pbem mechanics

[scout1]

For those who have been involved with pbem for this game (either 1:1, or multi:multi) ...

Just what are the mechanics of setting up the game ?
What are the mechanics of sharing turns ?

Are there issues or restrictions compared to a single player game against the AI ?

[mroyer]

The mechanics of PBEM are fairly primitive, but that's not a bad thing. Because of that, they're fairly simple.

When setting up a new scenario, in the "Generation Settings" screen, check the number of human players and "Passwords and PBEM option". If you don't trust your opponent(s), also check "Disallow saving during turn".

After that, when a player ends a turn, he/she can save the turn to a file. That file is e-mailed to the next player (you are notified who the next nation is).
The next player then loads that file and play's their turn and e-mails it. And so on...


You need to have everyone's e-mail addy (of course). Someone generates the initial scenario and save it to a file. Choose a play order ( we do that with www.random.org ). Then send the original setup file to the first player and off you go, around-n-around.

-Mark R.

[zgrssd]

While it is called play by Email, that is only the old way to transfer the savegame to whoever is next. Any filesharing approach works.

Afaik there are Discord Scripts to partially automate it. And a PBEM Helper: https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=5024246

And I second watching DasTactic.

[mroyer]

Any filesharing approach works.

Good point. The group I play with actually settled into an odd half-email/half-dropbox routine based in individual player preferences.

-Mark R.