Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

A notice about the fatherland file Tauren; you may already be aware of this, but I guess repeating something never hurts. The problem of this file is that you cannot entrust it to the players, but it is the most important file for a game: the fatherland file can recreate the .trn files, and allows the hosting of the game.

So, you should back up the fatherland files somewhere, in case of a hard drive crash or some such (granted, I am paranoid). A FTP somewhere or a floppy/CD-Rom would do the trick; alternatives include sending it to my own backup mail on Gandalf's server (but that may defeat part of the point in having an host not involved in the game), or perhaps even encrypting the file. Gandalf is also working on a small upload routine, so that may be another solution.

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Attached to this post are the Inland modified map file and the Yarnspinners mod (for the independent nation). You should not even think of opening the map file, as it is plain awful, with my added commands carefully breaking the nicely organised map file from Illwinter. Still, if you insist on checking the file, you will see that it makes the following changes:
- The province 136 is where Atlantis shall start (the independent nation), and it has no neighbours on the map. Four victory points are given on this province, ensuring that the province is clearly indicated, so that nobody sends teleporting troops on that province by mistake.
- Atlantis starts with 45 Initiates of the Deep, all able to cast the Wish spell (Wish has become a level-1 Water Spell, available only to Atlantis; this will be removed after the first couple of turns).
- All provinces in the map start with 125 PD (the maximum). There was actually a command allowing to do that, but it requires setting it on all the provinces. The independent nation will not have to add that PD.

The independent nation should put all their Initiates casting a monthly wish for gems (visa or gems will work), and that should give them some 1400 astral pearls or so. Two or three turns with this schedule should be more than enough to have full coffers; once it is done, Tauren should let us know so that the mod can be updated (Wish will then become a regular spell again). 44 Initiates are probably a bit of overkill, but I had expected them to wish for money as well as for gems, before I found that command to increase PD everywhere.

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Should all players download your updated map file?

That sort of technical stuff is not my forte. So, please feel free to dumb it down for me. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Only the host needs the .map file when creating a game; all you need is the .tga file, and since Inland comes from the game, you already have that.

I have attached the archive of all three mods to this post: download the zip file, and extract the three mods in your /mods repertory. You should enable Zen Pretenders Mod 2.01 before creating your Pretender; the other mods shouldn't be needed for creating a Pretender, but feel free to enable them regardless, as it cannot hurt. Once the game is started, the game will handle mods on its own.

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Merci, mon ami.

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Keep in mind Zen's spell mod removes wish (I am working on a complete readme).

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

De rien Pasha. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Perhaps we will use the Spell mod if a readme is out before the game starts (the lack of any documentation was the main argument against the Spell mod).

If it is the case, Zen's mod will be slightly altered I guess, unless the YS-wish mod takes precedence. Hmm, let me check what happens if those two mods are enabled. Zen's mod beats YS mod, so the Spells mod will have to be altered, at least for a few turns.

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

So, am I still supposed to be hosting this?
If so, send your Gods and the modified map file to:
The_Tauren[AT]Comcast[DOT]net

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

The revolution will be wiki'ed...

I've been playing around with MediaWiki (same one as Wikipedia uses), with some help from Sedna, and I have a website that will be able to host it eventually. Currently you have to go to a temporary URL, which will only work as long as my router behaves:

Test wiki

There are some sample pages up using turns from Yarnspinners 1, showing how various race and turn pages could look. Input, as always, is greatly appreciated. There's even a little discussion tab at the top for our adoring fans to leave us love mail.

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

I have just sent you a mail about hosting Tauren.

The Wiki is lovely Puffyn, though I must admit I do not like the sample map for turn 1: it looks too much like the squids' invasion scheme. Nasty critters.

Otherwise, there appears to be a problem with some links, but that's only because the Wiki is on a temporary site (going from "per nation" to "per turn" doesn't work without switching "alea.local" with the IP).

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Oops, sorry about the bum links. I hope to have the real site up tonight, maybe tomorrow, so it should be working properly soon...

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Wow! Our own Wikki!!! Now, I can brag to all my friends!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

This is going to be epic!

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

This is extremely cool...thanks for getting it set up so quickly! Do let us know when it is ready for us to start our editing.


As one of the people who questioned the spell mod, and,I believe, the least experienced player here, let me say that I am fine with the spell mod as-is, if everyone else wants it. I know how to read a mod file, it's just a pain.

As an aside, 'djo' are initials and need not be capitalized.

Now I need to go think up more character names...

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

The Yarnspinners2 wiki is now at it's official site:

yarnspinners.improbable.org

We're still looking for a name, and a nicer logo, but please start playing around with it and post requests, problems, or questions.

There may still be some peculiarities with the caching (we're working on it). If your edits don't show up on the main pages, try clicking on the "Refresh Page" link at the top. Also, image uploads probably don't work yet, although we'll have that working soon.

