View Full Version : SPMBT Volunteers Needed
Double Deuce
16 Mar 04, 11:08
OK everyone. Before we can go ahead with any campaign using SPMBT I need to check out a few things and make sure the game engine allows for certain things to work. I need 3 volunteers (will have 4, Artur has already given his intent to be involved).
What we need to test are;
Can SECURE PBeM Games be set up on a 3rd party machine (such as mine as referee) and then played on 2 other machines without problems?
Can battles be fought by more than 1vs1 such as 2vs2, 3vs1, etc. Basically can the game be exited out of in the middle of a turn and passed on to the next player on the team without problems opening the file by the new player.
What I am planning to do is create a small scenario and have the 4 volunteers play it, testing issues for the campaign. I will pair the players up, give instructions and send out the file. They will play it, reporting any oddities or crashes, etc here in this thread. If this works we can proceed with my project. If not we will go back to square one and find another way to make this work.
Volunteers should email me at doubledeuce@warfarehq.com
I would like to volunteer. Let me know what I can do. Thanks
-Al (manhunter)
(As it was previously said) I volunteer as well. Long live SPMBT :D .
Artur.
VikingNo2
16 Mar 04, 14:05
Downloaded the Game yesterday, I'm a little rusty but I will help out. :)
Hi,
count me in to help, if there is still room :)
Ivan Rapkinov
16 Mar 04, 19:03
1. Yes - as long as you give each player a seperate pw, you can save during the turn, and then pass it on.
2. Not easily, as designating various commands can be quite tricky, unless you assign it to an AI player, and then it screws it anyhoo :D
Note saving during a turn, and passing it on BEFORE ending the turn can result in a CF - not sure what causes it, but seen many turns replayed because of it.
One thing we used to do was set up an IRC channel and just DCC the turns across - SPMBTs biggest issue is being non-windowed (meaning you have to shut it down when you want to send a turn - no alt-tabbing), and this can get tedious when playing a quick game, especially when turns fail to load for various reasons.
in short, SPMBT is not as easy to PBEM as SPWAW, in fact it's a ***** in comparison. Make sure when you do run the campaign, that all players are well briefed on various issues.
As an aside, I would not recommend having 2vs2, 3vs1 type battles, as SPMBT is fickle and will bugger it up :D
Double Deuce
17 Mar 04, 00:02
OK everyone. Before we can go ahead with any campaign using SPMBT I need to check out a few things and make sure the game engine allows for certain things to work. I need 3 volunteers (will have 4, Artur has already given his intent to be involved).
I now have the 4 volunteers and they are;
Green Forces (Player 1) = Artur and KMP
Red Forces (Player 2) = ManHunter and Dita
The file is built and will be going out to Artur 1st. Each of you will get the "Team" password and detailed instructions on how to proceed.
I will also ask that you 4 post your comments or problems that may come up here for easier tracking and documenting.
Double Deuce
17 Mar 04, 00:43
The file has gone out with detailed instructions via email. The 4 players involved need to report their progress in this thread. This includes any problems as well so we can make sure this will work and see what kind of issues we might need to deal with.
Please note, there are NO objective hexes. They are irrelevent in Combat Campaign style play as are end game point scores. Basically, accomplish your given mission objective (in the email) AND kill the enemy :D
The battle has begun. Small map, small force.:crosseye:
Turn sent to KMP.
Double Deuce
17 Mar 04, 12:31
The battle has begun. Small map, small force.:crosseye:
The battle is small because we need one to test the multiplayer (2vs2, etc) and the 3rd party setup (me setting up the battles on my machine and setting team passwords).
One drawback is that SPMBT does not have a utility like WAWMap so I can cut/crop and paste sections out of larger mapsheets like we can do for the SPWAW Campaign. This means each battle map will have to be custom designed before every battle. This would in effect make the campaign unplayable (I won't have time to design 3-5 or more maps from scratch for every operational turn). I am working on an alternative to this and I think by having zones instead of hexes or preconstucted maps sheets I will be able to make this work.
NOTE: The forces you 4 are using in the test battle are identical to the force types that will be involved in the actual campaign ;)
The battle is small because we need one to test the multiplayer (2vs2, etc) and the 3rd party setup (me setting up the battles on my machine and setting team passwords).
That is reasonable.
However I will try to influence you to give one company of infantry or one platoon of vechicles to a player ;).
You may do a campaign with sectors and make the maps in advance. Maps can be made by contributors... Then you set up the battles in the contested sectors.
Artur.
I`ve sent the turn along, no problems to report!
Double Deuce
17 Mar 04, 15:06
However I will try to influence you to give one company of infantry or one platoon of vechicles to a player ;).
In this campaign players may not have set commands. I am working on an alternate command structure, more team oriented with a senior commander for each team. A Pro-Government General and a Rebel General in charge of each side and a UN Commander. The other players would help with the adminstration and planning on the forum and fighting the actual battles but 1 person per team would be designated as the "official" spokesperson.
Double Deuce
17 Mar 04, 15:08
I`ve sent the turn along, no problems to report!
Looking good gentlemen. We might be the 1st group to actually put this method to serious testing. Will be great if it works as I hope.
I was able to end the turn successfully. We are now on Green Team turn 2. Email sent back to green.
-Al (manhunter)
Got the turn. No problems so far. Carrying out the battle plan.
Turn sent to KMP.
Artur.
Double Deuce
18 Mar 04, 13:31
Got the turn. No problems so far.
Artur - Since you have played in the SPWAW battles in Red Snow using this method, how well do you think it holds up as being a viable option, the multiplayer part I mean?
Artur - Since you have played in the SPWAW battles in Red Snow using this method, how well do you think it holds up as being a viable option, the multiplayer part I mean?
If this game will go on as well as it went in the first turn, I think it is absolutely OK! Not worse than SPWaW. But first I would like to see how the replay works when there will be action.
Artur.
Double Deuce
18 Mar 04, 13:50
If this game will go on as well as it went in the first turn, I think it is absolutely OK! Not worse than SPWaW. But first I would like to see how the replay works when there will be action.
Good point. It may only work for the 1st player on each team.
Sent the turn along......
No problems....
I continuously hit the replay button on each turn I recieve and saw no errors yet. After contact will be the real test ;) Game sent out with no issues yet.
-Al (manhunter)
Turn received in order. The only warning is that the number of loads does not match the number of saves. I think I can live with that :).
No action to report or replay.
Turn sent to KMP.
Artur.
Double Deuce
18 Mar 04, 15:49
Turn received in order. The only warning is that the number of loads does not match the number of saves. I think I can live with that :).
This is probably because of the loading and then exiting and then passing the file on without actually ending the turn between team players.
DD, how did you set the battle up? Once a while ago some folks at Yahoo organized a 3vs3 NatoVSVarsawPact game. It was never played - I think because of security issues. What's the magic?
Artur.
Double Deuce
18 Mar 04, 16:55
DD, how did you set the battle up? Once a while ago some folks at Yahoo organized a 3vs3 NatoVSVarsawPact game. It was never played - I think because of security issues. What's the magic?
Did they have a website set up with details anywhere? Maybe this is something we could do after we run the test campaign. I am proud to report that I have found MOST of my old SP2 Combat Campaign Website stuff from about 6 years ago (1998). It is archived HERE (http://web.archive.org/web/20001007001803/www.aspmall.com/ddmain/tourney.htm)
I may try to reporduce it with SPMBT if I can get enough of the data back. Have to go through my old 3.5 floppies :-)
All is in order. Turn sent back to Green Team. First contact was made.
-Al (manhunter)
Turn received in order. Replay function worked ok. A T55 almost destroyed one of our ACs :surprise: . Turn sent to KMP.
Artur.
Did they have a website set up with details anywhere? Maybe this is something we could do after we run the test campaign. I am proud to report that I have found MOST of my old SP2 Combat Campaign Website stuff from about 6 years ago (1998). It is archived HERE (http://web.archive.org/web/20001007001803/www.aspmall.com/ddmain/tourney.htm)
I may try to reporduce it with SPMBT if I can get enough of the data back. Have to go through my old 3.5 floppies :-)
It was just a "normal" multiplayer PBEM game. I took a look at your site. Looks promising, I like the OOBs. Could you send the map image because I could not see it though. It would be interesting to participate in a NATO-WP campaign. I have red Tom Clancy's red storm. (Half of the book in Hungarian several times, all the book in English once :D ). I also got some good material about the Ethiopian-Eritreian conflict (1998-2000) :devious: .
Artur.
