Things way too quiet -- a little bored.

Rico

Rico

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Frankly -- I have to say I am a little bored right now -- from too hectic things have gone too quiet on the FGM front lately.

The tourney spring clean was good idea, but now from running too much, there is basically not much going on right now...

CMBN Campaign is in total doldrums with one battle crawling along at glacial pace and the campaign in danger of dying from inertia... on verge on shutting that baby down -- it's been tainted by arguments and whinging from both sides about imbalance and a snail's pace...

New Domination 2011 restart is been delayed waiting for the Dom 2010 battle for Moscow to end... that looks like taking another two months... by that time I will have forgotten what Dom 2011 was all about ... enthusiasm for that flagging as well as it sits on the shelf gathering dust.

My TT game vs Johnsy not exactly rocking and rolling along -- I guess time difference playing a role here too.

Dom Normandy is limited by the having to wait for the odd Allied challenge to pop up and if you're in right place or time to pick it up -- only played one game there so far...

Started a little mini one-on-one campaign vs Cargol -- going ok, but lately affected by Cargol's time limitations...

Finding CMBN limiting in its own way -- more effort involved and takes more time with each file/turn played -- but also much more downtime when things slow down as opposed to quicker turnover with CMx1 files...
 
Things are indeed a bit slow at the moment. Domination is crawling forward on a slow paste. We could use some more commanders? And more opening hexes. Reason for this is also that the Allies have had their asses kicked a few times :RpS_razz:

I know don't about the cmbn campaign since I don't participate. TTB is going well. Indeed time difference is a major factor. But I don't mind. I love to play this game and if I get bored I go play SCII and I just bought RO2 which will give me hours of fun.

We are in the same GMT Rico and I'm good for a few turns a day. If you want we can setup a game?
 
I never played any of the other CM versions so I can't comment on this.
 
well turns rates are slow at times...but guys are getting back from holidays now...still have 7+ CMx1 games on the go.

The new Dom is slow off the ground and if it's going to be 2 more months before the jump off may be we should call it 2012 the final chapture...seeing the end of the world will happen LOL

Rico start a quick battle tourney elimination in CMx1 sudden death 25 turns or so...

CMx1 of coarse.
 
2054172 said:
well turns rates are slow at times...but guys are getting back from holidays now...still have 7+ CMx1 games on the go.

The new Dom is slow off the ground and if it's going to be 2 more months before the jump off may be we should call it 2012 the final chapture...seeing the end of the world will happen LOL

Rico start a quick battle tourney elimination in CMx1 sudden death 25 turns or so...

CMx1 of coarse.
Click to expand...

That's a Good Idea Mate
 
I agree that things are slowed down a bit regarding the CMBN tourneys but i cant see my self returning to CM1.
IMHO CMBN is the future but we still need to adjust as it seems that the battles are lasting much longer than CM1.
Take in mind that the smallest CMBN battle,in terms of time length, is 30 minutes.
30 turns was a medium to large scenario or QB in CM1.
As for CMBN Tournament i feel a bit responsible for it stalling as i was the one part involved in an unnessasery argument in what is supposed to be a fun game.
I do feel that things will improve as summer season is coming to an end.
How about an Italy Campaign in the style of our one on one campaign?
It seems to go smoothly and quite quick also.
 
Disclaimer: Remember fellas, with my opinion and a couple of Dollars/Euros/Pesos, you can get a cup of coffee anywhere.

My impression of CMBN is still positive. The games I am involved in are moving at varied paces depending on my opponents. As I am retired and have immense amounts of free time, I usually can get many turns out per day, but hardly expect my opponents to do the same. By having 8 games in the queue, I get a fair return rate, as several of my opponents are as prolific as I am. I don't find it unusual that some don't find CMBN to their liking, as some folks prefer checkers to chess, computer wargaming is no different. If your looking for more action, send me a scenario Rico, I'll try to help keep you off the streets and busy.
 
