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PBEM helper now available
The PBEM helper supports now SE4 (among many other PBEM games).
http://www.nic.fi/~fuerte/pbem.gif From the readme: "Both Turn Based and Simultaneous modes are supported, and in Simultaneous both Host and Player modes. If you are running Host, leave the e-mail address empty, and set the host (and player) password in Edit F2. When all the player files have been received, the game status will change to Host. If you then execute Play F9, the turn will be generated automatically, and the status will change to Send (after pressing F3 or F5)." Readme: http://www.sci.fi/~fuerte/pbem.htm http://www.nic.fi/~fuerte/pbem.htm Download: http://www.sci.fi/~fuerte/pbem.zip http://www.nic.fi/~fuerte/pbem.zip Warning: The SE4 support has not been tested thoroughly. Please send me bug reports and feature wishes. ------------------ PBEM |
Re: PBEM helper now available
sounds good, but i have not tried it yet. can some one tell me, can you run an unattended server with it that will generate a turn on a daily basis? if someone writes the code for a turn generator that will run unattended that people can just drop their files to, i will gladly throw up a server to run public PBEM games.
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Re: PBEM helper now available
You can't use this program for unattended server, at least not yet. Unattended operation would require two things:
1) Do the Host routine automatically (generate a turn in Simultaneous mode). Now the program won't do it until all the files have been received. 2) Do the e-mail sending automatically when the turn has been generated. Both of these are quite easy to implement. I will do it if someone requires it. But of course the full unattended operation requires some other things as well: 3) Process the incoming turn from e-mail automatically to the SAVEGAME directory (PBEM helper will do it, but not completely automatically, you have to Open the attachment). |
Re: PBEM helper now available
Actually, for those using OUTLOOK 2000, you can auto-save the attachments into a specified directory. It's an advanced rules option. The key is to insure the e-mails are subjected the same. For instance, if the outbound is Galactica24011, use this as the subject and have everyone reply as Re: Galactica24011 This can be matched and the files saved properly. I'll post the technique here once i get back to my Office2K machine
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Re: PBEM helper now available
This is how PBEM helper works:
1) If the .PBM format is used, then the e-mail subject is always "PBEM file", and there is only one attachment called PBEM.PBM. 2) If the .ZIP format is used, then the subject is "SE4 file" and there is one attachment called SE4.ZIP. 3) If the file is sent as it is, then the subject is "SE4 file" and the attachment name is something.PLR. In the first case, when the attachment is opened in PBEM, then it will automatically decompress it into the correct SAVEGAME directory. So the Outlook rule should just open the attachment in PBEM. There should be an option in PBEM to quit after the file has been decompressed into correct directory. In the other cases, the Outlook rules should be used to decompress or copy the attachment into correct directory. After that the PBEM could then be executed at regular intervals to generate the turn and send the e-mails. Yes, it could be done... the hosting and sending of ready games could be done at one hour intervals, for example, and the forced turn generation once a day, even if some client file is still missing. The only tools that would be needed are Outlook, task scheduler and PBEM, with some added features. ------------------ PBEM |
Re: PBEM helper now available
If I understand this correctly you really only need outlook on the server that is hosting the game right? The players would run and execute their turns manually as always so they could use whatever email program they have.
The outlook is just needed on the server to automate the host portion? I think this has the potential to make PBEM a LOT more common if the process can be worked out to automate the hosting portion. Geo |
Re: PBEM helper now available
Geschmo:
Deda on correct. By establishing the rules in Outlook 2000, only the "server" would need outlook. When the file is recieved, a SaveAsFile custom command is run to save the attachment into a defined directory (which can be dynamic, so one host could support multiple games...) From there, the PBEM helper takes over. You could establish a Task Manager to catch it daily, but you'd get buggy if everything was received and the turn was processed early. This will function for ALL pbem games that the PBEM Helper supports by the way... Fuerte- Don't know what you're coding with, but you can quickly establish a task manager feature directly into C/Perl/VBA as they stand now. Also, as the outgoing file is zipped and it's mailed through PBEM Helper, we have no dificulties there. The incoming files need to be recieved uncompressed for fasted support. Once they're saved into the appropriate directory, again PBEM takes over and you're set. All: I'm clarifying the SaveAsFile() for outlook 2K as I just got home. Once I can post it in text format, I will! |
Re: PBEM helper now available
There is a new Version (1.0.112) available! It fixes many bugs in the previous one. I was too quick to release it I guess. I think that it works now correctly. It even has support for the forthcoming 1.33 Version, it can now start the game directly in the correct player (I have not tested it because I don't have the beta Version).