The structure will probably be that the official TurnX pages are editable only by admins (puffyn and I). These pages are just shells which include the text from individual yarns, which are currently editable by everyone (no log-in required). People should respect the sanctity of each other's yarns and not modify them. Yarns can link to other subpages, describing characters, etc. I think we will allow these to be edited by anyone also. Thus, if you wish to make a page about a character in your empire, don't be surprised if someone else edits that page to include less flattering things about him or her. Similarly for a dispute province (imagine if India and Pakistan could both edit an article about the Kashmir). The version-tracking in the wiki software will allow you to recover old versions if you wish.

The individual yarns will likewise be conglomerated into individual race pages, where the respective owners may wish to add other flavor, descriptions, or whatnot.

As a concrete example- editing the file MarignonTurn0 will cause the same new text to appear on both Marignon and Turn0 (it may be necessary to refresh page to see the changes).

Okay- have fun.

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Thank you, that page is cool http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

The Spells mod now has a readme file (direct link is here ), thanks to Quantum Mechani. So unless someone strongly objects, the Spells mod will be used.

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Alright.

If you still have room for one more I'll take whatever nation is left.

I was making sure my life would allow me enough time to play and do yarns and it was trying it's damnedst to not allow it. But it's now been wrangled into obediance.

Rarg!

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Welcome aboard Zen! Claimed nations are as follow (feel free to pick any that is not currently played):

- PashaDawg: T'ien Ch'i
- Griffin: Ulm
- The Panther: Man
- Sedna: Marignon
- Djo: Vanheim
- Puffyn: C'tis
- Alneyan: Pangaea
- Quantum Mechani: Pythium

We are likely to play on Inland though, so you may wish to avoid picking an aquatic nation. 9 players on Inland should still be fine; a shame there isn't any wraparound map between Inland and Orania in size.

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

I can't follow what this game is supposed to be but I'd like to be on as Machaka.

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Oops, looks like I removed the description of the game by mistake. Yarnspinners is a game whose main purpose is to allow for the writing of stories (or yarns, as they are called). If you would like to see an example, please check the first Yarnspinners thread, especially the later posts on this thread.

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

I'll take Ermor then.

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Welcome aboard Zen. The inquisition was getting nervous that we wouldn't have many undead to smite. This is an unexpected surprise.

And you too DrPraetorious, when you figure out what the game is about and decide to join (or not).

So far only puffyn, djo and I have added anything to the wiki. I encourage more people to play around with it: yarnspinners.improbable.org. Really, you can't break anything... much.

As far as the ultimate fate of this thread- what will become of it? Would people be okay posting their threads both here and in the wiki? We should keep some presence here so that new visitors have a chance to discover the game- at the least, I can post a plain text version of everyone's yarns here every three turns.

Oh- I don't think I ever responded in support of 5 pearls per yarn. I agree that such a reward is more commensurate with the effort of yarning. I assume there will be no hard and fast deadline for yarns, although obviously some effort should be made to keep the narrative concurrent with the game. But a "late" yarn garners the same reward, encouraging people to make up missed ones.

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

I second & third this. I had to restrain myself from playing around with it too much at work today.

It's easy to get started. Click "edit" on one of your pages and go to town!

-- basic editing summary is at http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Editing
-- each page has a discussion page attached, if you just want to add a comment (like a bboard/forum); click "discussion", then "+" at the top
-- toolbar does basic formatting for you
-- easy to rollback changes if you mess up
-- interested in how something is done? click "edit" on whatever page and see, then "cancel" without changing anything; it's like "view source" in html
-- (optional) register and login and you can automatically sign your posts


Try it, you'll like it.

Or, pour encourager les autres, maybe Sedna or puffyn could put in a "sandbox" page, like other wikis have, for letting people play with the editing in a place where it doesn't matter?

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Pas de problem. Ya'll can play in the new sandbox to your heart's content.
Sandbox

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

There are more of us than you might think...

But I would like to extend a (living) hand of friendship to the inquisition. Sunny Vanheim welcomes everyone! We have humans; tall, beautiful magical beings; and the dead--something for everyone! Spend your tourist gold in Vanheim; better restaurants than Ulm, lower prices than Pythium!

This message was brought to you by the Vanheim small businessman's association.

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

I am vaguely planning to post turns in both places. The DVD extras, so to speak, I will only put on the wiki.

Perhaps important game announcements could go here and on the wiki front page?

If there are wiki-phobic folks out there, I or someone else could easily copy turn posts from this thread to the wiki.

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Is that your dog, djo? Wicked cute, cute, cute!

You're in New England? Which state?

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Dusty belongs to my parents, but as I'm an appartment dweller who can't have pets, I think of him as mine, too. Dusty is a Brittany who enjoys long walks outdoors and hunting pheasants. His other hobbies include eating and sleeping.

I currently live and work near Boston. Originally, I'm from western Mass. (5 Colleges area--the "Happy Valley").

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

All right, I think I might be getting the hang of this. I did manage to post my Turn 0 yarn, prelude to the glorious battle before us...

Now all I have to do is actually go make Selena, Great Enchantress, into a real Pretender.

