The Springtime School

[abana]

As mentioned earlier, this contest is designed for the new player. Players entering in Easy, can recieve extra help by PM from myself, Goonsquad has also offered help.

http://www.citybuildingcontests.net/...-C3/index.html

Let the games begin!

We all know who refers to. And , I guessmeans them jointly. Who can forget? I have decided to adoptas mine.

[Caesar Clifford]

Just looking at the page, I assume there is no upper time limit on this map ? With a peace requirement of 10 that means you will have to play it for about 4 years at a minimum, depending on what happens in those frst few years.

Hope to look at the map itself later on.

[abana]

There is a time limit of 5 years.

[Caesar Clifford]

Yeah I just found that out by playing though it.

Very good map, lots happens.

5 years just doesn't seem long enough to get enough people in especially with the surprises along the way. But its fun.

[goonsquad]

The full title of this contest was "Cindy's CBC Springtime School of C3" but you know how these Americans like to shorten things....

[abana]

Thanks Cliff. And Juliaset shortened it, I didn't care, but blame it of the Rebs, not us Yanks, and maybe it's just that we aren't egotistical.

[JuliaSet]

A long name does not do well on our supporting systems, like the uptake script and in the calendar. Welcome to the design team abana. You have earned your wings!

[abana]

We have decided to open a thread for all, for basic assitance.

[JuliaSet]

5-year limit, a save must be made in dec 496BC has been added to the contest page.

[Caesar Clifford]

Meanies. I wanted to save in July.

[goonsquad]

There was a problem with the French translation of the contest page. Apparently the original completion criteria contained a line which was left out of the CBC page " Save On Or Before Dec 496BC". This line was included in Schwartzhorse's French translation. When corrected on the contest page it now says "Save Dec 496BC" and Abana (who is Queen) has decreed in this thread that it is Dec 496BC and not before.

What this means is that Cesar20 has submitted an invalid entry, through no fault of his own. The French page is being corrected now. My apologies for this misunderstanding, which was all my fault of course.

[schwartzhorse]

Now the French contest page is corrected !!!!!

[Clivus Maximus]

Abana, I am very excited to see a new 'mission'. I intend to enter even though I might have won the ChestaDeva contest in easy as I was the only entrant! That doesn't count as a win.
Nice that you have put in a later finish date as I go on hols/business tomorrow. Should I take a laptop out to the beach?.... Cindy on Spring Break?

[abana]

You are right, a win when you were the only enrty doesn't count. Yes, take the laptop, playing is fun, and that is what you are going for, just don't get any sand in it.

[cesar20]

Second save sent, i think that this one is valid

[Caesar Clifford]

I've sent 2 in as well. Can we have a list of valid entries sometime please ?

[abana]

I will get one up in about 2 hours

[abana]

I'm sorry, I forgot that I had to make these posts.

Entries as at this post [ all valid unless stated] to date:

Hard
Caesar Clifford (2)
cesar20(2)first entry invalid

Normal


Easy

[cesar20]

I just sent a third save. But i got an error message, could you confirm you have it ? Thank

[abana]

No, Ceasar20, we don't, I will stay here untill we do, and I will load it right away to make sure that I can

[cesar20]

New attempt, you will find my explanations (about the numbers) in the comment box

[abana]

We got it, but the admin page sayst that we didn't

[cesar20]

We will see that tomorrow. Maybe during this time, my save will have enough time to cross the ocean

[abana]

I got the save, and it loaded up fine.

[abana]

Entries as at this post [ all valid unless stated] to date:

Hard
Caesar Clifford (2)
cesar20(2)first entry invalid
Normal
Easy

Recieved, but not yet validated

Hard
Caesar Clifford third entry
cesar20 Third entry
Normal
schwartzhorse
Easy

[abana]

Entries as at this post [ all valid unless stated] to date:

Hard
Caesar Clifford (4)
cesar20(2)first entry invalid
Normal
Easy

[schwartzhorse]

Originally Posted by Abana

Recieved, but not yet validated

Hard
Caesar Clifford third entry
cesar20 Third entry
Normal
schwartzhorse

Originally Posted by abana

Entries as at this post [ all valid unless stated] to date:

Hard
Caesar Clifford (4)
cesar20(2)first entry invalid
Normal
Easy

Please , Are other entries not valid or not checked ????

[cesar20]

I sent 3 saves, the first is invalid, but it seems to me that #2 and #3 are valid.
Could you confirm ...or not.
Thank you

[abana]

Yes, Ceasar 20, the second and third entries are valid, I am sorry that it wasn't clear in my post, I wll repost making it more clear.

