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[MP] suggestions

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I see that there is a "surrender and quit the game" option available in MP. I hadn't noticed it before, how long has that been here for? Was it in warlock1 as well?

Anyhow, the host cannot surrender, that's kinda understandable but also kinda screwed in FFA. Can the host somehow transfer ownership of the game? I know it's possible to send savegames and have another player load the game, effectively becoming the host, but that's not very convenient.

Also when it says ".. and quit the game" it does really mean it. Any chance of just going back to main menu instead? :p
 
Not sure a ladder system is something that could be implemented easily. But isn't there websites where you can set up your own ladders for games still? (I used to frequent them back in the good ol'CC days :))

I would very much like to hear some more specific ideas on how to improve the lobby for MP games.
 
BjornB said:
Not sure a ladder system is something that could be implemented easily. But isn't there websites where you can set up your own ladders for games still? (I used to frequent them back in the good ol'CC days :))
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There's nothing preventing anyone to setup a ladder website but without integration we're reliant on players to report their games results. That's also something that could be explored but there are a number of obvious caveats there too:
- Website accounts and game accounts are not linked. How to verify account ownership?
- What strategy for reporting game results:
- One player reports the result? What if the other player contests these results?
- Two players report the results? What if the reports don't match?
- What should be reported? Map settings / winning turn / player perks, races / etc...
- If players have to enter all that data manually, it's going to be tedious.

If you have a good working example to share, by all mean do!

[edit] keep in mind that this is not (only) a self interested endeavour in order to have a bit of competition, it is also a requirement in order to have at least some basic matchmaking feature that would allow players to find other players at their level. I'm doing my best to encourage new players when I encounter them but I'm not going to hold back either. Getting the crap beaten out of you isn't the best to achieve retention for new players...

BjornB said:
I would very much like to hear some more specific ideas on how to improve the lobby for MP games.
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The main issue I have with the lobby is that you can either:
- Have a bit of fun in SP and be unavailable for MP games
- Wait for MP games in the lobby and do nothing else

In short: it would be nice to have access to the lobby from a SP game.
 
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Although I don't see this happening anytime soon, what I'd love to see is an option for server-side saved games or PBEM or something like that.
I recognize that re-coding warlock 2 to support simultaneous turns is an insane waste of resources and development time (especially from what I recall reading about Civ 5 and the time they spent on their system vs the # of players that actually ended up playing MP).

So rather than that, why not create server side saved games or PBEM which would allow larger games with more than 2-3 players in the game.
It would also make users more willing to play MP as people don't have to be sitting there waiting for the other players to do their turns.

The wait is especially a nightmare, especially as it reaches late-game, and turns start taking 10-20 minutes per player. If it's a 4 player game. You're talking a 30 minute to 1 hour wait between your turns, which completely kills the fun of warlock 2.

But if the saves were on the server side, and you only open the game when it's your turn, then technically, you can do your turn anytime (provided it is your turn). But you don't have to sit around with the game open all the time.

Now admittedly, this also requires a server configured to allow this, as well as a lot of coding to allow the 'host' to be the server, as well as allowing players to reconnect/disconnect and such. But I could see that system being easily transferable to other turn based games that paradox creates too.

Or perhaps a mixed system:
Where 'save files' get uploaded to the lobby, and the other user would download the file, open it, do their turn, then save it and upload it back to the server for the next person to take their turn (rather than directly emailing each other the save file).
 
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I would love to see some suggestions on how we could accommodate a better way of finding people to play with.

Would a specific subforum here and/or on Steam be of any use you think?
 
That would be a good start.

I found that the tournaments in Warlock1 were a good place to meet new players, as I didn't know that many players at the time. That could be a good kickoff "promotional event" for the new subforum.

As for steam, I don't know the numbers but I suspect the steam forums can reach a greater audience. It's a real pity that the community is fragmented between the paradox and steam forums.
 
Modjo said:
That would be a good start.

I found that the tournaments in Warlock1 were a good place to meet new players, as I didn't know that many players at the time. That could be a good kickoff "promotional event" for the new subforum.

As for steam, I don't know the numbers but I suspect the steam forums can reach a greater audience. It's a real pity that the community is fragmented between the paradox and steam forums.
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Yeah, it feels like there should be only one place. I need to divert to Steam as well as it is often the first window for newcomers, but I try to get them to come here though.
 
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