Zane_Marlowe

Alright, I'll update my data accordingly. Also, I standardized number formatting. Instead of having Polaris-2 and Regis VI, I set the names as Roman Numerals with a hyphen between them and the corresponding word--Polaris-II, Regis-VI. If that's a problem I'll change it back, but if so, is there a reason why these are not standardized? ZM out. (and awake now!)

Okay, I'm going to bed now...but I finally did it. Wormholes and Jumpgates. It'll take a second to load, and you may need to get a plug-in to view it, but I'm sure I've never made anything that cool before. Two things you'll notice immediately. First, the planets and systems are redrawn a little to accommodate the lack of curving lines (yes, even I have my limits). Second, you'll notice that there's a jumpgate line in the Credian System between Scorpia and Herin. Now this interested me when I first saw it because I thought my database had screwed up, but no, it's actually in the Appendix, but it's not drawn in the regular SP map. Oh yeah, and I'm going to handcode the fluxlines for Obsidia and Alteris later, when I get around to doing labels and rollover behaviors, but yes... bed for now ZM ou-- ... (shgnkk)

Hey Jamont, I've put up a few of those phpnuke boards you're working with, see this site for an example or something I'm working on that's UC related. If you need help configuring it or finding graphics, let me know, I can probably give you some good pointers since it's the second site I've setup with this software (the first was the root to that site that I use to support my classes).

Actually, I'm using Dreamweaver to write the PHP for me. It's working well, and I can hand-code what it doesn't do. I've already got the major stuff done. Incidentally, is it ok SC if I PM you with site links occasionally? I want to make sure I'm not doing anything I shouldn't, and it's easier to show you than to try to describe it.

Yeah, Marvin's gonna bring the hurt to the bad guys out there. Congrats Marv!

THANKS SC!!! The data has been imported from those files, but it is not linked to them. I.e., the files remain intact and what changes we make through the database remain in the database and only in the database. Yes, I'm aware that the MP and SP maps are distinct from one another. The Map you saw drawn in the previous link outputs the coordinates for ALL the stars and planets in the SP map. The basic idea is that MP regions could stand in place of SP regions, and if a fleet takes an MP region, then that fleet get the corresponding region on the SP map where the fleet was located. Now onto PHP coding and logistics rules.

Basically it's a gameboard concept. Imagine playing Axis and Allies, Risk, etc., except that it's Prime Fleet that moves around the board, and when you fight battles, they are schedule MP events. When the battle's done, the map is updated. To give you a sense of what I'm attempting, this map is being generated by a php script that tells it what graphic to use for each planet and star, where they are located, etc. Since I have the script generating this much, it can generate other things. It is no great leap to make those planet images use rollover behaviors to put a graphic for the race/alliance that controls that planet. Imagine now that you have Prime Fleet and Balor fleet fight a MP match, and at the end of the match, someone who had access to the data could input how much exp the commanders received, and whether or not the system fell to the attacking fleet. If the system fell, then the rollover graphic that shows who controls the system would change, and clicking on the planet itself would bring up a reference to that planet's information. Currently I'm using data from the navchart.ini and the fleet db (commander names and fleet affiliations only), and I may at some point want to input material from the appendix (for fleet ship assignments and logistics). What I'm asking is whether or not the showing of this data hurts your IP, because that's absolutely the last thing I want to do. (I was even hesitant about posting a link to the unfinished map because it was generated from your data.) Anyways, let me know, I want to contribute to this thing, not hurt it. ZM out.

The BCMG data's PW protected? I wasn't prompted, so I can only guess that it's being taken from a cookie--unless it's not presently secure. At any rate, I need to know what data can be shown. Some of the game data is out there already, but for me to go further I need to know who can access what. Wolf57 was one of the first to sign up to want to play. He was on XFire when he did so, and we messaged a little so I could test out some of the forum features. He's been really excited about the idea, but basically that exchange was the extent of the assistance you're referring to. This project I've been coding on my own. From what I hear, Wolf57 hasn't been exactly ingratiating to the BC community or to SC. I'm a patient man, but I think Wolf57 is laboring under some illusions about our relationship that need to be corrected. ZM out.

