 New Game: Boot Camp |
Sun, 14 December 2003 08:23  |
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 Slider2k |
 | Crewman 3rd Class |
Messages: 5
Registered: December 2003 | |
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Game name: Boot Camp
Experience level: Beginner
Players: 6-12 (Host is playing)
Universe: Medium-Large/Galaxy clumping
Density: Sparse
Player positions: Distant
Options: Accelerated BBS Play
All PTRs/LRTs are allowed
Alliances are allowed (but no more than 3-4 players per alliance)
Victory conditions:
* Last man/alliance standing
* Owns 60% of planets
* Exceeds second place score by 100%
Winner must meet one of the above criteria.
At least 60 years must pass before a winner is declared.
Will be hosted on Autohost
Turn frequency: 5 turns per week (Mo-Fr)
Passworded race files are required
If player miss 2 turns without explanation then he/she will be set to inactive till he/she returns
Game description: This is the game for beginners.
Cheats/Features:
* Chaff - allowed
* Split Fleet Dodge - allowed
* Any other cheats - disallowed
Read cheats/features descriptions here
[Updated on: Mon, 15 December 2003 19:05] Report message to a moderator
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| Re: New Game: Boot Camp |
Sun, 14 December 2003 12:47  |
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| EDog |
 | Lt. Junior Grade |
Messages: 417
Registered: November 2002
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA | |
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| Slider2k wrote on Sun, 14 December 2003 06:23 |
Cheats/Features:
* Chaff - allowed
* Split Fleet Dodge - allowed
* UR/CE Scrapping - allowed
* Battle Board Overload - disallowed
* Target List Overload - disallowed
* 0.2% Minimum Damage - disallowed
* [freepop] Hack - disallowed
* Cheap Starbase - allowed
It's becoming a common practice to allow use of this bug, cause otherwise it's hard to catch on it.
* Mineral Upload - allowed
* Multi-mineral packet - allowed
* Any other cheats - disallowed
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I'd like to comment on this, especially as you're advertising it as a Beginner game. Chaff and Split Fleet are, in my mind, legitimate tactics and should be allowed in a game. UR/CE scrapping, however, represents an abuse of the calculations that essentially provides free resources. That's against entropy and therefore against the laws of the universe. It ought to be against the laws of your game as well. If you're disallowing Battle Board, Target List, and .2% Min Damage (likewise abuses of the calculations), you should disallow UR/CE. Cheap Starbases is cheating! It's another abuse of the calculations. I've never seen a game allowing Cheap Starbases simply because it's hard to catch, so I don't follow your logic. If it's become "common practice", then so has cheating. Mineral Upload likewise represents an abuse. The only close equivalent I would find acceptable would be (a) loading up your own freighters with all your minerals and decamping with them or else putting them all in a packet and launching it wherever you want. Multi-packets I would allow, simply because there's no free resources or minerals attached. Packet costs remain unchanged.
I believe you are doing Beginners a great disservice by allowing them so many abuses of the engine. It will encourage them to continue abusing the system and they may find themselves blacklisted as cheaters. I'd suggest you carefully rethink your list.
The "standard" (if there is such a thing) for allowing/disallowing is usually as follows: Chaff allowed. Split Fleet Dodge either allowed or not (Host's whim, mostly). All else disallowed. Period.
I hope you'll seriously reconsider your rules before starting this game.
Ranting EDog
http://ianthealy.com
Born, grew up, became an adventurer
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| Re: New Game: Boot Camp |
Sun, 14 December 2003 16:22 |
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| Slider2k |
| Crewman 3rd Class |
Messages: 5
Registered: December 2003 | |
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| Quote: |
UR/CE scrapping, however, represents an abuse of the calculations that essentially provides free resources.
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JRC4 bugs: "UR/CE Scrapping:
Races with CE get half price engines, and races with UR get to reclaim up to 90% of resources and 70% of minerals that went into the ship/fleet. However when scrapping at another races starbase, Stars doesn't take into account the fact that CE races get half price engines and the resources given are based on the full amount. A ship that is mostly engine (scout with pricey engine), can be used between an alliance to generate "free" resources and minerals. This has been partially countered now that gifted or alien ship (i.e. not built by that race) are considered 30% cheaper in working out scrapping." So players won't get any extra minerals, and just 13% of extra resources.
So it's not a big deal.
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Cheap Starbases is cheating! It's another abuse of the calculations.
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It's sure evil. It spoils the game for me. I'm hoping that JRC5 will come and fix this hole.
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I've never seen a game allowing Cheap Starbases simply because it's hard to catch, so I don't follow your logic. If it's become "common practice", then so has cheating.
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Read this thread.
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Mineral Upload likewise represents an abuse. The only close equivalent I would find acceptable would be (a) loading up your own freighters with all your minerals and decamping with them or else putting them all in a packet and launching it wherever you want.
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Scenarios that you described don't fit in situations when use of Mineral Upload is appropriate: You can't launch packets without a starbase. And you can't use freighters if you don't already have them in orbit, and your starbase has been destroyed so you cant build them. This scenarios are appropriate if used sometime before the planet is attacked.
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| Re: New Game: Boot Camp |
Mon, 15 December 2003 15:04 |
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| EDog |
| Lt. Junior Grade |
Messages: 417
Registered: November 2002
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA | |
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| Slider2k wrote on Mon, 15 December 2003 11:40 |
| Quote: |
it's denying the conqueror of the planet his rightful price
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Nobody has right on things that belongs to others. And i see Unload Minerals as a feature, not as an abuse.
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The entire purpose of war is to kill people, break stuff, and keep the spoils for yourself. Otherwise, what's the point?
My opinion is that you've allowed too many loopholes in this game (why, are you planning to exploit them all?) for a Beginner-level game. How many Stars novices would lose interest in playing this game that (a) allows things that nearly all experienced hosts and players disallow and do not use; and (b) robs them of the fun of beating an opponent fair and square?
I would recommend something like the Children's Hour of Science series (Overworked, right?) for beginners as a much better and learning-friendly environment. There aren't any CHoS games on right now, but perhaps they will be posted in the near future (hint, hint).
Good luck with your game. I hope you don't disenchant anyone from playing Stars with it.
EDog
http://ianthealy.com
Born, grew up, became an adventurer
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| Re: New Game: Boot Camp |
Mon, 15 December 2003 16:48 |
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| EDog wrote on Mon, 15 December 2003 15:04 |
I would recommend something like the Children's Hour of Science series (Overworked, right?) for beginners as a much better and learning-friendly environment. There aren't any CHoS games on right now, but perhaps they will be posted in the near future (hint, hint).
EDog
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Remark noted. Going to minimally run out the current bunch of RWIAB games first though.
[We return you to the game discussion this thread is earmarked for...]
- Kurt
[Updated on: Mon, 15 December 2003 16:50] by Moderator
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