I know nothing about AI programming (or Java).
But with the e-mails, it should as a bare minimum indicate what target value the dice were rolled at. That should be an easy fix, no? Or does the dice server only roll as many dice as TripleA requests, and then TripleA interprets the result by assigning the dice in the order rolled?
Sounds like TripleA might be the best option for PBEM out there. Does it allow bidding though?
IIRC, the subject line from the dicey email tells you how many units of each type it is rolling for. eg. “Attacker rolling for 3 inf 4 arm” then the number string is in that order. eg. “2 1 3 5 6 2 4” would be 1 inf and 1 arm hit.
TripleA does allow bidding, but as of yet does not allow unspent bid amounts to be rolled into starting cash for one of the axis powers (you have to spend the entire bid amount on units to place prior to R1). We hope to fix that. In my opinion, TripleA is the best option for PBEM, but is missing some handy features to make it even better. Give us a bit more time and we’ll hopefully have something that works even better for PBEM than the current TripleA does. Unfortunately, since TripleA is a game engine, all players must use TripleA (ie. one cannot use TripleA, one ABattlemap, and one a physical board, for example). Some players are hesitant to use TripleA for various reasons including, but not limited to; their computer is too old, TripleA doesn’t have the features they need (ie. carry-over bid amounts, or edit map features, or turn summary unit listings, etc.), or some just prefer using a physical board.
What’s the point of end-of-turn summaries if you don’t need to enter the results on a board or abattlemap (which seems to be unavailable for download anyway).
And how big are the save files for e-mailing anyway? I’m guessing they’re small, since they are XML files. Actually, since they are XML-based, there should be no major obstacles to creating some web-based application to display results.
How long do you think before you can post a beta of what you’re working on now? I’d be interested in helping to test it if that’s needed.
My brother’s currently working on some coding. He won’t even share the code with me, so I dunno :lol:
End of turn summaries are nice if you still want to post your turns on a forum. Not necessary in order to play with TripleA, but a lot of players like to post their turns so they can go back after the fact and skim through their previous games. Plus it shares the game with the rest of the community.
I think the save files are around 20k or so (I think). If you are interested in beta-testing, we could fire up a multi-player game once our current game is done.
Rob
Turn Summaries are a requirement for any system where you manually input data. This would include anyone using a physical board (there are a few of us out there who love our game boards), or for folks who use ABattlemap, but do not accept attachments via e-mail and instead enter all moves to their own map each turn.
And the benefit for admining a Tournament is VERY great.
I need to beg a copy of Mots Mapview A&A module from someone. I can’t find it on the Mots Mapview webpage, and I scoured the AAMC site to no avail (all the AAMC links to it from this site are now broken).
Does anyone have this module that they give it to me? (looking for both Classic and Revised) :?
What’s your e-mail - I just downloaded them yesterday. At least the AAR one.
Frood, I PM’d you my email. Anyone else have a AAC module (classic)?
Being the aforementioned brother “currently working on some coding”, I guess I can provide an update.
I’ve been working on a number of PBEM improvements to TripleA, with success. Our test game has been at a stalled pace for some time because I am generally busy, and have been putting any free time I get into hacking TripleA instead of playing it (no really, it’s not because I’m getting spanked in that game!). As a result, I expect to have a new jar file for TripleA (Stable 0.8.2.2) for beta testers to play with by the end of the weekend. I am currenlty putting on some finishing touches.
The overall goal is to make TripleA the easiest way to play PBEM games, even if your opponent chooses not to use TripleA.
Here’s a summary of work done so far, for those interested:
There have been some comments about TripleA not being a map editor. The ability to freeform-edit a game-in-progress in an auditable fashion is next on my list of things to tackle. This is a tricky undertaking and I am engaged in design discussions with Sean Bridges (the TripleA author/maintainer).
Stay tuned this weekend for an initial beta of my current changes.
If the opponent is not using TripleA, how do the results of their moves get put in? I guess that’s where the “Map edit” feature would come in.
Why does that need to be auditable? When people update their board or ABattlemap, nothing is auditing them in that.
Rather than a map edit, why not just add a feature to enter number of hits manually instead of rolling dice? Then you can take the number of hits rolled by DAAK by the other player and just move the game along that way.
Guys,
So that we don’t completely hijack this thread, I’ve created a new thread for these discussions on TripleA changes. Please post any further comments here:
To bring it back on topic - the dicey.net links in the first post are out of commission.
Also, for new users here I think a comparison between the different maps and map software available would be helpful. I’m still not sure whether ABattleMap or MapView is better, and neither is mentioned in the first post.
TripleA. This one is not just a mapping utility, but a game system as well. Comes with all the maps.
http://triplea.sourceforge.net
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ABattlemap. This one comes with all the maps for A&A. It’s not the prettiest but it does have some nice features.
http://wartime.3.forumer.com/index.php?s=59fd42b6d1e201c058f239accd63dde6&showtopic=104
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Mots Mapview. Looks like because of copyright issues, it is difficult to get the modules (maps) for Axis and Allies for this program:
http://www.motcreations.com/mv_download.html
Here is a working link to download the Mots Mapview AAR Module (AAMC links are dead):
http://www.geocities.com/aa_4online
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Here’s a pretty good how-to
http://p078.ezboard.com/ftheofficersclubfrm49.showMessage?topicID=1.topic
Thank you RJ for posting updated links to the various programs that are NOT Dicey.net dependent :-)
I’ll let djennsen know so he can update the links section of the site.
Updated the first post, and just quoted rjc’s post with those additional links.
I’ve added a new tool to my site for submitting blind bids, as an alternative to DAAK. No account required. Check out http://frood.net/aacalc/bid/
Heydily Doodily, dudes -
http://frood.net/aacalc/maps/ now features links and/or downloads for ABattleMap, including the patch, the AAR module for Mapview, and a link to TripleA.
Additionally, there are six map images that can be used as wallpapers, planning aids, whatever…
I knew my money was well spent supporting you and your site :-)
Even if I AM winless against ya….
Up for a re-match? If so, I’ll add you to my queue…
all righty… put me back in the hopper…
in battlemap my little box that has $ and the little box that you use to add pieces
has dissapeared how do i make it come back
