The AI

[Grapeshot Bob]

ORIGINAL: baboune
Funny.. I always thought the AI in this game was a random number generator...

When I read this, the pop I was drinking shot out my nose.



GSB

[RayKinStL]

Well Marshall, if you are reading this, as a new guy to the forums and someone who has played through your game once, an someone with a stong affinity for GB, I would overhaul the way you do the naval stuff. It was very good IMO the way Avalon Hill implemented it. If you could go back to the original rules, counters, etc... I would strongly reccomend it. Just my thoughts.

[Marshall Ellis]

ORIGINAL: RayKinStL

Well Marshall, if you are reading this, as a new guy to the forums and someone who has played through your game once, an someone with a stong affinity for GB, I would overhaul the way you do the naval stuff. It was very good IMO the way Avalon Hill implemented it. If you could go back to the original rules, counters, etc... I would strongly reccomend it. Just my thoughts.

You bet I'm reading!
We've tossed around the idea of a classic EIA scenario with the original map, counters, etc. Lookd like a lot of people want this. Appreciate the thoughts.

[j-s]

ORIGINAL: Marshall Ellis

We've tossed around the idea of a classic EIA scenario with the original map, counters, etc. Lookd like a lot of people want this. Appreciate the thoughts.

That's great!
At least original naval system, dominant powers, kingodms, and original map whitout a minor diplomacy would be great! Please, when you have time work with this and let us know if you need help [;)]

[pzgndr]

We've tossed around the idea of a classic EIA scenario with the original map

If the scenario editor will handle map edits and the associated database changes for scenarios, that would be good. Would that be the case? Else if it's an either/or question for classic EiA or the current EiH map within the game engine, the majority would no doubt prefer classic EiA. But should the other minors be retained or no?? I would still like to have options if possible so I can try both and decide for myself what flavor of EiA/EiH I want to play.

Ideally if the scenario editor can handle all this, then the game would have considerable flexibility for other pre- and post-Napoleonic campaigns. [8D]

[Marshall Ellis]

pzgndr:
 
The editor will not allow map edits which is why we would need a few baseline maps to allow you to choose i.e. "EiANW Map", "Classic EiA", "EiA1792", etc. These maps would also include baseline game databases. It's a little more of a fixed design than I like BUT by adding additional maps we can get around that.
 
 

[pzgndr]

OK good, multiple baseline maps and databases would work fine too. [&o]

[Jimmer]

Before you put time into any extra maps, I think it would be better to craft a "zoom in/out" process for the current map. Otherwise, you may find yourself retrofitting a nightmare. If you do the zoomer first, then you should have a good model to build off of for the other maps.

[Marshall Ellis]

ORIGINAL: Jimmer

Before you put time into any extra maps, I think it would be better to craft a "zoom in/out" process for the current map. Otherwise, you may find yourself retrofitting a nightmare. If you do the zoomer first, then you should have a good model to build off of for the other maps.

The zoom function itself would be independent of the map selection / type or am I missing what you saying?

[Jimmer]

ORIGINAL: Marshall Ellis

ORIGINAL: Jimmer

Before you put time into any extra maps, I think it would be better to craft a "zoom in/out" process for the current map. Otherwise, you may find yourself retrofitting a nightmare. If you do the zoomer first, then you should have a good model to build off of for the other maps.

The zoom function itself would be independent of the map selection / type or am I missing what you saying?

It SHOULD be. But WILL it be? That's the question.

When you craft a zoom capability, there are many points at which you may inadvertently limit the tool to working only with one map, unless you do pure pixel-zooming. However, pixel-zooming (as you currently do in the corps/fleet box, to so individual spaces) would be nearly useless for the whole map. One wouldn't be able to tell what was what. So, pure pixel-zooming (blowing up the picture as is) will not work.

Instead, you have to actually re-draw the map at a larger or smaller scale. Or, use different sized maps. Either way, the zoom tool WILL be related to the maps.

[NeverMan]

Jimmer,

When you re-draw, it will be related to the current image (abstracted out). You don't have to re-draw based on a specific image, if indeed this is how matrix implemented the map.

[RayKinStL]

Any chance higher resolutions can be supported?  I have a 24 inch monitor and would love to take advantage of it.

[Marshall Ellis]

Well, a pixel zoom may be the only type of zoom I can render since I am only playing with a 4200 x 4200 BMP (Actually cut into 4 pieces to make the BMP loadable in Win98). This is the only detail I have on the map. I do not have the information needed to draw a tree in downtown Munich ... so to speak.

[Jimmer]

Try using a JPG file for the zooms only. You can make a JPG out of any bitmap.
 
The problem would be that users couldn't PLAY using a JPG if all the code is written around BMPs. But, you could at least show them the "big picture".
 
How you could do it is have the zoom tool create a JPG on the fly, incorporating all of the currently in-place board elements. It wouldn't be the same as scrolling a mouse wheel and actually being able to click pieces. But, at least it would allow different views. Also, if you took a "snapshot", it could even included the white-border movement possibilities. That way, for instance, a player could see how far his fleets could travel from Gibraltar in one turn.

[Edfactor]

So with 1.03 the AI will keep its forces more concentrated?
build more infantry and less militia (though miltia is still useful if your not britain)

[Marshall Ellis]

ORIGINAL: Jimmer

Try using a JPG file for the zooms only. You can make a JPG out of any bitmap.

The problem would be that users couldn't PLAY using a JPG if all the code is written around BMPs. But, you could at least show them the "big picture".

How you could do it is have the zoom tool create a JPG on the fly, incorporating all of the currently in-place board elements. It wouldn't be the same as scrolling a mouse wheel and actually being able to click pieces. But, at least it would allow different views. Also, if you took a "snapshot", it could even included the white-border movement possibilities. That way, for instance, a player could see how far his fleets could travel from Gibraltar in one turn.

Are you talking mainly of zooming out?
If not then I'm not sure I follow how bulding a jpg would give me the detailed info I need to zoom into a city and still maintain a non chunky resolution?

[Marshall Ellis]

ORIGINAL: Edfactor

So with 1.03 the AI will keep its forces more concentrated?
build more infantry and less militia (though miltia is still useful if your not britain)

Sure should be!
A couple of things you should hopefully see more of:

Larger stacks.
More intelligent attacks.
More intelligent building.
More effective use of Guards / Artillery.
More effective use of Cossack / Freikorps / Guerilla units.

[Jimmer]

ORIGINAL: Marshall Ellis
Are you talking mainly of zooming out?
If not then I'm not sure I follow how bulding a jpg would give me the detailed info I need to zoom into a city and still maintain a non chunky resolution?

Good question: Zooming OUT is what I'm referring to. I don't think zooming in is valuable except at the 2-3 area level, and one can get close to this with the zoom that already exists.

[Marshall Ellis]

Jimmer:
 
I understand now! This should be much easier. I can see this being quite useful in a strategic meeting. Being able to see the big picture.
 
 

[Jimmer]

Also, what would REALLY be handy is if we could print out the map in various sizes. You could use the same technology you create for this to allow printing of the map. It has to include board elements, though (corps counters, etc.), at least in placeholder format.