Matrix Games Forums

I am finding it useful to keep a notebook to help me keep track of my Armies/corps/divisions and their marching orders.
I also keep track of enemy movements so it is a little more easier to help me plan my strategy.

I'm playing it just like I play WitP.  By the time my next turn comes in the inbox, I've fogotten the 30+ moves I made the last turn.

haha, I guess it is just a habit of mine but I agree, the scope and depth forces me and my terrible memory to add my own bit of micro-managing.[:D]

I agree that writing things down is a great help. Does anyone know if there is a way to dump the report from the previous turn to a text file? This would help me keep up with the flow of the war.

I agree. A way to get a list of what units were sent where and by what method would be great, especially if it can be printed out.

One problem, probably my error, is going through a turn with E/R or T/R and changing an important order for a unit I was sending somewhere.

I am going to make a spread sheet of the leaders so I can keep track of where they show up, where I send them and who they command. The space to write where I send them and who they command will be blank so I can write in pencil, and make changes as necessary.

I don't really have time to look into it at the moment (capturing game history for review and/or AAR writing).

I had while back written a check point utility for the AGE engine. Here is what I can tell you:

(1) As far as games go AGE is rather unique. Most games keep game state data cached in memory from turn to turn. AGE appears to load (containing existing game state and side orders) and generate fresh files (turn results and game state) with each turn execution.

(2) This means that one of the standard six files found in the backup directories contain the information which you seek. My guess would be either the HST or your side's TRN file.

(3) I did quickly scan these files which are text and I don't think the events are stored as the same simple text as they are displayed in the message log. So, it would probably require writing some form of data parser. A bit of work.

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Okay, here is another promising avenue. There is a LOGS directory. There seems to be a lot of turn captured information in these various logs. Perhaps, a post processor could be written to filter the appropriate log to cull the events of interest.

Until the cipher is broken,[;)] I'll use my pencils and scratch pads to keep track of my forces.
Light-bulbs are slowly starting to turn on as far as mechanics go.
Love this game, I am looking at it objectively and sometimes I will wrongfully think game mechanics are bad "features" and so far the game is well worth every penny.[:)]

Just got a chuckle every time I'm sitting in front of a thousand dollar computer and I half to pull out paper and pencil to make sense of a piece of software.

the TRN contains all the current data that can be viewed by the players (a bit more though...). The HST is the entire 'game world', both sides. One with some hundred of hours could even create a program that generate the ORD AI file instead of the AI I'm coding in AACW.

Keyboard on one leg, graph paper on the other, printed manual and leader list on the arm of the chair. Cat struggles for lap space but finds none. I will gladly risk the writer's cramp, carpal tunnel syndrome and disgruntled pet to finish the campaign.

ORIGINAL: MrBoats

Keyboard on one leg, graph paper on the other, printed manual and leader list on the arm of the chair. Cat struggles for lap space but finds none. I will gladly risk the writer's cramp, carpal tunnel syndrome and disgruntled pet to finish the campaign.

I feel your pain,LOL[:D]

ORIGINAL: MrBoats

Keyboard on one leg, graph paper on the other, printed manual and leader list on the arm of the chair. Cat struggles for lap space but finds none. I will gladly risk the writer's cramp, carpal tunnel syndrome and disgruntled pet to finish the campaign.

That bit almost ended up in a mouthful of coffee all over my screen. [:D]

ORIGINAL: Gem35

Until the cipher is broken,[;)] I'll use my pencils and scratch pads to keep track of my forces.
Light-bulbs are slowly starting to turn on as far as mechanics go.
Love this game, I am looking at it objectively and sometimes I will wrongfully think game mechanics are bad "features" and so far the game is well worth every penny.[:)]

Oh No! And I thought I bought an easy to play game between my WitP turns. Time to go to Kinkos (again).

A turn log has been requested on the AGEOD forums...It sounds like Pocus wouldn't object to a user made solution. Now, if only I had any skill at all in that direction.  If somebody does the work they will be assured a spot in gaming Valhallaa.[&o]

I've found myself losing track of what I was doing, and hitting the next turn button only to realize that I have left newly active units sitting, or completely forgotten to move that stack in Kentucky, or even neglected to buy replacements and reinforcements!

The only consolation I have as I get older is that soon I'll be able to hide my own Easter eggs.[8|]

Well, keeping a written journal will help my poor memory, keep taskers from getting lost and assist in writing that AAR I've been meaning to generate.

ORIGINAL: TheBloodyBucket

<snip>

I've found myself losing track of what I was doing, and hitting the next turn button only to realize that I have left newly active units sitting, or completely forgotten to move that stack in Kentucky, or even neglected to buy replacements and reinforcements!

<snip>

Judicious use of the E, R, T, and Y keys, along with the S and Ctrl-S keys, can reduce some of those overlooked units.

S = Sentry selected unit, so it won't come up again in the E,R,T,Y cycle until it is un-sentried, And Ctrl-S, will un-sentry everything when you want to have them all in the cycle again, for example, the following turn...

Now remembering "why" you sent them somewhere, that's an on-going problem for us older types...[:D]

I may be getting too carried away, but I added a small dry-erase board to the collection for turn-to-turn notes and reminders. It's an indicator of how much AACW has gotten under my skin. It appears that a lot of us old WITP'ers have taken a liking to it. I am not going to dismount the WITP planning map from it's place of honor on the wall above the pc yet, but I may have to buy another copy of the map book from the Official Atlas of the ACW and start razor-blading pages out of it!

Do I need therapy yet???

I don't think you need therapy, but a turn log that would export to a spreadsheet with detailed battle&nbsp;reports and running columns for casualties, prisoners taken/lost, size of total force,&nbsp;Table of Organization charts,&nbsp;etc.,&nbsp;combined with a an enlarged jump map that could be set to only show units yet to move/not on sentry.&nbsp; Oh, and an automatic&nbsp;screen shot of the jump map so you could make TOW III type gifs would be nice.

BloodyBucket,

Amen!! Losses seem pretty high and I'd like to know what the totals are turn by turn. Im sure we'll get supplemental programs from fans the way we did with WITP.

You may be interested: my uncle fought with the 28th from Normandy (not sure when they arrived) through the Hurtgen Forest and was in the Ardennes until December 15th, when he was pulled out of the line for trenchfoot. The next day his regiment was wiped out. I think it was the 12th -- I'll have to double-check. He was a machinegunner and had six crewmen killed in the campaign.

Any reason why there could not be a option added to the game that allows a turn by turn lookup of orders issued? It could be a simple piece of aged paper showing up on the screen with maybe even only a limited number of turns showing even to make it easier. Its just a suggestion.