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.