MP: Noobs & Vets: Rise of the AI Menace. EA, BI. Game Over. Team ACGHHS wins!

[pyg]

Beware Caacrinolaas!

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally Posted by chrispedersen

We got REALLY killed by his stale - its fine its part of the game. But I'd REALLy like to make sure it doesn't happen again, if its at all attributable to math, software, etc.

The backup shows 16 turn files. That would have triggered the hosting.


Actually it should be much more correct since I finally got all of it (web, reminder timer, forced hosting, etc) running on the same single time setting. A file in the directory with just the number of hours between hostings and nothing else.

I can only check whats running now. There are two timer jobs running which were created by the last hosting.
107 Sat Dec 19 16:20:00 2009 a nav
108 Sat Dec 19 07:20:00 2009 a nav
One will run the "reminders" script to send out emails to anyone who hasnt turned in a turn. And the other will run hosting based on the xx-hours setting (with a check to make sure the ftherlnd file is older than xx-hours to avoid clashing with quick-host). It seems ot match the webpage.

[chrispedersen]

Gandalf, Sept

Please see my pm regarding this matter.

[Septimius Severus]

Originally Posted by chrispedersen

Gandalf, Sept

Please see my pm regarding this matter.

Chris, see my PM response. There did not appear to have been any early hosting server errors from what I could tell on my end.

Pyg, have you been hitting the sauce?

"Beware Caacrinolaas!"

It looks like we had 3 or so responses to the holiday delay options. I am going to edit the 3 options I mentioned as option 1 and option 3 were probably too extreme. If a delay or slowdown is desired by the majority of players over the holidays we'll likely do one of two things:

The question is when to begin and how long should it run so if we take Ling's suggestion about the customary year end period:

A. We can shut off the timer from December 24 - January 2nd. What scares me about this idea, while it sounds nice, is there is the possibility that no turns get processed at all if everyone doesn't submit. That's 9 or 10 days.

B. We can implement a temporary 72 hour (3 day) or 96 hour (4 day) hosting interval to cover the same period. This ensures that we get in at least 2 if not more turns over the holiday. If there is going to be a delay this would probably be my personal preference.

So I think I'll put a poll up on our forums asking two questions: 1, whether to institute a delay or slowdown in the first place, and 2 asking which of these 2 or 3 options people prefer. Then I'll put it to Gandalf as far as which may be easier for him to implement. This will give us something to work with in the meantime anyway.

[Septimius Severus]

DrP and Gandalf, yes that's what I was hinting at regarding the AI. Take a single player game on a single computer. The AI (comp) "knows" every action you take, every mouse click, every keyboard press. When the turn is processed it's gotta "know" your orders as a matter of course in order to process the turn. As Gandalf indicated, one of the challenge I'd guess in programming AI player routines is in dumbing down the AI (comp) enough by filtering out info it already has to simulate what an actual human player might know.

[chrispedersen]

Was there a delay request? Can they be made publicly, please?
I stayed up till 2 getting a turn in if I had known there was a 10 hour delay I would have gone to bed.

If there wasn't a delay requst things are definitely screwed up as there was only 6 hours when I went to bed.

[Gandalf Parker]

I was checking the web page frequently yesterday (as per our conversation) and saw no problem. I even posted the hosting time to this forum. I dont see a change and certainly didnt do one.

What browser are you using? If there is a lag for some reason anywhere along the line between your machine and mine, some browsers will pull up a cached image without telling you. Sometimes you have to hit the refresh button to get the latest copy.

[chrispedersen]

Gandalf, over most of yesterday.. I followed this web page and watched it count down as I was in discussions with grudge and squirrel.

I am familiar with cache and cookie clearing - as well as refreshing (and, in point of fact I empty all internet files on exit anyway).

When it got to 6 hours, I went to bed (at 2:00 am ish EST). When I got up in the morning it was up to 10 hours. I usually use IE8.0; but firefox is available as well.

[Septimius Severus]

Chris, I've not received any explicit requests for delays for the current or previous turn nor have I noticed anything amiss with the server or host, if there was something though, Gandalf would probably know about it. Wish I knew more.

Here's what I do know:

Get ye turns in! The new mantra is turn 30 by Xmas.

There's two polls on our team forums and I want more votes!

Don't let apathy decide things for you.

I need 13 more votes on the holiday question.

I need 8 more votes on the 48/56 host question.

Thank you.

[GrudgeBringer]

I have been following this and your right, apathy is NOT the way to decide when to take the holiday break unless you just don't have anything to do but play this game.

Because of the coming arrivals of relatives, I will complete any and all turns that I would receive by Weds 12/23/09.

I could also complete 1 turn received on Monday 12/28/09 with a liberal hosting time and another received Thursday 12/31/09 agian with a liberal hosting time as relatives will be starting their departures.

And starting Sunday 1/3/10 I will be ready to receive another turn and be back on whatever schedule we have decided on.

For me this isn't a poll, I spend most of my home time (as do others), working at me desk OR messing around with the computer (this include turns, turns, turns).

My wife takes this very well and even listens to my tales of woe about this and other games. But Christmas is HER time to plan the family schedule, and as I just got married after a 28 year hiatis I think its fair that once a year (great guy huh!!)she set the schedule.

So for me this isn't a poll, this is how I will divvy up my time until 1/03/10 (But ya know I MIGHT be able to sneak down and get ONE more turn in while she is not looking if need be!!)

As far as the new hosting will go after that I abstain and will go with the majority.