Cold War 1965 version 2.0 - Official Thread

[DaveBall068]

I am updating my map, Cold War 1965, to version 2.0. This will include a few new game features, make changes to improve game balance, and correct a few existing issues.

Have you played the latest version 1.1, updated by Redrum? If so, I am interested in your input.

Features include an independent AI-run India, increased the area China and Sino Pact can claim, updated several units including Helicopter as an air transport and artillery-support, etc.

[DaveBall068]

Problem with Land Transport unit - Truck. The land transport capability does not work the same as Air Transport. I have the following XML for the Truck unit:

<attachment name="unitAttachment" attachTo="Truck" javaClass="games.strategy.triplea.attachments.UnitAttachment" type="unitType">
<option name="attack" value="0"/>
<option name="defense" value="0"/>
<option name="movement" value="3"/>
<option name="isLandTransport" value="true"/>
<option name="transportCapacity" value="4"/>
</attachment>

Any thoughts?

[DaveBall068]

I have added an additional player, India, intended to be played as AI with territory restrictions. TripleA is not executing the turn, appearing to fly past it in the game history. I believe I have added all appropriate XML and the game initializes delegates for India.

Any thoughts?

XML file: ColdWar-1965-rev02.xml

[wc_sumpton]

@daveball068

Hail and well met!
If I understand, this xml is to be used with "Cold War 1965". To use as a mod, in TripleA versions 2.7+, you will need a modified .yml file. It should look something like:

map_name: cold_war_1965
games:
- {game_name: 'Cold War: 1965', file_name: ColdWar-1965.xml}
- {game_name: 'Cold War: 1965 rev02', file_name: ColdWar-1965-rev02.xml}

Also, there are no AI-India flags. My suggestion would be to create a .zip file. Then list the included files under the zip. Even if it's only the .xml, I would still make a zip. Copying from the mess with the indentation making the file harder to read.
ColdWar-1965-rev02.zip
Includes map.yml (only)

You have 3 players that start with AI, suggesting that these should be AI controlled. In the <playerList> section you should add defaultType="AI" after optional="false". Also, because the 3 Neutral players have no steps in the <gamePlay>/<sequence> their <playerList> entry should have defaultType="DoesNothing" isHidden="true" added after optional="true". This will help clean the front screen.

Cheers...

[DaveBall068]

@wc_sumpton Thanks for your response. Attached is the full game package. Unzip into downloadedMaps folder.

[DaveBall068]

@wc_sumpton I will implement the AI flag on the three players intended to be run by AI. Try playing the dev version I posted. India is in the initialize delegate step. But when India's turn comes up, India flashes briefly in the history log and then vanishes. It is strange.

[wc_sumpton]

@daveball068

AI-India does not own/control any territories:

<territoryOwner owner="AI-India" territory="North India"/>
<territoryOwner owner="AI-India" territory="South India"/>
<territoryOwner owner="AI-India" territory="West India"/>
<territoryOwner owner="AI-India" territory="East India"/>
<territoryOwner owner="AI-India" territory="Northeast India"/>
<territoryOwner owner="AI-India" territory="Pakistan"/>
<territoryOwner owner="AI-India" territory="Kashmir"/>

Make sure to remove Pakistan from SEATO ownership. Also, AI-India does not have any units on the board:

<!--  India  -->
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="North India" unitType="aaGun" quantity="1"/>
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="North India" unitType="Artillery" quantity="1"/>
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="North India" unitType="Fighter" quantity="1"/>
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="North India" unitType="BorderPatrol" quantity="4"/>
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="North India" unitType="Tank" quantity="1"/>
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="South India" unitType="Artillery" quantity="1"/>
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="South India" unitType="BorderPatrol" quantity="3"/>
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="West India" unitType="aaGun" quantity="1"/>
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="West India" unitType="Artillery" quantity="1"/>
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="West India" unitType="Fighter" quantity="1"/>
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="West India" unitType="BorderPatrol" quantity="3"/>
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="East India" unitType="Artillery" quantity="1"/>
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="East India" unitType="BorderPatrol" quantity="3"/>
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="East India" unitType="Tank" quantity="1"/>
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="Northeast India" unitType="Artillery" quantity="1"/>
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="Northeast India" unitType="BorderPatrol" quantity="3"/>
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="Pakistan" unitType="Artillery" quantity="1"/>
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="Pakistan" unitType="Fighter" quantity="1"/>
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="Pakistan" unitType="Infantry" quantity="4"/>
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="Pakistan" unitType="Tank" quantity="1"/>
<unitPlacement owner="AI-India" territory="Kashmir" unitType="BorderPatrol" quantity="5"/>

