automating Dominions

[Gandalf Parker]

I thought Id toss out some of the many automation features that are possible with this game which some might not have considered because they arent on the menu screens.

1) I added some switches to my icon that I click for dominions so that the games I create will have certain defaults. Such as rename on, Half of Fame set to 15, Indepts set higher, magic sites set higher, even rarity set higher. I still get the same screen on making a game but the settings are already on my favorites. I can still change them if I want but it saves time. Also things like windowed mode, and no credits screen when I quit.

2) In the middle of the night my machine generates a big bunch of random maps that I can look at in the morning to see if any particularly appeal to me.

3) I have an icon on my desktop that takes me directly into my usual game name "local". And its also set for windowed and no credit screen when I quit. Basically the same as a "resume game" button. Also since my solo games are quite large, the processing can take a long time so I have it make noise when the hosting is done (actually it speaks and says "HEY! Your turn is ready.")

4) I have icons for specific MP games. I just copy the Dom3 icon and add the swtiches for the IP and port of the game. That saves me from typing in the address each time when Im in multiple games on multiple servers.

5) I have a timed alarm program on my machine which lets me link to my MP games icons. That way in the morning its always popped up so I wont forget to take my turn.

6) I also use the timed alarm program to remind me of real world things I dont want to lose track of (like getting my son off the bus)

7) I have an icon for saving all the games to backup copies. That way I can restore a game to a point before I tried something crazy just by copying the files back into the game directory.

8) There is a tool available which lets you check multiple servers to see if the turns are available without having to boot up Dom3 for each one.


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These are "you can" notes in case you didnt know.

A) You can add a title to your gods name.

B) You can take screenshots in the game. You can also turn them into cartoons if you are creative in that way.

C) You can record the combats altho that usually requires a downloaded program. But they are usually free so no big deal.

D) You can play your own music while playing Dom3. You can also replace the music files with ones of your own but its not easy. You can also automate something to randomly swap out music files each time you enter the game but thats not as easy as some of the other things Ive mentioned.

E) You can see alot of what the AI is thinking if you turn on logging. You get a HUGE text file with everything the game is doing as it processes the turn.

F) There are maps available which will lower the indepts so that AIs use their troops abit smarter. And some which give strange troops and equipment to the indepts just to make the game crazy.

G) There are mods which will add new nations, balance settings, and many other fun changes to the play of the game.

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These arent things on YOUR machine but still possible.

ii)In the larger games that I host I offer to put peoples emails into the post exec script so that the game emails them each time that the turns are processed. It could also send the turns but most people are happy to just get an email. Ive also gotten it to work with IRC, PMs, and even text message to a cell phone or buzzing a pager.

iii)There is a program which can view the gods you already made in case you forgot their settings or you want to print them out. At the moment its a linux only program, no web interface or windows version.

iiii)You can host a game without being up and running 24/7 or even available on the net to the players. Its a "play by email" option where you receive the turns, process them, then send the result files out all by email.