calling all (batch file, script, VB, VC) programmers

[Gandalf Parker]

OK I had a brain-fart. I was thinking about the run_dommap.sh that came with the DomMap program (creates random maps). It made setting all the variables easier by listing them all and letting you edit them, then calling the program with the new settings. Part of it looks like this...
# Number of sea provinces
NUM_SEA=10
# Number of land provinces
NUM_LAND=90

All the settings start out the same as the defaults. After you scroll thru and change them then it does a call to the program with all the new settings. Kindof like this...
dommap -ns $NUM_SEA -nl $NUM_LAND

Anyway I was thinking that this could be done with all the confusing settings of the Dom2 executable. Mostly Im thinking for the Soloists who like to play with the same settings over and over.

(1) the first and simplest Version would be just to list the variable settings as defaults in a nice simple text file to be edited. Such as
--indepstr 3 --magicsites 40 --eventrarity 1
which I get tired of changing to my preferences of --indepstr 7 and --magicsites 60. And things like game name could be set to delete everything in that game directory and re-use it. Such as something like always using a game name of MyGame with your default favorite map.

(2) the next Version could add some new things that are not part of the Dom2 commandline switches. Such as the human player. If Im presently on a kick of playing only Man then it could copy the man.2h file from the newlords directory into the MyGame directory which will lock Man into human player. Or maybe someone would rather make this interactive with buttons and everything so you can select your god and map.

(3) this Version starts getting more into my territory. The things that can be done with a .map file on the fly. If I say I want to play the orania.map then the script could copy orania.map to a file named temp.map then start the game with temp.map. This would still end up using the orania.tga but would allow some "adjustments" to the .map file involved.

Such as adding in AI's. In my case presently it would add all nations except man as an AI set at standard setting. Im getting tired of clicking all that. But if you like a smaller map and prefer to play against just certain nations at certain settings a text file would be easy to edit that. Alot easier than understanding the Control_Switches and MapEdit file. If you are a real glutton for punishment you could also set the AI's as allies to each other.

(4) this is way into my territory. Some may wish to stop reading here. This is where I throw in all my random stuff. Random opponents selected from the nations not equal to th human-player selection. Random AI settings. Random alliances between them. Possibly random scattering of castles/labs/temples all over the map. Randomly giving some of those to the ownership of AI's. Maybe even random commanders with random equip and units in every province. Maybe even random selection of the map to be played on. Clicking on that bat/script/program could give me a new MyGame where the only thing I know is who Im playing and with what god. (hmmmm come to think of it.. no, too much. Not even I want to play that random)

Anyway, why did I post this? Because it seemed like a good idea and waiting for me to create it is like waiting for a RandomEvent so if anyone out there wants to offer this to the Dominions community then feel free to do so.


-- WANTED: A trustworthy "wish I had ideas" project finisher to partner in a profit sharing relationship with an excellent "got too many ideas" project starter.

[DimmurWyrd]

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:
OK I had a brain-fart. I was thinking about the run_dommap.sh that came with the DomMap program (creates random maps). It made setting all the variables easier by listing them all and letting you edit them, then calling the program with the new settings. Part of it looks like this...
# Number of sea provinces
NUM_SEA=10
# Number of land provinces
NUM_LAND=90

All the settings start out the same as the defaults. After you scroll thru and change them then it does a call to the program with all the new settings. Kindof like this...
dommap -ns $NUM_SEA -nl $NUM_LAND

Anyway I was thinking that this could be done with all the confusing settings of the Dom2 executable. Mostly Im thinking for the Soloists who like to play with the same settings over and over.

(1) the first and simplest Version would be just to list the variable settings as defaults in a nice simple text file to be edited. Such as
--indepstr 3 --magicsites 40 --eventrarity 1
which I get tired of changing to my preferences of --indepstr 7 and --magicsites 60. And things like game name could be set to delete everything in that game directory and re-use it. Such as something like always using a game name of MyGame with your default favorite map.

(2) the next Version could add some new things that are not part of the Dom2 commandline switches. Such as the human player. If Im presently on a kick of playing only Man then it could copy the man.2h file from the newlords directory into the MyGame directory which will lock Man into human player. Or maybe someone would rather make this interactive with buttons and everything so you can select your god and map.

ok, #1 is easy enough (took all of 10 minutes) but on #2 that's where I don't see any command line options. If you could tell me how to set the human and AI players in the game via the command line...

shelling dom is easy in VB although I am not sure but might be limited to a 255 byte command line... I can do all the file moving/copying easily enough if I knew the basic methodology. basically tell me roughly how it's done (how I set the AI strength outside of the game i.e through file or command line) then I'll add part 2. right now all I can do is start the game with new game defaults changed to whatever you want lol... not greatly useful really. I believe I can make it a two icon deal one will launch dom direct with your default options the other will let you change your options. launcher will start dom with your defaults then exit while dom is loading.

