Multiplayer II Game Manual

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

• Multiplayer II "Evolution" is currently available to play on the web .
• Multiplayer II Summary compares Multiplayer II to Multiplayer I
• (For a Design Log of all changes with explanations and effect on balance, click 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

The Multiplayer-Evolution ruleset (MP2) is a modernized "Expansion Pack" for the Multiplayer Ruleset. The ruleset is committed to:

1. Faithfully obey the original design goals of the multiplayer ruleset, so that it may keep the name and more importantly, actually be multiplayer rules.
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 grow your skills in Single Player games, then play against other humans competitively with the same rules.
7. Offer a new release, 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 simultaneous to each other 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 of far more players than a normal Freeciv game, you may want to adjust yourself to not thinking 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.

• You or your alliance are declared the winner by default once the last city and unit of every other non-allied civilization is destroyed OR 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 other means to determine victory, the Game Master may rank surviving civilizations. The ones with the highest scores are the winners by ranking.

Variations and Game Settings

In Freeciv there are three 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.

Next: Terrain