Sirian Sirian

Travel to Realms Beyond Your Ordinary Gaming Experience

Travel to Realms Beyond Your Ordinary Gaming Experience

This thread is intended to recruit new players to the Realms Beyond community through our Metaverse Empire. We don't exactly need a thread for discussion, as we have our own GalCiv forum attached to the RB website. (Realms Beyond is a veteran community of gamers with an established presence in several strategy and role playing games). However, some have suggested that our "meteoric rise" in the galactic standings represents a "mystery" and a possible threat to other empires. Surely not, says we. :)

Why not wait for interested parties to find their way to the RBGC forum, if they wish to communicate with us? That seemed wise at first, but the suggestion has been floated amongst our own that we should research "communication theory" and create a device called a "univeral translator" and seek to open communications with other empires on terms they are used to operating, through channels they are used to using. The ultimate wisdom of this idea, and this so-called translation device, remains in doubt among RB leadership, as the first attempt to use the wicked thing resulted in misunderstanding leading to combat and nearly kicked off a minor war, but we are an adventurous people and will give almost any idea a try, so here we go. :D

Our Empire Motto: WE SEEK CHALLENGE THROUGH VARIETY!

http://www.galciv.com/metaverse/empires.asp?id=555


We seek mastery over the game. The ideal at RB is to be able to beat the game on any map size, without choosing to abuse the AI's various inanities, without having to have perfect terrain conditions. Any alignment, any victory condition, any habitability range, any political party, any combination of bonus picks. If a challenge lies before us, we will embrace it. Mistakes, setbacks and losses do not represent failure, merely a chance to learn, from which greater success can sprout and flourish.

No skill level is too high or too low for RB. All we ask is that you play your best and have a good time.

RB players venture beyond the ordinary. If you are like unto our brother in the spirit in which you play, you would be welcome to join our empire. All you need is interest, an RB-style gaming attitude, and the desire to participate. Our mission is to have fun, to pursue excellence, to play fairly, to uphold the integrity of the game, to embrace variety and challenge, push the boundaries of the game and gameplay, experiment, learn, grow, and do it together.

Our passion is the AAR. We live to read a good AAR and to write our own. Fun shared is fun doubled. The RB Epics tournament for Civ3 sees every participant post their own AAR after each tournament game, with the chief entertainment value being sharing insights, experiences, and laughs. Whether we will hold a GalCiv tournament remains to be seen, but the possibility is out there.

We keep a list of rules for our GalCiv gaming. This list will grow and evolve as the game evolves and our understanding of it matures. We voluntarily refrain from (in our opinions) game-breaking tactics that unbalance a game or pigeonhole it into one "best" path to victory. Some game elements may be broken or have loopholes. Some moves may just be "too strong" and kill variety. We do not use these moves. We do not have to use them. Mastery over a game is established by taking the high road, by trudging uphill and building our strength and endurance. Our interests lie in seeing the game refined to where the game balance provides extended replay value and neverending strategic challenge. However, unless and until that state of polish is reached, we will set our own boundaries to create this effect for ourselves, whether or not it can be found in the game as currently programmed.

If this sounds like your kind of gaming community, we invite you to travel to Realms Beyond.

Our forum for Galactic Civilizations:

http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/237344

Players interested in joining Realms Beyond should venture to our forum, read the lastest version of our rules, and confirm their assent to abide by the rules we have set. We place the quality of our gaming experience ahead of our standing in the competition. Excellence brings its own rewards, its own forms of recognition and respect from peers. That is something no measurement or score could ever fully depict.

Anyone who agrees to our playing philisophy and signs their John Hancock pledging their allegiance to our posted rule set will be confirmed onto our roster. Come one, come all, for the time of your life. LOL Our star is rising. Our destiny is written in the heavens. :HOT:

We are also hoping to generate enough excitement to lure out some of the other RB players who have yet to pick up GalCiv. Surely when they see the grand party we are staging at our best starbase, some will be compelled to join in. And as far as "threat to other empires", that's purely propaganda. We have no hostile intentions. Now if some players are impressed with our culture and decide to emigrate to our worlds, that would not constitute hostile action against other cultures on our behalf. ;) We cannot help but to be ourselves. :D


- Sirian

[Message Edited]
14,734 views 354 replies
Reply #251 Top
Most certainly Sirian. I've now beaten Galciv as every political party. I'm pretty sure I've beaten Maso as all parties as well. I actually really enjoy changing the strengths and weaknesses of my civ between each game. It makes each one distinct, seperate, memorable and unique.

btw, I posted the game that beat the 1.5 million barrier for team RB :).

