Rules of The MetaGame

[namelochil]

Airplanes and parachutes, I think. (Or maybe Imperial walkers?)

 

[masterjskye]

Putting a country under siege stops them being able to attack adjacent territories with a normal, surprise or blitz attack. However, the stormtroopers and Nuke attack are still available to a team under siege.

Think of it as if it was real life, the small covert tactical unit could easily slip out of the country on a plane and infiltrate a territory of their choosing. Or, if they felt their back was up against the wall they could always nuke you back to the stoneage with the press of a button.

 

[ne4osu1970]

That makes sense and was thinking that. I guess we didn't think it through and thought since they were under siege they wouldn't be able to counter.

 

[trailblazer]

This could be good. I could easily represent a territory's defensive force on the meta map by drawing in the number on the container, just like in our normal games. I prefer that over the downgrade system. It would add another strategical consideration to the game.

On further reflection, I have one tweak to this proposal ...

The game currently has a countdown to the start of the round and then a second 24 hour countdown to the end of the attack orders phase.

With the inclusion of defence moves, I propose each round instead begins with 24 hours prior to the START of posting your defence orders, followed by a second countdown of 24 hours to the END of posting your defence orders, then a third countdown prior to the START of posting your attack orders, followed by a fourth countdown to the END of posting your attack orders.

The third 24 hour countdown between the end of defence orders and the start of attack orders would allow:
(1) masterjskye time to update the metamap with any defensive forces being played and
(2) team members to consult with each other about any changes to their attack plans they want to make due to the defensive forces now in play for that round.

To help teams keep track of the various countdowns, especially while they are getting used to them, I propose having the following displayed on the first page of the Metagame:

- Defence phase begins in:
- Defence phase ends in:
- Attack phase begins in:
- Attack phase ends in:

Whichever 24 hour countdown we were on would then be displayed on the relevant line, while the other lines would be blank.

 

[marc369]

Anyone else think that the time to get moves in could be changed to make things more fair? I normally have to set out for work at 19:00 GMT so cannot make moves, I am sure other players are in bed or unable to make moves also could the times be changed every round to give everyone a chance to get the moves in they wish? Just an idea, not a criticism as I can only guess at the effort you have put in to this Master.

 

[Cardinalsrule]

While I agree in theory with you marc, I don't think there is one time that is good for everyone, considering that we are spread all over the globe. I think this is 'as good as it gets', noon pacific for USA, early evening in Europe.

 

[hat7rick]

yes but it would be more fair if the time changed each time .. so that different people are accommodated. personally I like it how it is because it is convenient for me, however I agree with Marc

 

[Cardinalsrule]

That's a reasonable idea. Any suggestions as to what might be other times that are good for as many people as possible?

 

[hat7rick]

how about 0.00 GMT ? I doubt anyone here sleeps before midnight especially on a friday so europe should be fine

 

[Sebrim]

I object - that's 01:00 for me and 02:00 for my partner and I have small kids, and cannot stay awake until 01:00.....

Sorry

 

[th-child]

how about 0.00 GMT ? I doubt anyone here sleeps before midnight especially on a friday so europe should be fine

The question is: if you are awake at midnight on a Friday night, are you sober?
The first deadline hit us with dorcee at 3 or 4 a.m. if I remember well... hm, my point is that actually I don't remember that well... ricewine.

But there is just a few of us in this game, what if we all write our timezones, and then maybe we can find a time that's suitable for everyone.

So Sebrim and smi are in GMT+1 and GMT+2, right now we are also in GMT+1.

 

[Chilly]

Cards and I are both GMT-7

Personally, I think a good solution for the future would be to pick a time for the first turn, and then roll the deadlines forward 5 (or 7) hours for each subsequent turn. Everyone can deal with the inconvenience (or convenience) at some point and that can be part of the metagame.

 

[BadElmer]

GMT -5 here; another suggestion could be to order the turns based on least turn orders available (or something like that) or just randomly or revolving and we would all have 24 hours to get orders in but timing within that 24 hours would not be critical.

 

[masterjskye]

I am on GMT and I believe Namelochil is on GMT -5. I will think about this for the next round but 19.00 tomorrow still stands. I do think that is an alright time but let's see what we can figure out with each others timezones.

I will add another suggestion to the mix. Picking the time the next round kicks off could be a reward for the team that performs the best in the previous round. That could be ascertained by using win counts, or win percentages of the previous round, or simply the team that takes the most territories.

 

[Cardinalsrule]

I will add another suggestion to the mix. Picking the time the next round kicks off could be a reward for the team that performs the best in the previous round. That could be ascertained by using win counts, or win percentages of the previous round, or simply the team that takes the most territories.

Maybe for the next game that would be good, but I think in this game, it would favor your team, master, and mine to give it to the team that takes the most territories. Those that start with the most move orders are more likely to take more territories in the next round. Simple percentages would perhaps favor those who aren't doing that well right now. Someone with only 1 game in the next round could easily achieve 100%, whereas for the 2 teams with most move orders, (and presumably most games next round) that would be much more difficult to achieve.

If we are going to make any changes at all in this game, I would favor Chilly's idea of rotating it up a certain number or hours every round. The same degree of fairness (or unfairness) for everyone.

 

[masterjskye]

I'd personally rather just find an appropriate time for everyone and leave it at that, because having it kick off when half the players are in their beds for 8-12 more hours doesn't really make sense to me. If anything I would favour making it earlier in the day rather than later.

 

[namelochil]

I'd personally rather just find an appropriate time for everyone and leave it at that, because having it kick off when half the players are in their beds for 8-12 more hours doesn't really make sense to me. If anything I would favour making it earlier in the day rather than later.

Yeah. If we change it at all, it makes most sense to do it earlier. Would it help any of you if we shifted it like 2 hours earlier? Marc?

 

[masterjskye]

I have moved the discussion about timezones over here.

 

[trailblazer]

Yeah. If we change it at all, it makes most sense to do it earlier. Would it help any of you if we shifted it like 2 hours earlier? Marc?

I object - that's 17:00 hrs for me and as I have kids, I will still be out with my daughter at that time at her after school activities.

Sorry

 

[masterjskye]

I would still be out at work at 17.00 too, so I would also object.