It's been ages since we had one going. It seems that AgeGames has dropped off the internet which is a shame because Shogunate was a great game well suited to 20 or so forum dwellers.
I have had little luck finding an equivalent which is both interesting and the correct size.
Does anyone know of any alternatives? Is there enough interest to get a game going?
Alternatively there are browser based MMORPG's, unfortunately these either are a bit poo or the only way to succeed is to buy lots of game currency as the developers just seem to want to milk the players for their cash.
I play Urban Dead and Travian currently, which I suppose could work as a forum activity but we wouldn't get the DRAMA~!™ that a diplomacy game gives. I have also suggested both in the past without much interest. The other problem with these games is the time it takes. Urban dead can be played in about 5 minutes per day as it is an extremely simple game whereas Travian is a constant time leech as it is played in real time.
Does anyone have any good suggestions?
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The post that was quoted here has been removedYep, I played that too... It was pretty broken when I played, basically it replenished your action points every time you gained a level... which meant that you could just continue to gain level after level as there were enough AP's to allow this.
No we need something to pit us against each other, where alliances can be made and broken and whined about.
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Originally posted by cadwahWay, way back in the day, we played something called VGA Planets. Not too sure about this one, if it even still exists. Just as it sounds, it was sci-fi based and it was sorta like Diplomacy in that you had a client program you ran and you started with one planet and one freighter. You sent ships out to neighboring planets and they became yours if no enemy ships and a fight ensued if there were enemy ships there. You had to deal with improving your tech to build ships and creating raw materials to create the ships and improving the planets themselves to make more product. The population of natives on the planets basically became your subjects and worked your mines and built your tech, so you had to deal with their efficiency (or happiness) as well. You could make fighter ships and freighter ships of all kinds to run your empire and to protect it, and the fun ensued when you finally met up with another race. A robust message system allowed you to send messages to one or more other players (up to the max playing).
It's been ages since we had one going. It seems that AgeGames has dropped off the internet which is a shame because Shogunate was a great game well suited to 20 or so forum dwellers.
I have had little luck finding an equivalent which is both interesting and the correct size.
Does anyone know of any alternatives? Is there enough interest to get a game go a constant time leech as it is played in real time.
Does anyone have any good suggestions?
Everyone had to buy their client program and usually one person used the compiler program to compile everyone's moves and release a new turn (much like the AGE games, but here once everyone bought the game, you could play forever for free). As I recall, you could have up to 10 players per game (the maps were finite, plus I think there were only 10 races available to play, each with their own racial advantages).
But like I said, this was a long time ago, and I'm not even sure if the guy still supports his program. Since it was ages ago, what we played was Version 3. I know a version 4 exists, but dunno much beyond that. I heard rumors 3 was better than 4 though.
Originally posted by SuzianneThere's an online web version here: http://planets.nu/ want to check it out...?
Way, way back in the day, we played something called VGA Planets. Not too sure about this one, if it even still exists. Just as it sounds, it was sci-fi based and it was sorta like Diplomacy in that you had a client program you ran and you started with one planet and one freighter. You sent ships out to neighboring planets and they became yours if no ene ...[text shortened]... ow a version 4 exists, but dunno much beyond that. I heard rumors 3 was better than 4 though.
Report back to us if it's the right one please 😀
Originally posted by cadwahI just found this site myself. I was coming back here to report about it.
There's an online web version here: http://planets.nu/ want to check it out...?
Report back to us if it's the right one please 😀
I haven't seen enough of the site to see what version it is, or how it relates to what I'm used to, but it does appear to be a web-based engine for the game, meaning forget downloading client programs, etc. First glance seems that it is an entire new interface, I'll check out the rules and see if the game is any different.
It looks like private games can be started on this site. It also looks like the site is Free to Play, but there are fees for Premium membership for the site, but no idea on a pricing structure yet. It could be you can only create games if you are Premium, or maybe only create private games if Premium, but not sure.
I'll look at it more and let you know.
Originally posted by cadwahI just checked out that game and had a quick wee read of the forums, you have to be full on ggay to play that sort of game, where the chuff do you start.
There's an online web version here: http://planets.nu/ want to check it out...?
Report back to us if it's the right one please 😀
In other words, I am probably too stupid to see the point and would end up being planet fodder.
There must be a full on fighting game that requires very few brain cells and plenty of carnage, somewhere, surely?????????
Originally posted by cadwahwww.dipbounced.com
It's been ages since we had one going. It seems that AgeGames has dropped off the internet which is a shame because Shogunate was a great game well suited to 20 or so forum dwellers.
I have had little luck finding an equivalent which is both interesting and the correct size.
Does anyone know of any alternatives? Is there enough interest to get a game go ...[text shortened]... a constant time leech as it is played in real time.
Does anyone have any good suggestions?
I believe games can be set-up to any time-limits
Originally posted by SuzianneJust a few details I've gleaned from examining the site in greater detail.
I just found this site myself. I was coming back here to report about it.