-Smegged
Reply #252 Top
Did I mention how much I love this game anytime recently :). I haven't had this much fun with a game since I installed Starcraft onto my system many moons ago...
Reply #253 Top
Y'all don't get many outside visitors here, do ya? That can’t be very healthy. OK, scaly-wags, consider this a long overdue space pirate raid / social visit. Let’s sit down for tea and chat.

How are y’all doing? I love what you’ve done with this place. Has the Meta been treating y’all well? Mmm-hmm. Mmm-hmm. Fine. Fine. Now hand over yer booz or the puppy loses an eye!!! ARRRGH!!!

Well tootles for now. :)
Reply #254 Top
Y'all don't get many outside visitors here, do ya?
End of quote


We measure our hospitality by quality, not quantity. :)

No need to threaten small dogs and children. Here's your drink. Well, OK, one small threat can be let go. But be warned. There are limits to our patience. We should not be mistaken for dupes and goody two-shoes. The next time you take hostages, we just might let you put the puppy's eye out while we swarm you and drag you kicking and screaming down to the, erm, "cellar", and, ah, "instruct" you on RB traditions and ettiquette. :) Surely this will not be necessary. I'm sure our puppy would prefer to keep his organic eye anyway. They tell me that implants itch now and then.

Well, thanks for a pleasant visit. Stop in again any time! :D


- Sirian
Reply #255 Top
LOL

Most don't handle pirate intrusions so well, Sirian! Well done!
Reply #256 Top
@ Smegged. I heartily agree. I haven't even patched my Civ3 conquests yet, and its disc has been sitting idle for a couple of weeks. If it weren't for SGs there, and push from a certain RB'er known for his feasts, I may just leave it altogther.

I am midway through my seventh full game--this time as the universalists...then its time to take the other five parties through their maso trials.

Absolutely fun game. I think the best part is that you can run through a game less than 10 hours of gametime. Probably even faster, but I cannot resist micromanaging research to spend the minimum to get techs exactly when I want. Hopefully I will get over that soon. LOL
Reply #257 Top
Yes! Once you've played with the governor system a few times, it's hard to believe that no one ever thought of doing it this way before.

IMo the only necessary but tedious micromanagement in the game is starbase management.
Reply #258 Top

Calling all the members of Realms Beyond

Are there any of you here who would like to contribute to the new metaverse medals. If so please click on the 'sticky' thread on galciv for full details. the new medals will supplement the existing ones.

Megatron

Reply #259 Top
I had a medals post in progress, and mostly done, before you posted your note, Megatron. Then I got sidetracked by a pack of real life issues, but now my first medals suggestion post is up. I may offer more if the first batch is well received. Other RB players might have ideas, too.

In other news, the SG marches on. TBC, and the whole team for that matter, is headed for what looks to be a resounding victory. Knock on wood. With the Yor now gone, our trade route with them transfers automatically to the new ownership, guaranteeing us a second route with whomever goes on the rise. (See? It's not automatically unwise to send trade to weak or even dying civs. Depends on the big picture).

- Sirian
Reply #260 Top
Wow, I just had the easiest gigantic maso I ever played. 3 hours total time, I barely had time to establish 4 trade routes. 60000 metaverse points but the ingame score was the lowest I have ever seen at barely 2200 points.

I had a decent start, grabbing 5 pq15+ and 1 pq14. After meeting everyone, it was clear the Drengin were the runaway AI with 10 systems, Yor and Arcean had 3 each, Torian had 2 and the poor Altarian had a single system. Then the fundamentalist showed up and took all the Yor's planets and left the Drengin with only 3 systems. On the same turn, the I-league inherited one system each for Toria and Arcea. I took pity on everyone, bought all their ships and captured every system except one from the Drengin and one from the Arcean. A few turns later, the former Drengin fleet arrived at the last Drengin system and captured it. The former Arcean fleet didn't reach the last Arcean system, the I-League got it on that same turn.

Can anybody post a faster finish on a gigantic map?

~SDC~
Reply #261 Top
Can anybody post a faster finish on a gigantic map?
End of quote


Probably not, short of Maxti's canned game formula. Don't expect me to try. :)

- Sirian
Reply #262 Top
“Not enough intel eh? Well shoot!”