Ensure that all the old placements are removed, otherwise, AI-India will start at war with contested territories.
There also is no 'units' folder for AI-India.

Cheers...

[DaveBall068]

@wc_sumpton Thank you for troubleshooting. That fixed it. Now I am focused on tweaking for game balance. One means of testing has been to have Hard-AI play itself. This is where I experienced a new error: Cannot find capital for Neutral-US, one of the do nothing neutrals. It happened during a battle with one of Brazil (Neutral-US).

I am unable to upload full package due to file size. Here is the XML.
ColdWar-1965-rev02.xml

[wc_sumpton]

@daveball068

optional, in the <playerList>, needs to stay true for these players. This is what governs their needs for a capital.

<player name="Neutral-USA" optional="true" defaultType="DoesNothing" isHidden="true"/>
<player name="Neutral-USSR" optional="true" defaultType="DoesNothing" isHidden="true"/>
<player name="Neutral-China" optional="true" defaultType="DoesNothing" isHidden="true"/>

Cheers...

[DaveBall068]

@wc_sumpton Changed optional to "true". Received this error.

[DaveBall068]

@wc_sumpton Here is the full game package zip file from my Google Drive.

cold_war_1965-master-rev02-A.zip
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FuGc0DF-0aWvXvihPRmGw5_-d-M2rvA8/view?usp=drive_link

[wc_sumpton]

@daveball068

I've tested the version provided and was unable to recreate this issue. Remember an xml change needs to be tested with a new game, as a saved game contains a copy of the xml used to create it.

Cheers...

[DaveBall068]

@wc_sumpton I am having a strange problem. While play testing my map, I have had the game crash suddenly several times. No error message and no warning. The game just quit. Have you ever experienced this problem?

[wc_sumpton]

@daveball068

Are you using TripleA version 2.5 (stable) or pre-release 2.7. I have tested both but have only played 3 to 4 rounds. Will try more but I've not encountered any problems.

Cheers...

[DaveBall068]

@wc_sumpton I am playing on 2.7 due to errors on 2.5. Below is the link to the latest version. I am continuing to work on game balance.

cold_war_1965-master-rev02-B
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i6VLIArxGGNgk38e4gDP4B91YeWQty-p/view?usp=sharing

[wc_sumpton]

@daveball068

I've not encountered any errors in 2.5 or 2.7. Was able to go 14 rounds. Does the error load the main menu over the screen? Sometimes Hard AI can seem to 'hang'.

In the main directory, one above downloadedMaps, is the triples.log file. This is TripleA's error log file. Delete it and then run your map. If it errors out again, check this file and let me know what it says.

Cheers...

[DaveBall068]

@wc_sumpton The error has disappeared. However, I have a visual anomaly in West Australia. The color is inconsistent depending on the number of troops. Otherwise, the game works fine. Have you noticed this on your end?


[wc_sumpton]

@daveball068

Yep, I see it too. Will look into it, but fair warning, graphics and the display are not my forte, I'm more of a code junkie.

Cheers...

[wc_sumpton]

@DaveBall068

I'm sorry. Even the base game 'Cold War: 1965' has the same problem. Maybe ask @beelee. @Black_Elk and @ebbe are two very good map makers.

Cheers...

[beelee]

@wc_sumpton

hmm ... I can't remember who used to play this. Maybe @cernel does ?