PBEM question

[seathom]

I am excited to finally take part in a PBEM game of TEAW. Never done this before so I want to make sure we get it right. I am not the host, but I am still going to ask before I make a mistake on my first turn.

This is how we are starting. The host (WE) sent me an hst and ord file with his orders entered into it. These files are identical, he's just giving me a spare in case one got corrupted (they are zipped with RAR). He wants me to enter my oders (CP) and send that file off to a third player (EE) where he would enter his orders and then send it to the host to process turn. If this is correct, great, it saves time. However, I worry because the manual says to do it differently.

This, I believe, is how the manual says to do it. The host opens up the game (we are going with Grand Campaign and we already picked our plans and were entered by the host, so this is really turn 2) and takes his turn then checks the subfolder for the saved game. There should be one hst file and one ord file in that folder at this time. The manual says there needs to be one hst and one ord file for each active player so he'll need to make two copies of the hst and ord files and rename them to identify whose is whose (like pbemwe.hst, pbemcp.hst, pbemee.hst and corresponding ord files)? He sends each of the players their current hst file and they enter their orders respectively, send their own ord files back to host, he puts them in the subfolder, runs end turn then sends each player their own hst files (they would all be the same, just different names?) and he does his turn now (or right after hitting end turn) and his two opponents enter their moves in and repeat until I win (or should I say game ends?).

Is either way (with a probable correction if the latter method is correct) correct?

Thanks for your quick response. I am waiting to enter my orders in.

[Durk]

There is a simpler method for games involving 3 or more players.
The host sends out the hst file generated when he opened the game and saved.
This hst file is all any other player needs.
Then each player creates a folder in the saves folder for the game. Make your move. All players send their ords back to the host.

You do not want to rename the files except for the host as the file name is how the game recognizes the file relationships. But the host might wish to make a name unique to this game, as that makes it less confusing if you join in a second pbem game.

So the host only sends one file, the hst. All other players use this same hst and make their ords. Then they send the ords back to the host.

So you might say both methods are not the most efficient method to do pbem.

The exception to the host only sending the hst file is if the host has enabled the save replay. In that case, active nations will have a replay file.

[vicberg]

Yup. Durk is correct. Host sends you host file. You save your orders and send back to host.

[seathom]

Many thanks Durk and Vicberg. Therefore, obviously, the ord file I send back and the EE player's will not override each other and we don't have to worry about renaming the files! This is much easier, just emailed the host so that we are all on the same page. Hopefully, we'll do a concurrent AAR. I believe there is a free program that allows us to post some screenshots into the AAR; free is better, but I'll pay if I need to . Can anyone suggest a program because my Steam screenshots don't seem to work well.

[vicberg]

greenshot. its free

[seathom]

Thanks vicberg. I just tried out greenshot and it works. Boy, do I feel stupid on how easy it is to use. I just used it in a very short introductory AAR called Lieb Vaterland. It will be a great feeling to be more active on the forum rather than just commenting or asking questions. A whole new world just opened up for me