Matrix Games Forums

Just started my first PBEM game with an opponent a couple of days ago but DAMN are we ever having a rough time getting our heads around
the PBEM system!! I'm sure we'll solve it eventually and I'm sure once we do it'll probably be great. But gettin to that point is gonna take a
while I think.

(BTW, this is not a criticism of what looks increasingly like a very fine game. Just lettin a bit of steam off thats all......lol).

- falco.

In my first games I found getting started a little confusing as I didn't know what all to send at the setup.

You can just do one phase at a time if you don't want to do the two phase way. Our first few games we didn't even know there was a two phase way to do it.

Falco,

Please have a look at the PBEM screenshot tutorial, which I just updated last night and ask your opponent to do the same:

tm.asp?m=1772118

The PBEM system is awesome (and stable, haven't found a bug so far). Basically you always send two phases in a mail to your opponent. For example, a gaming session is:

• you load your last file, ie. turn6 reaction
• you load your opponents first file, turn6 reaction, and "merge" the two together
• watch the replay
• plot for turn 7 order phase, save the game
• you will be in the main menu. Choose multiplayer, and load your turn7 order phase file, what you have just created (it will be a normal load, you will have to wait for the progress bar again)
• since the opponent already sent you the turn 7 orders file, you can merge again, and watch another replay in the same session
• plot for turn 7 reaction
• and now send both your T7orders and T7reaction file to your opponent

Next time you will receive the T7 reaction and T8 orders phase from him. Basically you play with one phase overlapped.

Only the setup and turn1 is different, I don't remember now. It's worth the time learning in.

See Eriks picture guide through the process. We were getting hung up on going back and playing your own turn. But it works pretty well when you get the hang of not waiting for your opponent to send you back a file before you play the next phase.

Good Hunting.

MR

Thanks to all the above for your replies but especially Kineas.   In all the data I've read about PCK pbem no-one ever mentioned about the phases
being over-lapped.  
 
OK.....now back to my game.   Hopefully things will be a bit clearer now........[;)]