damn, i'm a few days late - am a newb myself, so wouldn't mind another game if your up for it?

We are finishing our current game this early evening (Tuesday, EST). You might check this thread later this week, in case we announce the start of a new game -- for newbies.

PogueMahone1973 is the host : he's a real n00b  :p and his net-connection is excellent.

Bhruic is a pseudo-newbie (he really is a good player, and a generous ally).

CyberMage (me!) is a total n00b  :SNIFF!: and a too defensive, paranoid turtle (never ask him to join a FFA or a hot team : you can't trust that he will ever come out of his shell).  :NOTSURE: 

xiceburnx appears to be interesting (we exchanged a few PMs and might eventually team-up).

Conclusion > If you can get into a newbie game with Pogue and Bhruic, you're in for stable gameplay, with trustworthy people.

Ah yes I can confirm I am an extreme newbie. lol Like mage said this game will be wrapping up this evening but I'll host more games. I'm thinking maybe Friday but don't quote me on that.

BTW for mage and Bhruic, I'll be on time for 6:30 this evening.

Thanks. I'm am a newbie to SofSE, it's just the game fits my playstyle well - at least vs the AI. I'd get killed by a human so fast it wouldn't be funny.

Bh

06:22 PM > I'm ready, now heading for ICO.

OK I'm logging in now.

I'd love to join any future newbie games, myself ( i'm planning on wrapping up my very first game against the AI tonight, if thats any proof im a n00b).

Well guys, great game! Thanks Bhruic for all the help and cash! :p

Thanks to you, Pogue : your hosting connection was stable and lag-free, and you were patient enough to let us finish the game in 2½ consecutive evenings !

It was my very first MP game of Sins, and it made me realize that I'll never be able to participate in an all-human FFA (or team vs. team).

In all the RTS games I play (such as C&C 3 and SupCom), I'm addicted to playing skirmishes with comp-allies vs. other comps.

If Bhruic hadn't been there to provide leadership and support, I would have collapsed under the Orange A.I.'s pressure. I could not deal with a reasonably skilled human adversary.

Anyway, I'm into that game to relax and have fun, not to feel stress and comptete.

By the way, Pogue, what was the level of difficulty of the comps : easy, normal, or hard ?

The AI difficulty was normal. Don't be too sure you won't be able to compete with other humans though. You did better than I did. I'm going to play a few more human team vs ai team games but before too long I'll have to give playing against humans a go.

I hope you don't mind if I critique the game a little... I think the thing that gave me a better footing in the game was simply that I'm a more aggressive player. Which is odd, because I'm also a horrible turtler. But the trick early game (vs the AI, anyway) is to do two things:

1) Scout out territory, so you know where chokepoints are, and
2) Expand as much as feasible to ensure you have the resources necessary to work with, and to make sure you can use those chokepoints.

If you watch the replay of the game, that's exactly what I did. I identified a group of planets that I could colonize that would limit me to two different access points (and one of those was through pirates), and then I fortified those two access points. All the planets behind it were thus secure. This gave me the time and ability to build up, without having to worry about defending multiple systems.

Anyway, I don't want to go into lecture mode or anything, because I'm far from an expert at the game - I just know a few basic strategies. But I did have a lot of fun with it, and hopefully we can play again at some point.

Bh

@ Bhruic >

One can easily pass through (or on the periphery of) a gravity well to jump towards a more juicy planet. (The pirates do that, with no or few losses, when they have to reach their intended bounty-target.) Then :

1a. Won't the A.I. fleet bypass your well defended chokepoint-planet to flank it towards your rears, where your defenses might be weaker ? (For example, with a siege-frigate spam, to go bombard a core planet.)

1b-i. If the A.I. doesn't know how to do that, retreating before your chokepoint defenses, won't a human do that ? (A human might sacrifice a fleet of siege frigates just to wreak havoc on one of your core planets.)

1b-ii. I have read a lot of threads, on this forum, where skilled human players expose their frigate spam-strategies (recent ones discuss LRM frigate spams, and Illuminator spamming). I then believe that skilled humans would bypass your chokepoints and try to redirect their spam-wave invasion towards a more vulnerable point.

2a. Reading those posts makes me even more wary of all-human FFA games on ICO. I'm not an immature kid who derives cheap thrills from spamming other humans to death to satisfy a vain, crush-the-other-guy power-lust. I have a day job : playing on ICO in the evening should be for relaxation.

