I've been reading all your suggestions, and i think i've come upon another one (hope i'm not stealing the idea from anyone lol).

What about "turn-based" turns, on which everyone plays his/her hand and then end's is turn. Nothing out of the ordinary so far. But this could "shorten" a lot the time between turns.
The difference i would "add", would be, a counter... i'll try to show it's use on an example.

Turn 0
5 players, all play and press the end-turn... the turns takes a few minutes, let us use the 15m term for example.
Turn 1
4 players play and press the end-turn button... the fifth player wasn't at his PC, he would "get" his 2 hours (to appear and play).

How?
Everytime a player hitted the "End-Turn" button, a timer would start ticking... if all players pressed the button, it would reset and change to the next turn, if not, when it reached 2h automatically it would change to the next turn.

As a safemeasure, as soon as a player pressed the button, he could not "play" anything more during the rest of that turn.

Resuming... we've got in the minimun a faster game when everyone is present, at the worst the same pace.

What do you say about all this?

I say the inactives render this useless.

"Izno"
it might work except I agree with "Juxtaposer" that
there are too many "inactives" (i.e. AS IT IS);
and So I think there would be too much frustration with always probably at least one player holding up the game.
However, those of us who want to play these fast games, and are able to play them feel that the problem of "inactives" would be greatly lessened by a fast action game that can be finished in possibly less than a day;

but there will always be a player or two who just can't do the turn possibly as often as each player missing as many as 5 turns during one game which amounts to 25 turns, and which would be too much of a burden of delays to the game;
So, I'm sorry but I feel that if a person involves himself in a game that will last all day and only one day, he has to consider before he gets involved (i.e. that he may not be able to complete every turn);

and if he wants to play anyway, he has to accept that the game will continue and he may miss a few turns;
So he should try to budget when he will be able to miss possibly an hour of the game even as often as a few times when he needs to accumulate gold and resources anyway.
All of us find it necessary to skip turns for that reason anyway so trying to budget when we can afford to skip turns to rest becomes part of the game because we all have to do it.

If a person is able to complete every turn and perform some sort of task every turn, I would doubt very much that he has managed to upgrade all of his production, enhanced his units with the limit of offensive/defensive skills and started producing any master units yet. He will have also had to gain almost the limit of the market tech to be able to sell his resources for a descent amount of gold. I personally have always found it necessary to just do nothing for a few turns on at least a few occassions to be able to afford some game enhancements.

So in conclusion, I have to say that if the only way this can be done is by manually taking turns, I may agree that a 10 minute hold could be put on the game for emergencies by each of 5 players as often as 3 times/game, but it must be understood that the turn will be forced and the game will continue with no exceptions otherwise. I would even prefer it without the "timeouts" because I repeat that we will all find it necessary to skip turns to accumulate gold and resources.

I can think of two other possibilities:

a) an option to break could be discussed before the game starts (i.e. e.g. the players agree to take a 2 hour rest at turn 20, turn 40 and turn 60) So that even possibly the game can be FROZEN for 2 hours at each of those intervals by some sort of vote to preset it that way

or

b) by vote the game can be stopped and restarted on another day after an agreed number of turns have been played.

PS:
Yes "Juxtaposer" ...
as the "Ultras" are now IMO few people are able to take them seriously because they are just too gruelling for lack of sleep over even longer than 5 days and that is the point of this thread (i.e. if you happen to be a person who can play them and you are lucky to get a good opponent, you will find that they are quite enjoyable);

but IMO and in the opinion of a few of us so far, if they can be made more comfortable to play, more people will be able to play them and even try to play them seriously;
So all I can say is that if you think you are interested to play a "super fast marathon ultra", please don't lose interest and just for now include youself among those of us who would like to play these fast "Ultras" and maybe they will be approved one of these fine days.

[cont.]

TR

This was one of my last attacks in "Ultra1":

Message From : Luger View Messages
Sent : Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 04:14
Ultra 1 Your army, Archers_8, attacked Luger : Swordsmen_4
Army, Swordsmen_4, has been destroyed.
Archers_8(79,82) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 38.796
Swordsmen_4(87,83) = Wounds : 287, Killed : 12.

Your army, Archers_2, attacked Luger : Swordsmen_4
Archers_2(81,82) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 15.555
Swordsmen_4(87,83) = Wounds : 117.5, Killed : 5, Exp : 0.


Your army, Pikemen_3, attacked Luger : Palisade
Palisade(85,83), sustained 250 damage.

Building, Palisade, has been destroyed.


Your army, Squires_2, attacked Luger : Palisade
Palisade(85,83), sustained 250 damage.


