great!

I can make the custom scenarios if anyone would like to help me out playing some trial games. For example I have no idea what kinds of attacks are appropriate at 100% luck. Is a 3v2 a waste of time? is a 7v2 appropriate?

Should visual basic be a supported language?

Edited 3/18/2014 23:10:48

invite me to your custom scenarios, i'd like play some trial games too.

What do these guys hold against vb?

Bananashake, you're right that there's enough code in the starterbot files to play; the real challenge is getting it to play well. For instance, right now, the bot picks randomly from available territories. You'll want to implement some kind of strategy.

How often are the bots placed in games? I submitted my first version a few hours ago, and it has yet to be matched up. (Errors aren't the problem; it passed the test match fine)

Also, I noticed that in the java code, there's a Long variable "timeOut" passed to many of the methods, but never used. Have you guys found a use for it? I think it's the maximum time you can take each turn.

maximum time you can take each turn is 2 second i think. is that how long the timeOut takes?

This challenge actually seems fun, and doesn't take that much time. I'll give it a try.

Also, I noticed that in the java code, there's a Long variable "timeOut" passed to many of the methods, but never used. Have you guys found a use for it? I think it's the maximum time you can take each turn.

Yes, the bot is expected to commit orders within 2 seconds.

If I understand correctly, you can access System.currentTimeMillis() which gives you the current time. I might be mistaken though.

http://www.java-forums.org/advanced-java/14441-timeout-method-execution.html

See post #3, first part.

maybe someone who know how to do this, can put up a tutorial on youtube? :D about basics

anyone can help me understand something plz:

when i load the java starterbot as it is when i downloaded it, compile is a success. But if i unzip the starterbot i downloaded, then zip it again myself, the compile fails and i get:

"javac: no source files
Usage: javac
use -help for a list of possible options"

any guess on why is that?

The compiler cannot find the source files?

If you cannot get that to work, you can download the zipped file anew, open its files without unzipping them, and copy-paste your modified files in their stead. Then upload the zip file.

thx it worked

Guys if you want to practise to see how your ideas will do on warlight, but cant because there isn't "random warlords with 2 picks in each bonus" choice in settings, you can use this link which has all the territory names, and just highlight the first two to come up in each bonus until you have all the possible picks. time consuming i know but the only way to test ideas on warlight.

http://j.mp/OxnV8y

EDIT: If anyone wants to play and see what they need to make sure their bot does, I am looking for people to play some 1v1s with if they want. Just make a game with me and we can chat about it and do some practise

Edited 3/19/2014 19:03:50

Can anyone explain me how it works with "Neighbours"?

setup_map neighbors 1 2,3,4 2 3 4 5
Finally we can see that regions 1, 2 and 3 are all connected to each other. Region 4 is only connected to region 1 and 5. Both region 3's neighbours are given, so it's left out in the line, continuing with region 4.

I really don't understand how that fits together :(

setup_map neighbors 1 2,3,4 2 3 4 5

Yeah, it's tricky to decipher. I wish they had used a better syntax.

First split by space, then look at each pair:

1: 2,3,4
2: 3
4: 5

This means that 1 is connected to 2, 3, and 4. 2 is connected to 3. 4 is connected to 5.

All connections are implicitly two-way, so you also have to read it in reverse. The first line says that 2,3, and 4 are connected to 1. Second line: 3 is connected to 2. Third line: 5 is connected to 4.

You can go back and fill in the gaps to get this:

1: 2,3,4
2: 1,3
3: 1,2
4: 1,5
5: 4

Edited 3/20/2014 16:59:21

oh thanks, that makes sense :)

I have a question for you guys: For neutral territories (excuse me, regions), what does the getPlayerName() method return? "neutral," "unknown," or something else?

i think it is "neutral", and "unknown" in when the region is not on the visibleMap, wether it is actually neutral or owned by opponent.
(i hope so, cause that's how i coded...)

Edited 3/21/2014 08:10:40

"Unknown" is reserved for regions that are not visible and therefore (theoretically) their owner is not known.

It seems "neutral" is the correct word for regions that are visible and not controlled by either player. However, if that were not the case, you could circumvent the problem by defining as neutral every territory that fulfills these three conditions:

1. It is visible
2. It is not controlled by you
3. It is not controlled by your opponent

Of course, since there's only two players (and no abandon cards or something like that), once you know a territory is controlled by your opponent, it will remain controlled by your opponent until you (re)capture it. The big point they make about never being able to tell whether your opponent controls a bonus is mostly nonsense; it is perfectly possible to keep track of which territories are certainly controlled by your opponent, even if you can no longer see them (you still cannot keep track of their progress in the fog, nor can you tell army numbers).

Whom does the uploaded code belong to? Does someone get automatic licenses? I don't see any terms of service in theaigames.