Alamaze - The Bare Essence

[admin]

Forget that big, thick, voluminous tome that is the Alamaze rulebook for a minute. Yes, it assuredly has its place in the grand overall scheme of things. That's not what I'm after at the moment, though. I'm after something else. Something specific.

Namely, what is the bare essence of what it takes to learn, play, and do well in Alamaze?

Forget all experience. I'm talking about for players who are brand, spanking new to the game.

I don't mean lengthy explanations. I'm talking about basic shorthand for the game.

Where is it? Somebody point me in the right direction, if you will.

Or can you? Or does it even exist in written form? A rulebook is an advanced level textbook. A rulebook frequent seeks to be a compilation of comprehensive knowledge. This is the exact opposite of what I'm looking for. I don't want explanatory text, just the lowest common denominator, where game information is concerned.

After all, if you want to grow the player base for the game rapidly, that's gonna require an influx of size of individuals who lack any familiarity, at all, with the game. In the span of time that it takes for an average individual to read through the entire rulebook one time, completely, how many new Alamaze prospects will fall by the wayside, without even finishing the rulebook? Do they come to play Alamaze, or to read about it? And on top of this, reading through the entire Alamaze rulebook just once isn't gonna yield mastery of the game's mechanics and nuances. There's 32 fricking kingdoms, after all.

It's fine to have ancillary documents. There's nothing, whatsoever, to have documentation for a game that is comprehensive in nature. But that's not the same thing as gearing documentation to the lowest common denominator. The lowest common denominator of understanding of Alamaze is those who possess the least degree of familiarization with the game. That is one of the chief barriers that you want to overcome. Otherwise, you'll bleed new recruits. Alamaze will hemorrhage them, assuming that Alamaze can attract them successfully in the first place.

Not everyone who games is a gaming savant. Most are ordinary people. Ordinary people are your single biggest potential pool of gamers to draw an Alamaze player base of size from.

Or is Alamaze intended to only be playable, really playable, by a particular sub-set of the overall gaming population?

How does one rapidly inculcate the basics of Alamaze in a large number of people who heretofore have no knowledge or understanding about anything, at all, relating to Alamaze?

How far is it to YOUR destination?


Imagine each page of a rulebook, or of any other game-related documentation, as a road sign on the road/path of a newcomer headed to Alamaze.

When you're driving down the Interstate, and you see a road sign similar to this one, how much of a relief is it to you, if you only have 293 more miles to go? That's not exactly a NEXT EXIT sign that you're looking at, you know.

Perspective matters. The perspective of a newcomer is not the perspective of the programmer. it is not the perspective of an experience Alamaze player. They see things differently. They lack your understanding and your familiarity. They've likely never been to Alamaze, before.

Instead of them driving 293 miles the slow way, how do we fly them there faster? How do we get them to where they want to go, Alamaze, without them taking long, slow boats to gaming China?

Once they have a player account created, they can quickly JOIN games of Alamaze. HOW do they SUCCEED, though, without an advanced degree in Alamaze rulebook?

[unclemike]

Ok, instead of Alamaze 293 (the number of pages in our wonderful rulebook :>), how about Alamaze 4?

That's all you really need to pick up on what to do in the game. At least to start with. Is reading a whopping 4 pages really too much to ask?

Where are these miraculous 4 pages you say, how about the section titled, "How To Play". Yes, it's there!

Mentioned in those 4 pages is a suggestion to play the Tutorial. So, how about playing the Tutorial again, though this time, actually follow the instructions. Don't issue a bunch of random orders then post nothing works in this game, but actually follow what is instructed to do. It will help.

Next, follow what it says in our Welcome message (automatically sent when a new player creates their Alamaze account), and play a 2-player Duel game.

After becoming familiarize with that (both the Tutorial and Duel games are free to play, so play them as many times as you like), try out a 5-player Primeval game where kingdoms are more spread out on the larger map. This allows the newer players to develop their kingdoms (emissaries for political purposes, agents for covert operations, wizards for higher-level spells, additional troops to strengthen militaries, etc.) without concern of being attacked by another kingdom early on. The 5-player Primeval is designed for that purpose in that newer players are afforded more time to learn about the game.

The Welcome message mentions this to ease the newcomer to Alamaze. In addition to these options, the new player can also watch Strylian's YouTube training videos.

So, there's a few options available here:

1) Welcome message informing new players what to do
2) Read the 4-page How To Play section in the rulebook
3) Play the Tutorial as many times as you like (it's free)
4) Watch Strylian's training videos
5) Get in touch with other players for advice (much like how you learned Chess from your sister)

Did you do any of those?

[admin]

Ok, instead of Alamaze 293 (the number of pages in our wonderful rulebook :>), how about Alamaze 4?

That's all you really need to pick up on what to do in the game. At least to start with. Is reading a whopping 4 pages really too much to ask?

Well, it would likely depend on what was on the four pages in question.

Where are these miraculous 4 pages you say, how about the section titled, "How To Play". Yes, it's there!

Well, I encountered that days ago. I certainly wouldn't describe it as a miraculous experience.

