Multiplayer Request - Anonymous Option

[pedal2000]

Hey all,

I was hoping to bring my request to the developers eye for consideration! My friends and I are already planning our first glorious galaxy and we are very excited with the possibilities!

One option though we would greatly appreciate consideration for is the ability to make ourselves 'anonymous'. What we mean is the option that our 'true names' be hidden behind our race/empire names. So as an example, rather than appearing as "Tom" or "Pedal2000" I might instead appear as "Blorg" on all in-game options. From the Host-Screen to Diplomatic/Score screens.

We are all casual players, but even we have our grudges! It would be amazing if we could enter each game with a 'fresh' slate, uncertain who we were dealing with as we make alliances etc through the game!

Civilization 4, for those familiar with it, had a similar option and we loved it greatly. It just adds a lot of tension but also excitement to multiplayer!

 

[QueenoftheIsles]

Sounds interesting, it could be a useful concept as long as everyone agreed to it, could add to the "wonder" of going out there into the unknown stars.

You would obviously have to be secretive out of game too about who you are playing and not be using voice chat or something...

 

[Alpha2518]

Go a step further and make choice like homeworld, FTL travel, and starting weapons, etc also secret.

 

[pedal2000]

Yeah, in Civ 4 we use to talk on Voice Chat, but any game related discussion had to happen in game under our assumed names. It made it very tense when you're wondering if your neighbour is the best player in the group, or another person of your skill level!

It also helps the roleplay element significantly, especially in a game like this! Much easier to believe the Blorg just want to be friends, if you don't know the man piloting them is the genocidal maniac from last game!

@Alpha, that would be great! In my personal (ideal) world, the only information shared would be the actual Race name in the host lobby as I don't really see a way around that.

 

[PAwleus]

It would also be nice if one is even not sure which players are humans and which are AIs for as long as possible

 

[Helsync]

tbh I even want our government/ethos to be hidden too ;p I mean, unless you sent spies to their planets how do you know their policies? would add a bit more unpredictability to the kinds of encounters we have rather than saying 'oh, they're xenophobe militants with a militaristic dictatorship... they're obviously dangerous'. Its a real kick in the teeth if you want to be a little more crafty in your interactions.

 

[DanJonMin]

Emphatically yes please. Half the reason boring meta game exists in regular groups is because you can often guage the most and least competent players and plan on the order of elimination well in advance of the session even starting.

The idea of a werewolf-esque game, where nobody knows who's who would be endlessly entertaining, so long as you could get trustworthy players who won't just blab as soon as they meet one another!

The opportunity for players to behave as shamelessly as they desire without being villainised (either because of ethos or otherwise) would also be fantastic. Too many EU4 games turn into hug boxes.

 

[The Danish King]

It could also open up for people to act like assholes, say, in a big "open" game. Join the game, ruin an empire and then leave. Noone would know who it was.

 

[TheNitram]

REALLY good idea. Make it feel like you are really exploring space and not playing some kind of space chess.

 

[DanJonMin]

It could also open up for people to act like assholes, say, in a big "open" game. Join the game, ruin an empire and then leave. Noone would know who it was.

I expect you'd still get the 'So and So has left the game' notification, you just wouldn't be told what he was playing. I imagine in the scenario you describe you'd be able to work it out, although in open games there's not a lot you can do to stop people doing this even without anonymity.

For organised games I find that those not genuinely interested in committing in the long term tend not to apply, although there's always a few bad eggs.

 

[Veracin]

It would also be nice if one is even not sure which players are humans and which are AIs for as long as possible

Well that won't work with the AI personality displaying what kind of player the AI might be, like Democratic Crusader or Hegemonic Imperialist. I wonder what the multiplayer lobby looks like now, cause it may be that you can only see what species someone selects before you start the game at least.

 

[CurseUppl]

If they added this (which I would like also) you'd still know if the player is a person or AI when you conduct diplomacy, since the AI would respond instantly to deals. Of course if there are many human players and you don't know who is who, then it doesn't matter.

As for the AI, maybe if they added in a delay when considering deals, to emulate a human player thinking. The time could be anywhere from 5 seconds to 20-30 seconds, regardless of game speed. Of course this option would only occur if you had "anonymous empires" ticked in the first place.

 

[Brian Bóroimhe]

If they added this (which I would like also) you'd still know if the player is a person or AI when you conduct diplomacy, since the AI would respond instantly to deals. Of course if there are many human players and you don't know who is who, then it doesn't matter.

As for the AI, maybe if they added in a delay when considering deals, to emulate a human player thinking. The time could be anywhere from 5 seconds to 20-30 seconds, regardless of game speed. Of course this option would only occur if you had "anonymous empires" ticked in the first place.

It doesn't.
There already is a delay between sending a diplomatic proposal to the AI and receiving their response.

 

[moglus]

It doesn't.
There already is a delay between sending a diplomatic proposal to the AI and receiving their response.

Yeah but if someone takes questionably long to answer, or misses the deal, you'd know that they're human...

 

[CurseUppl]

It doesn't.
There already is a delay between sending a diplomatic proposal to the AI and receiving their response.

Didn't know that. Thanks!

 

[Zomgponies]

I approve of this idea.

 

[The Lord Drake]

I 17th this motion!

 

[pedal2000]

It could also open up for people to act like assholes, say, in a big "open" game. Join the game, ruin an empire and then leave. Noone would know who it was.

I would (personally) just not use it in a big open game. If I am playing with strangers then it isn't a big deal because they're effectively anonymous anyways - and if I am playing with friends that is where it shines! (or, at least, the same group regularly.)

 

[cedi]

I agree, this might make for really fun games with a good group of people.

A race shuffle mode miht also be interesting. (In this mode all the players' races get shuffled. So I might(or mit not) switch races with another player.)

 

[King Travis]

really great idea