Starting new "tutorial" game (well, semi-)

[Jimmer]

The previous tutorial game "The Art of War" has been terminated due to lack of interest (there were only two remaining active "students").

So, I'm starting another game, but with a slightly different focus. No contrived rules, but one overriding principle:

We play to learn and teach, not to win nor even to play. Yes, we play as if we intend to win (i.e. don't do stupid things; kill your opponent when he does do stupid things -- It's EIA, after all). But, that's not the main goal. The main goal will be to allow people new to the game to see how more experienced players think and act.

To this end, people will discuss their strategies for their moves openly. The "few secrets" idea will make the game play a little more woodenly, and certainly people can take advantage. But, since we aren't going to care who wins ... that shouldn't be an issue. Riiiiiight guys?

I'll be giving the guys who started the other tutorial game (the one run by me) first crack at the new game. But, I'll take names from others now. I'm going to reply in the order received sometime after midnight, Friday night, US Central Daylight Time (GMT -6, +1). I'll be looking for two experienced veterans to play France and Great Britain. They can even play "real" against each other, for all I care. The learners will take the other powers by bids. To make this happen, I'm going to manually input the bids, removing France and GB from the list (and have the two experienced players pick bids). But, bidding will be normal other than that.

We'll start a thread in the after action reports forum to handle the traffic, banter, etc. Files, however, will be uploaded and email sent to the Google Group "The Art of War" (which I control). In order to be invited, I'll need your email address. Once the 7 players are ready to go, I'll ask for email addresses and we'll do some pre-game diplomacy. Then, we'll bid (as above).

Questions and requests for joining can be made here. Don't include your email address yet, though (insecure -- we'll use PMs when the time comes). But, please include whether you consider yourself experienced or a learner (for purposes of this game -- I have no doubt that EVERY player of this game has to be a learner to succeed).

One last thing: IF I can figure out how, I'm going to host the game WITHOUT playing. If I can't figure that out, though, I'll play one of the two majors.

Jim

[ess1]

You have me.
Sellick

[menik]

Do you need a learner? [:D] I'm an old (litterally) player of the EiA boardgame. I had never closed a game but I had always a lot of fun.
My time is +1: I live in Italy and ... my english is not perfect.
... but I hope you can understand me

[Jimmer]

Sounds good!
 
Ess1, you were in the previous game, right? Plus, I got another letter from MW, who also was in. Htullio, it's fine by me that your English might not be perfect. Diplomacy works best at the end of the barrel of a gun anyhow, doesn't it?
 
One thing about time zone differences: It's perfectly acceptable to only be able to respond once a day (which a 7-hour difference will pretty much force). But, for ALL players, it will be important to respond EVERY day if possible, and to tell the group of expected times when one will not be able to respond. Otherwise, people tend to gravitate away themselves, and the whole game bogs down.

[menik]

ORIGINAL: Jimmer

One thing about time zone differences: It's perfectly acceptable to only be able to respond once a day (which a 7-hour difference will pretty much force). But, for ALL players, it will be important to respond EVERY day if possible,

every day from monday to friday, a turn between saturday-sunday: i. e. 6 turn for week. I suppose we can skip the prussian naval turn since the Prussia does not have a fleet (a moving fleet: actually I'm plaing as Prussian in a game and I have the control of Naples. But I have a turkish fleet blocking Naples, so I can skip the turn too). The first player _need_ to have a new turn on monday. Battle, of course, are another question: it can delay the game for the non engaged players. But the 2 player in a battle _need_ to have a battle-turn every day too.

[RayKinStL]

Jimmer, do you need more players?  I'd be interested.

[Jimmer]

Yes. I'm up to 4 of 6 with you, Ray. (I'm counting myself, since I don't think there's a way to be a non-player host.)

[RayKinStL]

Sounds good.  We gonna use the GAP?  Also is there a way to do pre-start DOWs? (ones that result in no loss of PP)

[Jimmer]

We'll only use the GAP if the two experienced players will be bidding 30 or less (which is unlikely). The GAP caps the bids at 30. We'll discuss this once we get a full team together.
 
If we don't use the GAP, we can't implement startup wars.
 
Also, as we found out in my current game, startup wars can be extremely costly. Personally, I would NEVER start with a preexisting war, no matter which country I'm playing (unless the other guy declared it). In EIA, there were some rare diplomatic situations that might have caused me to lean that way. However, EIANW has way too many minor neutrals for any power to feasibly start the game with a war (IMO).

[ess1]

Jimmer, it was me (Spain) in tutorial.

[DCWhitworth]

Hi, I'd be interested in playing GB. I'm an experienced player but inexperienced at playing GB - don't know how well that fits your criteria

I'm GMT +0

[Jimmer]

OK, that makes six:
 
From this forum:
 
ess1
htullio
RayKinStL
DCWhitworth
 
Plus, there's one more player I know by email, but I'm not sure if he posts here.
 
Finally, there's me. I do not know if there is a way to host without playing, so I'll probably play France then.
 
So, we need one more learner-type (those playing countries other than GB and France).

[Jimmer]

I will start a new thread in the After Action forum titled "The Art of War" sometime between now and when the seventh player pops in. That's where we'll do all of the metagaming (discussing strategies, planning, etc.) The actual game files will be placed in the Google group "TheArtOfWar".
 
So, keep an eye open for an email from there asking if you want to join.

[DCWhitworth]

Just realised one problem. I am going to be away for a couple of weeks in mid-October without access to the game. I don't have an issue if you want to AI my turns for that period, but I'll also understand if you think this will be too disruptive and would rather have someone else play.

[Jimmer]

I have a friend who might be able to take over for you during that period. I would rather do that than skip your turn, since it could be important.

[Jimmer]

I will need the email address of those for whom I do not already have it:
 
htullio
RayKinStL
DCWhitworth
 
You can either post it here (not recommended for security reasons, unless you edit it later), or send me a private message.

[menik]

email sended

[RayKinStL]

Jimmer,
 
My email address is RayKinStL@yahoo.com  I was planning on bidding fairly high for France simply because I wanted to get a lot of land experience.  So if you are saying you are taking France, then my interest in the game may not be as high.  I was really going to bid aggressively for it in this game since I figured this would be a good game to get my feet wet playing France for the first time in a real game (non AI).

[Jimmer]

I don't have a problem with that, Ray. However, in "learning mode", France needs to not make too many mistakes, or else the other players won't see what she can really do. But, if you want, I have no problem with that.
 
Anybody else interested in one of the two big boys?

[stephenw]

I am learning this game. Playing against AI. I am very interested in playing a smaller power, non-GB or France. Any positions open? Thanks, Stephenw