Save game notification feature

[chrispedersen]

I have a *lot* of test games, current games. And I'm old.

It would be great when saving the game.. if it would tell you the name of the game file being saved. AKA, just flash

Saving "ChrisEAMict" or whatever I called it.

[Epaminondas]

There are two features that are probably easy to install and is a must for this game:

Saved game feature

Dismiss units command

[Edi]

The save game feature request is nonsensical. Dominions 3 is an iron man game. The trn files are overwritten every time the game hosts and the current trn file is the save game. Once you quit the game, the trn file is still there and all orders given at that point but before hosting are in the 2h (to host) file. A flashing text as per the OP therefore does not serve any purpose.

As far as a traditional save & reload feature, not going to happen.

A dismiss units command would be useful, but the devs have so far not considered it worthwhile to implement. There is a modded solution available by llamabeast that utilizes a spell that kills friendly units in target province ala Flames from the Sky.

[Gregstrom]

To be fair, the 'save and quit' order implies that a savegame is being created. Of course, it helps if you have played some pbem to understand how the game files work and how to back up turn files in test games.

[Gandalf Parker]

The save game in Dom3 is very "linuxy". Since its writton on linux that makes sense. But the windows people need a menu or a button to use the save feature the way they are used to.

There are various save game features that people have written that work with Dom3. Versions have been written as far back as Dom 1. In Java, and net, and python, and perl, and basic, and batch just to name a few. Mine was probably the ugliest but if someone wants a "save games" button on their desktop they can get it here.
http://www.dom3minions.com/docs/SavingSavedGames.zip

[chrispedersen]

I wasn't actually really needing to change how the save works.

I just want to remember what game I'm playing!

[thejeff]

I don't really think the save function (or lack thereof) is a Linux vs Windows thing. I don't think Linux has more of an "iron man" tradition.
It's always seemed to me more due to the game's emphasis on multiplayer, where reloading saves makes no sense.

Was Conquest of Elysium multiplayer? Did it have a save & reload function?

[Epaminondas]

The save game in Dom3 is very "linuxy". Since its writton on linux that makes sense. But the windows people need a menu or a button to use the save feature the way they are used to.

There are various save game features that people have written that work with Dom3. Mine was probably the ugliest but if someone wants a "save games" button on their desktop they can get it here.
http://www.dom3minions.com/docs/SavingSavedGames.zip

Where would I save this application, Gandalf?

I downloaded it but don't know where to put it.

[Omnirizon]

The save game in Dom3 is very "linuxy". Since its writton on linux that makes sense. But the windows people need a menu or a button to use the save feature the way they are used to.

There are various save game features that people have written that work with Dom3. Mine was probably the ugliest but if someone wants a "save games" button on their desktop they can get it here.
http://www.dom3minions.com/docs/SavingSavedGames.zip

translation: if you don't use linux then you're a stupid head that can't grasp abstract logic without a graphical surface.

[Gandalf Parker]

@Omnirizon
"Did you know that Windows users cant find their ascii with both hands?" :)
But I wouldnt say they cant grasp abstract logic. But it does require a grasp of command-line interface. A familiarity with DOS helps, or if not that old then a familiarity with text-mode linux or Mac OS-X

@Epaminondas
Put it on your desktop. Or your start menu. Its just a clickable that will back up all of the games in C:\Program Files\dominions3\savedgames to a subdirectory called oldsaves. Its the same as manually doing these two commands.

cd c:\program files\dominions3
C:\WINDOWS\system32\xcopy.exe /yes savedgames oldsaves /i

It might need editing if you have your dom on a different drive than C or a different directory than the default one.

@thejeff
CoE was not MP

[Gandalf Parker]

I wasn't actually really needing to change how the save works.

I just want to remember what game I'm playing!

Ahhh I understand now. Yes I have often requested that Dom3 would list the games in order of age instead of alphabetical. My local games are often named "asdf" so I have a desktop icon to take me directly into that game. I have it next to the desktop icons for each MP game Im in which take me directly into those without having to retype IP and port numbers each time.

Was it that you wanted to remember the name game for going back into it? Here I will attach a bare little file. Unzip it to your dominions3 directory. Clicking it will send you directly into the latest game that was played. Unfortunately it doesnt recognize local games from network games. Feel free to edit it to add switches for other things such as nofades nomusic nocredits windowed


Gandalf Parker
--
I apologize for not using the latest greatest programming languages when I would prefer just getting something done.

