Sitting on the fence

[Gandalf Parker]

Ive worked with ProcMail in managing the latest game of "Newbies and Vets"
It should be fairly easy to setup an email box on my server then process emails. Such as
YARPbids@dom3minions.com

Incoming emails would be processed for
From:
Subject:
Body:

Something like
To: YARPbids@dom3minions.com
From: gandalf@example.net
Subject: game=YARP
Hinnom=30
Man=50
Ctis=10

This could be processed into just a display page with all email addresses being displayed underneath the nations.
YARP
................................Hinnom......Man... .Ctis
gandalf@example.net....30.........50........10

Any email with a new game= would create a new page.
A webform would be simpler but awfully anonymous which could run into problems. I could do either method and it would quickly lead to a very impressive bidding page.
Thats because my efforts are dirty and ugly and quickly make someone else do a much better version.

As to the catgod thing it would be very simple (at least on linux) to catgod all the files in the game directory and pipe it thru a grep (grab) for just the points left line so thats all that would display from each file.

[chrispedersen]

Wow.. I'm interested...
Gandalf wouldn't awk be a better choice?

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally Posted by chrispedersen

Wow.. I'm interested...
Gandalf wouldn't awk be a better choice?

crossposted over to the Webpages, procmail, and auctions! Oh my! thread.
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=44786

[Belac]

Dominions Mafia:

16/20 players, 4 teams of 4/5. But 1 player on each team is secretly a mole, and on Team Mole. The 3/4 real team members win if their team is victorious; the mole wins if Team Mole is. Each player knows who is on their team, and the moles know who the other moles are, but the lineups of the other teams are secret.

[Gandalf Parker]

I just had an interesting game idea that I want to get down before I forget it. Ballbarians wonderful God Editor program is meant to facilitate creating better AI gods for use by the SemiRand program. It does not create a mod, but instead uses commands which can be added to any map in order to create a scenario type game. It allows the players to build a pretender using ANY units in the game, set any scales, grant equipment, and add up all of the points involved.

OK here is the game idea. Allow players to create any god they want up to specific points. Not restricted to the usual god list. Not restricted by the usual wake, asleep, imprisoned method of extra points. Use a total warfare style map. Maybe one of the Arena style maps, or the Full World map. Or maybe just do it one-on-one with a really tiny dueling map or the Battle Sim map. They can send it to the person running the game who can use the GodEditor to check the points. Turn off cheat detection, add them to the map, start the game.

Its not really my type of game but you have to admit, it would be different.
And might generate some good god-builds for inclusion in SemiRand.

[sansanjuan]

Since the thread is unearthed....

Solitare PBEM challanges

players are given same nation/pretender/map
who can beat the ai in the fewest turns

maps and start locations are identical but choose your own nation /pretender

blitz. As above but who can win in the shortest time ( not turns)

ssj

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally Posted by sansanjuan

Since the thread is unearthed....
Solitare PBEM challanges
players are given same nation/pretender/map
who can beat the ai in the fewest turns
maps and start locations are identical but choose your own nation /pretender
blitz. As above but who can win in the shortest time ( not turns)
ssj

With abit of work the challenge map can also remove many of the randoms of the game. It can preset (or remove) populations, poptypes, recruitables, magic sites. And it can preset all of the factors of the AI. Which nation, which pretender, which scales, etc. That would make it more fair.

There is also a variation of having the same nations battle each other. Such as Ulm vs Ulm, or 12 nations in a game which are totally the same.

Im not sure why it would be pbem, especially with a blitz, but I guess that would work depending on the server.

[sansanjuan]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Parker

With abit of work the challenge map can also remove many of the randoms of the game. It can preset (or remove) populations, poptypes, recruitables, magic sites. And it can preset all of the factors of the AI. Which nation, which pretender, which scales, etc. That would make it more fair.

There is also a variation of having the same nations battle each other. Such as Ulm vs Ulm, or 12 nations in a game which are totally the same.

Im not sure why it would be pbem, especially with a blitz, but I guess that would work depending on the server.

G,
PBEM would be to keep people from redoing turns (though that could be another variant).

I agree the SP blitz game would be best done on a server like yours for "unambiguous" timing of each games.

-ssj

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally Posted by sansanjuan

PBEM would be to keep people from redoing turns (though that could be another variant).

That makes sense.
Would also be easier to manage some of the other variants. Such as "Musical Chairs" (last turn in is always deleted and goes stale).

[Gandalf Parker]

Some updates and held-aside ideas that I need to give up now:

A) The Tower Maps have been used now in half a dozen games, and they seem to be well received. Or as well as any map. It does make for a different game. Harder to gang up in early game, less micromanagement, the F1 menu is much easier to use. Its not very "realistic" but its good for some games.

B) There are now a number of different DungeonMaster mods available. My initial one (Watcher), then other variations such as DungeonMaster or the Debug mod or Pantokrator. If you havent seen the discussions this allows for a game where one person oversees and manages aspects of the game for the whole time that its running. It allows for in-game reward/punishment systems, NPC nations, and adding new "random" events to the game.

B.1) A variant is to use the DM mod to wish immediately for an arena. The game is designed as "All Pretenders to the Arena Please". Its a one-turn game but an interesting idea that shouldnt be forgotten.

C) A new feature has been added (by scripting) where a host can close off the option for players to turn themselves AI. This is handy for enforcing a rule such as "no going AI for the first 50 turns" and forcing the search for substitutes. It is also possible to pre-check gods for mod-compatability.

D) Remember that the mod switch is fixed. It is much easier to include all mods in games. That includes modded nations. Some of those are prime for use as AI opponents. Designing an AI into a game can make it much more viable as an opponent than the vanilla AIs you remember tutoring against. The scenario options are still broken for download/solo play but very workable for server games. Lets put the hated banned nations back into a few games as the goal of the game. How about resurrect my Dom2 scenario. LA Ermor in the corner almost entirely surrounded by water. Surrounded and allied closely with Rlyeh and Atlantis. "D.A.R.E. the Deadly Atlantis Ryleh Ermor alliance." Or the Pangaean map with all 3 Pangaeas and 2 Oceanias AIs allied. "The nations of Man have proven harmful to the world. Now you shall face Global Swarming!". Or two of Amos mods using the christian flavored one with angels and the satanic one with demons. Put them at top and bottom of a map, boosted AIs with settings to make them move toward each other. Then put all the players in between. "pagans, heathens, and idols. Give up your petty grievances and unite to survive"

E) There are also some very fun mods that add more-more-more to the game. More pretenders, more heroes, more magic sites, more summons, more spells, more nations. How about a really large game with as many of those as you can dig up (someone better at using the mod merging tool maybe)

F) The ultimate ally game. Let each player have 2 or 3 nations at once in order to closely ally them (and lets pretend it doesnt happen sometimes anyway). For more fun, use SingleAgeComplete mod so that they can even play with all 3 versions of the same nation if they want to.

G) Having the Independents operate with AI is a fun variant. Set it so that the white flags are able to choose a pretender, build, expand, move armies around. Ouch.

H) One of Kristoffers mods to limit magic to level 4 or level 6

I) A game with NO GODS. Just armies and magic. Or maybe even just armies.

J) Variation on the "All Gods to the Arena" game but doesnt need the DM mod. A game where the map is designed so that everyone can meet instantly. Pretender and starting armies deciding the game right away. Or maybe giving a turn or two to modify the starting army slight but agreeing on when everyone will meet in the middle.