AGEOD Forums

Hobbes and I have developed a way to double the speed of non-hosted PBEM games. I'll call it "bilateral hosting".

It's very simple. A player begins the game and sends his turn to his opponent. His opponent makes his response, ends the turn, and then makes his move for the next turn. Next, he saves the game without ending the turn. At this point, he sends all relevant files to his opponent.

His opponent follows the same procedure: he makes his response, ends the turn, and then makes and saves his move.

Using this technique greatly speeds up the game. As Hobbes pointed out to me, it also enables each player to watch every other turn be resolved.

It does have one drawback: it requires that you be mindful of whether you're making your first half move, or your second half move. The method that I've personally come up with to avoid confusion is that I place an object on the left side of my keyboard, and then move it to the right side of the keyboard after I've finished my first half move to my satisfaction. I remove the object (a child's crayon ) after I resolve the turn.

In this way, if I'm distracted by a phone call or called away from the game for some reason, I'll not be confused when I come back.

Youse guys are extremely clever..... ompom:

Well m'lady is too kind. The idea was all hers (while bravely attempting but ultimately failing to engineer a more tortuous path to hosted PBEM). I have to say that this simple but brilliant idea has never crossed my mind or been proposed by any of my opponents (Uroš/Gene - why didn't you think of this?).

Of course being a bloke I won't bother with the object to the left or right of the keyboard until I mess it up - then I will probably use a Chelsea figurine.

Cheers, Chris

Thank you, gentlemen.

I hate to be the one to break it to you , but this has been around since at least last summer, and probably a lot longer.

But congrats! You reinvented the wheel!

Your graciousness is only exceeded by your tact, Sir Longshanks!

I had no idea that the idea was already in wide use, since I've (obviously) never encountered it any of posts that I've read on these forums. But if it is already in wide use, then that would seem to be a testament to its utility. I'm delighted!

Longshanks, please send me a PM providing a link to the OP in these forums mentioning this idea, so that I may publicly recognize its originator for his innovation. If you can't find the OP, then any post mentioning it will do.

Most Gracious Queen,

Here's a part of an email I got from GraniteStater back on June 24, 2011, as we started a PBEM:

"I chose April 61 with KY Rule. Hope you don't mind.

Discussion below; file attached. I'll explain Double Hosting if you wish after we get a couple of Turns in."

Perhaps GS could lead us further on the origin of Double Hosting?

It's a brilliant idea, which is why you thought of it!

Longshanks, your graciousness is only exceeded... etc., etc.

Thanks for the lead! Gee, this is better than a game of "Clue"!

It was Colonel Granite Stater, in the PBEM game, with a bright idea! [indent](...Did I win?!) [/indent]

Granite, you gallant fellow you, your sweet little Queen wants to know! Did you originate this "brilliant" idea?

Queenily me,
[font="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="3"]Aphrodite Mae[/size][/font]

Well it is most convenient also when you play non simultaneous games.

No, not my idea. P. Cleburne and I played a game with DH. He did it.

IMO, it's OK, it works and isn't confusing. Won't change your life or anything.

The only downside is not being able to see a Replay for one of the Turns. I can't remember the details, but the concept is straightforward. Get the file(s) from the Opponent, and run Turn A, then give all your orders and decisions for B, then send all the relevant files, including the last *.ord to Opponent, who inputs his *.ord and runs Turn B.

I think I've got that right. Anyhow, ask the esteemed PC for the details, he's the genius.

Ahh yes. My amazing, indomitable, uhh, Geniusness... yes... came up with this revolutionary idea. That is, I did after TheDoctorKing told me how to do it. I haven't seen him around for a few months though.

Here's the excerpt where he explained it to me:
"The way I've done PBEM in the past is to send the .hst file back and forth, so each player does two turns at a time. That is, you send me the .hst, your .ord, and both .trn files. I unzip them, open the game, do my orders, execute, and then do my orders for the next turn. Then, I send you the .hst, both .trns and my .ord (and the .rpl for your faction if you want). Then you do two turns, executing in the middle. That way we alternate having the advantage of watching the turn execute and we play twice as fast."

I like the idea alot. Especially if you're playing someone who can only fire the game up once a day or less. Hope this helps you get to the bottom of this vexing mystery.

Our mystery is solved!

For some reason, TheDoctorKing's response post disappeared after the forum restart. Fortunately, I have a copy of his post.
He receives credit for the idea that I called "bilateral hosting".

[Quote=TheDoctorKing][...] I did come up with the idea of "bilateral hosting" though Andatiep was also part of that introductory game where we tried it out and he refined the idea as well. This speeds up execution of your game significantly - assuming you have time to even look at it, sorry Andatiep.[...][/quote]

Thanks to TheDoctorKing and Andatiep for a very useful idea!

I've presented a medal to both gentlemen for their contribution to our community, here.

Thanks are also due to those gentlemen who responded to my PMs and emails with prompt posts in this thread. Your courtesy was greatly appreciated, gentlemen!