[abana]

Hard
Caesar Clifford (4)
cesar20(3)first entry invalid, other's valid
Normal
Schwartzhorse(1)
Easy
__________________

[schwartzhorse]

2° save sent ....

[Trium]

As usual, Cliff blazes the trail with 4 entries while I'm still deciding where to put my first tent.

There are a few decisions I won't have to make - like where I build a wall strong enough to keep out those tusked thingies and whether I'm beter off with infantry or javelins. And whether or not I should go into debt. Nice and simple. Thanks, Cindy!

[abana]

Originally Posted by abana
Entries to date [ all valid unless stated] to date:

Hard
Caesar Clifford (4)
cesar20(2)first entry invalid
Normal
Schwartzhorse(2)
Easy

[schwartzhorse]

Originally Posted by Trium

There are a few decisions I won't have to make - like where I build a wall strong enough to keep out those tusked thingies and whether I'm beter off with infantry or javelins. And whether or not I should go into debt. Nice and simple. Thanks, Cindy!

maybe less headaches

[Caesar Clifford]

I've had enough headaches with it so far.

Trium, your one entry will be double the total of the 7 that I will probably end up submitting. I never trust real life or my computers ability to keep working so as soon as I get an entry that has at least 1 more person on it than my last entry I send that in too. Real annoying for the designer and tester.

[abana]

Cliff, I don't find that annoying at all, I love watching the progression, only 7? Trium's will be a masterpiece, I'm sure.

[abana]

Originally Posted by abana
Entries to date [ all valid unless stated] to date:

Hard
Caesar Clifford (4)
cesar20(2)first entry invalid
Normal
Schwartzhorse(3)
Easy

[abana]

Originally Posted by abana
Entries to date [ all valid unless stated] :

Hard
Caesar Clifford (4)
cesar20(2)first entry invalid
Kindy(!)
Normal
Schwartzhorse(3)
Easy

[Clivus Maximus]

Having trouble downloading Springtime....
When I click on the link I get the HTML opening in a text program instead of downloading. ( This does not happen with other contests) Is this because it is not in the Library page or that it is a sav. file instead of a zip. ?
I tried cut and pasting the HTML stuff to a separate file and then using C3 converter but it does not recognize it.
Any ideas?
Clivus

[Clivus Maximus]

Ahhh! Got it!
Used Firefox instead of Safari and it worked.
I have downloaded the easy and normal Springtimes and will have a go. But since I have been away expect late entries for me.

Isnt anyone else going to enter the easy?

[abana]

The best of luck to you.

[schwartzhorse]

Originally Posted by Clivus Maximus

.......
Isnt anyone else going to enter the easy?

I think there will be 2 new french players
, but they said they have exams for now , and they will play after .........

[abana]

I am open to an extension.

[goonsquad]

The experiment of an easy contest with assistance provided to novices hasn't exactly set the world on fire, even though the contest itself is perfect for that purpose. I'm glad we decided to include normal and hard otherwise we would have had no entries at all!!

This is a great contest y'all. Very fun to play. And quick to complete too.

As the lovely yet somehow unlovely Lara Bingle once famously said: Where the bloody hell are you?

[Kindy]

If it helps, I am a complete novice at contests, and doubt I would have entered a regular contest with my level of confidence in my skill as it is. I don't know about setting the world on fire, but there's at least one person out here who is using it as a foot in the door to the idea of entering city building contests.

I just entered Hard because I downloaded it first, and found it a terrifically challenging map to play and wanted to see if I could create a valid entry at that level at all. My intention was to work my way down- do Normal afterward, then Easy, but I have to admit, I didn't find it quite as interesting on Normal as I did on Hard, so I've been working with that map to see if I could improve my results. I am very confident I'll be no where close to the winning entries, but I've really enjoyed myself and I found this contest offering much less intimidating than some of the others I've considered.

I am wondering if my second submission did make it in though, as I don't see it on the list of entries to-date.

[abana]

Entries to date [ all valid unless stated] :

Hard
Caesar Clifford (4)
cesar20(2)first entry invalid
Kindy(2)
Normal
Schwartzhorse(3)
Easy

I am sorry Kindy, yes your second entry was valid. I won't be giving anything of anyone's strategy away If I tell you that what the best players do is just get a valid submisssion, then work to find ways to improve the score, as you said that you will do.