From the readme: "Both Turn Based and Simultaneous modes are supported, and in Simultaneous both Host and Player modes. If you are running Host, set the e-mail address empty, and set the host (and player) password in Edit F2. When all the player files have been received, the game status will change to Host. If you then execute Play F9, the turn will be generated automatically, and the status will change to Send (after pressing F3 or F5). If you are running Player in a Simultaneous mode, then you must have the host e-mail address in the game settings. You should get it automatically when you receive the first .gam file from the host." |
Re: PBEM helper now available
Anybody using this?
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Re: PBEM helper now available
I would like to test it!
Hey Fuerte, do you want a SE4 game? We could use your program! [This message has been edited by Master Belisarius (edited 04 April 2001).] |
Re: PBEM helper now available
Well, I'm a novice on SE4, just played the tutorial and I'm now playing another small game, just to test the PBEM helper.
But I could run the host (and play as well) if you could gather the people... I could probably develop PBEM helper to do the hosting fully automatically eventually. So if you could find 8-16 people (or if people reading this thread could "volunteer")... you probably know better what kind of quadrant to generate etc. |
Re: PBEM helper now available
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Re: PBEM helper now available
8-16 people? Hmmm Maybe here we could get some players, but I would not bet that we can find 8-16.
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Re: PBEM helper now available
Hey, I'm in for a game! (preferences:new modpack, med spiral ,not all wormhole connect and 5000 race points, high AI and low bonus, just my pref, but I'm open to anything.)
------------------ "The Empress took your name away," said Chance. Owen smiled coldly. "It wasn't hers to take. I'm a Deathstalker until I die. And we never forget a slight or an enemy." -Owen Deathstalker. |
Re: PBEM helper now available
Come on... we can't find 8-16 SE4 players in this forum? What's going on?
I have a friend who will certainly play, and Master Belisarius and Deathstalker, total of only 4 players yet, what's going on? http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif ------------------ PBEM |
Re: PBEM helper now available
I wouldnt mind trying a PBEM game. I have played a lot at home but no PBEM yet.
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Re: PBEM helper now available
i could be in for a mon-fri game.
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Re: PBEM helper now available
I would love to get in on this... Unfortunately, it's bad timing for me. I will be on vacation for a week, April 11-18.
If we can wait to start till then, and hopefully get the new, as of now unreleased, patch, I'm totally in. Send me an email. esprcorn@bellatlantic.net Ken |
Re: PBEM helper now available
I'v never done it before, but i'll give it a try. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif!
My email is chewy027@hotmail.com give me a buzz with the details. [This message has been edited by chewy027 (edited 06 April 2001).] |
Re: PBEM helper now available
We have now 8 players, if we wait until April 19, and play Mon-Fri only (of course we could play Sat-Sun too, if everyone accepts that the AI is used if the player file is missing, which would be a good thing, to speed up the game).
