Gandalf's Crazy Solo Games

[Jack_Trowell]

I've just finished making a conversion of your script in Perl.

(note : the perl module Math::Random is needed, easy to install on Windows with activeperl)

As you were using the same code in lots of places (mainly for commander generation + bodyguards and/or squads of units), I made a function to centralize that, so it should be easier to change numbers/probabilities with the version.

I plan to add some more features in the near future, such as a parsing of the original file (to get the number of province and other infos), and maybe a separate config file (maybe in XML)

Edit : updated attachment with latest version

[Gandalf Parker]

I recommend accepting a map name and creating a new .map file for it each time. Such as, if they say they want to do the eye.map then create a .map file calling it eye_chaos.map using the eye.tga image. That way they can do it to any map they want without destroying the original for MP games.

[Jack_Trowell]

new version of the perl script :

- now the script need the original map file :

gmap.pl map=<original_file>.map

- the original file will not be modified anymore, by default the modified map file will be named <original_file>_chaos.map

- you can specify another name for the output file :

gmap.pl map=<original_file>.map output=test.map

(exemple in the gmap.bat file included in the archive)

- the number of province of the original file is now automatically filled by parsing the original file

- for provinces with no random goodies, "#setland <ID>" is no longer added to the output as there is nothing more that follow for this province.

[Jack_Trowell]

another version : the script now add to the province description (in the output map file) that the map has been edited by it, with the date and time.

This should help for those that wish to use the script several times on the same map

[Caduceus]

Tried the map from Gandalf and it brought my computer (AMD 3700+) to a screaming halt. I'll try it again tonight if I have time...

[Gandalf Parker]

If the MegaMap crashes then try the Dom2 "Poke in the Eye" scenario. It does the same things but with a smaller map it doesnt have quite the replayability. However since I regenerate PokeEye every day that helps.

[thejeff]

How long does it take to finish these games?
How long before you actually have contact with other nations?

And how long to play a turn by the time you've beaten one or two nations?

I'd never make it. I can barely finish games with 3-4 AI nations before starting to dread trudging through another turn. How do you deal with the scale of the late game?

[Jack_Trowell]

Caduceus said:
Tried the map from Gandalf and it brought my computer (AMD 3700+) to a screaming halt. I'll try it again tonight if I have time...

If you like the concept, but prefer to use a smaller map, you can use my perl script with any normal map.

I used it yesterday on a tower map with "only" 150 provinces (but with higher percentage of random goodies)

[Gandalf Parker]

If you generate a map for solo play I recommend turning the mountains to 50 or higher. It creates many "chokepoint" positions on the map which control the access to small areas. Allowing for lots of "cut them off at the pass" tactics. At setting shigher than 50 you can get a maze.