LAN-GAME-BUGS and Q´s

[Sunstone]

Dear Apolytonians,

i played a 6 player LAN-Game on WinXP-computers, good configuration, and we got it to work in 30 minutes. -> Good!
I noticed nearly no comment on the lan-perfomance and bugs, so I thought I´ll add my 2 cent and maybe help firaxis to find some bugs in lan game.

Now a few Questions rose during the game:
here is the config:

No computer players, 6 human civs (2 new, celts and scandies) , normal map size, simultan move, all other configs default.
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1. The game is laggy, not comparable to internet-gaming but it is slow. Especially the mouse clicking speed in the city screen, you change a worker to another field an click and nothing happens, or it takes 2 seconds.
It appears to be that it speeds up when other player finished their turns, then it is nearly normal speed.
Plz don´t tell me to play turnbased. That game should support simultan-move as moo2 and stars did.
I just can´t understand the lag. It´s the main feature of this expansion, i paid 40 Euros, it´s ridiculous. But there are other ranters in other threads doing this job

2. Why is there no "Which TECHNOLOGY should we research next,sir ?" pop-up. It´s simply missing. You NEVER even noticed that you researched something. You always have to keep the "research time left" in mind, so that you are ready to change your research in time. Otherwise, the Advisor simply chooses the tech advance he sees fit. And as we know, change tech=loose a lotta research points.
I can imagine why the pop-up is missing:
All players should have the same opportunity to move their units RIGHT IN THE BEGINNING of the turn. Which leads to the next point :

3. As far as we noticed: The "first clicker" is first mover, right ? Means: Unit A moves, then B.Why ?
My proposal would be :
Units got no initiative. So, let the movement-value decide, who moves first. Or the xp.

4. to end turn, you have to click on the oval thing, not anywhere in the lower right box. That´s new to me.

On the other hand:
It was great fun ! We played 5 hours w/o any (real)problems at all. We loved the game and even the possibilty to play the "real civ" with your friends is wonderful. Always dreamt of this!

[Sunstone]

No one around, who played multiplay-civ over lan ?
*is crying his heart out*
Or maybe : Firaxis ? got sth, to say about my humble points.

[Wittlich]

Sorry Sunstone, was away for the weekend. I play exclusively MP LAN....You say to have a 6-Player, no AI game?! Cool!

Concerning the Lag - and yes, it is there in LAN play - the only stategy for this that I know of is to make sure the highest CPU/memory computer host the game - This will lower the lag for the other computers but the Host will still feel it HEAVILY.

Concerning next technology - you are right, there is NO POP-UP window in MP (either internet or LAN). My only suggestion is to watch you research like you've been doing, or set your reesearch for an advance 3-4 avances in the future - this way you will know that your heading in the right direction.

First-clicker movement - I have no idea - have only played turn-based so far (what I perfer)

End Turn - Yes, if you click on the oval icon, this will end your turn - or you can hit the Return key if you've moved your last unit.

I too am still experimenting with the game and learning as we go...

[notyoueither]

First-clicker movement is an unfortunate side effect of Simult and Turnless. It has to be that way or the game would have to wait for all 3 move units to be given orders, then all 2 move units, and then the 1 move units.

Simult is a challenge, but it keeps the game moving along at a good pace. Turnless is nuts. I don't play turnless. Too old and too tired.

[FNBrown]

I play 2 player LAN only. Usually turn-based, no timer (I'm a patient man, and my wife is still learning).

Same problems you stated... in addition to buggy auto-bombard, and persistent "out-of-sync" messages once I get past the industrial ages (sometimes sooner). They're so bad, I've given up and switched to hot-seat games for the time being.