I'm still enjoying both CMx1 and CNBN, the latter can take longer to play if you get too involved in micro-management but if you need to you you can play it much the same way as CMx1. Just adopt a higher view level and stop looking at the pretty graphics at levels 1 & 2. Except when setting up I can plot a turn for either game, of any size within reason, in around 5-10 minutes or less. Especially if I have just received a turn and think the other player is still online.
 
CMBN pbems play twice as fast as CM1 because the order and action phases are combined in one file, not split into two like CM1.
And the CMBN system is so fast and easy that I play it without hardly ever looking at the manual.
If players think 30 turns is too long they can agree before the start to hit ceasefire after 20 turns or 15 or whatever..:)

As for things "going quiet" in FGM, yeah I've never known people to play so slowly in all my 9 years of pbemming, I'm getting on average only 1 file every 4 days from most of them.

Maybe the scrapping of the dear old seasonal ladder and turning it into a sloppy "forever" ladder has something to do with it.
I mean, with the seasonal, people had a definite end date to aim for which acted as a spur to make them keep regularly returning files to try for as high a placing as possible at seasons end just like a football league season.
Furthermore, I'm currently at the top of the CMBN ladder and mathematically can't be caught which must be disheartening for everybody else, so they see no need to play fast any more.
As for me, I've achieved my goal of getting to the top and there's no challenge in it for me any more, so what the hell am i supposed to do now? I might as well retire from the ladder, ha ha..:)
But if it was a seasonal ladder (ending Dec 31st) i'd be forced to stay in to defend my lead.

Ladder custodian Zaraza says it's no problem for him if it was seasonal.
However I'd definitely like to see a rule tweak so that people who play most games (like me) don't get an unfair advantage.
I suggest the ladder be decided on win percentages, BUT only on condition that players must finish at least 15 games per 6-month season. Any wargamer should be able to play 15 in 26 weeks.
They can of course play more than 15 if they want to try boosting their win %.
That way, players will have solid objectives to aim for, namely a 6-month season and a 15-game minimum quota.

We needn't even touch the current ladder at all, we can simply announce that it ends Dec 31st and will be decided on win % from at least 15 games, and let it run on. Then a champ will be crowned and given a silver trophy, and Zar zeroes everybody's scores ready to begin the next season..:)

Hitler- "Can your troops make a great effort?"
Guderian- "Yes, if they're given a clear easily-understandable objective"
(quote from 'Panzer Leader')


As regards tourneys, they too should have a clear deadline. We saw what happened with Rico's 'FGM Cup' tourney earlier this year; it started off fine at a tight fast pace because it had a definite finishing date, but then he said something like "if people haven't finished on time they'll be granted an extension".
Sadly that was the kiss of death because half the competitors began relaxing and playing like snails, and the whole tourney went up the spout and had to be killed off!

PS- I might stage another CMBN tourney in the future and god help anybody who can't keep up under my strict "March or Die" policy..;)

 
Personally, for me the ladder is not a driving force for why I hang with you blokes, or why I play CMBN. I played before there was a ladder and I would continue to play without the ladder. If people are here simply to get to the top of a ladder, then I think they might be missing the point of "community" and the "society" the FGM offers. Plus, if guys what to see the names on the ladder shift around, they can just click the header of any column and presto.

As for tourneys, I think we should have both types. Tourneys with definite end dates, as well as tourneys with no definite ending. I look at Domination as an old friend that I take comfort in knowing will be around for a long time. I also like the Tag Team Tourney because it is designed to be a "Wham, Bam, Thank You Ma'am" conflict. People can join the type they like or, like me, both.

Just my two centavos.
 
Yes, if people don't want to be competitive in ladders or tourneys, that's fine, they can sit relaxedly sipping tea and munching marshmallows to their hearts content in the sunny FGM garden.
But there are (i think) psychos around like me with a strong competitive instinct who DO want to do our damdest to fight tooth and nail in ladders and tourneys.
Sure we miss out on the marshmallows and grow painfully thin, but we're the sort who Shakespeare's J. Caesar describes as- "He has that lean and hungry look, such men are very dangerous"..
 