Okay, things are going smashingly well. Since I last posted on this topic I've learned what I need to know about PHP in order to create the stuff I need (Dreamweaver is an AWESOME product!). I have two questions. First, about the Fleet Action database data. As it stands, I've got data from the game data files (geo-political data, base locations, etc.), from the fleet database (who's in what fleets, what fleets exist, etc.), and from the manual appendix (ships, items, equipment, etc.). I've been considering this test data, and I will not make it available unless authorized to do so, and this is the phase of the project where I need that authorization if it's going to happen. (Prime's put appendix data online so I'm not sure it's a big deal, but I wanted to be safe before I publically used SC's IP). Second, I need Fleet Commanders to post graphics for their fleets. As it stands, I have graphics for all the races and alliances, but not for the individual fleets that will participate. Prime and Wraith have graphics, but Wraith fleet's graphic is not usable since it doesn't correspond to the 74 x 88 pixel resolution that all the rest of the race/alliance graphics are using. Post the graphics on links in this thread when you have them, thanks. Also, since SC's post, I've refined the database, and battles will now be for planets (not systems) and the individual matches on MP servers will be single-elimination, with each round corresponding to one of the battleflow diagram scenarios (i.e., meeting engagement, force projection, etc.). This means that we can actually calculate winners and losers if we have the data source from the game server that SC was referring to above. Hope you guys are getting as excited as I am. ZM out.

It's simple really. You use the TACOPS to set a waypoint to where you want to go. When you enter the atmosphere, you'll land at the waypoint automatically. No waypoint, no location. If you're already on the planet, set the waypoint, then go to orbit, and then back down.

quote:Originally posted by Supreme Cmdr: Zane, the Commander career cannot asset switch to NPC gunships/fighters/shuttles. Its in the manual addendum PDF file. It is an already powerful career, so I wanted to ensure that the Commander used his own assets instead of leaving them out of harm's way in order to use an NPC one. I Read the addendum again, and not to drag this thread off topic ( ), but basically commanders can never lead marines on a mission in a gunship? That's an asset the CC doesn't have (of course there's SC), but which I'm guessing you've restricted for other reasons. Anyways, back to your regularly scheduled programming....

Well, tonight's action was kind of fun. Marvin, Lost, Gordon, Khan, Chavik and I were onboard for about an hour (I think the others were there longer) and Marvin decided to do a little exploring on Galadran. Unfortunately he decided to use Khan's OC to do it, and when Khan left (I can't remember if he got dumped or quit) Marvin's ride disappeared with it. Well what are fleet buddies for if not rescue missions? Lost and I started tooling towards Marvin and I remembered what the GALCOM recruiter said back on Sol: "Join the navy kid, you'll get to visit exotic places, meet exotic peoples...and shoot them!" Well, at least that's what I was thinking. As it turned out, none of the auto-generated NPC's decided to engage me. (My reputation must be growing ) Now a funny thing about where Marvin had landed himself. He had Insurgent bases on three sides. Well, I always say that if you're going to rescue someone, you do it in full force. Somehow without picking a fight, I got my Megaron between the three bases and managed to land in the crater Marvin had parked in. Now somehow he had found another OC and when I finally found him it turned out that he had already made it back to where his shuttle had been parked, so it turned out I carefully picked my way through the Insurgent's nest for nothing. Well, a job's a job, and Marvin now gained altitude back and turned his compass needle home. I did likewise, but of course Marvin's shuttle left me in the dust as his quick recharge time moved him through the jumpgats and wormholes en route to Procon. That's why it was especially satisfying when I tried my luck in the Flux Field and hit the jackpot. Yeah, I was enjoying a leisurely iced-tea on the bridge when Marvin finally hit Procon again. We then discussed whether it was better to be skilled or lucky. I'll take the latter and learn the former I think. Kalshion had wanted some action shots of marines, so we took it on ourselves to go planetside and accommodate our friends in the First Orbital. I hit planetside in (the Procon equivalent of) Siberia and landed near some gunships that I discovered I couldn't fly. Marvin landed and tried with the same result. Well, by now it was getting late and the sun was setting over the horizon, but I did manage to get this shot of Lost taking his cruiser back out to resume Prime Fleet's vigilant guard over Procon's skies as they reddened with the onset of night. ZM out.