Mentioned in those 4 pages is a suggestion to play the Tutorial. So, how about playing the Tutorial again, though this time, actually follow the instructions. Don't issue a bunch of random orders then post nothing works in this game, but actually follow what is instructed to do. It will help.

Yes, I was playing the tutorial. I did that first. And second. Other players encouraged me to join a multiplayer game of Alamaze, though. So, I did. The encouragement of other players proved to be more persuasive than the dull solo tutorial.

Next, follow what it says in our Welcome message (automatically sent when a new player creates their Alamaze account), and play a 2-player Duel game.

I did. I've explained this, before, and more than once, if memory serves me correctly.

After becoming familiarize with that (both the Tutorial and Duel games are free to play, so play them as many times as you like), try out a 5-player Primeval game where kingdoms are more spread out on the larger map. This allows the newer players to develop their kingdoms (emissaries for political purposes, agents for covert operations, wizards for higher-level spells, additional troops to strengthen militaries, etc.) without concern of being attacked by another kingdom early on. The 5-player Primeval is designed for that purpose in that newer players are afforded more time to learn about the game.

Yes, I understand that you are adamant that I should do some things that I've already done, and that I should do things Mike's way. I am not convinced, yet, that Mike's way is either the only way, or the best way. Hence, I choose to try a different approach.

What is the current size of the Alamaze player community, with this over-reliance on the various things that you suggest? How is this approach working, as far as growing the overall player base? I seem to recall you lamenting about the size of the player base in previous e-mails that you had sent to me, a while back.

If what you suggest is THE best way to grow the player community, then why haven't they worked, whether individually or collectively?

The Welcome message mentions this to ease the newcomer to Alamaze. In addition to these options, the new player can also watch Strylian's YouTube training videos.

No one should assume that I'm not familiar with these things, or that I haven't already checked them out. For instance, are you referring the videos that Styrlian made which have received very few views? Are you referring to videos that he made overlaid with music, instead of audio narration?

This one has 19 views:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knJbFce8VWo

I clicked the thumbs down dislike option on it, previously.

This one with the god-awful annoying music has 144 views:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o46w4KaTcmg

This one with 79 views I haven't watched:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDRoqNM2nVg

This one with 36 views I haven't watched:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92Blo0w1JQQ

One of the last two videos I did click on, previously, but I didn't watch the whole thing.

According to YouTube, all of these videos were posted three years ago.

So, there's a few options available here:

1) Welcome message informing new players what to do
2) Read the 4-page How To Play section in the rulebook
3) Play the Tutorial as many times as you like (it's free)
4) Watch Strylian's training videos
5) Get in touch with other players for advice (much like how you learned Chess from your sister)

Did you do any of those?

Yes. Actually, I have. Your description of them as "a few options" is something that I can and do agree with. Not a lot of options, certainly, and from all appearances, none of them, individually or collectively, have succeeded in growing the player base of Alamaze significantly.

Strylian should be commended for his efforts. At least he tried - and his efforts actually extended past this handful of videos for Alamaze.
There's also this video, which has 453 views:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tX-9YB_KgE

I'm also aware of this Alamaze Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100021421106638

It has not been posted to in almost eight years.

There's also this Alamaze Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/alamazeonline

It has not been posted to in almost three years. If you go to this link on that page, you'll find that I asked a question there two years ago:
https://www.facebook.com/alamazeonline/p...0984842575

[admin]

3) Play the Tutorial as many times as you like (it's free)

How many times do you think that the average newcomer to Alamaze is going to play that underwhelming tutorial, before they skedaddle off elsewhere, never to return again?

And before they try that tutorial, they've got to be successfully persuaded to try it.

And before they can actually try it, they've got to create a player account, right? Can they try it as a guest account?

Before any real sense of commitment entrenches itself in newcomers, that they will bother with playing a tutorial over and over and over again, before they "get it," you do not enjoy, by default, any real attachment by them to what is, to them, an unknown gaming product.

And even if they play the tutorial, and even if they are willing to overlook or look past what they might easily perceive to be a boring tutorial, they can't even play with and experience all of what the game entails. So, what they encounter is going to be a watered down tutorial.

You want them to play the tutorial. They will, I think, be more inclined to want to taste the game. The interface is functional. It has its strong points. Yet, it's less intuitive than the interface that Fall of Rome had almost two decades ago.

I tried the old, original Alamaze, way back when, almost forty years ago. The Alamaze of today is light years ahead of that old version. More people played the old version than the new version, but a lot of what people play today simply didn't exist by then. Nowadays, entertainment distractions come a dime a dozen - or cheaper!

It isn't for my own sake that I am trying to sift through this whole ball of Alamaze wax. I'm more interested in what newcomers encounter than trying to maximize my ability to play Alamaze well, right out of the gate.

The rulebook, what portions of it that I have read, thus far, it's horrible. It has its merits. Yet, the rulebook in present form is never likely to be the real key to growing the player base to any significant degree. Granted, I could be wrong about that. Yet, if every last thing that you keep on wanting to direct me to is the key, the real key, then explain to me why the player base isn't growing faster that it's been growing for quite some time, now. Is it even growing fast enough to replace its losses, in the form of experienced players who love/loved the game, but who made the conscious decision to quit playing it?