Well what can I say.... I slow down on the site for a week or two to deal with stuff at home and I come back to find the FGM is now boring people. Seems the FGM is going to take me continually pushing it to stop it dying out. I honestly thought we had a site here that would be able to be self sufficient and cope with me not being here as often. We have numerous tournaments running with tourneymeisters in charge of their own sections. Is the problem the players or the organisers.... are we as organisers too soft... are we expecting to much of our members??? Is a change at the top required... should I hand over the reigns and give someone else a chance at running the site?? Should I give people more responsibility to members to run their own sections... keys to the back rooms for them to work away at their own things...

-or-

Is it just the fact that we are comparing CMBN to CMx1 too much.... have we not realised that it is a totally different animal and game length is different... should we loosen our belts on CMBN tournaments?? I dont know... these are the questions Im putting to you.

I will do some work tonight to put some life back into CMx1 with the launch of Domination.... once I have set up the areas it is completely up to the tourneymeister Rico to run with it/endorse it.

Anyways.... Im of to have a lookie round the rest of the forum... despite it boring some people we have had 86 posts in the last 24 hours and 3 new members joining.

And.. if anyone fancies taking the reigns email me.

Bootie
 
Hey Bootie don't take any of these discussions person....we are getting along and adjusting...just wanting to put as much spice as we can into things...
 
Im not taking it personally....

Its just I put as much of myself into the site as I can and realistically my time on the site will naturally become restricted in the very near future and if this is how things are going to shape up every time I turn my back it doesn't bode well.

I had hoped it would be self sufficient and not need continually egging and nudging from me to keep it moving forward - much like Jim Mays has in place at the Blitz. He is the owner of the Blitz but has very little to do in the day to day running. Im not afforded that luxury if you see what I mean.
 
I think "boring" may have been the wrong adjective. I see it as just a little slow at the moment, but certainly nothing that requires a bunch of "Bootie Magic" to make it all better. I would be a little surprised though if this is being caused by POS' domination at the top of the CMN Ladder.

I agree with Nort. I don't think there are all that many members that see the CMN Ladder as the "Holy Grail" of competitiveness. I could not possibly care less (sorry POS) who sits atop the Ladder at any given time. If POS has figured out a way to stay at the top forever, and that makes him happy, swell. While I encourage its continuation, I rarely ever even look at it. And when I do I see it as a nice reference for some basic gaming information.

So, Bootie, take a deep breath and don't worry quite so much. It doesn't seem to be anything that a generally better file turnaround time wouldn't improve.
 
Yeah the ladder is staying as it is.... call it an executive decision. I have tinkered with the ladder so much over the years I'm resigned to the fact that (a) it really doesn't matter what I do.... someone will be unhappy with it... and (b) 90% of folk use it merely as a reference tool for games played.
 
Bootie et al -- please don't misunderstand my comments -- no criticism of the running of the FGM intended, it's a well-oiled machine and I applaud all of the hard work that makes this such an amazing place -- just reflecting on the fact that I find myself from having too much on my hands to suddenly too little.

Also reflecting on the fact that CMBN makes for an odd change of pace -- more detail in the game, less quick fun interactions -- it seems a little more laboured, even though it is a thing of beauty, things are from a campaign/touney/scenario design point of view a LOT more work and a lot trickier to get right.

I think there is just more of a learning curve involved -- one thinks one knows it all like in CMx1 -- but one forgets that like myself I got my ass kicked as a rookie CMBO and CMBB player over at the Blitz for months before I really got the hang of things...LOL.

The FGM boring?... never ... still hands down #1 site for wargaming anywhere :)
 
mTk said:
If POS has figured out a way to stay at the top forever, and that makes him happy, swell.
Click to expand...

No mate it's a boring "forever" ladder and as soon as my few remaining games are finished I'm going to ask Zaraza to delete my name from it because i don't want to be associated with it any more.
"Let Moses' name be stricken from every pylon and obelisk!"- Pharoah in The 10 Commandments
 
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