PBEM, I am just not getting it

[Whitman]

It must be me, I cannot HOST a PBEM. I follow the directions below to the letter, and it seems to not work. I think it is possible it is not all me, but I just do not grasp the mechanics, so I do not know how to problem solve if it is the opponents fault.

With that said, here are the steps. Please, if a single tiny step is missing or wrong, please let me know. Thank you in advance

PBEM steps
1. STEP 1 = HOST
1.1. Launch game program.
1.2. In the Options menu, select “enable turn compression.”
1.3. Select “New Game.”
1.4. Choose campaign or scenario from menu.
1.5. Select your side.
1.6. After entering the game, do a "save as" and name the game for easy recognition.
1.6.1. Do NOT rename this directory or any of the files outside of the game.
1.7. Do nothing else in the game -- Exit game without saving.
1.9. From the new save game directory, there should be only two files, both .TRN files. Send the opponent his .TRN file (USA or CSA).
2. STEP 2 = OPPONENT
2.1. Copy the .TRN to the C:\Program Files\AGEod's American Civil War\ACW\Saves\ directory. You can create a new sub-directory for the game if you wish.
2.2. Launch game program.
2.3. In the Options menu, select “enable turn compression.”
2.4. Select “load Game.”
2.5. Choose the correct game from the menu.
2.6. Complete all of your orders.
2.7. Save and exit game.
2.9. From the save directory, send your new .ORD file to Host.
4. STEP 4 = HOST
4.1. Copy opponent’s ORD file into saved game folder or PBEM game folder if you renamed it.
4.2. Launch game program.
4.3. Select “Load Game” and choose the correct game.
3.3. Issue all of your orders.
4.5. Click “End Turn.”
4.6. Exit the game
4.7. Send opponent new .TRN file.
5. Repeat Steps 2-4.
5.1. If prompted when copying files to folder, write over previous files.

[Hobbes]

Hi Whitman, can you describe in more detail what seems not to work?
Do you see the paperclip symbol to the left of your opponents turn before you load? Has the size and timestamp on your opponents file changed?

Try a test PBEM against yourself and see if that works. It could well be a problem with what your opponent is doing. Is this their first PBEM?
Make sure they are not hitting end turn before sending back the file (I have experienced a few oddities like this ).

Cheers, Chris

[gchristie]

Not turning off the AI can also be a problem. Think both players need to do so, but possibly only host.

[Pocus]

some step are unnecessary (so the list is longuer than it should) but it should be ok. What is not working exactly? As Hobbes says, when you add the ORDers file of your opponent and load your turn, do you see the paperclip for your opponent's turn or not?