PBEM Helper support for DOM2 is now ready
 

Download from here: PBEM Helper

In short, PBEM Helper automates the playing, sending e-mails and hosting. From the readme:

If you are running Host, make sure that e-mail address field contains the e-mail addresses of all players, separated by ; character. If there is only one extra player besides you, you still need to add ; into end of e-mail address, so that PBEM Helper knows that you are the host. When all players have sent their .2h file to you, then the game status changes to Host. Double click the game to generate the turn. Host will send the following files to all players: ftherlnd, *.trn. If you have Automatic Play enabled, all this happens automatically.

If you are just a player, make sure that the e-mail address contains the host's e-mail address. Player will send just one .2h file.

If you want to use the password sending with Ctrl+Shift+P, make sure that the password contains only numbers, not letters.

Re: PBEM Helper support for DOM2 is now ready
 

fthrland isn't really a file you should be sending out to everyone. Only the host needs to hold this file. The only reason you'd potentially want to distribute this file to everyone is if you're concerned that the player serving as the host will suddenly make like a ninja and vanish.

[ February 12, 2004, 21:34: Message edited by: Norfleet ]

Re: PBEM Helper support for DOM2 is now ready
 

You might mention that its a Windows thing. I use windows to play Dominions but I would much rather use Linux to host it.

Re: PBEM Helper support for DOM2 is now ready
 

I would, too, except that I greatly prefer viewing my battle replays from this universe, instead of battle replays from a parallel dimension where the rules work differently.

Re: PBEM Helper support for DOM2 is now ready
 

I thought that ftherlnd is required on players as well, because it is modified every time I host. It also gets bigger I see. Yeah, at least it makes it possible to change the host anytime.

But are you sure? Does the player need only ulm.trn, for example? Or does he need ftherlnd once in the beginning?

Re: PBEM Helper support for DOM2 is now ready
 

The player requires ONLY the .trn file for the nation he is playing: Everything else is entirely superfluous. If you have the fthrland file, you'll be able to press the "host" button and advance to the next turn. This, of course, allows any player to advance the game privately and see what lies ahead.

While at present, the host retains a potential advantage if he cheats and exploits this, I do not think giving all of the players the ability to do the same is the solution! It's hard enough to find a host that won't cheat, let alone making sure every single player is honest enough as well.

Re: PBEM Helper support for DOM2 is now ready
 

Thanks for making this clear. So it seems that I have to change it...

Re: PBEM Helper support for DOM2 is now ready
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Yes that can be a problem apparently (keep meaning to give that a real test). All I meant was that it would be nice to mention up front that its a Windows thing so that the other half a dozen or so OS dont have to read way into it and finally guess that its probably for Windows.

Re: PBEM Helper support for DOM2 is now ready
 

True, have to add that Win32 requirement (perhaps it runs under Wine?). But the fixed Version is now available, it does not send ftherlnd anymore.

Re: PBEM Helper support for DOM2 is now ready
 

I think that I got it now, PBEM Helper 1.3.355 is available. From the readme:

If you are running Host, make sure that e-mail address field contains the e-mail addresses of all players, separated by ; character. E-mail addresses must be in the same order as the nations, sorted alphabetically:

abysia
arcosep
atlantis
caelum
ctis
ermor
jotun
machaka
man
marignon
mictlan
pangaea
pythium
rlyeh
tienchi
ulm
vanheim

There must be as many e-mail addresses as there are .trn files. If host is playing as well, leave the e-mail address empty for that nation (but still add that ; separator). When all players have sent their .2h file to you, then the game status changes to Host. Double click the game to generate the turn. Host will send all *.trn files (except your own nation) to all players. If you have Automatic Play enabled, all this happens automatically.

If you are just a player, make sure that the e-mail address contains the host's e-mail address. Player will send just one .2h file.

If you want to use the password sending with Ctrl+Shift+P, make sure that the password contains only numbers, not letters (sending letters does not work for some unknown reason).

If you want to hide a game from PBEM Helper, set - to e-mail address. You have to manually edit PBEM.INI to make it visible again.