 Information Trading programs that you use? |
Tue, 26 November 2002 11:34  |
|
 FurFuznel |
 | |
Messages: 437
Registered: November 2002
Location: New Brunswick, Canada | |
|
What is everyone's favourite program/method for trading information with their allies?
I have only sampled a few of the information trading programs and was wondering what everyone else prefers to use?
Here are my brief summaries of what I know about the programs that I have tried:
1) Stars! Notebook v2.xf:
this program reads in .map, .pla/.p##, and .fle files
allies can trade information simply by providing each other with their .pla or .p## files
the program checks for differences between the data currently in the file and the new data being added
the map that is created from the data shows plenty of useful information including starbases, territories (also called Zones of Influence), and planet specs.
the colours of each player can be changed which is nice as you can make all of your allies shades of green and all of your enemies shades of red or whatever
you can draw on the map and add text which are both really nice features for sharing information with your allies about borders or the locations of enemy fleets, etc.
the program lets you record the names and racial traits of the other players in the game and enter information into a log file on each player
unfortunately the map does not display any fleets, nor does it show the network of safe Stargate routes
there are some options for saving as well which allow you to limit the information saved into the .snb file before you send it to a friend
2. Information Trader for Stars beta v1.45
this program is similar to the Stars! Notebook in that it can read in .map and .pla/.px files but it does not read in the .fle files at all
the map created using this program can display the starbases, show the planets weighted by resources, or population, or value
the program also lets you enter in the race names and primary ratial traits of the other players in the game as well as keep a log on each player
one difference about this program is that it stores the information back out as a .pla file instead of as a proprietary file type
you can also strip any of the information fields out of the file (ie. planet owners, starbase type, minerals, etc.) which allows you to create modified .pla files to provide to your allies. This is an interesting feature which allows you to limit the information that you share
this program also has packet and invasion calculators built in that allow you to estimate the size and speed of packet that you need to send at an enemy planet or the number of troops to drop on the surface to take out the enemy
these calculations can also be presented in the form of graphs (although I have never managed to get all the graphs to work properly)
this program also allows you to draw on the map
as the only files that can be saved are modified .pla files I find that I rarely use this program
this program does not show territories or ZOI
3. Stars! Secret Intelligence Reporter v0.5 Beta
can read in .map and .pla files only
this program creates a full map just as the previous two programs did
you can draw on the map and even create war plans that can be saved in a seperate file type
the calculation tools are not functioning in this beta
the program also allows a data trust factor to be used
the program does not show territories or ZOI
the program allows you to filter the planets based on any number of variables (population ranges, defenses, starbases, etc.)
this program also allows you to add notes
this program has a seperate section for identifying starbases and their owners
this program allows the data to be saved in a .sir file
this program also allows for the saving of filtered data, which allows you to control how much information you share
4. Xtreme Borders v 1.6.8
this program deals specifically with the .p## files associated with the .map file and requires that they all have the same name (ie. mage.map, mage.p2, mage.p5, etc.)
the files need to be available when the program is loading and you need to know what years each of the files came from
this program is packed with features including adjustable SOI settin
...
Shadallark <==> FurFuznel
Mental anguish is for those who choose to think - FurFuznel
running Mac OS X 10.6.7
Report message to a moderator
|
|
|
|
| Re: Information Trading programs that you use? |
Tue, 26 November 2002 12:22  |
|
|
|
ul>etings,
To be honest I strictly use Stars! Notebook for its ease of use, ability to keep notes, draw borders, a plan (all with the ability to be saved as a low sized *.VEC text file) which can be exchanged with allies without giving out to much information (saves on sending BMP maps for example).
The program also comes with the option of dumping all your notes and information you have gathered from other players and dump each one into a seperate file, which you can change and edit as you wish using a simple text program such as edit/notepad/or wordpad.
The ability to view Territory also gives you a general idea of how much power an neighbor has to push around as compared to your current border, and as far as fleets go you still have access to it and can modify it if you wish. Keep in mind that you can use the VEC files to designate waypoints (you have a variety of lines and colors to use for such things for drawing) and general locations of important fleets and keep note of them in your Log file (which is also included).
