I am what many would perhaps call an "old school" player, not in experience (I've only recently gotten back into the game after nearly 10 years off from the MBBS version), but in attitude. For example, I will only play relatively low-turn, preferably restricted time games (partly because I don't have more than an hour each day to devote to this, and partly because I think the constraints make the game much more challenging). I think of TradeWars as a strategy game that involves many elements, not simply "kill everyone" & "control everything." After reading through a vast amount of material on how this game has developed over the last few years, I think JP & the EIS Team agree with that, and I very much look forward to v4.

All that said, I dislike the existing helpers, though I am still in the process of evaluating all of them to find the features that I DO like. I am writing my own helper, with a somewhat different goal than most of the existing helpers, and perhaps more along the lines of older ones that are no longer supported. The emphasis is less on real-time information gathering/display and more on creating a database that can be used for strategic planning, along with the tools to analyze that database. I do not feel existing helpers address this, mostly because they seem to be very much focused on scripts and work best in games that are relatively unlimited. I am not focused on scripts or a telnet interface, though both could be added. I am not interested in making a better SWATH, ATTAC, etc, but rather something with a different emphasis.

This will be open source, cross-platfrom, and free (and NOT Java, though the final language is TBD).

Therefore, I am seeking three kinds of input from EVERYONE in the TradeWars community, not just elite players. First, am I completely wrong that there is any need for a program as I have described it, or am I alone here (in which case I'll keep it in its current, sufficient for me state)? Two, what features are lacking in current helpers (other than a script to do X)? Third, what features are essential (i.e., what makes you use the helper you do use)?

Beansprout,

There is not a helper that does specifically what you listed, but....there are scripts that you run with these helpers that do that. I have an entire suite of data mining scripts that query databases (offline / online) to do calculations on likely bases, ports, etc.

Jhereg

Beansprout, if you haven't looked at it already, you might want to play with TWX a little bit. Its not exactly what you described, but with the right scripts it has the potential to be all that and more. In case you're not familiar with it, its a middleware helper that you run in conjunction with another helper, such as ATTAC, SWATH, ZOC, etc. Its basically a database and a script engine, and if you have a programming/scripting background you can write scripts to do all the things you were wanting.

quote:Originally posted by Psion

Beansprout, if you haven't looked at it already, you might want to play with TWX a little bit. Its not exactly what you described, but with the right scripts it has the potential to be all that and more. In case you're not familiar with it, its a middleware helper that you run in conjunction with another helper, such as ATTAC, SWATH, ZOC, etc. Its basically a database and a script engine, and if you have a programming/scripting background you can write scripts to do all the things you were wanting.


Psion - I haven't played with TWX too much yet, but it seems to me that your description of its power exactly highlights one of the major turnoffs (at least for some) of TradeWars right now: the NEED to use helpers and/or be able to write scripts/macros. What I'm shooting for is a tool that allows people who aren't able (or willing, due to time constraints or other reasons) to write scripts to handle the processing of strategic information. I'd also like a tool that you can pick up and drop as desired, without the need to stick with a single helper (or at least compatible ones) for an entire game. Something that can be used to manage the tremendous amount of information in a TradeWars game, without all the constraints (and, for many, the power) that come with using many existing helpers. One feature I like of old helpers is the ability to take a log of any game and process it - you didn't need to use the helper (and whatever interface comes with it) while playing. TWX in particular seems to be missing this feature, as do at least some of the others. But perhaps I am simply not expert enough in their use.

But perhaps a tool that requires minimal learning (since TradeWars itself can require so much) is a pipe dream, or only appeals to players too nostalgic for their own good.

yes but that's the reseason other right the scripts and allow non coders like myself to use them TWX does what you need if your willing to wright the scripts and share them with the persons your trying to make this program for

I'm not sure I understand your objections, Beansprout. Whether the functions that do the processing and analysis are native to the helper or are external scripts doesn't make much difference, does it? The end result is the same, the data you wanted. And as wyhteagle pointed out, those who have the time/ability/interest to write these scripts can easily distribute them to all players. A website, http://www.grimytrader.com, has been set up specifically to help freely distribute scripts to the players that want them.

Whether you would be distributing a new helper or a new script, the players who choose to download it would gain the same advantages. More really, since with a set of scripts to do these things, the players who want them would not need to switch to a new helper. They could stick with what they are comfortable with and reap the benefits of your database analysis at the same time. That being said, there are some advantages to writing a separate helper. It would quite possibly be faster than TWX and would probably have more offline running capabilities. If you want to take on the task of writing a new helper, more power to you. But it seems to me that TWX already has the potential for all of the features you are looking for.

<scratching head>
Duh, what I miss since I was out of town?