Pbem

[Jagger]

I just started a PBEM game of Montcalms 1756 scenario.

My opponent is hosting the game and playing the French. He send me a 1756Montcalm~ENG.ord file.

I plotted my turn and saved the file (without ending the turn). The file was saved as 1756Montcalm~Eng.trn in a folder titled 1756 Campaign-MontcalmPBEM~Eng.

I returned the 1756Montcalm~ENG.trn file.

Then my opponent viewed the turn and made a comment about not seeing any movement on my part. He then returned a file titled 1756Montcalm~ENG.trn.

Now comes the problems.

1. When I try to load the PBEM game, the PBEM game is not available for selection. Any idea why?

2. Was I suppose to receive the Eng.trn or the French.trn file to see the replay of the turn?

[Heldenkaiser]

I think you started off on the wrong foot already. The host--your opponent--sends you the .trn file. You send him the .ord file. (He also does his own .ord file.) Basically, the games needs two .ord files, one from each side, to process the turn. (If one is missing, the AI kicks in, but once a game is started as PBEM, the software assumes this is an error and asks you about it.) Once the turn is processed, the .trn files are created, based on which both sides plot their new orders (.ord files).

[Jagger]

I just checked. Actually the first file sent to me by my opponent was the .trn file. So I sent back the .ord file. But then, he returned the Eng.trn file. I think he should have sent the French.trn file and Eng .trn file.

I don't think I can process the turn without his French .trn or perhaps, his ord files. But I don't know.

[Korrigan]

The host needs

Host file
Both TRN files
Both ORD file

The opponent needs:
His TRN file
(he will create his ORD file him self).


To sum it up:

1)The host creates a game. This generates a folder with 1 HST file and 2 TRN file.
2)The host sends the relevent TRN file to his opponent.
3)The opponent open his TRN file and gives his orders. By clicking on "Save turn" he creates a ORD file in the folder.
4)The opponent sends to the host this ORD file.
5)The host processes the turn, this creates 2 new TRN files.
6)The host sends the relevent new TRN file to his opponent (back to 2).

The opponent only needs his TRN file to open his turn and gives his orders.
The host only needs to reveive the ORD file generated by the opponent to process the turn.

[Jagger]

I deleted everything and restarted from scratch.

I created a new PBEM sub-folder in the Save games folder. Then I re-downloaded the first file he sent me. I checked to see if it was available under load game. It was.

Then I downloaded the attachment from his second email. I checked to see if it was available under load game. It was. I opened the file.

Ok, great!

But there is still a problem. The turn results are not remotely the turn I plotted.

This is the first turn of the March 1756 turn of the Montcalm scenario. I am playing Brits. Because of the snow and bad weather, I only moved Dunbar towards Cumberland Fort and I moved the Chesapeake towards Boston. I left everyone else sitting in place waiting for good weather. I only moved two units.

The turn I am opening is for the correct month, April 1756, but the great majority of my Brit troops are marching everywhere. All the troops between Oswego and Albany are on the March. The troops in NY marched to Albany. The Chesapeake didn't move and is still in port. George Washington is in Alexandria for some unknown reason. The troops that were in Fort Cumberland are gone. I checked the log and no battles were fought. The only thing correct is that Dunbar is heading for Fort Cumberland.

I didn't plot this turn. And it doesn't match my opponents comment that he didn't see any English movement. It actually looks like an AI turn.

This is frustrating. Any idea what has happened here?

[Heldenkaiser]

I just checked. Actually the first file sent to me by my opponent was the .trn file. So I sent back the .ord file. But then, he returned the Eng.trn file. I think he should have sent the French.trn file and Eng .trn file.

I don't think I can process the turn without his French .trn or perhaps, his ord files. But I don't know.

Hm, actually the host processes the turn. You just plot your orders.

All you need is the .trn file for your side (that would be ENG). Then you can watch what actually happened in the turn resolution, and plot your own orders, creating an .ord file (again, ENG) that you return to your opponent, so he can resolve the turn. Repeat ad lib.

[Hobbes]

I deleted everything and restarted from scratch.

I created a new PBEM sub-folder in the Save games folder. Then I re-downloaded the first file he sent me. I checked to see if it was available under load game. It was.

Then I downloaded the attachment from his second email. I checked to see if it was available under load game. It was. I opened the file.

Ok, great!

But there is still a problem. The turn results are not remotely the turn I plotted.

This is the first turn of the March 1756 turn of the Montcalm scenario. I am playing Brits. Because of the snow and bad weather, I only moved Dunbar towards Cumberland Fort and I moved the Chesapeake towards Boston. I left everyone else sitting in place waiting for good weather. I only moved two units.

The turn I am opening is for the correct month, April 1756, but the great majority of my Brit troops are marching everywhere. All the troops between Oswego and Albany are on the March. The troops in NY marched to Albany. The Chesapeake didn't move and is still in port. George Washington is in Alexandria for some unknown reason. The troops that were in Fort Cumberland are gone. I checked the log and no battles were fought. The only thing correct is that Dunbar is heading for Fort Cumberland.