[Windstar2]

Maximus, you probably don't want to hear from me, but have you considered having a prospective player to try a duel with an established Alamaze player? It is also free I believe. I did this several times before I got back into the swing of things, and it helped a lot. Yes, it is third cycle, but it has its good points as well. I am sure that there are many players who could be asked to do a duel with a new player to get their feet wet and a taste of what Alamaze is about.

[unclemike]

Maximus, this discussion topic started with, how to play the game. My post was in response to that subject.

If you want to change the topic to, how to increase the player base, then let's discuss that. The rulebook, tutorial, training videos, etc. isn't the reason why the player base isn't expanding, but rather, the lack of advertisement along with the failure of getting the word out to new players.

Our staff's recommendations on how to play the game has nothing to do with expanding the player base. What evidence do you have to the contrary? Has anyone ever mentioned that the rulebook and/or tutorial session is too complicated and as a result, they refused to play Alamaze? Nope. Just the opposite actually, we've received compliments on having a tutorial and such for newbies to learn the game.

How about providing some useful and constructive recommendations to the present and/or new owners of Alamaze to increase awareness of this game? That's the issue regarding expanding the player base, not that our tutorial is unexciting (show me one that isn't btw) and makes people leave. On this secondary topic within this thread...

[Ry Vor]

I agree that a new player, not being led by an experienced player is likely to get lost without a lot of determination.

As Mike says, it's not like we have ignored this problem, producing  the various tools listed, and the thing experienced players really wanted most: the complete rules, everything, all together.

A new Quick Start Guide would be helpful, and we didn't include a Sample Starting Turns, with all the strategic explanation of why the orders were chosen, the relevant results and explanation.  Going through two turns would show results of political actions along with the discussion of why for example, three nobles were sent to the local city, see a new spell list for Magic Research, see a battle against a PC and maybe have one staged vs. a group.

Meanwhile, scrolling down the list of everything on the Rules page, you can find the Alamaze Training videos by Strylian, which are YouTube videos that may be quite helpful for those bored by reading or who learn better through video.

As said, I don't think I have done even an acceptable, let alone great, job of moving a visitor to the Alamaze website through the steps needed to become a "functioning" Alamaze player, set to start accumulating glory.

[RELLGAR]

The best way to learn Alamze from my experience is a team game that communicates via voice and shares turns. I'm sure most players who have played ina team game would agree. Or learning with a mentor or experienced ally by voice communication. Sending emails and sharing turns as allies is another way, but takes to long.

I've been a mentor to several players and believe it was very successful in New players learning and enjoying Alamaze. I will continue to help as my time allows.

[Calidor]

The best way to learn Alamze from my experience is a team game that communicates via voice and shares turns. I'm sure most players who have played ina team game would agree.  Or learning with a mentor or experienced ally by voice communication.  Sending emails and sharing turns as allies  is another way, but takes to long.  

I've been a mentor to several players and believe it was very successful in New players learning and enjoying Alamaze.  I will continue to help as my time allows.

100% this.

[gkmetty]

Maximus Dominus - I apologize if this will come across as mean but I have watched for several weeks as you filled our forum with criticisms and complaints. First, how could you possibly think you could participate in a game of Alamaze without reading the rules? You made the statement that your favorite PBM game is Hyborian Wars. Did you play that game without reading the rules. I have played Hyborrian Wars, it was enjoyable but it was hard for a new player to grasp. The forum was no where near as responsive and that was with many more individuals signed up for a game. The depth of Hyborian Wars was not close to Alamaze.

My experience with Hyborian Wars was less then convenient. I submitted a request to play in a game and 8 months later I received a reply that one of my three choices would be available in an upcoming game. It took another two to three months for the game to actually start. Then I submitted a turn every three weeks. My game lasted over a year with turns processed every four to six weeks. It was my first game and I was not good. I imagine the game continued for a very long time after I was eliminated. So it took a year and a half to process the number of turns I complete in one month of playing Alamaze. After an investment of close to $150 I was eliminated by an experienced player.

The rules for Hyborian Wars that I received were 45 pages long and I received another 10 loose pages of errata, maps, rules for submitting your turn via email, etc. I read every one of those pages two or three times before submitting my first game turn. The rules were not nearly as comprehensive as the rule book for Alamaze. Even after reading the rules multiple times I had many questions and only a small feel for the game.

In your last post you asked how to learn Alamaze without reading the rules. The answer is you cannot. Alamaze is a complicated game it has aspects that no other PBeM game has. If you are looking for a less comprehensive game then you need to look elsewhere. If you are looking for a well designed, well implemented, strategic game, with a small but active user community, then Alamaze is a game you can enjoy. As a bonus Alamaze is one of the, if not the the most cost effective games, on the market. I have not played all the current PBeM games but I have not seen one advertised that gives you 15 -17 turns per month for $20.

You keep avoiding the answer that any player of PBeM gamer would give you, READ THE RULES. You will find that it will cut down on your mistakes and make the game much more enjoyable.