Newbie Questions

[Ry Vor]

Thank you ALL,

The problem is, I went to gain control at the same time as another player, they had control first and I am guessing I lost.  It was Human initially, through luck .. I went second (guess).

I do not know where the capital is and this is a silent game.   I have no options for this character in commands and the group that has him starts with a hidden city.

If I send an agent, is there a chance my emissary is not at that town now that another player owns it?  (don't want to waste the turn or money)

On the Political tab, see below where it says "Extra Order".  Click on that and at the bottom you'll see a list of Emissaries no longer at Court.  Click on your missing emissary, and order him to Escape.  As said previously, you can pay a bribe to increase the chance of escaping.  If he escapes he will return to your capital.  You can also issue this order multiple times, to get multiple chances.

On the other side, you can have an agent Guard Prisoners.  This greatly reduces the chance of prisoners escaping.

Another example of the hidden depth in Alamaze.

[Ry Vor]

Survey Question:

On average, how long do you spend planning a turn, including reading the previous turn results for the first time, reviewing them, forming the plan, executing commands, review the plan and confidently clicking Ready without intending to further tweak?

Please state how long or how many games roughly you've played and how many games you are typically in at a time.

Also, if you have established a system to organize your planning, please share.  How many windows do you have open?  Map, turn results, order input site - anything else?

This will be very interesting to learn.

Probably best just to reply to this (rather than click new reply) to keep separate from the Newb Questions.

[Wookie Panz]

Survey Question:

On average, how long do you spend planning a turn, including reading the previous turn results for the first time, reviewing them, forming the plan, executing commands, review the plan and confidently clicking Ready without intending to further tweak?

Please state how long or how many games roughly you've played and how many games you are typically in at a time.

Also, if you have established a system to organize your planning, please share.  How many windows do you have open?  Map, turn results, order input site - anything else?

This will be very interesting to learn.

Probably best just to reply to this (rather than click new reply) to keep separate from the Newb Questions.

Ry Vor, How about adding how long we have been playing Alamaze and if we have a favorite game type and why?  I would find that interesting

[VballMichael]

Survey Question:

On average, how long do you spend planning a turn, including reading the previous turn results for the first time, reviewing them, forming the plan, executing commands, review the plan and confidently clicking Ready without intending to further tweak?

Please state how long or how many games roughly you've played and how many games you are typically in at a time.

Also, if you have established a system to organize your planning, please share.  How many windows do you have open?  Map, turn results, order input site - anything else?

This will be very interesting to learn.

Probably best just to reply to this (rather than click new reply) to keep separate from the Newb Questions.

Ok, I will kick it off. I am old school. When a game starts, I print out a paper map and get out a pad of paper, one sheet for my region and then I add a sheet when I need info on a neighbor region. I write down city, towns and villages and keep track of how many and where and who is at each one. This helps me figure out how much I need to take for region control and helps me plan invasions so I make sure I get to each pop center. When a new game turn comes in, I first just read through it to enjoy it. That might just be a few minutes. Then I update my map, marking new locations, crossing out squares that have nothing, etc. I also update my sheet of paper as to any new pop centers or any changes to ownership of the ones I know about. At the same time, I am jotting notes to not miss for my next turn (get a group to the new sighting, kidnap the pesky AT agent I just saw at one of my towns, make sure to test my noble maiden, remember to do an escape with that gov who just got captured). I then open the Orders website and do the orders in tab order since I kind of already know what I am going to do. That only takes about 10 minutes since I am ready. The whole process is about an hour. I often don't hit ready immediately unless it is already a day or more since we got the turn. I then think about my orders and turn for a bit while I am doing other things, and I sometimes go back to make a tweak (something you can do even after you hit Ready). I really only use the system map to verify things, to see what pop centers outside my region may have changed hands (once you do a divine on towns in a far-away region you can use your map as a perpetual crystal ball for those towns). I also use it to get the level of an artifact sighting when I found it with a 978 order which does not give the level (we may want to fix that when you make any changes). Sometimes, like when I am planning an invasion, I will jot out notes for the next 2-3 turns to ensure how I am going to reach all pop centers.
My favorite game type is anonymous or silent as I prefer not to spend time negotiating on the forum and begging for friends. I also like a team game occasionally as that lets us chat about a game and work together.
Finally, i really like the balanced kingdoms (DA, GN, EL and in Maelstrom add AT). This is not exclusive but I have done best with those. I do play the mage kingdoms pretty well but have to admit my handling of pure military kingdoms could use some honing.
I have been in as many as 7 games, and have been playing again for about 3 years. I did play a little bit in Alamaze's original run. I try to play 3-5 positions at this time.