Trading information is easy as there is a designated part of the program for all 16 players with fields including their PRT/LRT, Homeworld, Player name, e-mail and other fields. The notebook also puts all your information into a database and not only gives you an total of all your assets across your empire, but also the average mining rate, total mining rate, total population, total territory, total resources, average resources, average hab value and so much more!
With the ability to create simple imformation databases that sum up not only your own empire but also the portions of your neighbors territory (that of which you have scanned), the ability to plop it into a text file, the ability to modify the information, and also the ability to transfer border agrements (also modifiable using a text editor) which can be imported into another version of Stars! Notebook's Map utility without worrying about download time has proven to me to be the best way to keep trading information quick and effecient.
Couple this with Stars! Calculator and Morten Lassen's Pop Manager and your MM becomes that much easier! 
Just my 2c,
Stalwart
"Attaining one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the pinnacle of excellence. Subjugating the enemy's army without fighting is the true pinnacle of excellence."- Sun TzuReport message to a moderator
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: Information Trading programs that you use? |
Wed, 27 November 2002 13:52 |
|
|
|
Packet attacks on anything but the lightest of defended worlds is fairly pointless.
The only race that can packet attack with any level of success is SS, so long as you dont over launch the packet it gets 75% cloaking, surprise surprise. Anyone else can simply move the people or intercept the packet.
Slightly off subject I know, so lets get it back on...
BATTLESIM - the single most useful thing in the entire world.
Report message to a moderator
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: Information Trading programs that you use? |
Wed, 27 November 2002 17:02 |
|
|
|
It's not a utility a such. Theres several out there and u can make your own dead easy. Just make a game and fill it with races that have unique tech that relates purely to a battle. I can't remember where I got mine from, but the stars directory should have a few listed. Basically you load it up and copy your design into it and then open one of the other turn files and chuck in ship design you KNOW your enemy has or one you think your enemy has. Then make the 2 fleet from different races intercept each other and see what happens. It's a good way to see how many and what kind of ships you need. But a battlesim is only as good as your intelligence of your enemy.
Report message to a moderator
|
|
|
|
| Re: Packet Attacks |
Wed, 27 November 2002 17:53 |
|
| EDog |
| Lt. Junior Grade |
Messages: 417
Registered: November 2002
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA | |
|
Well...launching packets unsupported is slightly silly. If you send in a fleet of LBU bombers ahead of time, that helps quite a bit. It's also good if their support vessels can take out orbital freighters (and that pesky Starbase) as well. For that matter, long range packeting is also slightly silly, as the recipients have time to panic first. I don't generally packet further than 2 years travel time unless the opponent clearly has no ability to evacuate the planet or intercept said packet. Nothing like a packet to knock out fresh colonies from the comfort of your own recliner.
A well-timed packet can be faster (and cheaper) than fleets of heavy bombers, and the Stars Calculator can keep you from overpacketing (or wasting effort on a heavily defended world). And there's nothing like a single packet once a year to anti-terraform an opponent's world, even if it does no other damage.
I play PP races fairly often and have had a lot of success with them so far. I just like the idea of raining death from deep space...
EDog
http://ianthealy.com
Born, grew up, became an adventurer
Report message to a moderator
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: Information Trading programs that you use? |
Fri, 06 December 2002 11:46 |
|
| BlueTurbit |
 | Lt. Commander
RIP
BlueTurbit died Oct. 20, 2011 |
Messages: 835
Registered: October 2002
Location: Heart of Texas | |
|
| Quote: |
How do I make the .pla file appear as .p## ?!
|
Locate the stars!.ini file. It should be in your windows directory. Edit it and locate the [Misc] section
Add a new line saying: NewReports=1
From now on your reports will be saved as .p## (f##) instead of .pla and will include more information. 
[Updated on: Fri, 06 December 2002 12:02]
BlueTurbit Country/RockReport message to a moderator
|
|
|
|
Members
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
Re: Information Trading programs that you use?
