PBEM Etiquitte?

[archmache]

Just started my first PBEM game as I can handily beat the AI.

How many turns am I expected to do per day / week? What's standard time frame for a '39 campaign to finish?

How many games can I have going since it's asymmetric? Is two the max? Currently I just have one going.

Is "gimmicks" looked down upon in PBEM? Meaning going for crazy diplo strats / early barb / unconventional attacks?

Also question about rockets - does anyone build them? They seem to not be worth it. Is there a consensus on them?

[Will952]

Turn expectations is probably best discussed beforehand, but I'd say an average of about 7 per week (i.e. 1 per day but allowing for more on some and less on others) is a good minimum speed. Faster than that is obviously possible, but slower means you may lose track of what you were doing in the previous turn!

I think different people take different views on gimmicks. There are certain tactics which I'd put firmly in the realm of exploits which just aren't patched yet. Again, best discussed.

Pretty sure the consensus re rockets is they're a fun toy if you're otherwise thrashing your opponent, but not much good otherwise!

[Markiss]

If you want more than one turn per day, it is helpful to play someone in your own hemisphere. Players on opposite sides of the world rarely get in more than one turn a day, unless one of the players keeps an odd schedule. Matches can take as little as 2 weeks, or they can drag on for months, depending on how many turns you are trading per day and how long the losing player wants to stick it out. Players can resign if they wish, but new players should stick it out, as there is much to be learned by continuing. Not necessarily to the bitter end, but giving up at the first sign of trouble runs the risk of irritating your opponent.

My limit is 2 games running at once, and always from different sides. If you play 2 games at once from the same side, it is very easy to get confused about what you have done in each match(I swore the US bought Infantry Weapons already!).

As far as gimmicks go, ask if your opponent wants any house rules before the match begins. The most common one is no major power diplomacy, and maybe limiting air attacks on HQ's. Daring strategies like early Barbarossa and Sealion have their own drawbacks. Use them at your peril, a good player will make you pay. Only Fafnir can pull that kind of stuff off consistently, for most players the risks outweigh any potential advantage.

Ah, Rockets. They can be effective, but only at level 4 or 5. You have to invest a tremendous amount of money, and wait until 43 or 44 to finally have them be useful. Frankly, the money is better spent elsewhere. There are some mods, like Fall Weiss, that give them to you for free, it is considerably more feasible to invest in them then.

Good luck!

[archmache]

Hi Markiss,

Thanks for answers - I'll be sure to play different sides if I get multiple games going!