[Ry Vor]

Survey Question:

On average, how long do you spend planning a turn, including reading the previous turn results for the first time, reviewing them, forming the plan, executing commands, review the plan and confidently clicking Ready without intending to further tweak?



Also, if you have established a system to organize your planning, please share.  How many windows do you have open?  Map, turn results, order input site - anything else?

This will be very interesting to learn.

Probably best just to reply to this (rather than click new reply) to keep separate from the Newb Questions.

Ry Vor, How about adding how long we have been playing Alamaze and if we have a favorite game type and why?  I would find that interesting

Yes, Wook, I was trying to get that captured with: "Please state how long or how many games roughly you've played and how many games you are typically in at a time."

[Draugr]

Survey Question:

On average, how long do you spend planning a turn, including reading the previous turn results for the first time, reviewing them, forming the plan, executing commands, review the plan and confidently clicking Ready without intending to further tweak?

Please state how long or how many games roughly you've played and how many games you are typically in at a time.

Also, if you have established a system to organize your planning, please share.  How many windows do you have open?  Map, turn results, order input site - anything else?

This will be very interesting to learn.

Probably best just to reply to this (rather than click new reply) to keep separate from the Newb Questions.

I normally spend 5-10 mins looking the turn over when it comes out.   I tend to then wait a day or two depending on how active others are to hitting ready.   For me to follow multiple games better I like to issue my orders and get the results within a day.   This for some reason works best for me to remember each game.   So others hitting ready for sure impacts the speed that I will do my own turn.  
When I am ready to enter orders I pull the turn up again and enter information on the Bananna parcer.   I prefer to still use the parcer even though it is not automatic because it gives me a more visual clear picture of who own what without having to click or move my mouse over each square.   I only use the provided map as a way to get intel on items not listed on the turn.  Like... Encounter type or which PCs may have changed hands.  This process of rereading and plotting my turn take about 10 minutes and is also when I mentally note things I must get done this turn.   I have 2 excel files loaded my own parcer and the 3rd cycle parcer for US.   While Iam going through my turn I may plug in some numbers to see what I might need for this town or that village or an encounter.   Then I keep them minimized for the most part. 
My computer screen almost always has currently turn in upper left corner, turn input/order checker in lower left corner and the right half of the screen has the map.  I enter my must do orders first political and military.   Then I try to make sure I effectively use any mages not already used.   It generally take 10-20 mins to get the orders in once the map has been updated.  I hit ready at that point unless I need to hear from an ally or something.   I have played maybe the most games besides DuPont.  I have played as many as 17 kingdoms at one time.   In maelstrom upto 8 kingdoms mostly limiting my self due to doing all my turns at home now and no longer doing them while at work.

[Calidor]

As soon as I receive my turn I try to enter orders for any MUST DO items. I usually try to re-read the turn and map a few times. Usually that evening I will try to enter the rest of my orders unless I am traveling.

I usually wait until most have hit READY just to give myself a chance to think things over. Before I submit my orders I go through each tab. There I check each line to see if I am missing an opportunity. Sometimes this reminds me of something. Like, OH YEAH... I should be building fleets. Or, OH YEAH I have those wizards with no orders...

I used to use the PowerPoint map, but with Maelstrom I just rely on the Snapshot. I definitely miss out on things like remembering where other Kingdoms groups and characters are from prior turns but it’s a lot simpler.

I have been back for I guess 2 years now. I originally played the PBM a few times. The one I most remember was a team game #80 which we won and recently discovered that PTRiley was in that game as well.

I generally play 1 at a time. I have tried multiples and how found that I find it hard to keep track of each game. Overall I probably spend an hour on each turn but far, far more in team games where you can talk and strategize.

My number one suggestion is to focus on the user experience as opposed to new content. Keep building on the order entry site. Get the map integrated. Enhance it so that we can move on it and enter notes. Even more important, get the Lord Frost tool updated and integrated in that same website. Let me click on Orders and be taken to the description so I don’t have to keep opening the rule book. Integrate everything on that site. No more separate RuleBooks to DL. No more external Excel files or Documents. I have tried to introduce a few people to the game, some of which play war games and stuff like Warhammer. They never even make it to a duel. I even try to entice them by sending particularly juicy turn results. Just last week I tried with someone who said they played other PBM games. They never got past the forum. So far I am 0 for 4.

