To Mac

[bo]

An apology to you Mac for our arguments over the AI and PBEM. I said I would never buy the game without an AI, that was because I never played PBEM in any game until two weeks ago, I am playing Matrix's Time of Wrath against a PBEM opponet and I am really enjoying my first PBEM game, what a difference playing a human opponet that knows what he is doing, I rushed in forces here and there without thinking just like you can do against TOW's lame AI and still win easily. Boy did I get my rear handed to me, you were right Mac great way to play any war game.

Bo

[macgregor]

That's not a problem Bo. There's no need for an apology. There are more than a couple of people that seem to feel it it very important for Steve to know that unless the AI is to their satisfaction that they won't buy. Since the AI has already been announced, this comes off to me as either whining or blackmail from a group that has really not established WiF as one of their games. My one point I wanted to make was that part of what I felt was the magic of WiF was in the amount on reaction the non-phasing player is offered. PBEM will limit that though I think Steve has found a way to allow people to sculpt their reaction through standing orders. The seasoned WiF players I think will be more anxious to use the netplay option, at least I will. Steve still has lots of work which is difficult to estimate. I hope another year should be enough, though I'm doing my best not to anticipate a release.

[micheljq]

ORIGINAL: bo

An apology to you Mac for our arguments over the AI and PBEM. I said I would never buy the game without an AI, that was because I never played PBEM in any game until two weeks ago, I am playing Matrix's Time of Wrath against a PBEM opponet and I am really enjoying my first PBEM game, what a difference playing a human opponet that knows what he is doing, I rushed in forces here and there without thinking just like you can do against TOW's lame AI and still win easily. Boy did I get my rear handed to me, you were right Mac great way to play any war game.

Bo

So ToW is playable in PBEM, I thought it was broken. For MWiF, I did play a WiF game PBEM with Vassal, this is fun, but when MWiF will come with a good PBEM system, it has the potential to be a lot better than Vassal, really waiting for this to happen. [:)]

[macgregor]

TOAW is indeed playable in pbem and has an awful lot of work into it to perfect the pbem experience. TOAW gets more detailed in ground combat and showing unit inventory but does not encompass naval or strategic -level warfare, which even on the operational level I find as essential, especially on today's battlefield(something TOAW is supposed to represent). It really plays right into the War on Terror debate as we debate the value of large ground forces over an infinitely more effective strategic-style of warfare using drones and other standoff weapons. I can't help but think some of the resistance to open the military options with navies and strategic weapons in TOAW is politically motivated(call me paranoid).
I hate seeing Steve have to make MWiF compete with TOAW's pbem experience, but the end result is that game of WiF is far more encompassing, and though perhaps simplified in ground combat, considering the reaction of the non-phasing player, just as realistic(if not more) than TOAW. TOAW however can represent any conflict which is nice.

[micheljq]

I am not sure we speak of the same game, I was speaking of TOW, WW2 Time of Wrath.

[bo]

ORIGINAL: micheljq

I am not sure we speak of the same game, I was speaking of TOW, WW2 Time of Wrath.

Hey Mich I am playing Time of Wrath against GW getting my butt kicked so far but its early, seems to be playing all right, not sure as this is my first pbem game. You have to be careful when to save the game for the mail sequence to your opponet, the popup scripts, like do you want this battleship or do you want to scrap it have to be read carefully because it is possible that it should only be answered by your opponet. But you get used to it after awhile.

Bo

[bo]

ORIGINAL: macgregor

That's not a problem Bo. There's no need for an apology. There are more than a couple of people that seem to feel it it very important for Steve to know that unless the AI is to their satisfaction that they won't buy. Since the AI has already been announced, this comes off to me as either whining or blackmail from a group that has really not established WiF as one of their games. My one point I wanted to make was that part of what I felt was the magic of WiF was in the amount on reaction the non-phasing player is offered. PBEM will limit that though I think Steve has found a way to allow people to sculpt their reaction through standing orders. The seasoned WiF players I think will be more anxious to use the netplay option, at least I will. Steve still has lots of work which is difficult to estimate. I hope another year should be enough, though I'm doing my best not to anticipate a release.

Mac what is the difference between net play and PBEM or is it the same game? In laymans terms please remember I never played any game in my life other than playing against an AI.

Bo

[macgregor]

ORIGINAL: micheljq
I am not sure we speak of the same game, I was speaking of TOW, WW2 Time of Wrath.

TOW? Time of wrath? Oh well ....never mind.

[macgregor]

ORIGINAL: bo
Mac what is the difference between net play and PBEM or is it the same game? In laymans terms please remember I never played any game in my life other than playing against an AI.

Bo

Netplay is going to connect all the players to a single server. Reaction decisions will be requested by the game to players via some sort of instant message. PBEM will see all the players setting their reaction preferences and decisions will be made by the game automatically while the phasing player is moving. It's sort of like having you program your own AI in reaction. Of course this reaction is a big source of enjoyment for me, even if it slows down gameplay as the circumstances can change within an impulse.

[paulderynck]

Netplay will be as close to a Face-to-face gaming experience of MWiF as will be possible. Players will play the game in real time and see moves as they happen. That's the advantage over PBEM. The disadvantage will be in trying to get everybody's schedules to line up, especially when time zone diferences are greater.

I think Steve has said we will be able to switch back and forth during the same game between Netplay and PBEM, which would be awesome!

[brian brian]

What? MWiF won't sort out the 6000 cardboard pieces into all the plastic force pool trays and Dixie cups everywhere with a robot arm for me? I don't know if I can buy it then.

[bo]

ORIGINAL: paulderynck

Netplay will be as close to a Face-to-face gaming experience of MWiF as will be possible. Players will play the game in real time and see moves as they happen. That's the advantage over PBEM. The disadvantage will be in trying to get everybody's schedules to line up, especially when time zone diferences are greater.

I think Steve has said we will be able to switch back and forth during the same game between Netplay and PBEM, which would be awesome!

Paul does that mean you have to have more than two players or can it be one on one in net play? and how do you set up net play? Is it a special program? It sounds to me that pbem would be more convenient for people with different time zones.

Bo

[paulderynck]

ORIGINAL: bo

ORIGINAL: paulderynck

Netplay will be as close to a Face-to-face gaming experience of MWiF as will be possible. Players will play the game in real time and see moves as they happen. That's the advantage over PBEM. The disadvantage will be in trying to get everybody's schedules to line up, especially when time zone diferences are greater.

I think Steve has said we will be able to switch back and forth during the same game between Netplay and PBEM, which would be awesome!

Paul does that mean you have to have more than two players or can it be one on one in net play? and how do you set up net play? Is it a special program? It sounds to me that pbem would be more convenient for people with different time zones.

Bo

AFAIK you will be able to have anywhere from 2 to 6 players in a Netplay session. Initiation of the session will be via a menu selection from within MWiF. You will need to know the "host" player's internet address (IP address) and may have to set up your home router/firewall so that communication is enabled.