web based gaming beta testing

hi guys,

right got something we can accually use now, although there are some resricktions, like reserves not available yet (working on this now), and transporting troops. all these things will be avalible in the final release.

********************* WARNING!!!!!!!! ************
*********************PLEASE USE FIREFOX AS IE WONT WORK************
********************* ************

the address for the online gaming is:

http://www40.brinkster.com/aheonhind/logon.asp

from here you can have a look at what i've done so far. enter guest as the username and password and it will take you to the player preferance screen. (you will be able to create your own battle field in the final release from this page.)

click load and this will bring you to the different phases of the game.(player pref will tell you what phase your in.)
if someone has been on it allready and ended the turn, then go back to the logon screen and use templars for the username and password, this will then take you to the phases.

you'll notice that these are the two players battling in the player pref screen. it also tells you if it's your go or not.

if anyone wants to try out a battle they can email me their list(between 500pts and 1000pts please, only because i might have to create the graphics for the lists.)and i'll put them in the data base and email you with your username and password(which you will be able to create yourself in the final release.)

thanks for having a look.
hope to have the final release done soon.
any questions on how to use it email me.(should have a instruction page soon.)
Aheon.

Good job, umm first of all what unit is the movement done in, at the moment it is just numbers.

Second I got an error after moving the marines and pressing end phase. Got an answer for it?

Error is

"Microsoft JET Database Engine Error 8004e14

Syntax error in UPDATE statement

/aheonhind/movement.asp, line 552"

There you go, go find that error :D

thanks for that Euleze,
sorted it out. it was just a hickup in the database.
movement is in inches.
i can put that in the box if you think it would help.

this is what i need, people to use it and give me feed back on what works and what don't suggestions and comments.

keep them coming.
cheers
Aheon

OK, I may be missing something here, but I am a bit confused...
I got a similar error after movement to what Euleze described, so I'll check that out again.

I also noticed when I tried to rotate one of the tanks, it disappeared.

I'm also confused about the shooting...
I was assigning targets and it didn't seem to do anything. Maybe I wasn't doing it right?

hopefully the problem was solved earlier when i was on.

in each phase it's not all automatic I'm afraid the target is just a range finder for you to make sure your in range when shooting.

just think of it as you would normally play on the tabletop.

the tank disappeared because the images weren't uploaded properly, i'll get on to that tomorrow.

you remove casualty's when it's your opponents go.

this is player v player no computer A.I.

I'm writing some instructions and will put them on the site, maybe that will clear a few things up.

thanks for the comments keep them coming, they make the site better.

Aheon.

Am I right in saying that the shooting and assault phases have to be done manually??

yes, but i can look into automating it if that's what everyone might prefer.
it's just i wanted it to be playable quickly and automating it takes time to code.

like the previous way you played online using MSN to roll dice.(which I'm write a program for a dice roller.)
there already is one available as text based roller
hope this doesn't put anyone off playing.

Yes, I think a little instruction would help.

Are there commands somewhere that we are supposed to use? I just went in and all I see is 5 Terminators, 5 Tacticals and 3 Attack bikes... and I can't do anything with them
(Unless you are working on it as I speak?)

The reason for there not being any eldar there is someone removed them as casualty's.
i will put them back in now.
i just went on there and it was fine.

was it your go when you logged on.(pref page tells you this)

are you using Firefox, IE wont work.
let me know if it's still happening.
cheers
Aheon

Yes, I am using the Fox.
It said your turn = false in the preference page

When I go in now, here's what it has...
Tab says 'Movement'
5 Terminators, 'w=0 sq=23'
5 Marines, 'w=1 sq=22'
3 Attack Bikes, 'w=0 sq=24'

Avatar, 'w=4 sq=21'
5 Dragons, 'w=1 sq=17'
10 Avengers, 'w=1 sq=5'
6 Spiders, 'w=1 sq=20'
Wraithlord, 'w=3 sq=18'
Falcon, 'sq=9 bs=3 fav=12 sav=12 rav=10'
Fire Prism, 'sq=16 bs=4 fav=12 sav=12 rav=10'

All Eldar units have 'Remove Casualty' as an option.
(clicks one of the Avengers)
(page reloads)
(dire avenger is removed)

I don't see any other options on the page.
Is the wound value supposed to be how many they've taken or have remaining?