Me (fuerte@sci.fi), I would be the host Tumba (tumba@sci.fi) Master Belisarius Deathstalker WW2 Puke javaslinger (esprcorn@bellatlantic.net) chewy027 (chewy027@hotmail.com) If would great to have as many players as possible, up to 16. The preferences... we have one wish of using modpack (what is it?) and 5000 race points. I don't know, wouldn't it be better to use only the latest patch, not any other requirements? And the race points, isn't 2000 the default? Let me know what you think about the game preferences, post to this thread. I will make a newer release of PBEM helper before we start the game. It would be great if everyone was using the helper for the player mode, so that we would get the most of it. So when we start the game, everyone sends me the empire file, it must have the player e-mail address. I will then generate the game with the preferences we have agreed upon here, and send the game file, in .PBM format, if that's ok for everyone. The PBEM helper does not have an option to send in different format (.PBM, .ZIP, plain uncompressed) for different people at the moment. |
Re: PBEM helper now available
Try http://Groups.yahoo.com/group/SE4-PBEM/Messages for additional players
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Fuerte: We have now 8 players, if we wait until April 19, and play Mon-Fri only (of course we could play Sat-Sun too, if everyone accepts that the AI is used if the player file is missing, which would be a good thing, to speed up the game). Me (fuerte@sci.fi), I would be the host Tumba (tumba@sci.fi) Master Belisarius Deathstalker WW2 Puke javaslinger (esprcorn@bellatlantic.net) chewy027 (chewy027@hotmail.com) If would great to have as many players as possible, up to 16. The preferences... we have one wish of using modpack (what is it?) and 5000 race points. I don't know, wouldn't it be better to use only the latest patch, not any other requirements? And the race points, isn't 2000 the default? Let me know what you think about the game preferences, post to this thread. I will make a newer release of PBEM helper before we start the game. It would be great if everyone was using the helper for the player mode, so that we would get the most of it. So when we start the game, everyone sends me the empire file, it must have the player e-mail address. I will then generate the game with the preferences we have agreed upon here, and send the game file, in .PBM format, if that's ok for everyone. The PBEM helper does not have an option to send in different format (.PBM, .ZIP, plain uncompressed) for different people at the moment.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> |
Re: PBEM helper now available
Count me in: yanrod@juno.com
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Re: PBEM helper now available
A mod is a copy of all game files (exept the exe and bmps) into a subdirectory inside the game directory to be able to modify files without having to change the original files. The mod being used is stored in the file Path.txt in the game directory.
Since you can have multiple Savegame dirs inside of different mod dirs it would be good if you could make your PBEM program compatible with this feature. |
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Re: PBEM helper now available
I have not preferences about 2000 or 5000 points.
About the game settings, I have not problems: anything will be ok to me. |
Re: PBEM helper now available
BTW my email rwwhitney@yahoo.com. Mon-Fri works best for me also.
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Re: PBEM helper now available
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Re: PBEM helper now available
TDM-Modpack 1.7, goto scenario/modpack section at beginning of forums, go into seIV shiset/AI's, you will find it near the bottom.
And for the game, here is my email: I_8_BAD_GRAPES@hotmail.com ------------------ "The Empress took your name away," said Chance. Owen smiled coldly. "It wasn't hers to take. I'm a Deathstalker until I die. And we never forget a slight or an enemy." -Owen Deathstalker. |
Re: PBEM helper now available
my email is luke@frnk.com
I am in for a mon-fri, but i cant make turns for a 7 day a week game. if everyone wants to do an everydayer i will have to sit this one out. |
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I haven't played a PBEM game before, so if you don't mind a newbie to pound on: kirk_hogenson@yahoo.com
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Re: PBEM helper now available
Hope I'm not too late, if not I'm in! sirkit@home.com
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Re: PBEM helper now available
We have now 11 players, if we wait until April 19, and play Mon-Fri only.
Me (fuerte@sci.fi), I would be the host Tumba (tumba@sci.fi) Master Belisarius Deathstalker (I_8_BAD_GRAPES@hotmail.com) WW2 (rwwhitney@yahoo.com) Puke (luke@frnk.com) javaslinger (esprcorn@bellatlantic.net) chewy027 (chewy027@hotmail.com) Lupusman (yanrod@juno.com) Kirk (kirk_hogenson@yahoo.com) Sirkit (sirkit@home.com) The preferences... we have one wish of using the TDM-Modpack 1.7 ( http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/For...ML/000017.html ) and 5000 race points. Let me know what you think about the game preferences, post to this thread. If no-one disagrees, that will be it. I made a new release of PBEM helper, please download it from the link in my signature. So when we start the game, everyone sends me the empire file, it must have the player e-mail address, and it should have the password, too. I will then generate the game with the preferences we have agreed upon here, and send the game file, in .PBM format. Hope that the new SE4 patch comes out before we start this... PBEM helper has already support for starting the game in the correct player, but it requires the patch. ------------------ PBEM |
Re: PBEM helper now available
I too would like the 5000 racial points, but what races can we use? I've never done this before, so if we include the TDM modpack does that mean we could only use the original races and the new ones from the modpack? Only reason I ask is because I always play with my Star Wars Empire race I made from combining the 3 that are out there.
