Started playing an online game but now it is a PBEM game, anyway to convert it back?

[CraigStevenson]

Hello, we have hit a problem with an online game I am playing.

I am playing a game against a friend. We started the game as an online game but during one turn he saved it mid turn and closed it. When he tried to restart it, the game had become a PBEM game so he sent me the file.

I tried to open the file in PBEM but I don't know the password to open my turn (I am not even sure I created a password because we started the game as an online game). Hence, we are stuck.

Is there any way to recover a password or convert the game back into a online game?

cheers
Craig

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: CraigStevenson

Hello, we have hit a problem with an online game I am playing.

I am playing a game against a friend. We started the game as an online game but during one turn he saved it mid turn and closed it. When he tried to restart it, the game had become a PBEM game so he sent me the file.

I tried to open the file in PBEM but I don't know the password to open my turn (I am not even sure I created a password because we started the game as an online game). Hence, we are stuck.

Is there any way to recover a password or convert the game back into a online game?

cheers
Craig

Go back to the last PBEM++ turn that either of you can play and redo it.

[Hellen_slith]

How does one go back to a previous turn on the on line thing?

[CraigStevenson]

Yep, problem is we started the game as an online game through the TOAW online interface. When my mate saved the game and closed it down without finishing his turn TOAW dumped it from the online game and converted it to a PBEM game. I am not sure I have ever created a password for it but if I have I cannot remember what it is. Hence, we either need to somehow load it back into the online game system of somehow recover my password (I am not optimistic either way).

[Hellen_slith]

You should be able to find it by opening the json text file in a text editor (e.g., NotePad)
and using the "edit -- find" search tool

Search for the phrase "PlayerPassword"

and you should be able to find your password.

If you cannot find it, you can email me that file and I think I can find it.

The file is located in your "documents\MyGames\The Operation Art of War IV" directory

edit: I take that back, all those "PlayerPassword" fields are apparently those used to start games. Weird, I wonder why my json file has all those passwords from games that have ended long ago, I guess they just stay there for a time?

Or what the field "Awards" is for?

[CraigStevenson]

Thanks Helen_slith, unfortunately it looks like our game cannot be recovered and our game is done. Time to start over. The up side is that it was my opponents error and things were looking grim for me so it is not all bad.

[Lobster]

ORIGINAL: CraigStevenson

Thanks Helen_slith, unfortunately it looks like our game cannot be recovered and our game is done. Time to start over. The up side is that it was my opponents error and things were looking grim for me so it is not all bad.

That's the spirit. [:D]

Maybe should just go with the pbem and ditch the online?

[Hellen_slith]

The nice thing about regular PBEM is that when the scenario ends, you have the chance to save that last go as a PBL file which you can send to your opponent, and then they can also examine the whole board at the end and the total losses and other reports (if not replay the last move, at least you can do that ....)

Unlike the other on line, that just sends you a misleading email that you can replay the last move.

Maybe instead of that email, the server emails both players the final PBL file.

They should really fix that. I have two games going that are 200 plus movers if we go the distance, and it is going to be really frustrating at the end when one of us can't see the final result.

Maybe, at that point (the final move) the last moving player should then save the game out, so that they can email their opponent the final screen.

Really needs to be fixed. If I were a new player, that whole fiasco would be a real game killer.