right ok, you can login as templars or eldar for the purpose of having a look at how things work at the moment.
if in the pref page it says your go false then it's your opponents go and all you can do is remove casualties as you opponent makes them.
once your opponent has finished his go you can refresh the page and it will be your go the End Phase button will appear.

for the purpose of just taking a look at how things work if it says your turn is false then login as the other player.

username and password for eldar is guest.
username and password for space marines is templars.

the info on the tooltip is wounds left which need attention for more than one wound when removing casulties.

hope this clears a few things up for you.

ps i put a instruction page on the web site if you can have a look and let me know if it's clear enough that would be great. (page is on the login screen)
cheers
Aheon.

Yes, I saw the instruction page and that helps a bit. It's good to know what the application does so we don't expect it to do things that it's not designed to do.

I was logging in as 'guest' before, so I guess that's why it wouldn't let me do anything else since it wasn't the Eldar's turn.

In terms of wounds, I wonder if you can have a "take a wound" selection that would drop the total until it's down to one, then it would be "remove" as the others.

What is the 'sq?' Is that a squad number in terms of set-up or something?

I'm also glad you included the link for the dice-roller. I installed that too (along with MSM Plus, which I didn't already have.)

yes 'sq' is the squad number. i'm thinking of changing that to a name so you can name each individual squad, be nice to personalise your army.
of course this will be entered by the user when i get round to doing the army builder.

Got a chance to play a bit with the interface tonight. My thoughts:
-Tanks need to be bigger. I believe Falcon/FP chassis is about 6"x4".
-There should be a distance calculator for blast templates like the regular "shooting" attack. That way you know the Fire Prism is in range.

In terms of how this should work...
Would one player be able to refresh the window to see the moves the other player has made so they can watch the turn unfold?

tanks do need to be bigger your right just not got round to it just yet.
can easily put distance on blast plates.

the way i did the phases first was the way you suggested but unfortunately you need to refresh the page every time you move a counter, which with the way brinkster(the server provider) is it was far too slow at refreshing. this slowed down the game noticeably.

it would be nice to see the phase unfold, but i cant think of a way round it at the moment.

like i said in the instruction page, you have to trust your opponent in the phases.
cheating will only spoil the game.
if you can send me your list of 500pts i can put it in the data base and i have someone who has already done this so as soon as i get your list we can begin the first battle.
cheers
Aheon

Oh, I completely understand and didn't expect to see each model move. I was just thinking that, if I understand correctly, that once you move, your opponent would refresh and he'd see where you moved all your guys. Then, I'm guessing, he would be removing casualties as you shoot them. He would refresh then, make his charges and repeat the combat again as before. Is that about right?

I think this is going to be really cool when it's ready.

I'll put a 500 pt list together this weekend.

One more thing I just thought of...
Since the Avatar and Wraithlord are Monstrous Creatures rather than vehicles, It might be better if they were shown on an appropriately sized base. I do like the image of the Wraithlord, so maybe just showing him with a circle around him would be good. The Avatar is already a circle, but his would need to be bigger.

(It's always fun to see how many Ork Boyz can crowd around that big guy and hack away. ;) )

Also, do you have a way to distinguish an Exarch or Sergeant from the regular guys?

yes darthibis, that's correct, you would be able to refresh your page at the end of your opponents movement phase and see where he has moved his counters. this would be true for the rest of the phases too.

yes i know that the counters are not to scale just yet, but i will be looking at that soon. i'm going to concentrate on getting the most important coding done first like being able to put troops in vehicles. the reserves code has been done so that's one thing out the way.

yes i can distinguish between exarches and troops through the graphics.

But if you, or you know of anyone that is good at graphics, they could help with the graphics (this also goes for anyone reading these posts).

there are so many different races and each race with there units, not to mention the terrain, it's a big job.


any help would be greatly appreciated, if you would like to help just email me and i'll let you know what it is i need.

thanks for the support guys.

cheers
Aheon

That makes sense. That way you can remove your casualties as he is shooting you and everyone can refresh as needed.

That sounds good. No rush, I just mentioned it since I didn't know if it had been brought up before.

I'm willing to help out however I can if it will make things easier.
Did you have something in mind, or a template/standard you want to use?
I think I have all the current codices except CSM and Tyranids, so that should help.