quote:Originally posted by Supreme Cmdr: And since when were the Insurgents a race? Well, I wrote the races, GALCOM, EarthCOM, and the Insurgents (corrected now ). GALCOM, EarthCOM, and the Insurgents are all organizations. Of those, GALCOM is composed of multiple races, and EarthCOM and the Insurgents are not, but the question about the political map is basically about whether the race/alliance stationed in a system (take, the Balor Fleet, stationed at Sygan in the Barnard's Star system) controls that system, and whether the races (such as the Vesperons or Kandorians) have political control beyond their home systems. Thanks again, ZM out.

Hey does anyone know if the Insurgency actually controls any systems? In the navchart.ini for the game (from which data I've fed my database) it has listed that systems are controlled either by GALCOM, Neutral, Valkerie, or Gammulan. I'm drawing a political map with rollover images that show who possesses what system, and I've got images for all the races, GALCOM, EarthCOM, and the Insurgency, but I'm trying to figure out who controls what. Does anyone know a better place for me to look? ZM out.

The Fleet Action website for coordinating multiplayer campaigns is now ready to begin doing so. On the site you will find forums with closed and open channels for fleets to coordinate with their members and with enemy fleets. Those of you who are interested, register and PM me there and I will have you put into the appropriate groups and databases for communication and tournament play. The tournament rules are still very much in beta of course, but I've done what I can prior to playtesting. When interested commanders get set up there we can get started. To reach me directly through an email address created specifically for these operations, use [email protected]. ZM out. [ 05-31-2004, 09:28 PM: Message edited by: Zane Marlowe ]

Wow, that's a lot more than I expected SC. Just a quick post to let you guys know that I've finish the database development phase of my "over-ambitious pipe dream" and interested commanders can contact me via PM to get involved in trying the proposed tournament rules out. The database I developed will support everything I proposed in the first post: logistics, strategic movement and engagement, logistics pools, system campaigns, individual battle results, commander experience tracking, intelligence missions, and system capture. At this point I'm working on making this available over the web, and for the time being, battle results will need to be worked out by emailing screenshots of exp, and setting up some ad hoc rules about spawning (before we get the data feed). Step 2, making the database itself available through a web application, is well under way. Step 3, developing a dynamic campaign map, is still at the conceptual stage. Again SC, thanks for all this stuff you're kicking in, it's beyond my expectations and supremely handy. ZM out.

Actually, "let me know what you think" is an open question for anyone who is interested. Tak's interested, so I'll continue my conversation with him. Tak, when I posted the idea for a MP fleet action tournament, I put the most complex idea there because if you put a simplified version in there then people invariably say "yeah, but you're missing...." (As it turns out, if you put too complex an idea in there then it turns out that people think it can't be done. We'll see friends So to answer your question, could we omit the flowchart from the idea and fight single battles to decide the fates of system, supported by forum use? Of course! However, I read your post twice and I'm not seeing how what you're suggesting is going to save time and effort. I've almost completed an Access database for this idea now, and it contains the appropriate quadrant, system, planet, and base data for SC's universe. I'll put the fleet and commander information in, and when I'm done building forms and reports, I'll have something I can use to quickly and easily track fleet movements, system's changing hands, battle stats, logistics pools for Fleet Commanders, and whatever else seems appropriate. I can post a my own map of the SP universe and direct interested parties to a website where they can read the rules, post in forums in the way you're talking about, etc. In other words, the first draft of my idea is almost done (as far as IT resourcing goes) in just over 48 hours; and I'll dress it up more in the days to come. Tell you what, I see the initial inspiration this idea attracted needs a little refreshing. I'm going to work this back end stuff out and post my results shortly. In the mean time, I meant what I said about not having worked out the logistics part. How would you guys rate your CC's? Would you offer any amendments to the proposed Strategic Map elements of the game? I'm curious to hear. ZM out.

