[Norfleet]

I don't really think this is a problem. The host will always be able to cheat like this in some way, and one of the primary problems of military intelligence is trying to use information without making it known that you know: Often, even if you know about a surprise attack, you have to let it happen as one anyway, or else they'll know you know.

From a practical standpoint, your proposed solution would fail to address the matter anyway: An unscrupulous host can simply start a copy of the game on timed-host, and let it host/set the system clock to induce it to host, thereby seeing future turns anyway.

The real problem is deeper than that: If you have a host which cheats, you're playing with a jerk, as your host. Let's say he can no longer cheat, so his lack of skill is something that he can no longer hide: He'll get wiped out early, then throw a tantrum and kill your game. So if you're playing with a good and reliable, or third party host, you needn't worry about cheating. If you're playing with a git, your problem is there: Either you'll have to give him preferential treatment that's just as good as letting him cheat, so he doesn't get wiped out of the game and kill your game in the process, or you'll just have to let him cheat.

Either way, this is far from the most pressing issue facing Dominions II. If you're playing with smacktards as your host, you're not going to be in for a positive gaming experience, either way.

[ January 25, 2004, 02:31: Message edited by: Norfleet ]