BTY Fuerte have you voted for the civil war feature yet. We would really appreciate your feedback http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif [This message has been edited by chewy027 (edited 11 April 2001).] |
Re: PBEM helper now available
yeah, we should decide what AI races we want in the game, and have people divy up the other race portraits so that 1) we dont have too much overlap. and 2) we get the races in there that we want.
I would actually prefer to use less racial points (like 2000) to insure more variety between people, and to help encourage people to take more negative traits to be able to afford the bonuses and racial traits. otherwise, we will be looking at 11 races with multiple racial technologies. also, will we be doing a low or medium tech start? how many homeworlds, and limited or unlimited resources? this will be simultanious, i presume? [This message has been edited by Puke (edited 11 April 2001).] |
Re: PBEM helper now available
Hey, but if we will be at least 11 human players, I think that we don't need AI players.
BTW, my e-mail is: jlperyr@adinet.com.uy |
Re: PBEM helper now available
I'll play if we can agree on this:
I work wensday, thurday and friday.... SO I would not be able to run my turn until around 10pm-11pm central standard time. (USA) So based on this time restriction. You would have to wait until midnight my time to gen the turns. If this is ok then I am in. |
Re: PBEM helper now available
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dracus:
I'll play if we can agree on this: I work wensday, thurday and friday.... SO I would not be able to run my turn until around 10pm-11pm central standard time. (USA) So based on this time restriction. You would have to wait until midnight my time to gen the turns. If this is ok then I am in. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> since the turn will probably be on a 24 hr basis, you can just shift the days you percieve it to be on by one day in either direction and pretend the turn gets run at anytime you like. |
Re: PBEM helper now available
I've got no real objections to a 2000 point start, will make it different as I always do 5000. Med tech please, and I find that 3planets is a good start, 5 and up are too much. As for who gets what race, if you use a race and someone else dosn't have it will you see default pictures? I say this cause I have a custom shipset too, But if all these custom shipsets will cause too many problems then I will take first shot at the Phong. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif
------------------ "The Empress took your name away," said Chance. Owen smiled coldly. "It wasn't hers to take. I'm a Deathstalker until I die. And we never forget a slight or an enemy." -Owen Deathstalker. |
Re: PBEM helper now available
If we are using just standard races then I would like the jraenar.
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Re: PBEM helper now available
Alright, so what's the deal? How many racial points are we using? I prefer 2000. More diversity, as was mentioned.
One thing I'd like to mention, from my experience of other PBEM games, is that it quickly becomes unfair to most players. The reason is that some people team up very quickly, and share all their techs. The rest of the players have no chance whatsoever. So, my preference would be to remove technology sharing in the game setup. That way there are no really dominating alliances. |
Re: PBEM helper now available
2000points sounds about right. Here are the rest of my pref. Med tech. Med Resources, good planet values. Three starting planets. View OWN score only (otherwise will make alliances just to view scores to see who to 'pick off'). And add Neutrals, will act as a good 'buffer' zone so that three players who start in/around the same position don't decide for two to gang up on one. Hopefully that will stop 'death by turn ten', which could still happen. Also the 'even distribution' is a good option. Demanding, arn't I http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif. Will be eagerly awaiting this game http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif. And about tech sharing, definitly not, this goes for ship trading as well (which is tech sharing), you want a ship, go board a ship http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif
------------------ "The Empress took your name away," said Chance. Owen smiled coldly. "It wasn't hers to take. I'm a Deathstalker until I die. And we never forget a slight or an enemy." -Owen Deathstalker. |
Re: PBEM helper now available
Take a look at the thread:
SEIV: Play by Web I think you will find it interesting! |
Re: PBEM helper now available
i signed up on the SE4 play by web, we should look at running this game on that service, both as a convenince and as a test of functionality. I dont think selective weekdays is an option yet, the turns are currently generateing every x time period, and we dont have the choice to skip weekends yet..
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Re: PBEM helper now available
I don't see how the Play By Web is a convenience over PBEM helper. With PBEM helper the received game file is automatically extracted into correct directory, and you can run SE4 from PBEM helper, into correct player when the next patch is released. And you can send the player file zipped automatically from PBEM helper. All this is manual with Play By Web...
