Eater of the dead..when out of control?

[Sombre]

I think, as is often the case, you're misrepresenting there Gandalf. All you're talking about is AI players with the same flag as the indy provinces. This is easy to do, but how is it interesting? You can still easily tell the difference between those guys and indies if you want to. If you don't want to, I guess it's a good idea, but it would be easier to just use a mod.

Foodstamp - if you want what he's talking about just knock up a mod to do it. Would only take 5 mins.

[Foodstamp]

I may be misunderstanding. I tried setting the special monster slots to be enemies of the player using map commands before but the game threw an error. Using modding, any time I have tried using the special slots, it has resulted in an error as well.

Is that not what we are talking about doing? Making the Special Slot monsters (indies) act as enemies or at least be mobile? If that is what we are talking about, how did you guys get it to work? I just need a general overview, not the actual code.

[Stavis_L]

Originally Posted by Foodstamp

I may be misunderstanding. I tried setting the special monster slots to be enemies of the player using map commands before but the game threw an error. Using modding, any time I have tried using the special slots, it has resulted in an error as well.

Is that not what we are talking about doing? Making the Special Slot monsters (indies) act as enemies or at least be mobile? If that is what we are talking about, how did you guys get it to work? I just need a general overview, not the actual code.

Gandalf is talking about setting the indies to act as enemies by using a combination of map commands and a server hosted game.

Sombre is talking about creating new mod nation with the independent (white) flag. See Pyg's "Indypundits" effort here for an example:

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?p=678506

I think that Gandalf's method would potentially provide *slightly* more "indy-like" results, since the "white flag" nations would presumably not show up in the score graphs, would show up as independents in scouting reports, etc. (though I haven't tried his method to be sure.)

[Foodstamp]

Bah ok . Thanks for the clarification!

[Gandalf Parker]

@Stavis_L:
Actually they do show up in the scoregraphs.
Im not a good tester for such things but my "glass is half full" outlook makes me like to think they act abit differently. This is the AI that handles summoned attacks on provinces when its not under your control. When the messages say the event is an attack be "Special Monsters". I like to think that they feel abit more aggressive.

@Sombre:
A Mod?
That would be way beneath your usual Sombre. More on my level. Im gueesing just a few lines to open up some of the empty nation slots and give them the white banner. Then dupe it a bunch of times. Alot like my other mods. That might be interesting as far as having more than two. Maybe a dozen different "independent gods trying to be as good as you are". A bit of different play but I didnt really expect you to get excited about it. After all, its a lesser AI. But Im not sure that would be better. With 2 map commands I can include them in a game on my server without the players having to have the mod. With more map commands I can give it a special god, useable scales, decent magic, dominion, and allies. But a mod version would probably be easier for solo play off of a server. I will add it to be (extensive) list.

@Foodstamp:
The #computerplayer is pretty messed up in general between server and solo play.
--------
open aran.map
change title to SpecMon test
add
#computerplayer 23 4
#computerplayer 24 4
save as SpecMon.map

create game using SpecMon test map
RATS! they arent there

----------------------------
open Dom3
go to Network
setup Dominions server
1234
early age

load another Dom3
Network
connect to server
127.0.0.1
1234
join twice
start game
back to host
select SpecMon test map
BINGO there they are along with anyone else you put in the game

[Foodstamp]

That's pretty cool. I will give it a try.

[Gandalf Parker]

I like it.
At best it keeps me from getting cocky and thinking too far ahead. Here I am thinking Ive got awhile before Ulm attacks me. But having a white banner suddenly decide to attack you and you see it has more armies moving toward you can catch you off guard forcing a complete change of plans you had carefully laid out for the next 5 or 6 turns. Its like the Eater of the Dead. Kindof a large extended event thrown into the game.

[Sombre]

A white banner doesn't suddenly decide to attack you. It declares war on you then attacks you just like every other AI nation. It's also pretty obviously distinct from indies and goes around conquering indy provinces just like every other AI nation. It just happens to have the same flag as the indies, that's it. The rest is your imagination.

[Foodstamp]

Oh now I understand. So the special AI slots do not get ownership of ALL the independent provinces, just their capital location. I was hoping it allowed them to control ALL the independent provinces.

So do they cast from the independent spell list, or have to research like other nations?

[Gandalf Parker]

Same as others I think.
You dont want to play games with all the indepts on full AI. Ive playd those and they are impossible.

I suppose you could duplicate it. But then we are back to the mod idea. Id definetly recommend breaking the map up into many different groups of indepts. Otherwise it marches across the map bringing along everything in every province it passes thru. Not good.