New AACW v1.14 database library file

[Gray_Lensman]

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[Eugene Carr]

Excellent! many thanks.

S! EC

[berto]

How long will these DB files remain "official" and stable? I know that you will be data patching and therefore releasing new beta patches in the weeks and months to come. But so long as, and to the extent that, players only play the latest 1.14 official patch, modders can safely base off of these new 1.14 DB files, correct?

[Gray_Lensman]

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[berto]

This might not be what you want to hear, but the requests for continued support Poll is running 4 to 1 in favor of continuing to support AACW going forward as it has been in the past. That pretty much decides the issue. Freezing support would lock in database errors that still exist...

edit> One thing that might help stablize the the database somewhat is my new emphasis going forward on NOT having Pocus make as many game engine modifications themselves. These quite frequently cause wholesave rework of areas of data that didn't really have discrepancies as such, but would not function without the accompanying database changes. There are still continuing requests for such changes by various player/gamers (they can't distinguish between issues that are only database issues and those that require game engine rework). Those that require game engine modification going forward are going to be for the most part tabled unless they involve an actual new bug to be fixed. I'm hoping this will not only help me out but also help out modders to some extent.

I did not participate in the poll. No offence, but I thought it was biased.

I would have stated the choice between (a) continuing (executable, .exe) development and (b) freezing further game development.

Not between (a) continuing support vs. (b) no more support. The latter sounds too draconian (what? AGEOD won't fix game-crashing bugs? of course they will!), and not many players--including me--would opt for no more "support".

Anyway, by distancing himself from frenetically updating the .exe file all the time, Pocus has in effect frozen development. For now. Good enough.

edit> The main thing you should do as a modder, is learn to make your modifications the "official" way by using a database file as the source of your MOD and DO NOT directly modify the output files. That way, even if the database changes, it is much easier to regenerate your MOD with the changed database files then to hand edit the output files, much like Clovis has been doing for 2 years or more. That just has to be an overwhelming killer task he has taken on.

I might look into this further. I've said it would help the modder cause if there were an official, compact, but comprehensive modding guide. But I understand you don't have the time for that.

One thing: Although I can maybe see the merits of the DB-driven approach, for me personally, it perhaps has fewer advantages. I have all sorts of programming skills, and a vast array of Linux tools, that might make it easier for me to mod the output files in Linux (then export back to the Windows world).

I'll see.

Thanks for the extensive and carefully considered response. And thanks, as always, for your continuing dedication to, and suport of (no question, please continue!), AACW!

[Gray_Lensman]

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[Rafiki]

edit> something I just don't understand is why the seemingly total resistance by persons professed to have programming skills to NOT learning to do the MODs in the correct way. I've even removed quite a bit of the mystery/confusion in how this is done in some threads posted in the MODs forums. Recent newbies are taking the knowledge in and running with it... So what's with the reluctance?

It's a different approach to the modding. If you were a carpenter and set out to build a house, wouldn't you see if there was a way to build it out of wood, even if people told you to build it out of brick?

As you've made quite clear, if people want to have their work considered for inclusion in official patches, they need to do it via properly marked-up Excel. But, that doesn't stop people from wanting to see if there are things they can do utilizing skills they already have (especially if they enjoy putting those skills to use).

Oh, and make sure to stay clear of that Linux-thingy. I've heard that it can be quite nasty, and infectious to boot

[Pocus]

Thanks much Michael, this is appreciated!

[tagwyn]

Arne: But ... won't the wolves blow your wood house down ... AND EAT YOU!!! t

[berto]

It's a different approach to the modding. If you were a carpenter and set out to build a house, wouldn't you see if there was a way to build it out of wood, even if people told you to build it out of brick?

A master carpenter who can work miracles with wood, including in effect turning wood into brick, indistinguishable from the real thing.

But, that doesn't stop people from wanting to see if there are things they can do utilizing skills they already have (especially if they enjoy putting those skills to use).

And enjoy applying QA, bug hunting, and other coding and data management techniques probably unavailable up 'til now.

Oh, and make sure to stay clear of that Linux-thingy. I've heard that it can be quite nasty, and infectious to boot

Indeed, indeed.

[Gray_Lensman]

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[Gray_Lensman]

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[Gray_Lensman]

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