The one other enhancement I would ask for is the ability to create unique personas for each game. This way we can have some actual diplomacy without the carry over from game to game.

[Ry Vor]

As soon as I receive my turn I try to enter orders for any MUST DO items. I usually try to re-read the turn and map a few times.  Usually that evening I will try to enter the rest of my orders unless I am traveling.

I usually wait until most have hit READY just to give myself a chance to think things over. Before I submit my orders I go through each tab.  There I check each line to see if I am missing an opportunity.  Sometimes this reminds me of something.  Like, OH YEAH... I should be building fleets.  Or, OH YEAH I have those wizards with no orders...

I used to use the PowerPoint map, but with Maelstrom I just rely on the Snapshot.  I definitely miss out on things like remembering where other Kingdoms groups and characters are from prior turns but it’s a lot simpler.  

I have been back for I guess 2 years now. I originally played the PBM a few times.  The one I most remember was a team game #80 which we won and recently discovered that PTRiley was in that game as well.

I generally play 1 at a time.  I have tried multiples and how found that I find it hard to keep track of each game.  Overall I probably spend an hour on each turn but far, far more in team games where you can talk and strategize.

My number one suggestion is to focus on the user experience as opposed to new content.  Keep building on the order entry site. Get the map integrated. Enhance it so that we can move on it and enter notes.  Even more important, get the Lord Frost tool updated and integrated in that same website.  Let me click on Orders and be taken to the description so I don’t have to keep opening the rule book. Integrate everything on that site.  No more separate RuleBooks to DL.  No more external Excel files or Documents.  I have tried to introduce a few people to the game, some of which play war games and stuff like Warhammer.  They never even make it to a duel.  I even try to entice them by sending particularly juicy turn results.  Just last week I tried with someone who said they played other PBM games.  They never got past the forum. So far I am 0 for 4.

The one other enhancement I would ask for is the ability to create unique personas for each game.  This way we can have some actual diplomacy without the carry over from game to game.

Good comments Calidor.  Would you please take care of that for me?  :-)   We have spent a lot (LOT) on Fall of Rome, and it did have the interactive map where you could enter your commands, and chart your movement path, etc.  Meanwhile, Mike has taken Alamaze from Excel order entry to online order execution and verification which is sweet.  I think Fall of Rome is still the only PBEM style game to have had a full interface like that, and it could never pay for it.  Now we live within what Alamaze revenue can produce, and development somehow costs money, even if my ideas are free.

So, back to how players with experience in Alamaze plan their turns.  I think we will see there are many ways to go about it, and already we are seeing how there are priority commands based on the overall plan, but then how to adapt each turn to new results and information.  I am always curious about how much experienced players sacrifice other orders to gain intel, whether raven or eagle or agent recon, when something else could be done, and in the absence of gaining such intel, how things might have gone better. Do you take Scrying Mirror as a customization option getting 100% successful intel at 0 gold and unlimited range? Just sayin'.

I'd just throw in, a typical T1 move is if you are starting in a region with a major city, moving powerful nobles there (and more than you had to do in The Choosing as players are learning).  But there and in any kind of political invasion, you'll want to know about any foreign nobles there as well.

Also, a tactic used by some is to leave a brigade unadorned outside a city to preclude all but the Demon Princes from sending nobles other than your own in.

[Wookie Panz]

Survey Question:

On average, how long do you spend planning a turn, including reading the previous turn results for the first time, reviewing them, forming the plan, executing commands, review the plan and confidently clicking Ready without intending to further tweak?

Please state how long or how many games roughly you've played and how many games you are typically in at a time.

Also, if you have established a system to organize your planning, please share.  How many windows do you have open?  Map, turn results, order input site - anything else?

This will be very interesting to learn.

Probably best just to reply to this (rather than click new reply) to keep separate from the Newb Questions.

