PBEM game: Advice and/or recommendations?

[Gandalf Parker]

I have a 24/7 Debian Linux server (its easier and cheaper than you think). I wouldnt mind hosting either arrangment but Im going for the simplest modular arrangment that I can do as a sysadmin-upward system rather than the all-in-one webmaster-downward Version already available (Mose Hansens package).

So for mine, the keystone would be the simplest possible script that doesnt have much "this must also be loaded for this to work" stuff. It would transfer the Users "C:\Program Files\dominions2\game2\man.2h" file to "../dominions2/game2/man.2h". No variables, and no switches.

Im also hoping for "create game" and "host then quit" scripts rather than up-all-the-time hosting. Those ARE supposed to be possible. I would much rather CRON or CGI kickoff the hostings.

[Rowlff]

Thanks for the offer, Gandalf! Like I said, I'll most likely be able to host something like this myself come the beginning of next year, but the more offers, the better!

As to the simplicity, I am thinking along the same lines. A single package that's easy to install with as little dependencies as possible would be best. Seeing that having a database makes keeping track of players, games and everything so much easier, I am currently aiming for PHP5 with the included SQLite (or maybe PHP4 with some libraries I wrote myself for simple flatfile DBs). So if you had that, I'd like to keep you in the loop regarding my progress...

And, yes, we're talking about a solution here that 'hosts and quits' - no permanently running "Dominions II"-servers (^_^)

[Gandalf Parker]

Since Im more SysAdmin than programmer or webmaster, my method of tracking Users and games was going to be user accounts on the machine. Managed by ISP methods. If a game has an account then it automatically has a web space, quotas, an email address that can be automatically programmed for processing incoming turn files and sending outgoing result files, ftp, etc etc etc. With user accounts they could simply be email aliases allowing for playing anonymously.

Of course to some that would seem the hard way and a database the easy way but Im thinking that depends on your background. The Mose Hansen Version is Perl/MySQL (and available for download if you want to look at the scripts)

[Rowlff]

Like you said, Gandalf: There always more than one way to do it. I prefer the database approach, because it allows for so much more flexibility in aggregating data. A list of all games you play? Just an SQL query! Displaying all games that have open positions left? Another simple query!

Whatever! I've started working on 'domserv' (anybody have a better name?) today, and am making progress (at least that's what I think). As soon as I have something to show, I'll either point you to the address or send you the files to try them on your own machine.