I am curious as to how one goes about playing a team game...I see the option for Direct-Play Host and Direct-Play Caller in the Selection Dialog. Am I to understand that all players on a side will have to do their turn while the host is active? Then that completed turn is saved/ended and emailed to the host player of the other side?
Or should the host computer keep the game running at all times/scheduled times so that both teams can log in to do their turns?
If anyone with some experience with playing a team game could give me a quick run down on how to accomplish this, I would really appreciate it!
It's very easy.
First every team have to decide wich units are their command (i.e. Team A are Axis in Normandy and Team B are Allies. Team mate A1 will move axis units from Omaha to Cherburg and Team mate A2 wil move axis units from Omaha to Caen. Team mate B1 will move US command and Team mate B2 will move British and Canadians).
Team A move first, then Team B.
Team mate A1 move his units and save the game, then send the file to Team mate A2. Team mate A2 move his units, end the turn, and send the file to Team B.
Team B, both team mates, receive the file and can see the game replay. Then Team mate B1 move his units, then save the file and send it to team mate B2. Team mate B2 move his units, finish the turn and send the file to Team A.
Team A, both team mates, receive the turn and see the battle replay. Then Team mate A1 move his units, etc...
It's very simple. It's not perfect, but IMO is the best way to experience a cooperative operational game. I recomend that the team mates develop a team strategy, it can be a very simple plan or as detailed as they want, but it's funnier if you have a plan to know how your mate will act and to know how you have to use your command.
Also it needs a bit of communication betwen the team mates to let your mate to know how is it going and to, may be, change the plan if it don´t work, request for aid or reinforcements, request air support, etc.
I hope that it helps.
Regards.
Sergio hit on the key point, the turn is passed around among the team mates until done, being saved by each one before passing it along, as if one person was playing the whole thing.
You can use the direct play to do turns, but it does require all players to be on at the same time, for both sides. It is best suited for LAN play but does work online also - but for online it is best played solo for each side just due to time requirements.
A direct play game can be saved and resumed but does require all the players every time it is played, I think.
Rick
And here I thought it was some sort of secret. I have been messing about with the direct play trying to figure out how multiple people could play and save the game, but couldnt come up with anything!
Much easier/simpler to have the turn passed about! I suppose this way if one of the players has to go on vacation, the team mate can do the whole thing to keep the game flowing...