No more Host Techs :)

[kengel]

I wrote a little MSDOS executable which is able to remove the host advances.

You all know about that pain of restarting every time cause only the host may get any advances at the beginning. Thats how the problem can be solved:

1. The host normally starts game

2. If the host doesn't have any advances, just begin playing. But if he does have some:

3. The host saves game and all retire

4. Execute the small program; it asks for the name of the saved game and modifies the file by removing all advances of all civs.

5. The host reloads the game and all player rejoin like a usual game resume.

The prog is freeware as well as the source code for those of you who are thinking of improving it; since it is version 0.1 there could be some bugs, but I think it should run in most cases

Get a zip package here
http://www.geocities.com/this_is_klaus/nohosttech.html
Please have a look at the readme.txt for closer details.

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greets from the Warrior of sky

<font size=1 face=Arial color=444444>[This message has been edited by kengel (edited May 30, 2000).]</font>

[War4ever]

well done Kengel, for all the chat about this i am surprised it took someone so long to make this program...... i hope it works

[Ming]

Heck, you don't need a program... scenario edit does that same damn thing

[kengel]

Ming: you are right, but this little thing is much faster

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greets from the Warrior of sky

[Empress]

Good job Kengel! I wish I had a little gold star, I would give it to you

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Apolyton Empress
My first Web Page

[rah]

Great Job Kengel, but I'm not a big fan of starting a game, everyone backing out and reloading a game. WAY WAY TOO much opportunity for tomfoolery. All you need to do is be modify it so it can be run while the game is running.

RAH
The effort is greatly appreciated.

and if you recieve tech for a "poor" starting position? At least when you see you have techs your in mountain swamp desert hell, and you can restart...
your telling me that you guys play for hours and hours, and you can't reload a game a couple times? get a freakin grip.

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Proudly Sayen, what about you?
Master of My Domain...

[carnide_]

Just for your info:
Kengel asked me to help him check the program.
It seems to work fine.
- - -
Now, when we were preparing to test the program, something odd happened:
Every time we started a game were the HOST has chosen a custom name for his civ, no free host techs were present. Example: You are hosting and you chose the French civ, but you rename their civ to Klubhgf, and the political titles from: King, Consul, President, ..., to: mhfh , jhg, kur, kfgh, perujk, ... . No free host techs then. Amazing!!
This worked out at Deity, or King level, and with several map sizes.
Can everyone replicate these findings? Thx.
- - -
I think Kengel has done a great job creating this program. A gold star award to Kengel.

[rah]

When I host, I always change the civ name and titles. I still get techs. What normally happens is it doesn't always take the new names and end up being just the babylonians
(I wish is was that easy)
Don't get me wrong, I very pleased to see people working on eliminating the host tech thingie.


RAH
Sometimes Lord of the Ferrets

[carnide_]

hmmmmm....
Thx Rah. Very interesting.
Sometimes I customize, but somehow, the civ's name /titles are unchanged. I have not figured out why. (any ideas, out there?).
But the thing is: when they are changed, both the civ name and the titles, to nosense things like brtpw, then I never got free host techs.
----
Only in this particular situation, with both names changed, and hosting.
- - -
Can someone try it, and post what was found?
TIA.

[rah]

I guess as usual, I wasn't clear.
I always change it to
RAH
Ferrets
Ferrets
Which i'm sure the program can't tell from gibberish. I host 90% of the time. And sometime I am the ferrets and sometimes it doesn't take (50/50). I get techs about 50% of the time. And not always the same 50% when my title takes. (but we do usually play on smaller than the normal small map, which with 4 or more civs leads to frequent host techs)

Did that answer your question or have I just misunderstood you again?

RAH

<font size=1 face=Arial color=444444>[This message has been edited by rah (edited May 31, 2000).]</font>

[SmartFart]

Rah: Are you sure you change titles as well?
As far as i remember i always see you as a King,Consul and such.
Or perhaps those changes affects only your game while others see your titles normal way?

[SmartFart]

Rah: Are you sure you change titles as well?
As far as i remember i always see you as a King,Consul and such.
Or perhaps those changes affects only your game while others see your titles normal way?

[rah]

SF, you're right, I don't change the titles.
I'll have to give it a try and see if that works. I'll report back after a few tests. Thanks for the clarification.

RAH
UDIDSY of the Ferrets

[Bird]

Hehehe. I've got a few suggestions for titles: Chief Cage Cleaner (too long perhaps), Deodorizer, Boss Breeder.....

[Ming]

I applaud kengel's effort in trying to solve one of the more annoying problems with MP...

But, if simply changing the titles provides the same effect, without any possibility for cheating accusations... YES!

[kengel]

Carnide: Many thanx for testing out the program , and thanx to some stars I have now

I tried Carnides theory about changing the default names, and it seems to work in most cases! I tried it out seven times on king level, and I got four times no host tech. However, on three times I got some techs (my civ names were changed, but I didn't check out which titles I got).

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greets from the Warrior of sky

[common_terry]

y not play white and wait for all 2 join after starting game

unlimited timer (5 min whatever)

dont play till people join.