[Gandalf Parker]

For those who are curious...
its a simple BAT file (batch file) for Windows XP (though it should work in other windows also). The commands are this...

FOR /F "tokens=*" %%A IN ('DIR savedgames /o:d /t:w /a:d /b ') DO SET LastFile=%%A
dom3 "%LastFile%"

If you want to add switches for things like I mentioned, just squeeze them in between the dom3 and the "%LastFile%". Such as..
dom3 -fwacd --clickvol 10 "%LastFile%"

Gandalf Parker
--
I apologize for not using the latest greatest programming languages when I would prefer just getting something done.

[lch]

I just want to remember what game I'm playing!
You're right, this information is missing from the GUI right now. It would make the most sense to add it to the Settings window that you access by pressing the ESC key in the overland map. Go bug JK to add it... ;)

[Gandalf Parker]

it is written to the debug file.

[Tifone]

I have no problem (while I consider it a bit like cheating, but sometimes I need it to try and refine some tactics) saving the game the current way. Save and exit, copy the saved game's folder, paste it somewhere else.
In italy it is called "being able to take your finger out of your ***"... sorry, a terrible image, i know :D

For the unit dismissal, there's the mod, but really I never had so much problem suiciding my chaff somewhere :shock:

[Epaminondas]

@Omnirizon
"Did you know that Windows users cant find their ascii with both hands?" :)
But I wouldnt say they cant grasp abstract logic. But it does require a grasp of command-line interface. A familiarity with DOS helps, or if not that old then a familiarity with text-mode linux or Mac OS-X

@Epaminondas
Put it on your desktop. Or your start menu. Its just a clickable that will back up all of the games in C:\Program Files\dominions3\savedgames to a subdirectory called oldsaves. Its the same as manually doing these two commands.

cd c:\program files\dominions3
C:\WINDOWS\system32\xcopy.exe /yes savedgames oldsaves /i

It might need editing if you have your dom on a different drive than C or a different directory than the default one.

@thejeff
CoE was not MP

Thanks, Gandalf. I will try it out.

[chrispedersen]

And, speaking of things I'd like to see (but never will).
On games where you're reunning on two day turn arounds.. and you have an imprisoned God...

Hell, I forget what design I used ... its often a surprise to when he finally shows up .. I mean.. 70 days later.. you're in 10games....

It would be nice if you could see yourself (like HOF entries) when you click on pretender gods.

[Gandalf Parker]

I agree that would be cool. But its probably too extensive a feature to expect at this point.

But there are some god viewer programs such as CatGod that will read your pretender creation file for you.

[Gregstrom]

And, speaking of things I'd like to see (but never will).
On games where you're reunning on two day turn arounds.. and you have an imprisoned God...

Hell, I forget what design I used ... its often a surprise to when he finally shows up .. I mean.. 70 days later.. you're in 10games....

It would be nice if you could see yourself (like HOF entries) when you click on pretender gods.

Heh - I've had that problem and I agree completely.

[Edi]

Gandalf, CoE2 is MP, at least in hotseat mode. Maybe not network MP, though. It does have save and reload because it does not automatically save in an overwrite fashion the way Dominions does.

[Gandalf Parker]

Ahh thanks for that. I bought it but its been a long time since Ive played it.

[Poopsi]

A dismiss units command would be useful, but the devs have so far not considered it worthwhile to implement. There is a modded solution available by llamabeast that utilizes a spell that kills friendly units in target province ala Flames from the Sky.

There´s a bug with it, through: the AI will keep casting it at you as if it was a real spell, wasting mage time.

[chrispedersen]

I agree that would be cool. But its probably too extensive a feature to expect at this point.

But there are some god viewer programs such as CatGod that will read your pretender creation file for you.

But its ALMOST no programming at all.

You have the image of the god, at the time you created him.
When you click on your god in the pretenders list, pop up that image.

Voila.

[Gandalf Parker]

Ive programmed some of those popup displays. Its not something you toss off in an hour. Especially not when supporting 3 very different operating systems and many screen sizes.

Since the devs have already moved on to a new project, coming back for for a nicety like this is probably not going to be high priority. Especially since its already available by a 3rd party program. Maybe if a full single-screen view of the god was already written but even during creation you dont have that the way the various downloadable god-viewers offer.