SC, can you post an example link for me to look at? Also, this thread has moved towards a discussion of the back end support for how to accomplish this. Assuming that I figure that out, my interest is more in terms of the front end rules and presentation. Some outstanding issues I have not yet figured out would be the following: [*]How would you rate CC's in points that could be used in a logistics pool? [*]How would would you determine the amount of logistics pool points restored on a "resupply" strategic order? [*]Would you set limits on strategic resupply according to the possession of adjacent systems? (i.e., a supply line?) [*]Are there other kinds of strategic orders a fleet commander would carry out on the SP map? Let me know what you think. ZM out.

Let me sharpen my question. When I look at my server config tool, there's a scenarios tab that shows mp0000 loaded, and what I'm wondering is if the change you're suggesting is something that we might choose (or not) by using this "scenarios" part of the interface you've already created. (Is this tab only used for GBS?) My concern is that if we amplify the requirements to run the game in MP, then we risk losing some of the people who might be able to join us in MP because they don't have the system for it. If it's optional, we keep more people in the multiplayer game. If it's not possible to be optional, well, then I'd feel kinda iffy. On the other hand, you have access to the profiles of those who have registered here, so you could know what the average machine for this game's community looks like. ZM out.

Would this be an option set in server config such that you could choose seamless or divided, or would this be a replacement for the current divided regions?

Now remember SC, I didn't ask anyone to create this solution for me, and the database connectivity is on the database side, not on your game server's side. That reads, "no coding required" from 3000AD. By "send to a webpage" I'm assuming you mean that you can send text output to an email address or a maybe just an output file I can read off the net. What I am suggesting is that php can feed a text file from the web into a MySQL database--output to be determined later. Does 3000AD have to implement this? No, of course not. Does the user community have the talent somewhere to come up with a little php programming? Perhaps, so that's why we're having this discussion. You suggested that you could output information, and that's all I'm assuming that you'll do. The rest is up to us, and if we don't have the available talent, then I'll find a less-automated way to do this. I said it could be done with an excel file, a map, and a few push pins. If that's what it takes, then I can do that (in truth, I could do a lot more than that with Access, but I digress), but the important part is the front end idea, not the back end implementation. Map campaigns are an old staple of the tabletop, and extent to which we dress it up (with Flash, nifty websites, databases, etc.)is the extent of the community's interest, not the extent of 3000AD's patience for chasing fan pet projects (which is rightfully less). In short? This isn't the burden you're imagining SC. If you can do what you said you could easily do, I can find the resources to take it from there. ZM out.

quote:Originally posted by Supreme Cmdr: One thing I can probably do with minimum ease, is to have the server send a client's name, ship, rank, location and EPs to a webpage. I can also feed the race/caste of a station/base to the web page. This would be good for station captures etc. Of course, something like this would require clients to always use their same name/asset name each time they connect to any server.Hey SC, given that technology exists to load databases with text file inputs through email, this would be an easy automation step (as long we get the database to read the input correctly). The database could then calculate winners on the basis of EP, possession of a base, etc., and submit the results to the site admin for approval (the same way news sites currently allow admins to review news submissions through a MySQL/php back end). Admins could approve, and then the results could be posted to the website and the galaxy map could be automatically updated with new possession overlays. At least that's how the music sounds in my head! ZM out.

