Next competition

[Derakon]

If someone provides and tests the file, I'm game.

If you're using this constants.txt on OS X do you need to drop it in some obscure subdirectory of the application package, or does it go in your angband application data directory? Or some other mysterious place? Basically what I'm saying is I really don't want to write the instructions for this on every platform

You'd have to right-click on the program, select "View Package Contents", then go to Contents/Resources/gamedata and drop the file there, I think.

[debo]

You'd have to right-click on the program, select "View Package Contents", then go to Contents/Resources/gamedata and drop the file there, I think.

Yes, that corresponds to my first guess. RIP

[Nick]

If you're using this constants.txt on OS X do you need to drop it in some obscure subdirectory of the application package, or does it go in your angband application data directory? Or some other mysterious place? Basically what I'm saying is I really don't want to write the instructions for this on every platform

The user directory is lib\user i the Angband folder on Windows, the user's Documents/Angband on OSX, and ~/.angband/Angband on Linux. The same place things like character dumps and screenshots show up.

Note that the fact that this doesn't need to go in the gamedata directory is a feature of 4.0.x, first noted in the 4.0.0 announcement post - it is easy to mess with game data, because there's a fairly easy place where modified data files can be put.

The reason I am pointing this out at length and as if you people are idiots is not (of course) because I think you are idiots, but because I want this to become part of everyone's knowledge about the game. So expect to see this speech a bit

EDIT: debo, I'll get you an edited constants file and a savefile soon - I'm thinking something fairly robust like a Dwarf Paladin

[debo]

The user directory is lib\user i the Angband folder on Windows, the user's Documents/Angband on OSX, and ~/.angband/Angband on Linux. The same place things like character dumps and screenshots show up.

That's way better.

[Derakon]

The user directory is lib\user i the Angband folder on Windows, the user's Documents/Angband on OSX, and ~/.angband/Angband on Linux. The same place things like character dumps and screenshots show up.

Note that the fact that this doesn't need to go in the gamedata directory is a feature of 4.0.x, first noted in the 4.0.0 annoincement post - it is easy to mess with game data, because there's a fairly easy place where modified data files can be put.

That's neat, but what happens if e.g. a future version of Angband changes the game data files? Are the data files versioned somehow?

I should probably catch up with the changes that have been made to the game in the last ~year at some point, or else my status as a sage is going to be lost. I've been busy with other projects...

[Nick]

That's neat, but what happens if e.g. a future version of Angband changes the game data files? Are the data files versioned somehow?

No they're not - the user is also responsible for making sure any data files they put in their user directory don't break the game

[PowerWyrm]

Anyone up for a PWMAngband comp next? It could use the new turn-based mode to make it easier. I'd see something different compared to the usual fighter or spellcaster, a summoner maybe.

[debo]

Anyone up for a PWMAngband comp next? It could use the new turn-based mode to make it easier. I'd see something different compared to the usual fighter or spellcaster, a summoner maybe.

Is there a central server people could play on?

[PowerWyrm]

Is there a central server people could play on?

Using the turn-based mode, you don't need a central server. Everyone plays his own single player game on his own local server, like a regular Angband game. Instead of providing a savefile, I would provide both server + character savefiles and server option file. This should be enough to make everyone start from the same point.

[debo]

Using the turn-based mode, you don't need a central server. Everyone plays his own single player game on his own local server, like a regular Angband game. Instead of providing a savefile, I would provide both server + character savefiles and server option file. This should be enough to make everyone start from the same point.

So, I think we talked about this once and IMO for your average human this wasn't really that simple.

Basically: I'm willing to try it, but I'm not willing to run tech support on it If you want to run point on helping people get set up, I'm happy to create the comp.

[PowerWyrm]

So, I think we talked about this once and IMO for your average human this wasn't really that simple.

Basically: I'm willing to try it, but I'm not willing to run tech support on it If you want to run point on helping people get set up, I'm happy to create the comp.

It's quite simple I think. The only drawback of PWMAngband is that it's only designed for Windows, so if you want to play under Linux you have to use Wine. I'll release Beta 2 tonight with a couple fixes, then I'll set up the starting zip file with guidelines.

[debo]

It's quite simple I think. The only drawback of PWMAngband is that it's only designed for Windows, so if you want to play under Linux you have to use Wine. I'll release Beta 2 tonight with a couple fixes, then I'll set up the starting zip file with guidelines.

Awesome! Thank you.

[PowerWyrm]

Ok here we go:

- download latest PWMAngband binaries (it should say version 1.1.11 beta 2) at http://powerwyrm.monsite-orange.fr (or use the direct link here: http://1drv.ms/1R4XR19)
- unzip the file somewhere
- get the attached file (rydia.zip)
- replace mangband.cfg and mangclient.ini at the root of the directory
- copy "account", "Admin", "Rydia" and "server" in /lib/user/save
- run mangband.exe
- launch mangclient.exe
- and that's it...

Character: Rydia, Human Summoner. She's hot and dominating.

From the help file:

A Summoner is the weakest of all classes you may choose. They have pathetic
stats, no fighting abilities, and little spells to kill enemies with magic.
However, all these weaknesses don't trouble them much, because they can
summon creatures to help them in battle, and still gain some experience from
their kills. Summoners use wisdom to cast spells and summon allies, and to
determine how many of them they can control and how effectively they can
control them.

To compensate for the weakness of the class, the character starts with a Whip of Flame (and I felt it was appropriate). If you play the starting character and you die, you have two ways of playing another character: you can simply relaunch the client (mangclient.exe), choose the deceased character, choose to reroll the same character and use the quickstart mode (in that case you won't start with the Whip of Flame); or you can ctrl-c the server, copy the original "Rydia" and "server" files again in /lib/user/save, relaunch mangband.exe and mangclient.exe and choose the starting character again.

Here are the main server options that were set in the configuration file:
- ALLOW_RANDOM_ARTIFACTS = true (random artifacts)
- LIMIT_STAIRS = 1 (non-connected stairs)
- NO_GHOST = true (permanent death)
- TOWN_WALL = true (no wilderness)
- BASE_MONSTERS = true and EXTRA_MONSTERS = true (PWMAngband monsters)
- PRESERVE_ARTIFACTS = 1 (preserve on, but artifacts are lost if left behind)
- TURN_BASED = true (turn-based mode)
- LIMITED_ESP = true (Angband-like telepathy)

Birth options are the same as default Angband options (this means no selling is on).

This will make a really challenging game, but I'm confident that there will be wins (or close calls). Just look at the last comp

[debo]

Character: Rydia, Human Summoner. She's hot and dominating.

I guess this is what happens when I let other people design the comp characters.

...
This will make a really challenging game, but I'm confident that there will be wins (or close calls). Just look at the last comp

Cool, I'll write this up and post the comp within the next 24 hours.

[HugoVirtuoso]

I guess this is what happens when I let other people design the comp characters.

What's wrong with that?