PBEM game sequence?

[sol_invictus]

I am trying to start a pbem game as the CP player. After I receive my opponents Mobilization Phase, I finish my Strategic Phase and immediately have to send the file to him. I don't get an Activation Phase. After he completes his Strategic and Orders Phases and send me the file, I start the game in my Orders Phase. My Activation Phase gets lost somewhere. What is the sequence for a CP player who starts a pbem game. Does his Activation Phase come right after his Strategic Phase before the file is sent to his opponent? I am not getting an Activation Phase anywhere.

[Moltke71]

Yeah, I'm Arnivald's opponent.  I do activation and then orders, sending the file in when prompted.

[JD Walter]

Hi Arinvald,

I am currently playing a PBEM game as the CP side, too.

It's only my first game, though, so I cannot speak from much experience here.

However, what I did was:

1. Receive and open my opponent's mobilization phase;
2. Perform the CP "set-up" (mobilization);
3. Advance the turn to the CP activation phase;
4. Activate HQ's;
5. Save, zip and send the turn to my opponent.

This seems to have worked. But I cannot speak for my opponent; I do not know what he saw on his turn. (Or whether he got a TE HQ activation phase. Since we're both new to the game, it is possible he missed it or didn't know he was supposed to get one - the reverse, "mirror-image", of your situation.)

Perhaps the devs could clarify the right steps for us to take to start up PBEM games.

[sol_invictus]

For some reason, I am never getting an Activation Phase. When I finish my Strategic Phase, the message appears that I should sent the file to my opponent. When he sends it back, I am in my Orders Phase with no Activated HQs. So your saying that after you finish your Strategic Phase, you immediately go into your Activation Phase before you send the file to your opponent.? Sounds like the TE(your opponent), initiated the game. The CP(me) initiated our game. Wonder if that makes any difference? The manual says that the CP should start the game.

[FrankHunter]

I'm looking at the file you sent me right now Arinvald and can confirm you're not seeing things.  Will fix it and include it in the first patch.

[JD Walter]

Hi Arinvald,

So your saying that after you finish your Strategic Phase, you immediately go into your Activation Phase before you send the file to your opponent.?

Correct.

Sounds like the TE(your opponent), initiated the game. The CP(me) initiated our game. Wonder if that makes any difference? The manual says that the CP should start the game.

Yes, now that I think about it, my opponent initiated the game.

I wonder if the manual is in error?

[sol_invictus]

Ok, thanks for your prompt attention Frank.

[Moltke71]

The manual can't be in error on this; it doesn't truly discuss it.

[sol_invictus]

I seems to imply that the CP should initiate games, in the PBEM section of the Manual that is toward the end. Don't really know if it matteres or not; our game is my first attempt to pbem.