Usually I  check the snapshot first, just to get a quick look at anything that has changed.  Then the turn, and likely I do that on my phone as soon as it comes in.  Then I may think about things a bit until there is  some free time on the pc.  Then I'll open the turn results and the snapshot, often the setup on the early turns, especially if the position I'm playing is not familiar or I have not played it in a long time.   I use a legal pad and make note of the most important stuff.  Usually military moves are a priority, and free!  Then pols if I have pc's to take.
Like VBall, I do the old school thing,  printing a paper map on the turn 0 and plot the moves on that for the first couple of turns, marking one way for pc checks, another for artifacts, or a third way for totally explored.  Once I get control of the region I  usually just use the snapshot. 
I am likely to also have a spreadsheet open for the political 330 orders, and frequently the helpful Frost Lord player aides for encounters and agent missions.  I often have the Maelsrtom player notes open and occasionally have to go to the 3rd cycle orders or rules.  I still find this is one of the few weaknesses to the game, digging into the rules or orders that are still not indexed.  I have mentioned the need for an index several times.
I verify after every few orders and save often.  If I have an error message I see what went wrong and correct it, often with an extra order, especially if it is a movement path as I can just copy the correct part of the order I already put in.  Then I'll go back and hit no action on the faulty order to take it out.  I try to never wait until the last day to do the orders as there are just too many real life things that can mess up the free time.  I also find I do a better job if I can get at least the bulk of it done the first day and give myself some time to think about it.  Often a thought of something  to improve the turn comes overnight and then I tweak  it the next morning.  I can get a turn out in about 20 minutes but prefer to take an hour, especially when the turns start to get complex.

I have been playing for something over 2 and 1/2 years, about 25 games of 3rd cycle and 3 in Malestrom with two more underway.  I like to play 2 games at a time and 4 is the most that I have had going.  The alliance games have given a lot of enjoyment and maybe the most bang for the buck too.  I say this because I share turns in alliance games so you get to see the other teammates turns and put your heads together to come up with the best plan.  This has been the best learning tool, playing with a mentor and I have been fortunate to have some fine ones.  This is also a great way to meet new players or get closer to the ones you know as the communications are totally open between team members.  They do take a lot of time.
It's really nice to see the improvements to Alamaze that have come in the past two years and I hope the player base grows enough to support future improvements.

[Ashgar75]

New Player here. I found Alamaze 25 years ago and played my first game into turn 6 before I moved to another state and failed to do what I needed to keep up with the turns. Here I am 25 years later and I found the game again about 4 months ago. I have played in a couple of duels, Completed my first Steel Choosing game. I am now in two Maelstrom silent games and in the Master-Apprentice game as well so playing three games currently.

When I have one game going, I go over the snapshot first to see movement, PC's, Enemy groups, etc. Then I read my orders. I focus on regional, Battle, and then spy info as they normally contain the juiciest info. I will go back and re-read the orders to check each emmi's efforts, movements, wizards, and spy efforts to see if anything failed, or was blocked. I then begin entering my orders. I will usually do this all in under an hour. Once I have ensured my orders are correct, I tend to hit ready right away. I will continue to think about the turn results and current orders off and on, and will revisit the turn results. I mean we have usually 2-3 days to consider. I sometimes make changes and sometimes I don't.

Now that I have several games going, I find that I don't think about the individual turn as much. This forces me to put a little more time and effort into each turn up front because I know that once I hit submit, I am probably not going back to make any changes.


I have to say that the online order portal is amazing. That makes this game so much easier for sure. I love the snapshot map as well with it being updated etc. There are always things that can make this game better, but to see where it is today is incredible. I do agree that my efforts to get new players have been challenging. We all know that the game can be daunting and that is sort of what we like about it. We choose this style of gaming effort over Starcraft for a reason. I don't have any answers on how to attract more people to try it, but one thing that I think about is this. My wife and I were traveling in Washington and came across a game store. They had an underground that had all sorts of table top games going on. Warhammer style etc. When we were in London last week we came across another that was similar. It makes me envision a small venue where you get 12 people together and let them meet face to face. You introduce the game and they get to play. Sort of like a tournament. I know this won't work, there are too many issues with the time involved, computers to enter orders, etc, but just the thought of somehow doing this where others can see and be spectators would help to drive interest. I just haven't figured out a way to facilitate it or work out the logistics.

One thought and maybe Rick would consider this, but say that Brekk or myself were able to get a group of friends together for an afternoon, would you consider offering a 5 player game at a flat rate that we could pay to introduce some friends to the game. For me, I could set up a Saturday Afternoon, do a pot of Chili, and then explain how the game works. We would draft our kingdoms, then begin the game. We would only have time (3-4 hours) to get through the first 5 turns maybe, but then each could go home and we would continue and finish the game. I know this wouldn't work for everyone, but if you gave your current players the opportunity to host a gaming event like this at an affordable rate, we could help market this amazing game. Just a thought here.