PBeM

from GalCiv2 Forums
I know there are a few GalCiv2 multiplayer discussion threads but I didn't see any specifically dedicated to 'Play by E-mail' (PBeM) multiplayer. Now, I've never played a PBeM game of any game but if it's anything like how I think it would be I'd like to see this option in GalCiv2. I would like to be able to play a relaxed GalCiv2 game between a few friends and I'm cool with the idea of it taking months.

I assume this is how a PBeM would work... I would take my move and then the game data would get sent via e-mail to the next player, who would then take his move, and then the game would continue being bounced between a few people's e-mails. Eventually the game would end.

All of my friends and I live busy lives so siting down together to play a normal over the internet multiplayer version of GalCiv2 wouldn't always be possible (I know it's not really possible now as the game doesn't currently have a multiplayer option), however a layed back PBeM game, that could go on for years, would probally be sweet.

Let me know what you guys think.
9,895 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think that a basic client-sever setup would be best for this type of game. PBeM works best when all players' turns are evaluated simultaneously, rather than in sequence.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
How would that work if I want to attafck a fellow players ship if he's moving it at the same time I am?
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Easy: when you want a ship to move, you order it to do so, but you don't actually get to see the ship move. You just give the order. When all turns are submitted to the server, all movement is evaluated. If your movement order was an interception, the server would evaluate the move such that it always tries to make contact when the other player's fleet, regardless of whether that fleet is moving or not.

This is how it worked in Stars!, which was released about 10 years ago. Everything in the game basically worked in a similar way. You give an order and the next turn you see the results. In case you're interested or at least curious, here's a link to a site still hosting games for it. There's a bit of other information there, too.

Link
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Ostsol that wouldnt work simpy because a lot of ships can move further than they can see. Also a simultaneous movement liek in Civ4 would be tricky beacue there coudl be too many units you want to move at once. I knwo I murdered the hell out of people ebcause I knew when to move my untis and I moved them faster. More than once I moved a unit out of the way of my opponent just milliseconds before he moved to ocupy that tile. It was fun but in galciv it would be a nightmare. There we played with units with 1 or 2 movement points at mose. My average warship in galciv has a speed of 9 :/
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Ostsol that wouldnt work simpy because a lot of ships can move further than they can see.


Well, yeah, that's how things were in Stars!. Actually almost every ships' moves were into unknown territory until you had really long range scanners on your planets. Technically, Master of Orion was the same way (though not multiplayer).
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'm sure there'd be a way to figure out how to put PBeM into the game if and when they put a mulitplayer option into GalCiv2. I'd really like a PBeM feature, but I think we'd need more of the community on these forums to get behind the idea before Stardock even considers it. So, lets hear from everyone else, just post about how you'd like to see it and maybe we can show that their is a large group of interest.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
Hi   
The PBeM-feature would really be a fine way for me to play - I hope they will find a way to "patch" it in the near future.
I'll support the idear.

Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Multiplayer will never be "patched" in, since it's such a huge feature to get the mechanics right. Expansion 2 at the earliest.

Although I admit, I would enjoy PBeM.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I am in agreement, I think it would be a great way to break Galciv 2 into the Multiplayer world. Even larger games would be possible with PBEM, kinda like playing VGA Planets 10 yrs ago... (Ahh the memories...)