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[SuicideJunkie]

X coord is Right-upwards, and Y coord is straight upwards on the hex grid.
Heading zero is Upwards / North

When only two players are involved the only thing that matters is the distance between them, since the map is infinite (Only the nearby regions are actually drawn)
Y=+50 for P1, and Y=-50 for P2 would be fine.

For more players, P1 at (0,+50) facing S,  P2 at (-50, 0) facing NE, and P3 at (50,-50) facing NW puts them at the corners of a triangle.
You can print an ascii art map from the buildinitplr script as you're placing them to see relative positions.

To start a game with your friend, open a new game on PBW, and join that as noted in the google doc under "PBW Game Hosting"
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jwzRvWurVBRL8Eik9ZlgQfp1rz1gmnuSb9C1Vyfp7Cg

You can start a single player game just fine this way as well.  There won't be much action, but you can shoot at your own ships for target practice, and work out docking and welding and practical ship design.

Draxis:
Two 1v1v1s might be best, to avoid getting turn lag when one person is away.

[Draxis]

I'm trying to play with a friend. So any help with that would be appreciated.

Ah.  Then, first you create a server on the PBW site, the mod set to "stock THANCS v3", turn processing mode set to "After Last Player Upload Only".  Then, you go to the game's page - should be available if you click on your username at the top right of the PBW site - click "Invite Autohost" and choose SuicideJunkie. 

To make a map, open up "build_initial_plr.exe" or whatever it's called.  To add a player, enter 'A', set their 'L'ocation to (0,x) where x is a number from maybe 30-50 - it's the distance north from the map center.  Set their 'N'ame to whatever you want, their 'H'eading to south, and back out.  Add another player, only with a negative north-coordinate, and facing north.

To say which ships to give each player, enter 'P' from the main menu, and follow the instructions there.  You can't save an initial plr file and come back to it, so make sure you've designed the ships before you make the plr file.  Once that's done, save the initial plr file and upload it to the game page under "Host Setup File".  Once everybody has joined, go to the game pace and click "First Turn".

[The Scout]

Saving the PLR causes the program to close and I can't find where the PLR saved.

[Draxis]

It's <gamename>_0_0000.plr in the savegame directory.

[SuicideJunkie]

It shouldn't close when you save.
Run it from the command line so you can see what it says as it exits.

[The Scout]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

That's the error I get before it crashes.

[SuicideJunkie]

Sounds like you don't have a savegame folder -- just make a new folder and name it savegame.

I'll check the packages and see if I managed to lose that empty savegame folder from it.

[Draxis]

Alright, sorry for the delay; it seems that BluarianKnight has disappeared, and I've updated the game for that and some wreckage.  I'm ready to start; however, what is the .gam file that I'm supposed to upload to run the first turn?

[SuicideJunkie]

Don't upload a .gam, upload the admin PLR that was generated.
There should be an "Upload Host Setup File" button near the top right which will ask for the gamename_0_0000.plr file.

[Draxis]

I've done that, but when I click "first turn" I get:

Upload New Turn :: THANCS B12

Please note: If you have more than a .gam file in your savegame folder, make sure to ZIP/RAR/7z up all of the files for your game, and upload that archive. This includes combat and movement replay logs, turn stat files for each player, and so on.
Expecting file named: b12_1v1v1v1_1.gam
Turn File

    New turn file (.gam file or RAR/ZIP/7z archive):
        This field is required.

[SuicideJunkie]

The first turn button is for uploading a first turn for SE4/5/etc.
THANCS will have that part done automatically.

PBW might be waiting for the players to upload EMP files before autorolling from the admin PLR.
I'll start it manually.

[SuicideJunkie]

Ye gods!
Team Debris has almost as much money as all three of us combined!

So, for turn 1, you will want to hit 'P' for the politics menu, and give your two enemies a unique color each.
Other than that, it is time to save up for a scavenger drone or a scavenger killer.

[Toriad]

Hey guys, i'm not quite sure what to do at the moment. How do I generate the PLR file i'm supposed to upload? I've read the manual and haven't found the instructions yet (I might have skipped it altogether, even).

Found it, I hope I got it right! Here's a rundown of what I did:
-opened savegame file
-hit "P" and set every player a different color
-hit "F4" and updated the PLR file
-uploaded it on the PBW2 website

Is this correct?

[Draxis]

Yes.

[SuicideJunkie]

If you want to see the automated new turn notices, you can idle in the #spaceempires channel on irc.freenode.net
For future turns, you'll want to be designing a ship with a clamp and some decent engines to go and start grabbing loot.

'B' on the fabricator of your base will give you a list of all the EMP files in your THANCS folder, and list how many more turns before you can afford it.

PS:
If you are the last one to upload, wait just 3 minutes, and the new turn will be ready so you can be first to upload next time and keep it rolling fast.