Multiplayer II Game Manual

Multiplayer II Manual
Overview Terrain Cities Economy Units Combat Diplomacy Government Technology Wonders Buildings Hotkeys

MANUAL VERSION: MP2.1 "Avant-Garde" and MP2.2 "Brava"

To find the most current version of MP2 click here: Multiplayer II Navigation Page

• Multiplayer II "Evolution" is currently available to play on the web .
• Multiplayer II Summary compares Multiplayer II to Multiplayer I
• (The Design Log of all changes, explanations, and effects on balance is here: Multiplayer II Design Log)
• (For what to expect in Game Play differences when upgrading, click here: Multiplayer II Game Play Overview)

Multiplayer II "Evolution" Manual

NOTE: This manual exactly describes MP2.1 "Avant-Garde". It also serves also as a manual for MP2.2 "Brava" because version 2.2 is exactly identical to this manual except for the small changes detailed here. These rulesets are accessible with the console command lines: /rules mp2-ag or /rules mp2-brava

The Multiplayer-Evolution ruleset (MP2) is a modernized expansion of the Multiplayer branch, committed to:

1. Faithfully obey the original spirit and goals of the multiplayer ruleset.
2. Provide a Classic-based ruleset that finally utilizes years of new feature development. (Development advances previously not applied because the ruleset was considered "classic" or "finished")
3. Modernize classic-style Multiplayer games to full current potential.
4. Greatly improve diversity of strategy, depth of tactics, playability.
5. Patch and balance issues that years of Multiplayer play had exposed.
6. Allow AI or human opponents: You can practice in Single Player, then play against other humans.
7. Be a Version II, an expanded and whole new game to learn, enjoy, and master.
8. Be greatly improved, more balanced, more enjoyable, more playable, and absolutely better.

Games using Multiplayer II Ruleset are currently hosted at freecivweb.org.)

Overview

In Multiplayer games you compete against AI or human opponents. You found cities, use them to build a military and economy, and attempt to create an empire that emerges victorious. All players begin at the dawn of history with a handful of units - typically with three workers, three settlers, and one or more explorers in 4000 BC.

At the start, your map will be blank. Your units will travel and discover the oceans and continents of the world. Players may share their maps by arranging a pact. Note that your map is only the record of the terrain and cities your units last encountered in an area — you will not learn about changes in an area until your units visit again. You can't observe the movement of enemy units out of sight of your units and cities.

The game is played in turns. Players move their units and take actions before, simultaneous to, and after each other during the turn. That is, any player may make some or all of their moves at any time during the turn. At the beginning of each turn, all units are assigned movement points, which are spent as they move and act. Using up movement points early in the turn may leave a unit without the ability to respond if an opponent approaches later in the turn. Units cannot carry extra movement points into the next turn.

Criteria for Victory

Achieving success requires a balance between economic expansion, military strength, and technological development. You develop all three in concert to both expand and successfully defend your empire. In a Massive Multiplayer world with many more players than a normal Freeciv game, you may want to think less in terms of a "sole winner", though that's certainly possible! Surviving at all is the main goal. Finishing in the top ranks of surviving nations is considered a worthy achievement. With so many other nations on the planet, those who invest in diplomatic affairs tend to excel over isolationists.

• You or your alliance are declared the winner by default once the last city and unit of every active non-allied civilization is destroyed OR all active non-allied nations surrender or concede.
• If Space Race is enabled, you may launch a spacecraft destined for Alpha Centauri; the first civilization whose craft reaches the star wins. (This may create some tension between former allies.)
• In the absence of these means to determine victory, the Game Master may use common sense to deem when the game is over. Surviving alliances/nations are ranked by score and those with the highest scores are the winner(s). For example,
  • The game has reached a place where an alliance or nation has obviously won.
  • The game has reached a world-wide condition where continued play is no longer feasible or reasonable.
  • All active players in the set of nations with a mathematically reasonable chance to win, request the game is ended and/or no longer wish to play.
  • etc.

Variations and Game Settings

In Freeciv there are four rules levels:

1. Hard-coded rules - these are invariable unless a hard-coded change is made on the server.
2. Rules from the ruleset - these are defined by the ruleset chosen at game start.
3. Rules from server options - these are adjustments to various settings like map size, diplomacy, starting units, space race, etc.
4. Rules from the Game Master's pre-game declarations. For example,
   • Games with limitations such as the Expert Plus One format.
   • Games with special rules/limitations to enact a type of scenario
   • etc.

Next: Terrain