I didn't plot this turn. And it doesn't match my opponents comment that he didn't see any English movement. It actually looks like an AI turn.

This is frustrating. Any idea what has happened here?

It sounds like the host didn't place your file in the correct place and the AI made the move instead but he should recieve a warning before processing the turn if this happens (unless it's turn 1)

[Flashman007]

OMG! I hope this system is simplified with the new PBEM currently being developed by a third party. My head was spinning just reading this - and yes, I am a computer moron.

Holding off on any PBEM games while waiting on an improved system.

Great game BTW. I find it is a trememdous learning tool also, it brings all those people and events I have read about in history books to life so to speak.

[Heldenkaiser]

It's really quite simple and reasonable in my opinion. I have been playing several PBEM games already without more than one single glitch (and that was resolved).

Host sends .trn file - opponent sends .ord file - host resolves turn: couldn't be simpler if you strip it down to the essentials.

Not to mention that the file handling works like a charm. The system creates, renames and deletes the appropriate subfolders automatically, cleans them up after each turn and stuffs the old files into backup sub-subfolders - quite beautiful in my opinion, compared to the cluttered folders I know from other PBEM games. (I mention but TOAW and the HPS games, which I both dearly love, but this is their weak side.)

[Korrigan]

To phrase it simple:

The Host sends you your turn;
You send back your orders to the host.

That's pretty common sense once you have undertood which file (.TRN and .ORD) is for.

I remember I had the same reaction than you first, but after I did it once it went very simply.
Moreover, Pocus has added some usefull safeguards: Red signs to show the host every orders have been taken in account + Warning pannel when you want process the turn without your opponent orders

The Web host module should make it even simpler, more importantly, allow you to easily find some opponents around the world. But right now, this module is still in pre-alpha version. leure:

[Jagger]

It sounds like the host didn't place your file in the correct place and the AI made the move instead but he should recieve a warning before processing the turn if this happens (unless it's turn 1)

It is turn 1 fortunately. And both my opponent and I are newbies with the BOA PBEM system.

If I understand the process correctly, when I open the trn file returned to me, I should see my units with my orders in place. Then I hit "end turn" to complete the first turn and see my troops execute movement. What I can't understand is why, for turn one, my troops have already completed moves before I hit execute.

Also I should I see the movement of units, which is normal in an AI game, when I hit turn complete?

I think I am going to resend my ord file. Have my opponent reprocess. I want to see my turn orders in place before I hit the "end turn" on my side.

[Jagger]

For turn one, I have completed my orders and sent to my opponent. When he returns the file back to me, what should I see when I open the game?

Will I need to hit "end turn" to see the turn processed? Or will the turn already be completed and I just see the results of the turn?

[Korrigan]

Will I need to hit "end turn" to see the turn processed? Or will the turn already be completed and I just see the results of the turn?

You'll only see the results of the turn. That's one of the engine limitation for the time being: Only the Host gets to see the turn being processed.

This is on Pocus' agenda for engine improvements but we can't say when.

[Jagger]

Thanks! Now I know what to expect when I receive the turn. Now I just hope my orders are actually executed instead of what I received on the last attempt.

[Jagger]

Ok, we redid the turn from my ord file. When I received his trn file, I went to load game screen. The file is not available for selection until I select "click to see AI files". The file is available as an AI file. And the turn is not my plotted turn. It is an Ai plotted turn.

What would cause a resolved PBEM trn file to appear as an AI turn?

[Heldenkaiser]

Did you unzip it into the appropriate subfolder?

[Jagger]

I unzipped it into the save folder in a specially created subfolder for the PBEM game.

I really think it is an AI turn for two reasons.

1. The movements of the troops are not the orders I gave to the troops
2. The turn is not available for loading unless I switch to the "Show AI orders" section of the load game section.

But how can this happen?

[Jagger]

I just ran through the whole PBEM sequence playing both sides myself. The AI can do the turn for me, if my opponent hits "next turn" rather than "save turn". But then there should be a warning that the AI will take over the turn for the opponent. I have asked my opponent to check on this.

If that isn't the problem, I am going to have to give up. I have run out of possible explanations.

[Korrigan]

Yes, I think the problem is the way your opponent is hosting.

Before to give up, advice your opponent to read carefully the Manual about the PBEM procedure (AACW manual is even more detailed on this, you can dowload it in the forum). Otherwise, switch position and host the game yourself.

[Hobbes]

Try hosting the game instead of your opponent to see if it improves the situation!

[Heldenkaiser]

Yes, this definitely sounds like your opponent is resolving the turn *before* you send your .ord file.

If you like, send me your email address in a PM and I will start a small game, send you a .trn file, you reply with an .ord file, we see if it works, just so we are sure that you are doing everything right (which is the way it sounds to me). PBEM has always worked just fine for me, but then I have also always hosted!

[Jagger]

As we are both newbies at the BOA PBEM process, either myself or my opponent could be doing something wrong. Although we both have experience with other PBEM systems.

If we don't get the turn to work today. I will try hosting.

Thanks Heldenkeister! If we don't resolve the problem over the next day or two, I may take you up on your offer.

[Korrigan]

Your opponent sent me his files.

Please check your PM