If Play By Web would use the .PBM format, then it would be ideal. Play By Web would generate the turn and send the files in .PBM format, and PBEM helper would then automatically extract the files into correct folder. It would be nice to know if people are going to use Play By Web now, maybe someone more experienced could take over the game preferences deciding etc (hosting is not required in Play By Web). |
Re: PBEM helper now available
sure, but PBW is in development, and I am sure we could get it to incorporate the features we want without too much trouble. the helper has no plans to support an automated server, and the PBW will probably soon incorporate all the features from the old VGA Planets PBW engines, which would include all the helper features, which would make it a much better long term choice. plus we get the warm fuzzy feeling of making something better.
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Re: PBEM helper now available
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Puke:
the helper has no plans to support an automated server, and the PBW will probably soon incorporate all the features from the old VGA Planets PBW engines, which would include all the helper features<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Well if you read this thread from the beginning, I HAD plans for automated server (but now I don't, why bother). Play By Web can't ever have all PBEM helper features, unless it has it's own PBEM helper application. ------------------ PBEM |
Re: PBEM helper now available
here is the Admirals response to my own smart ***, hopefully we can get everything working together, so maybe if there are new features planed for the helper, we can pool development efforts to get the most out of the game:
>ah.. also, the guys in the PBEM Helper thread over on the INTEL FORUM >want the PBEM Helper functionality built into something like this.. the >way I see it, the automated host will generate and send all files >needed, players only need to send one file anyway, and the heper thing >makes you copy your own files arround, so what are we missing? a client >end .ZIP manager or something? ideas? am i not getting it? Yes, in fact, that's exactly what would happen. I've added this to the to-do list as well. All I'd need to do is two things: 1) Make the server send the e-mail in the same format as the PBEM helper 2) Make the server accept e-mails from the PBEM helper in the appropriate format You may want to let them know that the server will grow in this fashion anyway, and that it might be good to pool efforts. Thanks for the criticism and suggestions, Doug edit> of course, this would be pending cooperation between pbem helper and pbw. hopefully we can get both going together so Users on the front end could use the helper to manage the files they are sending/recieving from the server. im sure everyone involved would benefit from cooperating and being friends... [This message has been edited by Puke (edited 17 April 2001).] [This message has been edited by Puke (edited 17 April 2001).] |
Re: PBEM helper now available
We are ready to begin! Game will be Mon-Fri only. The first turn will probably take a few days.
Me (fuerte@sci.fi), I am the host, maybe we can switch to the Play By Web system when it supports PBEM helper Tumba (tumba@sci.fi) Master Belisarius (jlperyr@adinet.com.uy) Deathstalker (I_8_BAD_GRAPES@hotmail.com) WW2 (rwwhitney@yahoo.com) Puke (luke@frnk.com) javaslinger (esprcorn@bellatlantic.net) chewy027 (chewy027@hotmail.com) Lupusman (yanrod@juno.com) Kirk (kirk_hogenson@yahoo.com) Sirkit (sirkit@home.com) I made a new release of PBEM helper, please download it from the link in my signature. It supports the new SE4 1.35. You can start SE4 directly in the correct game AND correct player, completely automatically. Preferences... I think that the following post describes the preferences that we will use: "2000 points sounds about right. Here are the rest of my pref. Med tech. Med Resources, good planet values. Three starting planets. View OWN score only (otherwise will make alliances just to view scores to see who to 'pick off'). And add Neutrals, will act as a good 'buffer' zone so that three players who start in/around the same position don't decide for two to gang up on one. Hopefully that will stop 'death by turn ten', which could still happen. Also the 'even distribution' is a good option. Demanding, arn't I . Will be eagerly awaiting this game . And about tech sharing, definitly not, this goes for ship trading as well (which is tech sharing), you want a ship, go board a ship" So now everyone sends me the empire file, it MUST have the player e-mail address, and it should have the password, too. I will then generate the game with the preferences we have agreed upon here, and send the game file, in .PBM format. I will send this message by e-mail to each player, too. ------------------ PBEM |
Re: PBEM helper now available
Quick update: I have received already four empire files, keep them coming!
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Re: PBEM helper now available
Let me know how it goes... I want to get on the next game you guys start!
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