No Diplo EA Game - No Wankers Allowed - Game Over, Baalz/Abysia Wins

[Calahan]

Ok everyone, I've just started the game for the second time, and once again it appears to have disappeared

I think there is a problem with the llamaserver, as the map selection and browser page isn't working correctly, as it's not updating the info displays when you select different maps. Although the old browser seems to be working fine. (maybe we broke it when we uploaded the map?!??)

I contacted llamabeast regarding this earlier this afternoon (when I thought it was just a map browsing problem) but I'll contact him again now as it appears to be a more fundamental problem with the server that is preventing games from starting. Although having said that, I have noticed other games starting recently, so maybe the problem is with using new uploaded maps.

Either way I'll contact llama, as I don't think this game is going to get started without his help.

[Calahan]

Right, I have PM-ed llama to let him know the situation. I have also tried creating another test game using a recently uploaded map, and that vanished the moment I started it as well. So there is definitely a kink in the system somewhere.

I need to get some sleep now, but while I'm waiting to hear back from llama, I might try and create test games with a few different maps until I find one that can be used to both start the game, and is suitable to our needs (there are several versions of both the Alexander and Asia Twist maps on the server, some uploaded long ago. So I'm hoping one of them will work. Although llama sprinkling some of his magic dust in our direction is still likely the prefered solution.)

[Marmaduke]

Maybe llamaserver has a profanity filter and erases games with bad words? (Just joking bro. Good luck with launching the game.)

[Calahan]

Ok everyone, I've done some testing this morning (many apologies to llamabeast for spamming his server with fake games ) and it appears the Alexander map has vanished. As I tried starting games with 3 different version of it, and all went up in smoke the moment I started them. (but then I tried starting a game with the recently added Land of Legends map as well, and that also vanished when I started it. But another game recently started using it with (it seems) no problems. Just odd all round basically ?!?!)

But I just tried starting a game with the Asia Twist map, and that started just fine.

So my next course of action is to try re-uploading our version of the Alexander map, and the original version, and then trying to create games with those two maps. If that works, then we should be good to go for another start attempt. If it fails, then I guess other than waiting for llama (which I never like doing as he's a busy guy, and I like to see people trying to solve their own problems first), we will just have to go for the Asia Twist map that is already on the server. It apparantly has fixed starts for 16+3.

Will keep you all informed of my progress as best I can.

[Calahan]

I will hesitantly say that I think we're in business. I just re-uploaded our map for this game (changing all the file names), and tried starting a game with it (MapTester4 for those interested), and this time it did start correctly, and sent out turns files like it did in the good old days

I will test it again to make sure, but if that test goes ok as well, then I think we are on safer ground to go for a third attempt by re-uploading Pretenders again. (as we've sent some scouts out this time to test the land )

[Aethyr]

Calahan, we all owe you a big "thank you!" for working so hard to get this game up and running.

[Calahan]

Originally Posted by Aethyr

Calahan, we all owe you a big "thank you!" for working so hard to get this game up and running.

Don't thank me yet as you might jink things

---------------------------------------------

@ All - Further update

I have created a clone of our game on the llamaserver (MapTester5) which did successfully start, has appeared on the running games list as it should, and it sent out the turn files for turn 1 as expected. (I got properly spammed with new turn files )

I will now go through the process of checking each turn to ensure the starts match the province #'s intended, to make sure the map uploaded correctly more than anything. If all that checks out, then I will re-create the game again for you to all upload Pretenders to.

(I will leave the MapTester5 game on the server until the game starts though, as if all else fails, I'll just un-start that game and in theory we can use that as the chassis. I think )

Will post another update soon.

----------------------------------

Edit - Not a Welcome Update

Houston, we have a problem. Just checked the starts, and two of them are right next to each other But they do match the starts in the .map file, which means the map needs to be re-done (provinces 258+264 are the culprits for those who downloaded the .map file). I hoped someone would have spotted or troubleshooted that while I was away. Oh well.

So the game starting problems seem to be solved for the moment, but I will have to examine the map file closer and see if the error is just a typo or not. If it is, then it's likely an easy fix. If not, someone (or me basically) will need to balance all the starts again. Which will sadly push the start ETA back a fair bit


This has already taken too much of my time this morning though, so I likely won't be able to get on the problem until much later today.

[Calahan]

I've had a chance to look closely at the map, and the starts at 290+269 are adjacent as well. So the problem with the starts at 264+258 wasn't just a typo. (so even if the previous attempts to start the game had started, neither would have been any use to us)

This means the map is unusable in it's current form, so it will basically have to be re-done from scratch for 17+2. I personally won't have time to do this until Sunday at the earliest, so if someone wants to volunteer to get it done before then, please be my guest and step forward

Or

The Yomi player did not report-in in time for the start of the most recent attempt to get this game going. So I am starting to edge strongly towards booting the Yomi player and going with just 18 players. This has the huge advantage (I hope*) of allowing us to use the July 2008 version of the Alexander map, as that has pre-set starts for 16+3 (which I'll edit slightly for 16+2). Or the Asia Twist map which also has pre-sets for 16+3. (again it should be another easy edit job for 16+2)


* I say I hope, as this will mean uploading another map + image file, when we are back in the lap of fate with regards how happy the llamserver will be.


I'm also slightly unsure about creating the game (to allow Pretender uploads) until the map is sorted, as maybe changing the map after the initial game creation is what is causing the problem (and haven't got time right now to test this theory)


I'll hopefully get back to you a little later with a decision. (although I must admit the more I think of it, the more attractive the option of starting with 18 is looking. Since the Yomi player did use up all of their credit by not uploading their Pretender in the three days the 2nd game was in the waiting for Pretenders stage)

[Ragnars Wolves]

I am in that Land of Legends Map game and they modified it a bit to have 9 fixed starts (1 Water). All starts have 4 provinces, 1 farmland 1 mountain etc except 2 nations (and they got 1 extra province).

I know that map is too small for your game but you mentioned it and I thought I would just give you some info on it.

The guy who did the mod (we may have a new budding mod maker among us)is attackdrone if you need some info.

The name of the game is Kindanew.

[Kobal2]

@Calahan, Executor : would it be a dick move for me to drop out at this point ? A fat load of work landed on my lap more or less unexpectedly and I'm not sure I can make time to play 4 games at once in the short term, least not with much attention.

I obviously don't want to take a steaming dump on a game you guys have put so much effort in to get going, so if my dropping'd cheese you off I'll figure something out.