2b. That's why I believe it is important to identify trusworthy gamemates (such as Pogue and you), to not get thrashed on ICO by strangers who are only interested in an egomaniac's type of brutal victory. Even if you put "newbie" in the title of game, you don't know who you are going to attract.

2c-i. Also, all newbies are not equal : I am convinced that if it was a Bhruic vs. Pogue+CyberMage game, Bhruic would crush us -- despite all your humble reassurances. (Want to try it for our next game?  :NOTSURE: )

2c-ii. As it is now, I feel that ICO does not offer a rigorous system to identify the skill-level of players. (A Bhruic should not be matched, in a FFA, with total n00bs like Pogue and me!)

2c-iii. Of course, one could argue that being mismatched could be a "learning experience". Well, I am not ready to spend 3 to 4 hours, in an evening, to go to school, and then go to bed, too late, with a frustrating defeat.

3a. Personally, I don't think that I will be ready for all-human games for many months. I do not dispose of enough free time to practice. One of the best StarCraft players in the world (that was 10 years ago) was a local guy. I was told by a friend of his that he practiced at least 10 hours a day, each and every day. There are a lot of teenage (or pseudo-adult) "kids" out there who seem to dispose of a lot of time to do that. (They are obsessed by their position on "ladders".) I have the responsibilities of a real-world adult (job, family): I do not have the time, interest, and energy to practice each and every day -- with the settings at "fast" speed, against "hard" comps all teamed-up against me!

3b. If Ironclad and Stardock want to sell even more game units, they will have to take into account people like me, and offer balancing options (in the game and on ICO) to make the MP experience less stressful for ordinary gamers who do not have the time to practice like crazy. As it is now, I have not recommended the Sins game to any of my "real-world adult" friends. None of their girlfriends or wives would tolerate that a game could devour so many evenings of "practice" or on-line competition. (Last Sunday and Monday evenings, my own girlfriend went to bed at 9:15, and I joined her 3½ hours later -- she was not amused! We then both had to rise at 6:15 am.)

"my own girlfriend went to bed at 9:15, and I joined her 3½ hours later -- she was not amused! We then both had to rise at 6:15 am"
This happened to me last night, playing my first MP game. She said not to make a habit of it..

The game was great though, went for around 4 hours in a 2v2 (all human). My side won, so it topped it off I suppose.

All of us who live full-time with wives or girlfriends (and those who must date their love-interest almost every evening) dispose of very little time to practice at RTS games in any regular and serious fashion.

Some part of me would really like to become a competent MP gamer at StarCraft, WarCraft III, C&C 3, SupCom, World in Conflict, Sins. I don't have enough time to practice -- alone or on-line.

By the way, tomorrow is St Valentine's Day : I guess it would be prudent, then, to not launch any computer game.

By the way, tomorrow is St Valentine's Day : I guess it would be prudent, then, to not launch any computer game.

That's why I said I'd host my next game on Friday.

If it's not a FFA, I might be interested. I'll state my game setup preferences, but you may (of course) do whatever you (and other participants) wish :

1. Team of Humans vs. team of "hard" comps (yes : hard -- since we humans can plot and help each other in a more organized way [I prefer to lose with a challenge than to win too easily !])

2. All players in the same Star System (I did not enjoy, last game, that I was not seeing you, Pogue, in my environment ; also, it would facilitate collaboration)

3. Protect the game by a password, recruiting participants on this forum (not at the last minute, on ICO, where any untrustworthy or too strong player can jump in -- that's what happened the last time)

4. If you want a faster game, set high starting resources + fast research + fast speed. (I was wary of fast speed, but it's not that overwhelming.)

Sign me up as a friend for any possible 8:30/9pm CST (Chicago) daily noob games with the same setup as what CyberMage described. I'm still only on my 5th offline game or so since getting the game on Monday. I can play pretty late, up to about 3 hours.

I've already had the same experience on ICO with a 2vs2 where the "noobs" were immediately spamming full frig swarms, tossing 2000-10,000 credits to win every pirate bid, all the while my teammate nabbed every planet ahead of me as I was clearing the neutrals.. fun times. ;p

Needless to say I think I'll stick to arranged games, or just play offline if that keeps up.

Well, SeiraBlack, I can declare with emphasis that Pogue Malone, Bhruic, and CyberMage are extremely trustworthy team8s.

