PBEM helper now available

[Puke]

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).]

[Fuerte]

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

[Fuerte]

Quick update: I have received already four empire files, keep them coming!

[Trachmyr]

Let me know how it goes... I want to get on the next game you guys start!

[Fuerte]

It is still not too late... it is probable that some of the people will not actually take part in the game. On the other hand there are some people outside of the list who are going to participate. So just send your empire file... it will take a few days before the game is generated.

------------------
PBEM

[Trachmyr]

How many turns will you be doing per day?

And a suggestion, set Events to NONE... reduce the randomness of player's success/failure. I also suggest HIGH TECH COST, it increases the diversity, as players will be forced to specialize in tech instead of getting a bit of everything. One final thing, turn off stellar manipulation. Ofcourse this is just my opinion.

I sent in a modified Version of the Xaiti for entrance into the game.

[This message has been edited by Trachmyr (edited 21 April 2001).]

[Trachmyr]

OK, I got a problem with the PBEM halper... I have 5 diffrent installations of SE4, but only one is "clean" and to be used for PBEM... how do I select the correct installation?

Never mind, I figured it out (had to rename the "SE4-PBEM" folder to "Space Empires IV").



[This message has been edited by Trachmyr (edited 21 April 2001).]