Warning for Multiplayer games if you need to leave it to the AI

[MARVIN_THE_ARVN]

For anyone about to start a multiplayer game and planning to have a gap of about 2 weeks with 24-36 hr turns you will likely return to a complete mess.

The AI will build lots of pointless units and create a large debt in both money and manpower, it will invade and take worthless regions while neglecting culture.

Out of the 14 games I have been playing the effect is more noticeably with larger nations but it has had a good go at trashing some of them. I've quit 3-4 games because I cannot be bothered to try and work through the issues and will probably quit another 3-4 once I get around to them. In some of the games, especially the smaller nations or slower paced ones it hasn't had enough time to mess up that much.

Sadly, in none of the games have I come back and thought, wow, it's actually made some good decisions or improved my situation.

This isn't a knock at the devs but a warning to those thinking about starting a multiplayer game with a large block of time away planned, if you have only a few games on the go, then you can probably work through the issues but with 14 games on the go, the issues were too much for be to be bothered to try and sort out.

To end on a positive note, the update looks good, the cav change seems to work well in the open but I've only seen a few battles since I got back.

[devoncop]

I do understand your complaint but to be fair can you think of any other game that allows a player in MP to disappear for multiple turns and resume at all ....let alone expect the AI to have continued with the same strategy and level of prowess in the meantime ?

I would agree with the basic point though...folks who sign up to MP games do need to think twice about it if they are going to be away for regular chunks of time or a long period....alternatively set up their own games with a seven day turnaround.

[13obo]

I do understand your complaint but to be fair can you think of any other game that allows a player in MP to disappear for multiple turns and resume at all ....let alone expect the AI to have continued with the same strategy and level of prowess in the meantime ?

I would agree with the basic point though...folks who sign up to MP games do need to think twice about it if they are going to be away for regular chunks of time or a long period....alternatively set up their own games with a seven day turnaround.

Well what other game requires you to be available for months at a time for a single match?

[devoncop]

So far I have completed 3 MP games since release (didn't win them by the way).

The games started around 18th July and it is now 25th Sept so around 8 weeks.

I have been involved in multiple turn based games like TOAW4 in MP with just one (very committed) opponent and the games have lasted up to 6 months so not an unreasonable time period at all to be fair.

[MARVIN_THE_ARVN]

Devon, as you said, it wasn't a knock at the devs just a point for people to consider, I did invest a fair amount of time and effort into those games and 2 weeks under the love of the AI has probably blown 50-66% of them out of the water. I could put some serious effort in and try and get those games back on track but it seems like a chore and not fun.

I hadn't thought about it before but the glacial speed of some games does make it difficult for those who may need to travel with work or life. I have played multiplayer strat games with friends but they weren't PBEM and required players to be online so I haven't really experienced these issues before.