PBEM-- - tool to facilitate multiplayer team games (2vs2, 3vs3, 4vs4)

[Niedowidek_slith]

Commanders,

I would like to present you an utility that (I hope) could help in managing PBEM team games i.e. games with two or more players on each side.

Telemecus described team games in details here: fb.asp?m=4788425

PBEM-- has two parts. Client is a Java program that you use on your computer. Client connects to Server part which has a database and stores team games (called "matches"), users, orders, reports etc.

So, in essence, it works a bit like Matrix PBEM++ but allows to play 2vs2, 3vs3, 4vs4 players (and any other combination including co-op games against AI). It is however an external program so you need to upload and download savegames using Client.

Before I say more, please bear in mind that this is the first publicly available version, so treat it like a beta version. Improvements will come and in fact are necessary.

Here is more detailed manual: https://www.dropbox.com/s/bjxha9kd7cfxn ... 9.pdf?dl=0
but below I provide a short description.

First, you download Client from my Dropbox:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lf7egsklfhxct ... 5.jar?dl=0

(If you don't have Java installed, follow instructions found here: https://www.java.com/ )

Then double-click downloaded JAR file. Window like this should open:

[Niedowidek_slith]

(Original post has been divided to include all the images properly)

Please create an account. Then login to it.

[Niedowidek_slith]

Then create your first match and invite your friends.

[Niedowidek_slith]

General rule of interface is that a green area is your friend.

Here, green area has all you current games (those in bold are the ones you can open because it's your turn).

[Niedowidek_slith]

After opening a game you'll see the game's (match's) details.

[Niedowidek_slith]

Again, green is your friend as it contains orders from team leader and reports from other players. You also write your report here.

Upper part (grey) - basic info about your match.
Lower part (purple) - your last actions (download, upload, update of match's info)

Important thing:
- Download and upload are for managing savegames - sending them to and getting them from the Server. Downloading locks the match for other players - they won't be able to open the match nor download or upload their savegame. So it prevents messing up the savegame in a situation when two players simultaneously downloads and make moves without knowing about each other.
- Update is for orders and reports. It doesn't make any changes to savegame. It doesnt lock the match.


I hope it's enough for start (manual has more details) and I really really hope that you would be interested in using it. I would recommend to test it on a small scenario. If anything fails in Client or Server, you still can use your savegame as in traditional PBEM (sending it via email). But if it fails, please tell me and I'll try to fix it.

It is made for WITE, but would be easy to use with WITW or WITE 2 (when it comes).

I'll be happy to add new features if you, Commanders, start to use it and find it helpful.

Artur