PBEM Helper support for DOM2 is now ready

Fuerte · #1 February 12th, 2004, 11:32 PM

Download from here: PBEM Helper

In short, PBEM Helper automates the playing, sending e-mails and hosting. From the readme:

If you are running Host, make sure that e-mail address field contains the e-mail addresses of all players, separated by ; character. If there is only one extra player besides you, you still need to add ; into end of e-mail address, so that PBEM Helper knows that you are the host. When all players have sent their .2h file to you, then the game status changes to Host. Double click the game to generate the turn. Host will send the following files to all players: ftherlnd, *.trn. If you have Automatic Play enabled, all this happens automatically.

If you are just a player, make sure that the e-mail address contains the host's e-mail address. Player will send just one .2h file.

If you want to use the password sending with Ctrl+Shift+P, make sure that the password contains only numbers, not letters.

Norfleet · #2 February 12th, 2004, 11:34 PM

fthrland isn't really a file you should be sending out to everyone. Only the host needs to hold this file. The only reason you'd potentially want to distribute this file to everyone is if you're concerned that the player serving as the host will suddenly make like a ninja and vanish.

[ February 12, 2004, 21:34: Message edited by: Norfleet ]

Gandalf Parker · #3 February 13th, 2004, 12:01 AM

You might mention that its a Windows thing. I use windows to play Dominions but I would much rather use Linux to host it.

Norfleet · #4 February 13th, 2004, 12:42 AM

I would, too, except that I greatly prefer viewing my battle replays from this universe, instead of battle replays from a parallel dimension where the rules work differently.

Fuerte · #5 February 13th, 2004, 05:23 AM

I thought that ftherlnd is required on players as well, because it is modified every time I host. It also gets bigger I see. Yeah, at least it makes it possible to change the host anytime.

But are you sure? Does the player need only ulm.trn, for example? Or does he need ftherlnd once in the beginning?

Norfleet · #6 February 13th, 2004, 05:53 AM

The player requires ONLY the .trn file for the nation he is playing: Everything else is entirely superfluous. If you have the fthrland file, you'll be able to press the "host" button and advance to the next turn. This, of course, allows any player to advance the game privately and see what lies ahead.

While at present, the host retains a potential advantage if he cheats and exploits this, I do not think giving all of the players the ability to do the same is the solution! It's hard enough to find a host that won't cheat, let alone making sure every single player is honest enough as well.