Is the programming contest too hard?

[Saber Cherry]

There doesn't seem to be much response, so I'm curious.

[Norfleet]

The programming contest is obscure and abstracted to a level that is confusing and meaningless. It makes assumptions that are known to be untrue, and can't really be applied in a practical manner to Dominions II. While surely an interesting programming contest for a class of CS students, I don't quite see how it really applies too well to Dominions II. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Saber Cherry]

Originally posted by Norfleet:
While surely an interesting programming contest for a class of CS students, I don't quite see how it really applies too well to Dominions II. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">...hmm, that's sort of what it was supposed to be. Coming up with problems that are simple, yet useful to Dominions II, is very difficult - one or the other would be easier.

If I had the ability to devote time to code; I'd be all for it. I don't think the Contest is an issue, it's first finding an adequate problem then spur conversation and ways to solve it then do a group programming session.

You picked the wrong question Cherry, you should have said "Fix this" and then go from there.

[Saber Cherry]

Hmm. Well, there are two problems.

1) The AI does a bad job of site-searching.
2) It would be convenient if you could tell a mage to "go search for sites", then ignore him, and he'd do something intelligent.

This might solve both problems. However, it's only one of many, many possibilities, and the fact that a 3rd-party solution would not be useful unless integrated by IW (unlike, say, a 3rd-party map-editor or god-file manager) poses a new problem.

There are all kinds of things that can be done, of course, but nobody has given any suggestions...

Well, if you want a problem to solve (though I don't know if IW wants any help with it)

AI Improvements:

1.) Changing the mage to research to combat instances (including specialty mages/battlefield spells).

2.) What types of mages go in what types of armies. Troop composition vs Mages vs surviability.

3.) Utilizing "Teleport" and "Cloud Trapeze" tactics in combination with Provincial Summon Spells (Includes Gateway).

4.) AI builds SC's out of Summonable creatures (Demons, Bane Lords, etc) including adequate equipment based on type and slot and uses them in appropriate fashions.

5.) Diplomacy (it's a big one)

[Saber Cherry]

None of those are things that could be done without the source code, and thus, are not valid for a contest...

[Norfleet]

Originally posted by Saber Cherry:
None of those are things that could be done without the source code, and thus, are not valid for a contest... <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">So the contest will be in assembly, then.

[Leif_-]

Originally posted by Norfleet:
So the contest will be in assembly, then. <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Bah. Real Programmers write in machine code! http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/mel.html

I vote that we hold the programming contest in either PostScript or Algol 58.

[PhilD]

Originally posted by Leif_-:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Originally posted by Norfleet:
So the contest will be in assembly, then. <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Bah. Real Programmers write in machine code! http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/mel.html

I vote that we hold the programming contest in either PostScript or Algol 58. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">My vote goes to MIX http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Leif_-]

Originally posted by PhilD:
My vote goes to MIX http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Well, I just unpacked a package from Amazon with my own copy of Knuth's, so sure! (Alas, I was only able to buy the three first volumes, and my loan request for the fourth volume to the Mischatonic University Library was denied. Some nonsense reason about "endangering my soul and sanity" or something.)

[E. Albright]

Well, if Miskatonic U's library is giving you short shrift, I suppose you'll have to wait 'til 2007 for volumes 4A, 4B, and 4C (http://www-cs-faculty.stanford.edu/~knuth/taocp.html#vol4). Just like the rest of us mortals.

Though frankly, I want volumes 6 and 7.

Oh, and my vote's for Lisp.

[ March 04, 2004, 16:16: Message edited by: E. Albright ]

[Leif_-]

Originally posted by E. Albright:
Well, if Miskatonic U's library is giving you short shrift, I suppose you'll have to wait 'til 2007 for volumes 4A, 4B, and 4C (http://www-cs-faculty.stanford.edu/~knuth/taocp.html#vol4). Just like the rest of us mortals.

Oh, and my vote's for Lisp. <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Actually, I managed to hack into Illwinter's top secret development machine (both the user-name and password was "TopGod") and download the source-code to Dominions II - and it turns out that it's actualy written in Lisp! Who would have thunk it?

To prove my claim, here is the Last five lines of the source-code:

))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
))))))))))))))))))))))))))))));

[ March 04, 2004, 16:20: Message edited by: Leif_- ]

[Gandalf Parker]

well Im willing to learn anything GNU. GNU MDK supports MIX and MIXAL http://www.gnu.org/software/mdk/mdk.html

Other than that I like free and multiple platform so my vote is for BASIC
(remember me? Im the guy who tests/plays whatever no one else is using to prove its still useful) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[ March 04, 2004, 16:22: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

[guybrush threepwood]

Originally posted by Leif_-:
Actually, I managed to hack into Illwinter's top secret development machine (both the user-name and password was "TopGod") and download the source-code to Dominions II - and it turns out that it's actualy written in Lisp! Who would have thunk it?

To prove my claim, here is the Last five lines of the source-code:

))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))); <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">its sad I know, but I find this to be insanely funny http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif