Testbeds for battle - Battlesim, Customised or based on Actual Game Files |
Wed, 07 March 2012 18:05 |
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Battle sim creation[ 6 votes ] |
1. |
Use the pre-created battlesim |
3 / 50% |
2. |
Make a tested and then create the battlesim |
0 / 0% |
3. |
What are you talking about? |
1 / 17% |
4. |
Don't tell more people, d###it!! |
1 / 17% |
5. |
Use the existing game for the battlesim |
1 / 17% |
How do you guys create test-beds (for testing battles).*
Thought I'll ask, as I don't see many people acknowledging the last option, even though it is legit.
If you don't know what option 5 is, or how it's done, please leave a note below.
Also, please vote in the second poll, down in the thread.
Edit - Summarized post for accurate archiving.
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I meant to ask how you guys create battlesims.
I'll create a new poll, available below.
Three options.
1. Use the pre-created battlesim 3 / 75%
2. Make a tested and then create the battlesim 0 / 0%
3. Use the existing game for the battlesim 1 / 25%
If you don't know what option three is, please drop a note here.
I would love to know how many know of that option and how many haven't even heard of it.
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[Updated on: Fri, 09 March 2012 06:40] Report message to a moderator
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Re: Testbed creation - Dummy or actual |
Thu, 08 March 2012 16:15 |
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BeeKeeper | | Officer Cadet 1st Year | Messages: 214
Registered: December 2007 Location: Devon, UK, GMT | |
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I have used test beds for two different purposes so far. The first is simply to test a new race design for a game. In this scenario I set up a game with as far as possible the same conditions as the game I am planning on playing in, i.e. the same size universe, number of players etc. The other players are of course* the AI so I set them as expert and simply choose as wide a selection as possible. Not very scientific I suppose and as a refinement I should probably try and second guess what other PRTs the "real" players are going to select, although of course this does not work for IT - which the AI does not do.
The problem I have found with this method is there is a huge amount of luck in the draw of planets. Not so much of the HW but in what planets are suitable for colonisation around the HW. This has had a big difference in the outcome of the test bed games I have played so far.
The second use of test beds is simply to model a predicted battle.
I have come unstuck with this (SAS4 still hurts!) when I did not fully model all the players involved. For example, I was one of three players planning an attack on a fourth (he won the game so don't feel sorry for him.) and I simply added up all our ships and put them into a test bed as one player against the opposition. The model showed we would win but in reality we lost because 3 teams against one is not the same as one against one. What happened was the stronger player simply took us apart one after another, he did not attack us all at the same time - which is what I had modelled.
* I suppose it would be possible to set up a test bed where you play everyone and not use the AI - but I would need to be marooned on wi-fi enabled desert island to have the time for such a game.
[Updated on: Thu, 08 March 2012 16:20] Report message to a moderator
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Re: Testbed creation - Dummy or actual |
Thu, 08 March 2012 21:14 |
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PaulCr has made quite a sophisticated battlesim that uses the m-files/f-files.
But to be honest, I find it unbelievable boring to do battlesims with Stars or other tools. Especially since the battle-engine includes, well, let's call it a thrilling randomizing factor.
So what I usually do is to use pencil, paper and my calculator and I try to emulate the worst case scenario: enemy ships moving exactly right, my ships completly stupid, if initiative is even I always assume that my ships fire last (or first if it would be better to shoot last) and so on.
After having an overview, I assess the risks and then I decide wether I am in the mood to play it safe or risky.
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Re: Testbed creation - Dummy or actual |
Fri, 09 March 2012 06:58 |
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Altruist wrote on Fri, 09 March 2012 07:44 | PaulCr has made quite a sophisticated battlesim that uses the m-files/f-files.
But to be honest, I find it unbelievable boring to do battlesims with Stars or other tools. Especially since the battle-engine includes, well, let's call it a thrilling randomizing factor.
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Checked stars! wiki and the links show that the original PaulCr utility download links are down.
http://wiki.starsautohost.org/wiki/Utilities/Index#PaulCr.27 s_Utilities
Thankfully stars!wiki has his best util archived.
http://wiki.starsautohost.org/wiki/Utilities/Index#Stars.21_ Host_Creator
I agree that battlesim creation is a pain, but with Paul's host file creator, you get an instant battle bed, without a lot of pain/effort if it works well.
I don't see how a publicly available util which uses fairly obtained in-game information, saves grunt labor and time, could be considered unethical.
It would be unethical if others don't know about it, or they seem to have forgotten about it.
Which is why I made this thread
link to original thread on SAH
[Updated on: Fri, 09 March 2012 07:10] Report message to a moderator
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