Comp 162

[debo]

Comp 162 will be Hellband (sorry Therem -- we'll make Neoband work for a future comp.)

http://angband.oook.cz/competition.php?showcompo=162

Feedback on savefile welcome -- there are still 16ish hours to go until comp 161 wraps.

glhf!

[Therem Harth]

No problem debo, Neoband needs more work anyway.

[Gorbad]

Perhaps I'm missing something obvious, but I can't seem to open the savefile on Windows.

HellBand 0.8.7 - Check
Savefile in ./lib/save - Check
Load File -> 162 - Fail, parse error with 'unable to read inventory'
Rename File -> 162.dpp -> Same failure
Create new save - works filesize seems similar
Load created save - works

[debo]

Perhaps I'm missing something obvious, but I can't seem to open the savefile on Windows.

HellBand 0.8.7 - Check
Savefile in ./lib/save - Check
Load File -> 162 - Fail, parse error with 'unable to read inventory'
Rename File -> 162.dpp -> Same failure
Create new save - works filesize seems similar
Load created save - works

Hmmn. I created the savefile in OSX, but that shouldn't matter. How does the windows port load files? Is there a 'File -> Open' or 'File -> Import' dropdown menu, or is it all done in the app?

if it's the latter, you may need to rename the file to some convention that the game uses.

[Gorbad]

Hmmn. I created the savefile in OSX, but that shouldn't matter. How does the windows port load files? Is there a 'File -> Open' or 'File -> Import' dropdown menu, or is it all done in the app?

if it's the latter, you may need to rename the file to some convention that the game uses.

The method is 'Load Player Profile', and looks to load a .dpp file. And I tried renaming to a a .dpp extension. Perhaps the name of the Character should be in the filename? (SirFlood.dpp? Sir_Flood,dpp? Flood.dpp? SirFlo~1.dpp?)

[HugoVirtuoso]

I decided to give Compo 162 a shot and you know what? I'm having the exact same problem as Gorbad, and I'm running WinXP SP3.

How about this alternative:
One of the players makes a Hellband 0.8.7 Sir Flood replacement from Windows AND debo confirms that it works on Macs. Then, debo makes it official?

[Slinking]

I'm having the same issue with the savefile not working as well. I tried changing the extension to *.dpp but it doesn't work. I use Windows 7.

[debo]

The method is 'Load Player Profile', and looks to load a .dpp file. And I tried renaming to a a .dpp extension. Perhaps the name of the Character should be in the filename? (SirFlood.dpp? Sir_Flood,dpp? Flood.dpp? SirFlo~1.dpp?)

If anything it would be Flood.dpp, but I doubt that would fix it. Maybe give it a try and see if that works, though.

If anyone wants to create a savefile on Windows, I'm fine to test it here and then reboot the comp since nobody has posted yet. It was:

Gentleman
Human
Nephilim
Born under Serpens
Rogue
Tarot

Points-based w/ stats:
Str 18
Int 19
Wis 8
Dex 22
Con 16
Cha 9

Then finally hit = for options, select (6) Misc, change 'Generate dungeons with connected stairs' to 'No'. (This isn't a birth option in Hellband, I just did it on turn 0.)

I'll try to get a windows VM set up for future comps so I can test junk like this beforehand, sorry.

[Gorbad]

As requested, a new 162 file, which works on (my) windows 7.

Start HellBand -> Load Player Profile -> type '162' (win shows only *.dpp files) -> Play at 6:00 am

For curiosity's sake I might run it through a hex editor to see the difference, but work doesn't allow me the time to analyze the Hellband source to check properly.

[Slinking]

As requested, a new 162 file, which works on (my) windows 7.

Start HellBand -> Load Player Profile -> type '162' (win shows only *.dpp files) -> Play at 6:00 am

For curiosity's sake I might run it through a hex editor to see the difference, but work doesn't allow me the time to analyze the Hellband source to check properly.

It works for me. I didn’t know you can attach files.

Anyways, I already created my own “Sir Flood” with the same characteristics, minus the stats and the stair option. But, for honor’s sake, I’ll use the official savefile once it’s approved.

[debo]

lol, now I get the same error with Gorbad's savefile on OSX that you guys were getting on windows.

I actually don't care enough to figure out what's going on, but I know in comp126 Nick made one savefile that seemed to work for everyone.

I'm just going to pack both savefiles into a zip file and people can choose the one they want, I doubt the initial seed will make a huge enough difference to affect who wins anyhow.

Thanks for cooking this up so quickly, Gorbad.

Edit: OK I updated the competition page with a 'savefile pack'. I also bumped the end date by 2 days to compensate for all the silliness.

Thanks for the help everyone! glhf

[ranger jeff]

So.... why only 3 participants so far???

Not a fewest turns race, so even if you're unfamiliar with the variant you can take your time. Monster knowledge would be helpful... but many things are pretty Vanilla. Nice work done by the author on the details! Pretty polished, if not perfectly balanced/complete yet.

And, what's the Anti-magic amulet do? Improve my saves? No spoilers for Hellband so kinda on my own here. Edit: well it prevents me from spellcasting, so I guess for warriors only...

[Derakon]

And, what's the Anti-magic amulet do? Improve my saves? No spoilers for Hellband so kinda on my own here. Edit: well it prevents me from spellcasting, so I guess for warriors only...

If it's the same as ZAngband and its various descendants, then it sets your saving throw to a minimum of 95%, but prevents spellcasting. A godsend for non-magical classes, who generally have lousy saves. Not so helpful for the casters.

[debo]

Congrats to ranger jeff for winning the comp! Thanks to our other 3 participants as well

I'm curious why Hellband draws so few competitors. It seems pretty well put-together as a variant.

[HallucinationMushroom]

Hellband is awesome! I really enjoyed playing through it a few years ago. It has this strange curve of hard/easy/hard/easy/hard. Same with loot drops. Glut/none/some. And atmosphere. But, the reason *I* don't play competitions is I want to play *my* character. I dunno, something about loading up the same character as everyone else makes me feel *icky*.

Also, between you and Nick, so masochisitc. Much pain. Ouch.