trade routes established, profitable raids, crusades/jihads in the usual PBEM style of play.

With regards to the money shortage problem, there should probably be a limit on how much debt is reasonable to expect a player to continue with. Say for a faction with 1 province, no trade and a small army this should be quite low where as if the faction has potential to make money it should be much higher (if at all). If you're faction is ridiculously in trouble you could try to get them destroyed and then just follow the rules we devised earlier for a destroyed player faction. Or start a civil war.

I'll start a thread in the PBM room for anyone whos interested in joining our "revolutionary new gameplay experience."

[Marquis de Said]

Khalifah, sounds very good indeed!

We could actually have the other participants in the game judge each player's performance in an Olympic style. Points are given for technical performance (economy, number of provinces, quality of generals etc.) and "artistic" performance (for example judges could award extra points at their discretion if a player captures a crusade province, repels a massive attack by an arch-rival, or returns a faction to its historic borders, etc.)

I'll join the thread in the PBM room, and we'll take it on from there.

Marquis