Your army, Pikemen_1, attacked Luger : Ballista_1
Pikemen_1(36,62) = Wounds : 587.9, Killed : 14, Exp : 629.64
Ballista_1(36,61) = Wounds : 1,060.0, Killed : 36, Exp : 161.


Your army, Archers_10, attacked Luger : Ballista_17
Archers_10(34,64) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 36.3
Ballista_17(37,61) = Wounds : 117.5, Killed : 4, Exp : 0.


Your army, Archers_9, attacked Luger : Ballista_17
Archers_9(39,67) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 36.3
Ballista_17(37,61) = Wounds : 122.0, Killed : 4, Exp : 0.


Your army, Ballista_7, attacked Luger : Ballista_17
Ballista_7(41,71) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 107.25
Ballista_17(37,61) = Wounds : 401.6, Killed : 13, Exp : 0.


Your army, Spearmen_2, attacked Luger : Ballista_17
Spearmen_2(37,62) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 214.5
Ballista_17(37,61) = Wounds : 393.3, Killed : 13, Exp : 0.


Your army, Swordsmen_2, attacked Luger : Ballista_17
Swordsmen_2(38,62) = Wounds : 2,181.4, Killed : 91, Exp : 495
Ballista_17(37,61) = Wounds : 902.3, Killed : 30, Exp : 555.1.


Your army, Squires_1, attacked Luger : Ballista_2
Squires_1(40,62) = Wounds : 734.5, Killed : 16, Exp : 370.26
Ballista_2(40,61) = Wounds : 673.3, Killed : 22, Exp : 216.


Your army, Scouts_8, attacked Luger : Ballista_13
Scouts_8(41,62) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 650.76
Ballista_13(41,61) = Wounds : 1,000.0, Killed : 34, Exp : 0.


Your army, Scouts_3, attacked Luger : Ballista_13
Army, Scouts_3, has been destroyed.
Scouts_3(41,62) = Wounds : 1073.4, Killed : 36
Ballista_13(41,61) = Wounds : 282.8, Killed : 9, Exp : 280.8.


Your army, Scouts_9, attacked Luger : Ballista_9
Scouts_9(42,62) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 542.19
Ballista_9(42,61) = Wounds : 953.4, Killed : 31, Exp : 0.


Your army, Falchioniers_4, attacked Luger : Ballista_9
Falchioniers_4(43,61) = Wounds : 313.4, Killed : 5, Exp : 594.66
Ballista_9(42,61) = Wounds : 1,000.0, Killed : 34, Exp : 100.


Your army, Catapults_2, attacked Luger : Palisade
Palisade(44,62), sustained 499.9 damage.

Building, Palisade, has been destroyed.


Your army, Scouts_10, attacked Luger : Palisade
Palisade(85,83), sustained 250 damage.


Your army, Squires_2, attacked Luger : Palisade
Palisade(85,83), sustained 250 damage.


Your army, Archers_2, attacked Luger : Swordsmen_4
Archers_2(81,82) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 21.777
Swordsmen_4(87,83) = Wounds : 152.5, Killed : 7, Exp : 0.


Your army, Archers_8, attacked Luger : Swordsmen_4
Archers_8(79,82) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 132.553
Swordsmen_4(87,83) = Wounds : 1,000.0, Killed : 41, Exp : 0.


Your army, Catapults_1, attacked Luger : Palisade
Palisade(46,72), sustained 418.7 damage.

Building, Palisade, has been destroyed.


Your army, Catapults_2, attacked Luger : Palisade
Palisade(43,62), sustained 999.6 damage.

Building, Palisade, has been destroyed.

[cont.]

TR

This was my opponent's response (i.e. just one retaliatory attack that I couldn't even fit in one post):

Message From : Luger View Messages
Sent : Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 06:41
Ultra 1 Your army, Ballista_6, was attacked by Luger : Ballista_14.
Ballista_14(97,102) = Wounds : 170.2, Killed : 6, Exp : 63.525
Ballista_6(88,104) = Wounds : 223.3, Killed : 7, Exp : 49.5.

Your army, Squires_2, was attacked by Luger : Archers_14.
Archers_14(93,81) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 141.75
Squires_2(87,83) = Wounds : 940.4, Killed : 21, Exp : 0.


Your army, Ballista_5, was attacked by Luger : Ballista_18.
Ballista_18(21,49) = Wounds : 258.4, Killed : 8, Exp : 74.25
Ballista_5(16,55) = Wounds : 273.0, Killed : 9, Exp : 66.


