Utility: RanDom v2.03 - Map gen & Semirandomizer... Updated

[Ballbarian]

7/08/07 - Replaced v202 with v203: Updated SemiRandom to version 106. Now supports the new "_OR_" tag which will allow placement of a single province file across a wide variety of terrain types. Also added a new option "fiddleXP" which will block #xp (experience point) lines from being written into the map file. This is for folks who would like to keep the Hall of Fame clear of independent commanders. In RanDom, this is a new check box located on the "General" tab. The update also includes some drastic changes to many of the existing GAN province files as well as many new ones. I HIGHLY recommend moving or renaming the old SemiRandom folder prior to installing this new version. And finally, the Province Editor has been updated from version 1.00 to 1.01 to support the new features. The editor's discussion thread can be found HERE.


NOTE: If you are installing over an old version of RanDom some files will be overwritten. I recommend backing up your old RanDom settings folder and SemiRandom folder prior to install. As a general rule, I include any GAN/GOD files that I have received in the latest release so if you have added files from the SemiRandom web site, you should not have to add them again. Additionally, some of the existing GAN files may have been updated as well. You WILL need to add any custom files that you had that were not submitted to me prior to this release.

[dmentd]

Every time I run this program now, I get an error:

---Error in main, line 1692: index 1 (=-1) out of range
---Error: Program stopped due to an error
---Program done, press RETURN---

Another time, the index equalled -3 with the same results. What am I doing wrong?

[Ballbarian]

Thanks for letting me know dmentd.

Here is kind of the stock request:
It would be a great help if you could send me the file "TESTDUMP.txt" located in your SemiRandom directory to semirand-AT-dom3minions.com. This only records data from the last run of SemiRandom, so if you have run subsequent maps through it without an error, it won't do any good to send it.


If I had to guess, I would say that your problem is likely tied to AI nation selection. So far there are only god files for EA (every nation in the early era except for Tir na n'Og, so check the "AI Gods" tab and be sure that EA is selected and hit the "Show Nation Configuration" button and make sure that Tir na n'Og is disabled or set to human.


The following helped Stryke11 when he was having trouble:
To let Dom3 handle start locations and AI gods:
1. Go to the 'Starts' tab
2. Uncheck 'Lock Player Counts to Nat Cfg'
3. Set 'Desired Num Players' to 0 (zero)

To use the custom start placements without using the custom AI gods:
1. Go to the 'Starts' tab
2. Uncheck 'Lock Player Counts to Nat Cfg'
3. Set 'Desired Num Players' to your desired number of players.
4. Go to the 'AI Gods' tab
5. Set 'AI Land Players' & 'AI Sea Players' to 0 (zero)

[jutetrea]

ok, i'm feeling dumb.

I dl'd the new version. Unzipped it and get:

random.exe
random.txt
[semirandom]
[randomsettings]

C:\Games\dominions3\Tools\RanDom_v203

If I click random.exe I get an error "semirandom.cfg cannot be found" - but the program still opens. If I click execute i get "can't find dom3.exe"

If i go into [semirandom] and click semirandom.exe i get "initializing" then "lost in time cannot open ...semirandom\255 205 000 225" try again? y/n

As an FYI I have provinceeditor, semirandom, and random under a \tools directory so.

C:
\Games
\Dominions3
\Maps; \Mods; \Tools

C:\Games\dominions3\Tools\RanDom_v203\SemiRandom


***Ok, so if I put random.exe (and random.txt) in my \dominions3 folder I still get the cannot find semirandom.cfg but at least it makes the map. I still have issues running semirandom.exe even after replacing line 1 of the .cfg file with my path and having a map in the folder.

[Ballbarian]

Sorry jutetrea.
RanDom & SemiRandom are not as user friendly when it comes to paths as the Province Editor is.

Here is a stock answer that should help:

Getting all of the pieces in place can be a small challenge.
On my system, Dom3 is installed on my C: drive in a folder called "Games".
When you unzip RanDom, it should have the directory structure intact so that you can just paste the contents into your dominions3 directory.
Below is a bare bones map of the directory structure that you want to end up with.

Code:

---

c:\Games\dominions3

        RanDom.exe

        \RanDomSettings

          BluewaterBay.stg

          COT_colorscheme.stg

          Default.stg

          etc...

        \SemiRandom

          SemiRandom.cfg

          SemiRandom.exe

          SemiRandom.yab

          \GAN_BIN

          \GOD_BIN

          \LIST_CRATE

          \NAME_VAULT

---

[Morbius]

hi everybody, im not sure whether this is the right place to ask this question, sorry if it isnt.

when i create [execute] a map with semirandom ver. 2.03 and then click on [semi randomize], it says:

ups, something is shiny ...
and then "error in main, line 1692: index 1(=-2) out of range"

could anybody help me?

[Ballbarian]

You are in the right place Morbius.

Here is kind of the stock request:
It would be a great help if you could send me the file "TESTDUMP.txt" located in your SemiRandom directory to semirand-AT-dom3minions.com. This only records data from the last run of SemiRandom, so if you have run subsequent maps through it without an error, it won't do any good to send it.


If I had to guess, I would say that your problem is likely tied to AI nation selection. So far there are only god files for EA (every nation in the early era except for Tir na n'Og, so check the "AI Gods" tab and be sure that EA is selected and hit the "Show Nation Configuration" button and make sure that Tir na n'Og is disabled or set to human.


The following helped Stryke11 when he was having trouble:
To let Dom3 handle start locations and AI gods:
1. Go to the 'Starts' tab
2. Uncheck 'Lock Player Counts to Nat Cfg'
3. Set 'Desired Num Players' to 0 (zero)

To use the custom start placements without using the custom AI gods:
1. Go to the 'Starts' tab
2. Uncheck 'Lock Player Counts to Nat Cfg'
3. Set 'Desired Num Players' to your desired number of players.
4. Go to the 'AI Gods' tab
5. Set 'AI Land Players' & 'AI Sea Players' to 0 (zero)

[Morbius]

thanks a lot for your swift and detailed reply

and also for your offer to look into the testdump file.
i greatly appreciate that!

it might not be necessary, though, since your explanations about not turning on the Tir na n'Og AI should be sufficient.
that was a mistake i made, since i did turn it on!

im playing on the semirandomized map nonetheless, and it seems to work just fine.
i play Tir na n'Og, by the way.
dont know why i turned on the AI, since i wanted to play that nation myself anyway

if you want me to send you the testdump file even though i have already found -- thanks to your help -- the mistake that caused the error, i will of course gladly send it to you anyway.

thanks again,
i greatly appriciate your help

[Ballbarian]

Glad you got it working.
Sending the file won't be necessary.

[Forrest]

Downloaded 2.03 and I am a bit stumped.

I keep getting no GANPLAINS file error. So where do I get it?