[Caesar Clifford]

Hi Kindy

I think that just getting a valid entry, submitting that and then trying to improve your score is my favorite way to go. I love the challenge of just trying to improve my score. I did manage that 4 times so submitted 4 entries. i'm not giving anything away I don't think but I've done at least another 7 attempts, trying different things since my last submitted entry without managing to improve my score.

Other players just seem to work on one entry and sumit that near the end. They are usually better players than me and easily beat my score too. The whole point of contests is to do it the way that you enjoy doing it. Some players write everything down, work it all out on spreadsheets and the like before working on their entry. Some like me [ or maybe I'm the only one who plays with my stragety ? ], just hit start and go and see where they end up.

Main thing is to enjoy your contest experience. I'm sure over the years a lot of players have missed the fun of entering and playing many contests because they were concerned about finishing last. Its almost best to finish last the first contest you play because then you can only go one way and thats up. These contests are really a lot of fun just trying to get better scores each contest and improving your placings with each new contest.

And just so you don't be concerned about your placing, I have never won a contest at Hard in C3 yet. After 8 years of trying. But I will one day even if it means I'll have to outlive everyone else to do it. LOL.

Glad to have you aboard.

[JuliaSet]

Abana and Azeem, the CBC custom is for the designer to send me an email or PM saying.

"we have decided to extend.. contest #..... to end on.... x date. Will you please change the contest page, the calendar, and uploads script for me."

I might otherwise decide on a date that is not exactly what you had in mind. You will learn the routine.. Designer rules around here.

[abana]

We will be extending this to May 17

[abana]

Hard
Caesar Clifford (4)
cesar20(2)first entry invalid
Kindy(2)
Normal
Schwartzhorse(3)
Krisius(1)invalid
Easy

[cesar20]

Abana, have you sent a mail to Krisius about is invalide save ? if not, do you want i do it, send me a PM with the reasons.

[goonsquad]

Abana said she had sent Krisius an e-mail. His entry is December 500BC. It seems like he simple sent in the wrong file. Maybe because this is a BC map and highest year number is first year (this is why I don't like making BC maps).

[Clivus Maximus]

I just submitted an entry in easy. sad to see no one else is in that category (especially as the contest was designed for easys - thanks Abana)
What happened to all the recent newbies that posted in the welcome forum?

The contest is quite basic but fun. Dont know whether there was much more to it than keeping the immigrants marching in, giving them space and work and building prosperity. Trying to fill up all the land. Abana if there is any other pointers for this one feel free to let me in on it!

[Clivus Maximus]

Hey! i just noticed someone posting about tusked thingys and how to deal with them. I didnt get any! is that only in hard?

[abana]

Normal and hard have them, but beware, hard has no forts. And there was one player who dealt with them differently than I expected.

[Caesar Clifford]

hard has no forts

Yeah, thanks for that.

[abana]

Anything for the master of looonnnggg entrances. Payback, you know.

Hard
Caesar Clifford (4)
cesar20(2)first entry invalid
Kindy(2)
Normal
Schwartzhorse(3)
Krisius(1)invalid
Easy
Clivus Maximus(1)

[goonsquad]

Originally Posted by Clivus Maximus

The contest is quite basic but fun. Dont know whether there was much more to it than keeping the immigrants marching in, giving them space and work and building prosperity. Trying to fill up all the land. Abana if there is any other pointers for this one feel free to let me in on it!

There is in fact a tiny bit more than this to it...births and deaths.

In C3 you get a certain number of deaths and births in each house every January, just after the new year starts. It can amount to about 7% of current population, which when you have 10,000 is not to be sneezed at. The better your city's health the fewer die. Births can only occur if your houses have space for them. Maximising this is a strategy in itself, in short you cannot have births in full houses.

There are two French players who I understand are working on easy entries, and for the sake of competition I hope they manage to submit.

[Clivus Maximus]

maybe one way to get a high birth rate is to have gallons of wine on hand. That can help to get the plebs going......

[Trium]

It seems only fair that all players have the opportunity to see existing material relating to a population strategy. This thread has some very good tips from goonsquad. For information on how to manage sentiment see this HG thread, and for info on health see here.

Originally Posted by Clivus Maximus

maybe one way to get a high birth rate is to have gallons of wine on hand. That can help to get the plebs going......

Wine may well make them frisky, but unless the Romans had access to the sort of substance that I am continually offered in emails those liaisons will not, I fear, be particularly fruitful