Hello,
What are the defacto game settings for all new Sysop's to live by. More specifically I'm interested in what the more tenured sysop's believe is the universal settings for 5,10,20k games. A example would be best Port Regen? In WoW we call the standard "specs" or settings cookie cutter, so I guess I'm asking what average run of the mill settings work best for newer sysop's like myself. I do not want to Open my TWGS with all the wrong settings.

-Kaus

Well, every player prefers different type games.  Some prefer turn games, some prefer unlimited turn, some prefer red (evil) player settings, some prefer blue (good) player settings.  The only thing I can tell you that you should know as a new sysoop, is not to overload your server with games with a bunch of gold aliens.  Too many aliens will cause lag, CPU spikes, and database errors from an exploded mail.dat file.
 

 
To me there are a few things i look for.....
Aliens YUCK dont want them dont need them and most Servers get bogged down.by the messages they create......
 
Delays...i am not a big fan of any delays except mybe ship delay in its smallest amount. ( this is because with no ship delay smal ships move atthe same speed as big ships which to me doesnt seem right) Steal Delay and etherprobe delay are both sure fire ways to turn me away from a game...
Most importantly Lately it seems more and more that if u USE someone elses "known" eidts...ans say  advertise..Subzero edits at Kaus's server...and teams get together who know those edits and they show up to find u have chnaged the things that didnt make sense to you...This REALLY pisses people off,,,,If you do it just disclose it upfront and you'll be ok....
I also prefer small turn games 500-900 turns MBBS is also what i prefer......But i doubt very many people would play those settings.....
 
Todays players like Unlimiteds Fast Paced Games.
Even our Real turns Players cant Take a Game 4 or 5 months anymore. They call it Turltling if a game isnt over in sooner then later...This is my experience with todays players..
What kind of server do you want to be Kaus?
The most popular servers are servers that offer protection type games (( Truces Games ))  Granted those same servers offer non truce games but the the truce games are where the ppopularity is at...
This creates a whole new set of problems..endorcing truces fairly and blah blah blah  very few sysops can actually do it , And i envy NONE of THEM....
Good Luck

I have to echo SG's post with one exception.  Delays of any kind drive me crazy - just simulated lag and since time is a premium for me I stay away from those settings.
The part about changing edits is another major irritant since a lot of players see a game bang and know the edits.  They think "cool, banging a starwars, sub zero etc.. I like those settings" and then find the settings changed.

               / Promethius / Enigma / Wolfen /

"A man who has no skills can be taught, a man who has no honor has nothing."

Just remember the more unlimiteds you do the more rebangs you will have to do as most unlims only last a few hours