Double Deuce
19 Mar 04, 23:18
I took a look at your site. Looks promising, I like the OOBs. Could you send the map image because I could not see it though. It would be interesting to participate in a NATO-WP campaign.
The maps are gone unless I can find the stuff on my old 3.5" floppies I used for backup :cry:
There us a "red storm rising" campaign just released into the spcamo group. Haven`t really looked at it yet.
Sorry about not mentioning that I`d sent the turn along, couldn`t get internet access yesterday!
Sent the files along, no problem.
I replayed the turn also with no problems!
Turn received in order. Contact in more places!
Turn sent to KMP.
Sent file along...turn replay ok!
Double Deuce
21 Mar 04, 09:06
Looks like things are progressing well here. If this works it should be no problem for me set the battles up and assign passwords based on orders and stuff like we do with the SPWAW Combat Campaigns. It also shows we can have multiple player PBeM games if needed. With the addition of the Random Map Generator this is all looking extremely positive. That being said I will begin working on the detailed OOB's, Rules and other stuff needed to run a SPMBT Combat Campaign.
Turn played fine and Replay played fine. Game Files sent to Green team. Update: The Rebels took out some Pro government soldiers ;)
-Al (manhunter)
Sent file along, no problems.
Turn received in order. What a nasty surprise can a T55 be...
Turn sent to KMP.
Double Deuce
21 Mar 04, 18:31
What turn are you all on?
I did not take notice, but I would guess around 6. File sent back to Green with more combat and no problems.
-Al (manhunter)
Files received in order. Turn 7. Shooting everywhere.
Turn sent to KMP.
Artur.
Turn received in order. The T54 is tough...
Turn sent to KMP.
Double Deuce
23 Mar 04, 13:13
You 4 are just rolling along. I am glad there have been no load or other error messages during this playtest. I really appreciate the effort you are all putting in for me. I think this will help speed up my release date for enlistments for the Island Civil War Combat Campaign (http://www.warfarehq.com/steel_panthers/island_war/island_war.shtml).
Next turn sent along..no problems...Just some troublesome Government troops in my way:)
Files passed back to Green Team. No issues yet.
-Al (manhunter)
Turn received with no problems.
Played and sent to KMP.
Double Deuce
24 Mar 04, 11:02
If you guys want to throw in some more detailed AAR information that would be great. Not that you have a lot of forces to operate with :D
Rebel Sitrep:
Not many casualties reported ;)
Pro-Government
Lost HQ and many soldiers to an out of control tank.
Actually rebels lost 1 APC and few men. Just got another squad of Pro Government soldiers with the tank (T55???).
You 4 are just rolling along. I am glad there have been no load or other error messages during this playtest. I really appreciate the effort you are all putting in for me. I think this will help speed up my release date for enlistments for the Island Civil War Combat Campaign (http://www.warfarehq.com/steel_panthers/island_war/island_war.shtml).
Am I able to enlist yet?
regards,
clark
Double Deuce
25 Mar 04, 09:50
Am I able to enlist yet?
Chances are very good I will be "officially" opening up enlistments tomorrow (Friday the 26th). Probably later in the day, it depends on RL issues. I will make an announcement here on the forum.
Turn received and played. Everything ok.
Artur.
Turn will be sent to Red Team within the hour.
It appears that the tank was a T-54, but has since been blown apart. Our rebels are pinned in building with some Pro Government AFV's suppressing them with machinegun and cannon fire. Turn sent along without incident.
-Al
Yeah, the T54 is burning nicely :). Turn received in order. The Replay works, I saw how an AC destroyed the T54.
Turn sent to KMP. Can 2nd players in the sequence see the replay?
Artur.
Turn sent back to Green Team. Pro-Government AFV's and Infantry launched a counter offensive into the town.
-Al (manhunter)
Turn received and played. No problems so far.
Al, when you send this turn to DD please cc it to us as well to see the final result.
Turn sent to KMP. It was quite an interesting experience.
Artur out.
Last turn sent to Red Team.
Turn passed back to green. We (Red) lost another ATV.
-Al (manhunter)
lol...Turn 12 hit....This game is over.
Test complete. Final positions sent to Red Team.
The testing is over and results had been sent along. Good game all.
-Al (manhunter)
Thank you for the game gentlemen! :)
Very good game...I learnt a few things for the battle ahead ;)
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