Your army, Spearmen_2, was attacked by Luger : Ballista_23.
Ballista_23(32,55) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 40.6
Spearmen_2(38,63) = Wounds : 287.6, Killed : 14, Exp : 0.


Your army, Falchioniers_4, was attacked by Luger : Ballista_5.
Ballista_5(50,57) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 59
Falchioniers_4(43,60) = Wounds : 278.7, Killed : 5, Exp : 0.


Your army, Scouts_8, was attacked by Luger : Ballista_13.
Ballista_13(40,59) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 54.6
Scouts_8(42,62) = Wounds : 436.3, Killed : 14, Exp : 0.


Your army, Scouts_8, was attacked by Luger : Ballista_22.
Ballista_22(42,55) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 39.312
Scouts_8(42,62) = Wounds : 270.4, Killed : 9, Exp : 0.


Your army, Scouts_9, was attacked by Luger : Ballista_26.
Ballista_26(39,55) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 33.696
Scouts_9(43,62) = Wounds : 238.8, Killed : 8, Exp : 0.


Your army, Swordsmen_2, was attacked by Luger : Ballista_25.
Ballista_25(34,55) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 26.84
Swordsmen_2(39,62) = Wounds : 195.2, Killed : 8, Exp : 0.


Your army, Archers_10, was attacked by Luger : Ballista_1.
Ballista_1(33,55) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 17.5
Archers_10(34,64) = Wounds : 89.3, Killed : 5, Exp : 0.


Your army, Archers_10, was attacked by Luger : Ballista_2.
Ballista_2(37,59) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 56
Archers_10(34,64) = Wounds : 338.0, Killed : 16, Exp : 0.


Your army, Spearmen_2, was attacked by Luger : Ballista_17.
Ballista_17(33,58) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 39
Spearmen_2(38,63) = Wounds : 282.5, Killed : 15, Exp : 0.

[cont.]

TR

Last Edited : Sunday, 27 March 2005 - 11:51

Your army, Falchioniers_4, was attacked by Luger : Archers_1.
Archers_1(40,55) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 53
Falchioniers_4(43,60) = Wounds : 278.8, Killed : 5, Exp : 0.


Your army, Falchioniers_4, was attacked by Luger : Archers_3.
Archers_3(41,55) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 63.6
Falchioniers_4(43,60) = Wounds : 392.1, Killed : 6, Exp : 0.


Your army, Falchioniers_4, was attacked by Luger : Heavy Cavalry_3.
Heavy Cavalry_3(42,59) = Wounds : 475.2, Killed : 2, Exp : 228
Falchioniers_4(43,60) = Wounds : 566.8, Killed : 10, Exp : 140.


Your army, Falchioniers_4, was attacked by Luger : Knights_7.
Knights_7(43,59) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 205.2
Falchioniers_4(43,60) = Wounds : 576.9, Killed : 9, Exp : 0.


Your army, Falchioniers_6, was attacked by Luger : Squires_5.
Squires_5(42,61) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 127.2
Falchioniers_6(43,61) = Wounds : 316.3, Killed : 6, Exp : 0.


Your army, Falchioniers_6, was attacked by Luger : Pikemen_5.
Pikemen_5(42,60) = Wounds : 777.9, Killed : 19, Exp : 346.8
Falchioniers_6(43,61) = Wounds : 1,020.0, Killed : 17, Exp : 218.5.


Your army, Pikemen_2, was attacked by Luger : Squires_6.
Squires_6(41,61) = Wounds : 86.5, Killed : 2, Exp : 243.8
Pikemen_2(41,62) = Wounds : 782.4, Killed : 20, Exp : 27.


Your army, Squires_1, was attacked by Luger : Heavy Cavalry_1.
Army, Squires_1, has been destroyed.
Heavy Cavalry_1(40,61) = Wounds : 42.7, Killed : 1, Exp : 277.02
Squires_1(40,62) = Wounds : 775.6, Killed : 18.


Your army, Pikemen_1, was attacked by Luger : Squires_8.
Squires_8(37,61) = Wounds : 326.4, Killed : 7, Exp : 333.5
Pikemen_1(37,62) = Wounds : 1,000.0, Killed : 25, Exp : 94.5.


Your army, Pikemen_6, was attacked by Luger : Squires_7.
Squires_7(36,61) = Wounds : 64.9, Killed : 1, Exp : 293.25
Pikemen_6(36,62) = Wounds : 1,000.0, Killed : 25, Exp : 13.5.

Your army, Falchioniers_4, was attacked by Luger : Knights_7.
Knights_7(43,59) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 324.8
Falchioniers_4(43,60) = Wounds : 793.9, Killed : 14, Exp : 0.

