Net Play Question

[sablewyvern]

From what I can tell (based on the commentary in the manual), all netplay sessions require both parties to be online and logged in in order for the game to run. I haven't actually tested this, as my future opponent doesn't have the game yet.

Is there any way for one player to examine the map and make plans while the other is not online?

[Numdydar]

No idea as netplay is not completely working yet [:(]

Most people playing MP, like me, are using Teamviewer and Skype to play. Obviously this combination would require both people to be online at the same time. And as far as I know this would be true using Netplay as well.

Of course there is nothing stopping you from ending the Teamview session, sending the file to the other player, and then both of you can look and see what is going on. The one who 'owns' the Teamviewer session would have the 'official' version and they could keep playing the game until some input was needed by the other player. Then you could arrange a time to get online together to resolve whatever needed both players present.

However, based on my limited experience, there is just too much going on in a turn to really have a lot of down time, with the possible exception of UK production [:D].

What it looks like you want is a PBEM system where one person does their actions and then send an email with the file to the other. PBEM is also planed for WiF but after NetPlay is fully functional. So I would guess six months from now for PBEM? Probably longer though.

I hope this helps.

[sablewyvern]

No, I definitely don't want PBEM, given the limitations that will involve. But if I'm going to be playing weekly or fortnightly sessions (as will likely turn out to be the case), it will be handy to actually be able to do planning between sessions -- which will enable us to get more done when we're both on.

Edit: It occurs to me that what I'm looking for probably isn't as necessary as I was first thinking. Way back when I last played on the tabletop, I was living with my brother, and we had the maps set up out the back, where either of us could go peruse whenever we felt like it. But I guess most players managed with a map setup at alocation not permanently accessible to most, and seem to have managed to play successfully.

Still, it would be nice to kill a spare hour or two plotting and planning and angsting between formal game sessions.

[NCommander]

I'd be up for doing NetPlay if you want to try it. my understanding is if one player DCs, you can continue to play until that player would be required again ...

[Joseignacio]

I will be searching, too, for players this weekend, preferably of European timezone.

[sablewyvern]

ORIGINAL: NCommander

I'd be up for doing NetPlay if you want to try it.

Thanks for the offer, but I'm not ready for a game yet ... haven't touched WiF in about 10 years. Only just installed MWIF yesterday and my hard-copy manuals only arrived today ... I have some study to do before I leap into a multiplayer game. [8D]

my understanding is if one player DCs, you can continue to play until that player would be required again ...

That's starting to sound promising ... just leaves the question of whether or not you can actually start the session with only one person present.

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: IX240

From what I can tell (based on the commentary in the manual), all netplay sessions require both parties to be online and logged in in order for the game to run. I haven't actually tested this, as my future opponent doesn't have the game yet.

Is there any way for one player to examine the map and make plans while the other is not online?

No, since you can't load the game if the other player isn't online.

[sablewyvern]

ORIGINAL: CentuurNo, since you can't load the game if the other player isn't online.

And the save files aren't at all interchangeable? You can't load an NP save as a solitaire or hotseat game? I'm guessing not, unless there's some password coding to protect things like hidden entry chits.

[NCommander]

ORIGINAL: Centuur

ORIGINAL: IX240

From what I can tell (based on the commentary in the manual), all netplay sessions require both parties to be online and logged in in order for the game to run. I haven't actually tested this, as my future opponent doesn't have the game yet.

Is there any way for one player to examine the map and make plans while the other is not online?

No, since you can't load the game if the other player isn't online.

Ah, the best way to learn is to jump in and get your feet wet .

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: IX240

ORIGINAL: CentuurNo, since you can't load the game if the other player isn't online.

And the save files aren't at all interchangeable? You can't load an NP save as a solitaire or hotseat game? I'm guessing not, unless there's some password coding to protect things like hidden entry chits.

You stated the problem here. If such a game could be opened in solitair, the other side would immediately know US entry and neutrality pact counter values.

The question however, remains. If someone wants to look at the "static" situation during a netplay game, without being able to do anything else but scrolling the map and looking at the information panels they are allowed to see in that game, why shouldn't that be possible. So it is somewhere on a "wish list" to be programmed. Very low priority, however.

[sablewyvern]

Cheers for all the responses. I just had a brief mess around with setting up NetPlay, which led me to the NP tech support forum, and I think I've settled on the hotseat/team viewer option as a lot less hassle.

[Numdydar]

Do not use the Hotseat mode as that still has some outstanding issues that still need resolution. I use Solitaire mode for MP. One player just needs to look away when US entry comes up [:)]

[NCommander]

ORIGINAL: Numdydar

Do not use the Hotseat mode as that still has some outstanding issues that still need resolution. I use Solitaire mode for MP. One player just needs to look away when US entry comes up [:)]

What issues are these? I haven't heard much issues with hotseat.

[Orm]

There was, or are, small issues with the Hot Seat mode. Although I do not think that there are any issues that are game stoppers.

Unfortunately I have not tested Hot Seat since I begun my game with Warspite1 so I can't say for sure. [:(]

Edit: What I recall at the moment had mostly to do with that after a save was restored then the wrong side could be called. Or at times both sides were called one after the other at once.

[CanInf]

I had some stop game bugs with hotseat, but it is all clear so far with the new hot patch.

[Numdydar]

Good to know. Thanks for the update.

[sablewyvern]

I'm still vacillating between hotseat and NetPlay for multiplayer. Am I correct in assuming that NetPlay will allow both sides to do production simultaneously? The idea of having to just sit and wait while my brother (notoriously slow and vulnerable to significant action paralysis) does production planning in hotseat mode has me bored and frustrated already.

[Numdydar]

You could always go for a walk or run errands [:D]

[sablewyvern]

ORIGINAL: Numdydar

You could always go for a walk or run errands [:D]

I'll probably have to ...

In any case, just got to that part in the manual, and it looks like everything that can be done simultaneously is done simulataneously, so NP is definitely looking appealing once the the majority of the bugs are ironed out.

[paulderynck]

I'm beta testing NetPlay and we had to set-up sequentially. I can't recall on production but will report back as we are getting close to a turn-end. Those are two where simultaneous actions would be ideal.