I'm a she? Hang on, let me check the tackle...
... ...
Nope. definitely not a she
I'm hosting three games right now. One game is in it's second month so I feel pretty plucky about hosting.
To add a few comments:
I'm finding that quick host and +24 hours works really well. When you start the game the next host is set for 24 hours later. If all players complete their turn, the game hosts and the next host time is set for 24 hours later.
The exploit you mention isn't possible. If, however, you set the game to quick host and a SET host time (e.g. 3am each day) then the exploit you mention is very possible.
I'm using a windows program called postie to send out the email each time the game hosts. I call postie from a bat file which I put as the game's command.
So, for each game I create a shortcut. The target in the shortcut is:
"C:\Program Files\dominions2\dom2.exe" -atnwqS --noanimback --noclientstart --tcpserver --port 2006 --hours 24 --postexec c:\dominionsserveremail\2006sendemail.bat GG_Karan
2006sendemail.bat contains:
c:\postie\postie -host:moggycorp.com -pass:XXX -s:"Dominions II game on moggycorp.com:2006 has hosted" -from:XXXX@XXXX.XXX -to:YYYY@YYYY.YYYY,ZZZZ@ZZZZZ.ZZZ -file:C:\DominionsServerEmail\message.txt
I've replaced the email addresses to protect the guilty.
Works like a charm. I wish there was a way to set each game up as a service. That way I wouldn't have to have a bunch of windows open, each containing a game, but it's OK as it stands.
I have found I've needed to restart the servers a few times. After a few weeks the game sometimes goes into la-la land. Killing the process and restarting works easy enough.
Now if only my game playing was as good as my game hosting...