Your army, Ballista_6, was attacked by Luger : Ballista_14.
Ballista_14(97,102) = Wounds : 492.2, Killed : 16, Exp : 117.975
Ballista_6(88,104) = Wounds : 371.0, Killed : 13, Exp : 132.

Your army, Squires_1, was attacked by Luger : Heavy Cavalry_1.
Heavy Cavalry_1(40,61) = Wounds : 173.2, Killed : 0, Exp : 313.2
Squires_1(40,62) = Wounds : 859.6, Killed : 20, Exp : 0.

[cont.]

TR

Last Edited : Sunday, 27 March 2005 - 11:58

Here's the rest of it (i.e. again the balance of just one battle in this "Ultra campaign"):

Your army, Scouts_8, was attacked by Luger : Ballista_26.
Ballista_26(39,55) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 87.36
Scouts_8(42,62) = Wounds : 598.8, Killed : 20, Exp : 0.

Your army, Scouts_9, was attacked by Luger : Squires_5.
Squires_5(42,61) = Wounds : 608.7, Killed : 13, Exp : 272.844
Scouts_9(43,62) = Wounds : 993.4, Killed : 33, Exp : 175.5.

Your army, Pikemen_2, was attacked by Luger : Squires_6.
Squires_6(41,61) = Wounds : 277.0, Killed : 6, Exp : 304.75
Pikemen_2(41,62) = Wounds : 1,000.0, Killed : 25, Exp : 81.

Your army, Pikemen_1, was attacked by Luger : Ballista_25.
Ballista_25(34,55) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 60.03
Pikemen_1(37,62) = Wounds : 368.7, Killed : 9, Exp : 0.

Your army, Pikemen_1, was attacked by Luger : Ballista_17.
Ballista_17(33,58) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 60.95
Pikemen_1(37,62) = Wounds : 404.2, Killed : 10, Exp : 0.

Your army, Pikemen_1, was attacked by Luger : Ballista_1.
Ballista_1(33,55) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 17.595
Pikemen_1(37,62) = Wounds : 97.1, Killed : 3, Exp : 0.

Your army, Pikemen_5, was attacked by Luger : Ballista_2.
Ballista_2(37,59) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 46
Pikemen_5(38,62) = Wounds : 344.2, Killed : 8, Exp : 0.

Your army, Scouts_9, was attacked by Luger : Ballista_13.
Ballista_13(40,59) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 81.9
Scouts_9(43,62) = Wounds : 649.8, Killed : 21, Exp : 0.

Your army, Falchioniers_4, was attacked by Luger : Pikemen_5.
Pikemen_5(42,60) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 371.2
Falchioniers_4(43,60) = Wounds : 1,000.0, Killed : 16, Exp : 0.

Your army, Falchioniers_4, was attacked by Luger : Archers_1.
Archers_1(40,55) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 84.8
Falchioniers_4(43,60) = Wounds : 441.8, Killed : 8, Exp : 0.

Your army, Falchioniers_4, was attacked by Luger : Archers_3.
Archers_3(41,55) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 114.4
Falchioniers_4(43,60) = Wounds : 714.9, Killed : 11, Exp : 0.

Your army, Falchioniers_4, was attacked by Luger : Heavy Cavalry_3.
Heavy Cavalry_3(42,59) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 371.2
Falchioniers_4(43,60) = Wounds : 915.3, Killed : 16, Exp : 0.

Your army, Falchioniers_4, was attacked by Luger : Spearmen_3.
Army, Spearmen_3, has been destroyed.
Spearmen_3(42,60) = Wounds : 2547.8, Killed : 128
Falchioniers_4(43,60) = Wounds : 450.6, Killed : 7, Exp : 640.

Your army, Falchioniers_4, was attacked by Luger : Ballista_5.
Ballista_5(50,57) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 165
Falchioniers_4(43,60) = Wounds : 869.1, Killed : 15, Exp : 0.

Your army, Scouts_9, was attacked by Luger : Ballista_22.
Ballista_22(42,55) = Wounds : 0.0, Killed : 0, Exp : 53.742
Scouts_9(43,62) = Wounds : 393.6, Killed : 13, Exp : 0.

PS:
Again this is just one battle.
I need a rest.
If you want a serious opponent,
get into a 5 player "Ultra" that "Luger" is in.

TR

Last Edited : Sunday, 27 March 2005 - 12:08

I should have known that someone would actually try to read the foregoing defence messages ...
So now to whom it may concern:
the last few posts WEREN'T really intended to be read, they were only intended to show that the Ultras can be ACTION PACKED if you get a good opponent;
but if you want to read them ... have fun.

TR