New game - willing to host

[MitchLedford]

I would be interested in hosting a new game. I am new to playing online so I would like to benefit from others experiences as to options (see some of the other threads for examples)

I have also never used the GAP tool before so the first turn might be a bit of a learning experience.

Let me know if anyone is interested.

---Mitch

[JanSorensen]

Hi Mitch,

I would like to join the game.

I played EiA a few times 20 years ago but have no experience playing it PBEM. I have played other games PBEM though.
I have no set opinion on options. I will take a closer look and post my suggestions later.

Its my understanding that GAP works less well because it does not allow a diplomatic phase between assigning nations and making pre-game DoWs. If possible I think its better if you as the host send your bids to an outside party to hold followed by the rest of us sending our bids to you.

[MortenG]

Hi

I would like to join, I have palyed a lot a EiA the boardgame, and I'm playing one email game right now, but I would like to join this also.

[MitchLedford]

Ok... I had downloaded GAP but I have no problem with sending bids to the outside email either. I have no problem with beginners either as I am one! this will be I think a learning experience for many of us. I have played the board game, and the only thing that stood out is that the number of VPs needed to win did not change if you clicked the economic manipulation option (meaning that the game is shorter if you allow that option.)

--M

[IrishGuards]

OK .. send me an email pls
tjanderson@rogers.com
IDG

[JanSorensen]

ORIGINAL: MitchLedford
Ok... I had downloaded GAP but I have no problem with sending bids to the outside email either.

Unless someone else minds the use of GAP I am fine with using it. I believe the only shortcoming is that it makes it harder to make a pre-game DoW as there is no diplomatic phase between assigning major powers and making pre-game dows. I am fine with that limitation though - I actually prefer to leave DoWs to happen during play rather than during setup.

I assume you will be posting which version we use once enough players are ready. Currently it would probably be 1.02j.

I am sending my email to you by PM. Feel free to send it to the other players but please do not post it publicly - I try to avoid the spam that might generate.

[MitchLedford]

Only 3 more to go!

[rod]

I would allso like to join.

[MitchLedford]

2 more to go.

So far we have

MitchLedford
rod
JanSorensen
IrishGuards
MortenG

let me know if I have missed anyone

[vicberg]

I'm up for it...

[MitchLedford]

1 more to go.

So far we have

MitchLedford
rod
JanSorensen
IrishGuards
MortenG
vicberg

[DavidFaust]

im up for a game

[MitchLedford]

So we have seven players:

MitchLedford
rod
JanSorensen
IrishGuards
MortenG
vicberg
kingtiger_501

can each of you email me to confirm that you are each still playing. Once I have verified that everyone is playing, then we can start the bidding process. Also, it is unclear to me whether the consensus is that we use GAP or that we use JanSorensen's suggestion. Please let me know what your preferences are.

---Mitch

[JanSorensen]

I am fine either way - GAP or no GAP - just dont cheat and view our bids before making your own

I also suggest that everyone reads the thread about "gamey" tactics and that we avoid the worst of those even if they are possible. I am not experienced enough to suggest a set of things to avoid but I sure would hate to see the game be played too cheesily. I know - its all subjective for some situations so I am not going to worry about the small things.

Sending you an email as well.

Thanks for taking the time to set this up.

[DavidFaust]

Your email add?

kingtiger_501@yahoo.com.au

[MitchLedford]

We also need to choose the options. My comments on each are listed below.  I have them in 2 categories. The first are those that I consider to have a minor effect on the game.  What I mean by that is that they may make me bid a lot more for one country than another (such as Lille crossing arrow) but that they don't alter the way the game plays.  The second list are those that make the game playable/unplayable.  I would like the advice of those who have played the game before so that we can judiciously choose those.  
 
Minor Options:
I would note that if you pick all of these that benefit, say France (guard, economic manipulation, leader casualties, etc.) then it is hard to bid with a 30 point ceiling to the bids.  I think that economic manipulation, plus the 30 point ceiling, would produce a dice-off for France so I would recommend not using it. Other than that, I don't really care which of these we use.... I have suggested options for each but I can certainly see someone else's point of view...
 
Winter Land Movement - enabled
Guard Commitment - enabled
Economic Manipulation - disabled
Great Britain and France Start at war - enabled
Leader casualties - disabled
Privateers - enabled
Use Lille crossing arrow - enabled
 
 
Major Options
Allow PBEM host GA functions - I presume that this must be enabled? 
allow option changes during game - This looks like a horrible vehicle for cheating.... disabled?
Third party combat system - this is in here for minatures?  ... disabled?
PBEM hotseat passwords - I presume this must be enabled?
PBEM quick combat ... should this be enabled or disabled? Thoughts?
Fog of War... enabled?

[bresh]

ORIGINAL: MitchLedford

We also need to choose the options. My comments on each are listed below.  I have them in 2 categories. The first are those that I consider to have a minor effect on the game.  What I mean by that is that they may make me bid a lot more for one country than another (such as Lille crossing arrow) but that they don't alter the way the game plays.  The second list are those that make the game playable/unplayable.  I would like the advice of those who have played the game before so that we can judiciously choose those.  

Minor Options:
I would note that if you pick all of these that benefit, say France (guard, economic manipulation, leader casualties, etc.) then it is hard to bid with a 30 point ceiling to the bids.  I think that economic manipulation, plus the 30 point ceiling, would produce a dice-off for France so I would recommend not using it. Other than that, I don't really care which of these we use.... I have suggested options for each but I can certainly see someone else's point of view...

Winter Land Movement - enabled
Guard Commitment - enabled
Economic Manipulation - disabled
Great Britain and France Start at war - enabled
Leader casualties - disabled
Privateers - enabled
Use Lille crossing arrow - enabled


Major Options
Allow PBEM host GA functions - I presume that this must be enabled? 
allow option changes during game - This looks like a horrible vehicle for cheating.... disabled?
Third party combat system - this is in here for minatures?  ... disabled?
PBEM hotseat passwords - I presume this must be enabled?
PBEM quick combat ... should this be enabled or disabled? Thoughts?
Fog of War... enabled?

Bit odd point about GAP.
So you prefer someone bidding 9999+ over having max bids at 30 ?

Using GAP you dont roll the die, GAP is taking care of equal bids. All host(or someone not in game) does is load bids into his gap.


You could check average bids for games (not sure how many games where included).
tm.asp?m=1641790

Regards
Bresh

[MitchLedford]

There should certainly be a max bid, my point is that if the max is 30 and you use economic manipulation, then a very good bid for France that several people are likely to make is 30, resulting in France being chosen randomly. I am not criticizing the limit so much as the econonic manipulation option.

Also, I am new to the PBEM version, so perhaps it isn't as easy to stay in the dominant zone the whole game as France as it is in the board game.

---M

[DavidFaust]

Winter Land Movement - enabled
Guard Commitment - enabled
Economic Manipulation - disabled
Great Britain and France Start at war - enabled
Leader casualties - disabled
Privateers - enabled
Use Lille crossing arrow - enabled

My changes from above

Economic Manipulation - enabled
Privateers - disabled

[MitchLedford]

So at this point we have:
 
Winter Land Movement - 2 for
Guard Commitment - 2 for
Economic Manipulation - 1 for, 1 against
Great Britain and France Start at war - 2 for
Leader casualties -2 against
Privateers - 1 for, 1 against
Use Lille crossing arrow - 2 for