the "proper" scales for AIs

Sombre · #1 July 8th, 2008, 06:06 PM

So if you set up nations with scales in the map, does that override what is picked at the start? Is it factored into the available pretender points? Does it effect human controlled nations?

Gandalf Parker · #2 July 8th, 2008, 06:20 PM

It does affect human controlled. At least in desktop games.

It might have different results in an MP or hosted game. Ive gotten some map commands to act differently if I create it as a network game on my machine then open Dom3 again to access the 127.0.0.1 network and play it. I think its because in desktop mode you choose the map, and then add the players. In server mode you add the players, and then choose the map.

I wanted to test whether or not I could abuse scales by using all my points on an SC pretender and allow the map commands to give me kickass scales. But someone else tested it and said it kicked in the cheat-protection.

Edi · #3 July 8th, 2008, 07:04 PM

Yes, it triggers the cheat detection.

All the map commands that affect the pretender (dominionstr, scale commands and the god command that assigns pretender chassis) are independent of each other, but if the sum total of points from player-chosen chassis, scale commands in map file and magic and other stuff goes over the limit, cheat detection is triggered.

It is untested whether a dormant or imprisoned pretender with absured scales would trigger it since the god does not appear on the map at the beginning of the game. Someone could take a stab at that, but I've really got to hit the sack now...

This info will be in the new map manual.

Sombre · #4 July 8th, 2008, 08:00 PM

Eh,... this doesn't really sound like a good thing to go sticking on maps then.

Edi · #5 July 9th, 2008, 04:25 AM

They are better used in scenario maps.

If cheat detection is turned off, they are no problem, or should not be.

Gandalf Parker · #6 July 9th, 2008, 11:35 AM

A map zip file can (and I personally feel it should) include one huge graphic image and many .map files. I think it would be nice to the users, and efficient, to have the same image show up multiple times on the selection list under different names.

A person can put a ton of work into one graphic then continue to offer .map variants for awhile. A generic one, then a no-independents variant, then a repaired scales variant for better solo games, and a fixed settings variant for mp games.

Thats what I did with my Poke-in-the-Eye map download which used the eye.tga that came with the game.

For now..
maybe we can offer something like a new download for one of the maps that came with Dom3. Something like a BetterAI Aran map.