Aloid

Hmmmm... I don't know about all this... It just makes people kick my butt faster! :eek: Aloid (gathering moss)

Sounds great from where I'm sitting! Or anywhere, for that matter! Aloid (where am I sitting?)

As Immer and Titan are too painfully aware (but generous enough not to scold me for it), PBEM games take forever for me. It's hard for me to get multiple turns in, as I have family (small kids) and work to attend to. In this regard, I have to rely on a game's AI to really get my fix (those few times I can, which has been rare as well). I'll also say that SC has been a success in this regard! Since I don't get through a lot of games, I don't see the patterns the AI may take, so I'm lucky in this respect. Over time, however, if I find a game becoming predictable, I find ways to play a little more with-in it's boundries. Perhaps not play the game so much as play the "history", and not try out-landish tactics. In the end, a hard fought, close victory is more fun than a romp against a known weakness in the AI. IMHO Aloid (hey I'm actually posting something)

I still think you had MPPs stashed under the mattress -- after all, I am infallible (... or is that H.A.L.?) </font>

Oh great, now you tell me! Go tell Titan that I should really be beating him by now... heh! I suppose if you find cookie cutter ways to play, then this is all true. I have been trying out different approaches, and paying the price for my mistakes (Sweden killed me), and I'm having fun. That's the end goal to all this, after all. Aloid

Immer, I could tell you why I held out so long, but that would give it away. Wouldn't want to do that now, would I? Aloid

Immer Etwas and I had no problems playing our v1.03 PBEM game using the v1.04 patch.</font>

HQ sharing? Nicely done. On my way to download! Aloid

I've become somewhat of a lurker in the past weeks (darn work is really jumping right now), but, I had to chime in and heartily agree! I've not run across a company as dedicated to it's customers, nor a customer base as interesting (in a good way), as I have here. Well, all but that Matt guy, and okay, Super Ted, but I'm sure all the other guys are great people... heh! Aloid [ September 08, 2002, 01:46 AM: Message edited by: Aloid ]

Hey Bill, It really all depends upon how the original database was setup. Since each unit is tracked by name, type, strength points, and other status', I assume it might know its tech level. If the tech level is not part of the unit, but part of a table that tracks current tech for each unit type, then the rework would be a bigger issue. On the other hand, if each unit knows it's tech level, then it's not nearly as hard a change to make. (again, this is said without knowing how the DB and code are structured). If that is true, then on a tech change, don't update each unit automatically. Force the player to pay for each upgrade by unit. Reinforcement costs are a matter of cost calculation, and you reinforce at that units tech level. The impact on play is actually more significant than you might think. The way the game is now, it is exactly as if every Pz III, Pz IV, etc. is upgraded, everywhere in your armed force pool. It would make for interresting choices. IMHO Aloid [ August 30, 2002, 08:18 PM: Message edited by: Aloid ]

Hubert, sorry if I missed an earlier post (I did look), but I'm wondering what your thoughts are on the subject of players paying to convert old units to new tech levels when acheived. There seemed to be interest in this idea, as the immediate switch of all units to the new type seems too much of a boon. I obviously don't know the structure of the unit database/array/data structure (etc.) for the active units, so this could be asking for a pretty major overhaul (not the intent). However, do you see it as an interesting enough idea to explore? Thank you! BTW, your game is giving others quite a thrill at my expense, in PBEM! :eek: Aloid (still having too much fun!)

Didn't your momma ever teach you to say "please"? Aloid

Just a word of caution regarding debit cards & internet purchasing... IIRC debit cards are not protected the same way credit cards are against fraud. While BFC is reputable (I can't beleive I'm saying that) making debit card purchases online is supposed to be risky. Clean-up that credit! Aloid

No, no. 'Aaaauugggh', at the back of the throat. Aaauugh.</font>

"Downloads will be sequenced by lowest member number first. Your download will be terminated if others, more deserving, are trying to download the demo." I just saw this quoted somewhere. Aloid

Norse... I'm telling! You're a meanie! Dredging up these old bad dreams... Aloid

I, for one, am amazed just how much the real map of Europe looks like the one in SC. Anyone ever notice that? Too bad Hubert didn't have a copywrite on the map before plate-tectonics occured, he'd be rich! Aloid