This is EXACTLY what I would need for the MP Fleet Action tournament I posted elsewhere. It helps the intelligence gathering part, and it requires fleets to perform recon in-game. I don't think you have to have the entire MP world, just a given system (Eluria system for example) and use existing solutions for jumping for everything out-system; i.e., load/unload regions per star instead of per planetary zone. Yeah, that would integrate VERY nicely into what I proposed earlier. ZM out.

quote:Originally posted by Zothen: Basicly a very good idea for UC-multiplayer, Zane, but like Eclipse I think it can be too complicated to organize. I would suggest to start it on a smaller scale with basic battles for sectors and extend the campain as needed for the participating players. I would start it without planetfalls and without the complex battleflow diagram. Just one fight for the dominance of a sector and so a progress through the sectors of the galaxy.Good questions, let me reply briefly because I actually have to get out the door here. 1. Organizing just means having enough IT resourcing to do it. If by organize you mean "get commanders to participate" then I look at how often the regulars show up on these boards and I don't think we're going to have a problem since asset commitments to a campaign are numbers of ships (i.e., spawns) not numbers of commanders. Playtesting will iron out the ratios there, but I defer that tuning question for later. 2. Second, other people have managed to pull this off, but my two best examples are not even from a computer game. Go check out Games Workshop's campaign map for the 3rd battle of Armageddon . In this campaign played on tabletops around the world, players reported their game wins/losses and the results were tallied by the company into an overall campaign result. They generated HUGE revenue in miniatures that summer with all kinds of custom stuff for that campaign because people wanted to fight for a goal, which is the same reason I'm putting this together now, it grows the community and the SC's revenue stream for future development. The event was so successful that they followed it with the Eye of Terror campaign last summer and similarly structured fantasy campaigns called Return to Albion in 2001, and Storm of Chaos this summer. If Games Workshop can do that with a non-automated tabletop game, a few graphic designers, a database, and some Flash eye candy, then I'm sure we can put this idea together. 3. Yes, I would have an automated webpage where people can see automatically generated summary information on the campaign. My rough idea is to have forums where user groups have access to "closed channel" topic areas specific to their race alliance, and "open channel" topic areas where fleets can communicate more broadly with one another. The game stats would be handled by something similar to the ladder software already in use by FPS clans. For a rough idea of what the the fleet action website idea might offer, go here, and for a rough idea of what the ladder software looks like when it's fully implemented, go here. The difference between the ladder campaign and the map camapaign is that victory and campaign dynamics are not points based, but location based. This will not be too terrible to manage because we're going to have an online version of the SP map; a rough draft of which I've been working on in Flash so I could accomplish rollover graphics effects that would show system possession dynamically by setting links to altered overlays in graphics in folders organized by system so that all you have to do to update a battle is change a link (which again could be automated). The first post in this topic is what the front end looks like. The back end can be handled by one guy with a map, and excel worksheet, and a few push-pins (on the low end) or all that stuff I mentioned above if it gets the interest and support of the community (on the high end). Either way, it's not too difficult to organize with the right resources. Getting people to play? Well, let's see how much YOU like living under a Gammulan flag! I say the commanders will rise to the occasion. Look at what organization we have (fleet db, rp, AAR's) already WITHOUT any real consistent multiplayer component. The community is up to the task. ZM out.

Well, part of the reason for not letting players used armed ships is because the whole purpose behind intelligence gathering is that you're doing it secretly. Now because the server logs the players and their locations, I can't very well keep secrets that way, but notice that the agent can choose whatever race/caste alliance he wants when he does the intel mission because that's his "disguise." Will it disguise him from other players on the server? No. However, it will keep him immune to NPC enemy responses, and that's all he needs to be able to get through enemy space. Getting past the other players means being sneaky about when you logon to the server in the first place. The agent has to move fast to avoid the players on the enemy side and get his mission done as quickly as possible. If the agent gets a fully loaded cruiser to do the job, then you've effectively lost the simulated element of surprise in the simulated campaign. ZM out.