Kit gouges the puppy’s eye out with his rapier.

“What the heck do y’all hold dear? I’ve been trying to get a feel for what y’all ‘r ‘bout, but to no avail.”

He holds a helpless rabbit in the air.

“How ‘bout if I threaten to light this bunny on fire? Like this!”

A little ball of fire leaps out Kit’s hands and hops wildly away.

“Hmmm. Got too excited. OK, well I’ll be back later. Keep the booz cold. Except for the red wine ‘n liquor of course. But keep that vodka in the freezer. And uh...”

Kit limps off muttering to himself.

“Gerakken... Gerakken... where’s that ol’ spymaster?”
Reply #263 Top
Huh? Smeels like roasted rabbit around here, did anybody order some civet au lièvre?

~SDC~
Reply #264 Top
Get out the bear traps. We seem to have a pirate infestation. Somebody please hide the old weathered trunk marked "Variant Scum". We only want to scare him off, not completely freak him out. :)

- Sirian
Reply #265 Top
Sirian,




You have recently been a huge influence on my gaming experience. Your aars for civ and galciv have given me a renewed interest in civ and have allowed me to progress in both games to the point were I can start taking baby steps into the harder difficulty levels. Previously these were off limits to me, because I never found a way to combine the challenge with enjoyment, through the Realms Beyond I hope to continue this trend. My rate of submissions will be much lower than before as this is my last term in University and I've set myself up for a real challenge in this aspect of my life as well.




I have absolutely no problems adhering to the rules of Realms Beyond, previously I have deliberately avioded all exploits deliberately as I find cheating to reduce my gaming experience to mediocrity. My save-reload habit will be hard to break, but it should not be hard as it will simply cause me to be much more cautious.




Thus I wish to join the Realms Beyond in the Metaverse.





Sincerely,
WalkerintheMist
End of quote



This is the most descriptive application to date, from a would-be RB Empire Overlord. I thought I would share it with the group, especially since Walker's arrival has catapulted us into sixth place. :)


- Sirian
Reply #266 Top
Welcome, WalkerintheMist. I hope you have as much fun with the RB crowd I have in the last (almost) year.
Reply #267 Top
Welcome aboard WalkerintheMist! Watch out were you sit, we seem to have a pirate infestation. LOL

~SDC~
Reply #268 Top
Thank you, I'm looking forward to contributing as best as I can, and getting more out of my gaming experience by pushing myself and playing by RB rules as they, for me, are ones that I feel make the game much more interesting and enjoyable.

Jaxom:
Is sitting on Pirates inherently bad? I figure if you use two (make sure they aren't bleeding too badly) for cushions they should make comfortable chairs?
Reply #270 Top
wE bEEN gETTIN oURSELVES iNTO sIXTH pLACE nEVER nEVER.

yOU dAMN aNZACS hAD bETTER gET yOUR aCT iNTO gEAR.

:P
Reply #271 Top


yOU dAMN aNZACS hAD bETTER gET yOUR aCT iNTO gEAR.

End of quote


i'M dO'N mY pART, bUT oNLY oNE cELL iN dA fUSION pLANT mATE


Reply #273 Top
Sirian - You mentioned (by implication) over in the canuck thread that overselling techs can lead to bad scores, or even zeroes. What is the mechanic for this, and what is "too much".
Reply #274 Top
overselling techs can lead to bad scores, or even zeroes. What is the mechanic for this, and what is "too much".
End of quote


Though I'm not Sirian, I've been dealing with this one for awhile, and have my share of anomalous games as a result...

Anomalous scores can be triggered by several game conditions. The one most commonly encountered is having too large a treasury too early in the game. The "classic" way to achieve this is to repeatedly sell technologies to several races with payments spread over many months. The game recognizes this as an exploitation of the trade system and acts accordingly.

This condition can also be triggered by ANY action that results in large, long-term cash payments - repeated extortion for peace treaties, etc.

The exact conditions that will trip the "anomalous" flag have not been discussed by Stardock - and with good reason. It would likely lead to experiments to get as close as possible to those conditions WITHOUT activating the flag. For now, some players swear by making sure that their treasury stays low (by spending/gifting the income as soon as it arrives). Whether this actually effects the condition is unproven.
Reply #275 Top
Thanks Ben for your answer - as a follow up: I ran into the huge cash flow in my last two games, but not the anomalous flag... does it change with difficulty level? I.e. the higher the difficulty the less tolerant of the exploit?