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

The message I got today, when I tried to edit the main page (or any page for this matter). It happens whether I am logged in or not. I hope it is only a temporary glitch, due to my ISP giving me a particular IP for now.

I cast my ballot for Djo's suggestion, "The raveling".

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Never mind, it all seems to be working fine again. I guess that was just another prank; my computer seems to love jokes, such as "preventing user from going to most sites" or "making user think computer single-handedly prevented a crash from happening, a crash so severe it would have destroyed the world, had it not been stopped".

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

I have not forgotten about the game. I will use Sunday morning to get my act together!!

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Help Me! [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Cold.gif[/img] http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rant.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rant.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rant.gif

I have been playing with the Wiki, but I can't seem to get my Turn 0 to post properly. It seems like edits don't happen, and when you go to T'ien Ch'i, the turn does not display (but it shows up if you look at all of my "exciting posts."

What am I doing wrong?

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Hey PawshaDawg,

Hit the "Refresh" button at the top of the wiki. (Or copy one over from another page, like the main page, if it somehow got erased.) If you are a registered user, you can also turn off caching in your preferences, so each page will be forced to reload when new changes are made.

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

I had something like this happen to me yesterday. I edited VanheimTurn0, it showed up quickly in the "master" Turn0, but didn't show up in Vanheim until later (10 minutes?), no matter how I refreshed or cleared my caches. I suggest, be patient. If you see nothing after, say, 20 minutes, maybe we should worry.

Right now (10:40 am EDT), I see what you describe: prose on master Turn0, but not on master Tien Chi page.

My suspicion is that it has something to do with how the server picks up pages that it "includes" in other pages. The nation Turn0 pages are "included" in the master Turn0 via a wiki command (eg, "{{VanheimTurn0}}").

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Yeah, djo was right, your include got erased somehow. I put one back in, and voila: turny goodness.

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Aha, I didn't click edit to check. Stupid (or more likely, lazy) me...

For those who haven't wiki'd yet: when you edit your nation page, the lines that do the magic are these:


== Turn0 == <----- creates the heading
{{:VanheimTurn0}} <----- includes your turn 0 page

[{{SERVER}}{{localurl:{{NAMESPACE}}:VanheimTurn0|ac tion=edit}} Edit this yarn]
[[Turn0|See all of Vanheim's exciting posts]] <----- adds edit/view links


...although on looking at the link, and those on a few other nation pages, it looks like they don't quite do what I thought they'd do. "See all of xx's posts" ought to point to the nation page, n'est-ce pas? Probably ought to be:

[[Vanheim|See all of Vanheim's exciting posts]]

Was that the intent? If so, I can fix mine, and a few others...that's the beauty of wiki; easy for everyone to pitch in and clean things up.

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Ooops... the text is wrong. On the race pages, I meant it to say, "See all yarns for Turn0", etc, so you can easily get back to the turn pages, where the link says "See all of race's yarns".

But yes, that is the joy of wiki: I don't have to fix all of my own mistakes if other people are happy to do it for me http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

To be complete, the other thing you'll see on your nation page is "__NOEDITSECTION__", which means, no edit links for each section. Notice how the main page *does* have those links.

The table of contents comes along magically if you have enough sections.

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Hmmmm... I am still not sure what to do. The text got updated. However, it does not show up unless I "refresh" the page. What's up with that? Is it me?

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

Nevermind. I changed to preferences so that it would stop cache-ing. Whew! Thanks for your help!!!

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

PashaDawg, it looks ok from here. An occasional "refresh" as you're editing is not usual. It forces the server to give you the newly edited version of the page. Does that match what you're seeing?

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

I am all set. Thanks.

If you call your parents today, be sure to tell them to give Dusty a good ear-scratch for me!

Re: PBEM Game: Yarnspinners 2
 

I have recieved Pretenders for T'ien Ch'i, Vanheim, and Pangaea.

When are we starting?
 

So... when is the game starting? I have all this wool piled up in my living room and kitchen.

Re: When are we starting?
 

I can't figure out what is wrong. I edit Pythium turn0, save page and it takes me to a nice page with all the test laid out. However, when I click Pythium, or Turn0, none of the text shows up under the Pythium turn0 entry. When I try to edit it again, the text is already in the edit box.

Re: When are we starting?
 

I'd surmise it's the selfsame refresh-requirement as with Pasha... At least I see a bunch of text 'bout some dude named Cibragol down there!

EDIT: I wonder if I'll be smitten down for calling him 'some dude'... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rant.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rant.gif

Re: When are we starting?
 

Yup, that was it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: When are we starting?
 

Another thing to try with the refresh problem is making your local browser force reload the page. That worked when I was having problems last night.

I second PashaDawg's question? Can we start yet? The_Tauren, who has yet to submit a pretender?

Re: When are we starting?
 

Ive got C'tis, Marignon, Pangaea, T'ien Ch'i, and Vanheim.
And, um, do we have a list of who all is playing, and what nations theyre playing, and what the settings of the game will be?