So, moving forward...

[The Rock Doctor]

I think we can look to begin play early in the new year.  I don't want to push anybody during the holidays season.  Mine could be light or busy, depending on external circumstances.

The to-do list looks like this, unless you've got more to add:

-Complete basic rules set (me)

-Determine start-up process (me)

-Finish starting map sheet (snip)

-Develop nation/character concepts (you)

-Build NPCs (me)

-Develop PC nation's existing assets (you)

I don't know how many people will actually be committing right away, but as long as there are four or more, we can start and absorb others while underway.

Guinness has consented to allow play on this board, which is appreciated.  Maybe we'll even lure him in.

[The Rock Doctor]

Here's how I think we'll get set up:

1.  We'll confirm the upper right quadrant of Map #2 as our starting point.

2.  You'll send me a PM with a small snapshot of your preferred and your back-up starting place.

3.  I'll coin-flip any overlapping interests, and post a map showing everybody's starting place.

4.  You'll get to place $3500 worth of cities, in a distribution of your choice.  You'll choose industries for cities of sufficient size.  Think of this as your core territory.

5.  I'll roll up more recent gains acquired pre-game by your nations.  For each of you, I'll roll a D6.  If the roll is 1-5, I'll add a city of ($50*roll), with a random industry if appropriate, to your nation and plunk it on a map as I see fit.  Then I'll roll for you again.  When I roll a 6 (or if I think somebody's getting way too big), you get nothing and I move on to the next player.  This'll provide some randomness in starting nation size, distribution, and power.

6.  You'll build up your starting naval infrastructure.  You'll get some percentage of your starting economic output to do this with.

7.  You'll build up your starting military.  You'll get some percentage of your starting economic output to do this with.

8.  Diplomatically, you'll start with a blank slate.  No trade or military agreements in place.  No formal relations with anybody.

[Nobody]

2.  You'll send me a PM with a small snapshot of your preferred and your back-up starting place.

How do I send you a picture as PM?

[The Rock Doctor]

Ah.  I assumed that one could attach it, as with a post.  I seem to be wrong.

[Nobody]

And I can't write you and e-mail either (at least not one which contains a picture).

[The Rock Doctor]

Well, poo.  I shall cast about for an alternative, then.

[The Rock Doctor]

Don't send me your claims yet, guys - we need to have a way of prioritizing them.  Given work/play and timezone issues, a first-come, first-served method would not be fair.

[Nobody]

Don't send me your claims yet, guys - we need to have a way of prioritizing them.  Given work/play and timezone issues, a first-come, first-served method would not be fair.

I thought thats what the "preferred and your back-up starting place" was for? I even marked 3 locations.
Only solution I see is that you would somehow have to post your E-mail address.

[The Rock Doctor]

Okay, I've got an answer.

If you can't send me a picture, then open up the map in Paint.

Run your cursor over to the spot you want, and note what pixel coordinates Paint claims you're at.  Send me those coordinates.  Repeat for your secondary location.  It wouldn't hurt to have a text description of the spots as backup.

Send me your preferences in the next week, and I'll resolve any conflicts.  Note that you may get shifted a few pixels if Snip's more detailed follow-up mapping shows you're on land.

We'll move on from there.

[Carthaginian]

To send a picture- just 1.) open the map in Paint, and mark the site 2.) use Photobucket to put the pic on the net and 3.) PM Rocky the link to the Photobucket pic.


Rocky - I'd be happy to do setup work on some of the NPC's if that'll help lighten the load on you, man.
Just let me know what kind of economic range I'd have to work with; Christmas will be tomorrow in my family, so I will have plenty of time during the REAL holidays to do it.

[The Rock Doctor]

I appreciate the offer, and may take you up on it.

[snip]

heading home later today, will start plunking away on the map ASAP.

[TexanCowboy]

Interesting setup...

Greetings.

[Darman]

Interesting setup...

Greetings.

Hello!

[The Rock Doctor]

So the last few days have been a bit quiet for me, as I was preparing for, and then undertaking, Mrs. Rock's departure out west for the holidays.

I've got four and a half days off starting sometime Friday, so will be endeavouring to update the rules, clarify start-up stuff, and otherwise keep the ball rolling.

I'd invite y'all to continue considering the rules, to propose NPC ideas (preferably via PM) and to transmit your preferred starting locations (via PM).  I've got four people in so far, and will be content to launch with six.