Is the programming contest too hard?

Saber Cherry · #1 March 1st, 2004, 09:35 AM

There doesn't seem to be much response, so I'm curious.

Norfleet · #2 March 1st, 2004, 09:41 AM

The programming contest is obscure and abstracted to a level that is confusing and meaningless. It makes assumptions that are known to be untrue, and can't really be applied in a practical manner to Dominions II. While surely an interesting programming contest for a class of CS students, I don't quite see how it really applies too well to Dominions II.

Saber Cherry · #3 March 1st, 2004, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Norfleet:
While surely an interesting programming contest for a class of CS students, I don't quite see how it really applies too well to Dominions II.

...hmm, that's sort of what it was supposed to be. Coming up with problems that are simple, yet useful to Dominions II, is very difficult - one or the other would be easier.

#4 March 1st, 2004, 09:49 AM

If I had the ability to devote time to code; I'd be all for it. I don't think the Contest is an issue, it's first finding an adequate problem then spur conversation and ways to solve it then do a group programming session.

You picked the wrong question Cherry, you should have said "Fix this" and then go from there.

Saber Cherry · #5 March 1st, 2004, 09:56 AM

Hmm. Well, there are two problems.

1) The AI does a bad job of site-searching.
2) It would be convenient if you could tell a mage to "go search for sites", then ignore him, and he'd do something intelligent.

This might solve both problems. However, it's only one of many, many possibilities, and the fact that a 3rd-party solution would not be useful unless integrated by IW (unlike, say, a 3rd-party map-editor or god-file manager) poses a new problem.

There are all kinds of things that can be done, of course, but nobody has given any suggestions...

#6 March 1st, 2004, 10:13 AM

Well, if you want a problem to solve (though I don't know if IW wants any help with it)

AI Improvements:

1.) Changing the mage to research to combat instances (including specialty mages/battlefield spells).

2.) What types of mages go in what types of armies. Troop composition vs Mages vs surviability.

3.) Utilizing "Teleport" and "Cloud Trapeze" tactics in combination with Provincial Summon Spells (Includes Gateway).

4.) AI builds SC's out of Summonable creatures (Demons, Bane Lords, etc) including adequate equipment based on type and slot and uses them in appropriate fashions.

5.) Diplomacy (it's a big one)

Saber Cherry · #7 March 1st, 2004, 05:15 PM

None of those are things that could be done without the source code, and thus, are not valid for a contest...

Norfleet · #8 March 2nd, 2004, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Saber Cherry:
None of those are things that could be done without the source code, and thus, are not valid for a contest...

So the contest will be in assembly, then.

Leif_- · #9 March 2nd, 2004, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Norfleet:
So the contest will be in assembly, then.

Bah. Real Programmers write in machine code! http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/mel.html

I vote that we hold the programming contest in either PostScript or Algol 58.

PhilD · #10 March 2nd, 2004, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Leif_-:

quote:
Originally posted by Norfleet:
So the contest will be in assembly, then.

Bah. Real Programmers write in machine code! http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/mel.html

I vote that we hold the programming contest in either PostScript or Algol 58.

My vote goes to MIX