Intercontinental Tournament

where do I get the beta module?

Which beta module do you mean?

wrote:

where do I get the beta module?
 

The current v4 test version (a67) can be downloaded here .

This version will read the game logs here, with one minor flaw; games logged under a previous version won't show the command card draw deck (the cards are there, as shown by the card count below the deck position).

PS Mark McG will need to attach replacement log files, as the ones originally posted are from C&C Ancients games.

ooops.. now replaced

must work on my file naming

Mark, you did a lot of great work but the interface is really heavy for me now. I think I will steal a couple of ideas for my modules but in general, I don't think I like the "guided" approach you are implementing. Maybe it is helpful for new players but I feel "constrained". Like having a navigation app that pretends to tell you where you are supposed to drive And BTW have you noticed your module is 250MB?

wrote:

Mark, you did a lot of great work but the interface is really heavy for me now. I think I will steal a couple of ideas for my modules but in general, I don't think I like the "guided" approach you are implementing. Maybe it is helpful for new players but I feel "constrained". Like having a navigation app that pretends to tell you where you are supposed to drive And BTW have you noticed your module is 250MB?

Hi Giulio, You are welcome to any ideas and I look forward to seeing what you do with them. I started by learning from your implementation of combat markers in C&C Ancients, so it is just returning the favour.  

On the guided approach; have you noticed that you can turn off many of the command restrictions (Preferences...Game Options or, in game, Hotkey F12)? It's been a while since I tried to play a game with restrictions off for more than a workaround, but if it might help with a concern like yours, then I'd be happy to investigate whether an entire game is viable and if the feature can be improved. Likewise if there are any specific constraints that you've especially noticed (or is it all of them?).   As for the size, yes this a cost of adding a lot of functionality to a module with 120+ scenarios. I could re-do it in less but how much less I am not sure. Perhaps 200Mb without losing function.

Whilst I have enough positive feedback to think what I call my "lock-down edition" is worth completing, you've strengthened my doubt about a general release in its current form. It may be that I eventually release it as an alternative for players who don't mind or, dare I hope, enjoy the different approach. Believe it or not, some people find it faster to play; but these are regular v4 users who have not developed strong "muscle memory" for the current version.

So, in conclusion, I'm happy to support anyone who wants to try and feedback on V4 of the module for this tournament. However, I will announce v3.5 more generally, for some feedback. That is the version that I will push for a release on Vassal, and build from there.

Mark

My view is that after 2-3 games, you become accustom to the Combat Assist, and it reduces the amount of typing, right clicking or hotkeying I was doing.
The huge advantage is that the card ownership issue is resolved, which is a major hassle with the 3.42 module.

So I think this modue needs to get a bit of wider playtesting by experienced players to generate ideas like Giulio's and get some feel for options and preferences.

wrote:

My view is that after 2-3 games, you become accustom to the Combat Assist, and it reduces the amount of typing, right clicking or hotkeying I was doing.
The huge advantage is that the card ownership issue is resolved, which is a major hassle with the 3.42 module.

So I think this modue needs to get a bit of playtesting by experienced players to generate ideas like Giulio's and get some feel for options and preferences.

That is encouraging. "Combat Assist" evolved exactly for the benefits you have found. For inexperienced or stressed players it also improves accuracy for combat hits, leader checks and retreats.

On Card Ownership, I agree, I haven't heard of an issue with the v4 module in the many games that have been played with it. Also, I never heard of one with CCAv4 or CCM modules. It may be that even limited automation is enough to avoid the synchronisation issues that seem likely at the root of the problem. It also may be that the latest versions of Vassal (especially v3.5.5) have fixed it, as there were some unusual bugs to do with decks that came out of the woodwork and got resolved. None specifically sounded like our one though.

I still think I should release a CCN v3.5, if only because after a year of learning and module development I would like to deliver an improvement to fellow players that I believe can achieve widespread acceptance. I think this would be a good interim step and incidentally, might well resolve the card ownership issue.  Meanwhile, those with an appetite for more, could help out with play-testing the more "advanced" version. This last would be a very valuable exercise for me to get v4 as good as it can be for a wide group of players but it will remain a Vassal challenge that increasing functionality incurs a disproportionate increase in save/log file size, and that may be an issue for PBEM players.

Mark

    round2 vimeiro game1(alliees )philippe 6/5( france) markBan incredible comeback after lucky card turned at 1/5.... near 2h20 battle,,,,  

Game 1 Vimiero:
Carl Moon (French) 4: 6 Ben Turner (British).

A tense game until the end. The British played aggressively at the beginning and thwarted the French on the right with the help of good cards, then assaulted in the center for the winning flags.