I haven't seen enough of the site to see what version it is, or how it relates to what I'm used to, but it does appear to be a web-based engine for the game, meaning forget downloading client programs, etc. First glance seems that it is an entire new interface, I'll check out the ...[text shortened]... nly create private games if Premium, but not sure.
I'll look at it more and let you know.
It appears that you can make private games without Premium membership to the site, which is $3/month, $8/3 months, $30/12 months, or $54/24 months. The problem with private games is that there is no password protection for the game, but the game also does not show up on their games list, so one would have to guess the url/gameID to get access to it. Obviously, the person making the game would know the url/gameID to direct people to it.
It appears to be true to the original game, with a few add-ons for Premium players.
This is what Premium players get for their money (i.e. what you would not get if you played for free):
1. (and this is the big one) Tech Levels at Starbases can be raised past 7 up to 10. (this is important because all ships are built at starbases and are limited to the tech levels of the ship parts at the starbases) Free players are limited to Tech Level 7 max for Ship Hulls, Engines, Beam Weapons and Torp Launchers.
2. Access to "Inner Quadrant" games with special add-ons, features, team play, and private games. (In other words, you need Premium to play with the big boys. I do not know why it includes private games here, since in my testing I was able to create a "private game" no problem.)
3. Play against other Premium members for better games with less dropped players. (Like the AGE games, I guess this is a big problem in pickup games.)
4. Eligibility to play in championship matches and win prizes.
If we kept our private games only to RHP members, I do not see why we can't keep the games to the default conditions, unless some players get the Premium membership and can thus build Tech Level 10 stuff on their bases. For fairness sake, everyone playing should be at the same level.).
I would suggest people who might be interested to go to the website and look at How to Play to get an idea of what you need to know. It is a game filled with a lot of rules, true, but no worse than most of the AGE games I've played.
http://planet.nu/
When you sign up, you are required to claim a race, but this seems only for internal scoreboards and when you play a real game on the site, you can choose any race that is available to play (first come, first served, naturally).
I'm registered on the site as "suziq" and I'm still playing my tutorial game (1-on-1 versus a computer opponent).
Whoever makes a game to play has options, like how many players and which races to include. It would be best to get preferences from the players before making the game.
As far as the pricing structure goes, it's basically $30/year, but if you got the shareware version and paid the reg fee for that, it is only a one-time fee of $20. But then, it would not be web-based, and you'd get your turn files over email, like the AGE games. One person would have to volunteer to Host the game, meaning basically play the GM. The Host could also play, if the players trusted him/her to not take advantage of being the Host (like replaying his turn and rerunning the turn if he didn't like the turn results, etc).
Originally posted by SuzianneExcellent research, I think I would favour planets over DipBounced simply because we can have more players with planets... admittedly only 11 but still a good start to get the diplomacy ball rolling once more.
Just a few details I've gleaned from examining the site in greater detail.
It appears that you can make private games without Premium membership to the site, which is $3/month, $8/3 months, $30/12 months, or $54/24 months. The problem with private games is that there is no password protection for the game, but the game also does not show up on their gam ...[text shortened]... eplaying his turn and rerunning the turn if he didn't like the turn results, etc).
Also the website is: http://planets.nu/ you missed out the 's'.
Does this mean that you would be willing to have a game Suzi?
I think this is our best option, does anybody else have any suggestions before I create a sign up thread?
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Originally posted by cadwahYou are right on the URL, dunno how I screwed that up.
Excellent research, I think I would favour planets over DipBounced simply because we can have more players with planets... admittedly only 11 but still a good start to get the diplomacy ball rolling once more.
Also the website is: http://planets.nu/ you missed out the 's'.
Does this mean that you would be willing to have a game Suzi?
I think this is our best option, does anybody else have any suggestions before I create a sign up thread?
Sure, I'd even start the game out, but like I said, I suppose we'd have to know in advance how many will play. If less than 11, we would need to know who wanted what race, so only the races people want would be included in the game. We'd also need to know how often a turn should be run, because the game set-up lets you enable the turn to be run as often as once a day, or as rarely as once a week. But remember if we play on the website, the turn schedule is fixed once it's decided on. If we decide to download the shareware version and play that way, we have more leniency on when the turn gets run.
My personal choice for race would be the Privateers, since I have the most experience with them.
I suggest if you're interested in playing you go look on the site at How to Play, where each race is discussed and you can see the racial advantages for each race, as well as taking a look at the rules. You should also register at the site if you want to play. Once you register I suggest playing the tutorial game. The advantage of playing the tutorial game is that you learn what all you have to do in a turn, and the advantage of learning in the tutorial game is you can run your turn whenever you want. I won the tutorial game in 20 turns, just to give you an idea of how long one game takes, but remember, the tutorial is 2 players (you and the computer player) and only 15 planets (I think, I can't remember exactly how many it was).
Edit: One thing I forgot to mention is that if we have 11 players, once the game is set up, signing up for what race you want would be first come, first served. This is if we play the website version. If we decide to play the windows client version, everyone would have to download the shareware version, but the Host would set the game up, but he/she would have to know who wanted what race in advance.