We three have recently played one game in three phases : 3½ hours Sunday evening (08:45 pm until 00:15 am) + 3¾ hours Monday evening (08:15 pm until 00:00 am) + 1 hour Tuesday evening (06:30 to 07:30 -- to finish that three-day game).

Pogue was the host, and the net connection was lag-free and crash-free.

Bhruic was, by far, the "best newbie" of the bunch : he behaved like a faithful and generous ally -- giving tons of credits to Pogue and me, and leading the charge against our A.I. enemies. (Pogue and I are total n00bs, but I suspect that Bhruic is too humble -- he's really good for a newbie.)

Pogue seems to be inclined to host a new game tomorrow evening (Friday). We should play about 3 to 4 hours, starting around 8 pm (EST) -- which is 7 pm (Chicago time). That's my speculation : Pogue Malone is the host. I don't work on Saturdays : I could go beyond Midnight, no problem.

So, it could be Pogue + Bhruic + SeiraBlack + CyberMage (Neologic on ICO) in a 4 Humans vs. 4 hard comps.

Check this thread Friday. I'll be back from work around 06:30 pm (EST), but I can check the forum from my office before that.

Pogue Mahone's the Game Hosting Boss : we have to wait for his call, on this thread.

Mage, I watched a replay of our game from Bhruic's point of view and got some good tips on how to start the game, and I've been kicking AI ass in single player games. If you have access to the record file you might want to check it out. If you don't have access to it, PM me and I can email you the file.

As far as your suggested setting are concerned, my only difference would be to stick with the 3 star format. 4 human and 4 AI players on just one star would be too crowded I think. Maybe if there is a 2 star option I could go for that. I should be home before 6 on Friday. I'll try for an 8:00 start if it is more convenient, but I'm not making any promises. There is a possibility that real life may intrude upon my plans but I'm not sure yet.

I would be intrested in a games i have not played online since child was born. That was 9 years ago. I have no idea of how to even log onto the online game server. So a very nebie looking for a game

I would prefer 1 star with many planets, but I could compromise at 2 stars. My point is simply that I enjoy seeing my allies at work all the time. During the last game, for a long time, you were like a distant cousin. I was focused on my small region of the Universe, and Bhruic was my always obvious neighbour to the "west". Can't we have 1 star with many, many planets ?

I will be home around 6½ (I must teach a class from 3 to 6.) I can start anytime after 7 pm (EST). I'll be checking this thread after 6½ tomorrow, but also, periodically, from my office, before the 3 pm class.

Thanks for the feedback.

(I will practice this evening in a FFA vs. 3 normal comps, but I have to watch Celebrity Apprentice on NBC : "must see TV".)

Sadly I won't be able to get into the next game, I'm away from home, and while the internet is sufficient for web browsing, I'm not able to play online.

Bh

If Bhruic is not in  (:( , Pogue, I change my mind on the level of difficulty of the comps : « normal » would then be more suitable.

Even then, without Bhruic, it won't be a cake-walk.

So, as it is now (Friday morning), we have 2 certain players (Pogue and me).

TO ANY WHO WOULD WANT TO JOIN US TONIGHT :

1. You must be aware that the host (Pogue Mahone) and me are real n00bs. We welcome a more skilled team8 (as it was the case with Bhruic), but he will then have to help us out in case of need.

2. The game won't be a FFA, but a n00b team vs. an A.I. team

3. The game, tonight, should last 3 to 5 hours (to be determined). If we want to finish it tonight, the game setup will have to reflect that. Pogue and I would be willing to continue a game after saving it, but any other team8 should tell us if that would be possible for him : having the intent of finish a game in one evening requires a different game setup than the one we would have if we knew that it could go on for 2 full evenings.

People such as SeiraBlack and xicefirex (or others) should respond to my point #3 if they want to team-up tonight around 8 pm (EST): Pogue and I would want to know in advance who wants to be in, and for how many hours of play.

My own preference would be to invest up to 5 hours tonight (since tomorrow is a Saturday) and finish the game in one sitting. The game setup, then, could include less planets to make the game shorter and more intense. (If an A.I. kicks me out of the game at 11 pm, so be it!)

I'm interested. I've only played two games so far, both against the AI. I'm more of a turn-based guy normally, so it's taking me a while to get used to this.

Do you guys have a Teamspeak (or equivalent) server for voice comms? I find voice strategizing is far superior to text.

I can manage an 8pm start. I would also prefer to play until done.

You two both sound reliable, but a general question: what happens if someone drops? Does the AI take over for the teammate?

Tea