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by DimmurWyrd:
ok, #1 is easy enough (took all of 10 minutes) but on #2 that's where I don't see any command line options. If you could tell me how to set the human and AI players in the game via the command line...

Cant be done by command line. The human player can be set by using the trick for setting up a PBEM game. (at least I tihnk so, havent tested it). Apparently if you create a game directory, and copy "all the players" god files to the directory, then start the game it will do it with all those players as human players.

The AI part I had in Version 3 because as far as I know that can only be done by adding them into the .map file as computer-run opponents in the map design. I tried to figure out some slick way to start them as humans then switch them to computer but it didnt work.

shelling dom is easy in VB although I am not sure but might be limited to a 255 byte command line...

If it gets too involved Id rather see the variables as a seperate text file. The idea was to have something that the players could easily edit. Maybe we could get Johan to add a "read from config file" option.

Otherwise you could maybe write a bat file then call it. Hmmm that might be better anyway. Take their settings and create a bat file to do it. Then they can just keep hitting the bat file until they need to change settings...

I can do all the file moving/copying easily enough if I knew the basic methodology. basically tell me roughly how it's done (how I set the AI strength outside of the game i.e through file or command line) then I'll add part 2. right now all I can do is start the game with new game defaults changed to whatever you want lol... not greatly useful really. I believe I can make it a two icon deal one will launch dom direct with your default options the other will let you change your options. launcher will start dom with your defaults then exit while dom is loading. [/QB][/quote]

[DimmurWyrd]

ah... just tested it and there is no problem at all with commandline length... unless maybe you have "thegreatlandofthebiggiantthingsinthefarreachesofth ewesternprovincesofthesoutherncontinentofthehybori anplanetwiththebigredmoonandallthosetwinklystars.m ap"
otherwise works perfectly.

[DimmurWyrd]

Should be done prettying it up and debugging in a few minutes (half hour tops I should think) so if you have somewhere you want me to send the windows Version feel free to tell me hehe.

If you want to work on adding your scripting of the map file to my shell then let me know since editing text files should be within ANYONES ability I would hope hehe. Anyway I can assemble a text file on the fly of course without difficulty so let me know (edit/re-assemble etc.)

[DimmurWyrd]

BTW, making the AI's through the map would be fine with me. Integrating a map randomizer type setup to the launcher wouldn't be much trouble really. If you want to setup (or if you already have setup) algorithms for how to setup the randoms and all that I can incorporate it.

These are the steps basically... (correct me if I'm wrong) make the .map file, copy the .2h file from newlords to the dir then call dom2 with the commandlines for making a new game and -g correct?

[DimmurWyrd]

hmmm, interesting... adding VP conditions through commandline causes the game to start at choose race but with an empty list lol.

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by DimmurWyrd:
BTW, making the AI's through the map would be fine with me. Integrating a map randomizer type setup to the launcher wouldn't be much trouble really. If you want to setup (or if you already have setup) algorithms for how to setup the randoms and all that I can incorporate it.

These are the steps basically... (correct me if I'm wrong) make the .map file, copy the .2h file from newlords to the dir then call dom2 with the commandlines for making a new game and -g correct?

Yep sounds good. I wouldnt add the crazy stuff I do quite yet. Here is the basic code I use for random AI opponents...
http://www.techno-mage.com/~dominion/opponents.yab

And here is one of the crazier game generators.
http://www.techno-mage.com/~dominion/Poke_Eye.yab

I think both of them use the original .map file renamed to something like a .txt file so I can always copy it again and again. The originals have all the #neighbor and #terrain commands. I just add my stuff to the end.

[DimmurWyrd]

ok, preliminary windows GUI Version appears to be free of buggies and all that so if you want to look at it let me know where to send it. I'll send source+executable but not the VB6 runtimes so you might need those.

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by DimmurWyrd:
ok, preliminary windows GUI Version appears to be free of buggies and all that so if you want to look at it let me know where to send it. I'll send source+executable but not the VB6 runtimes so you might need those.

Sorry. I thought I had it set so that if you lick on my picture it shows you in my profile.

Old SysAdmin thing. Im not sure if this forum sheds spiders so I dont like posting my address too planly

$name = "gandalf";
$sym = "@";
$domain = "community.net";
$full_address = name + sym + domain;