My two cents... I agree with iolo regarding EUI & EUII. What was supposed to be so immersive, after reading such wonderful AARs, really wasn't. I think there was too much happening, with little way to take it all in and disseminate it. At any point in time, I couldn't really tell who was leaning closer to whom, and what devious thing someone did to someone else... it was lost in the pile of information that flew by. In the EU series, politics was supposed to be king, and that's where it lost me. As for HOI, since it's based on the same (but modified) engine, but would probably be very different on the political level, the system might work better. If warfare is king in HOI, then it's a little easier to deal with, as you can scan the map to see what's happening. Of course, you then end up with the common RTS problem of not being able to see everything at once, or be everywhere at once. The reason I stay away from many RTS games. Only time will tell if HOI will float. So, that brings us back to why SC is soo much fun. It's manageable, digestible, fun, and addictive. You don't get lost in any shuffle here, but are still managing things on a large scale. Managing the fun things! Aloid [ August 28, 2002, 06:28 PM: Message edited by: Aloid ]

As I'm in Southern California, it's a margarita, no doubt! Of course, it will have to be a blood red one! Or if I take Italians, perhaps a pee yellow one? heh! Aloid

I was on a similar path... going into Sweden early(ish)... Russia seemed okay with it, but what really set them off was the entry of Rumania, Hungary, etc. After that, Russia is ready to go, and I've got the Wermacht spread all over the place... The US still doesn't seem to care about what's going on. It would be nice for the game to give some more input on consequences when you DOW someone. Live and learn... Aloid (still have not taken Sweden...) [ August 28, 2002, 02:33 AM: Message edited by: Aloid ]

You're doing all this and attacking Russia? Are you on 1.03, and playing beyond +0? I've not been in that situation single player since the beta demo... been PBEM since... So how are things in the East going? Aloid

Well, try playing 1.03 at +1. I believe some AI agression has been added, and 1.03 adds other tweeks worth having. Aloid (Titan is going to kill me!)

I find it funny when McDonalds and Coke are brought up as the icons for the US's victory in WW2. I realize that they are despised in some places because they are seen as a symbol for capitalism, and thus supposed US power. Why I find it funny, is because I can get in my car to go to the store, drive past a bazillion foreign made cars (Japanese, German, English, Korean, etc.), buy Heineken beer (ice cold), or Corona Beer (Mexico if you don't know), find fresh produce and meats all the way from Australia (forget the Fosters, mate), try on clothes made in Indonesia, and buy just about anything, and it's made in China. Heck, I work for a company that produces and imports produce from 90 countries. Shipping to people around the world. I see the EU as a positive step toward bridging the isolated European markets, and bringing the global economy that much closer to the folks in Europe. Other parts of the world are moving together as well. This kind of change is difficult (and positively scary), just ask the Russians right now. I think the next war will be waged by those parts of the world that cannot adjust to this kind of globalization, or have some designs on global military power (China??). We're seeing the evidence of this rift in the Middle East. Rife with dictators, and governmental systems that are failures, these countries lash out at others, because they refuse to take the responsibility for their own situation. They say the US is the great satan, while not realizing that in many cases, the US funds aid to their country to help feed their people. This could go on… The bottom line from my point of view is that Western democracies, and the ideals of personal freedoms and self responsibility, are what won the war. Dictatorships, etc. where the losers. People won their basic rights right to freedom, which was arguably a game started by the French… so maybe we should blame the French for all of this! Aloid (BTW, the US has more people from more countries lving in it than any other country in the world. I don't know that I could tell you what our culture really is anymore. It's not what it was in 1940's... it's constantly changing, and I think a little lost right now.)

I found that any "strange" file in that folder will keep the PBEM routine from working. Look at the file sizes, they are all right around 460KB on my machine. Delete any odd files, and try again. Aloid

I can hear it now... spring 1940... Uncle Winston on the radio telling the armed forces of France to turn tail and run to England, to save democracy (the British Isles, and his ass). Sure Aloid