TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd

[Kirkman]

Okay,

I'm still trying to get TradeWars 2002 v3.09 running in Dosemu under Debian
Linux.

Here's where I'm at:

* Removed all traces of Dosemu.
* Rebuilt Dosemu from Git. It's the newest version: 1.4.0.8
* When I built Dosemu, I used FreeDos 1.1, which is the newest version.
* Rebuilt my Synchronet from the CVS.

Falcon's Eye, Solar Realms Elite and Lemonade are all working fine.

My TW2002 problems persist, though.

I have tried plain TradeWars v3.09 and v3.07. When I try to run TEDIT or
TW2002.exe, these always cause Dosemu to die immediately. I get this error
message:

"ERROR: EMU86: error 96"

But when I use the DPMI version of v3.09, I get farther. INSTALL works,
BIGBANG works. But when I try to launch TEDIT, I get the following output:

Trade Wars 2002 DPMI module now loading.
Opening Global Message File
Opening Menu File
TEDIT has ended in error. The errorcode is 216
02/10/26 03:26:05 PM AbEnd:
EC=216 LF=MENUFILE.TXT L1= L2=ReadLn_Menu Addr=0018:4134

Dosemu does *not* die.

After that I try to launch TW2002. It prompts me for my name, and asks if I
want ANSI graphics. After that, it fails with output almost identical to what
I got from TEDIT:

Trade Wars 2002 DPMI module now loading.
Opening Global Message File
Opening Menu File
TW2002 has ended in error. The errorcode is 216
02/10/26 03:38:39 PM AbEnd:
EC=216 LF=MENUFILE.TXT L1= L2=ReadLn_Menu Addr=001D:40EA


Those error 216s seem to be Pascal errors, but the error descriptions I've
found on the web don't seem to help at all. As far as I can tell, the
menufile.txt is just fine. I've tried copying over menufile.txts from other
installations, but it doesn't seem to make any difference.

I have seen a 10-year-old document that suggests DR-DOS is better for
TradeWars than FreeDos, so I guess that's what I'll try next. But this thing
is making me tear out my hair.

Anyone have any ideas?

--Josh

////--------------------------------------------------
BiC -=- http://breakintochat.com -=- bbs wiki and blog

---
ş Synchronet
--- Synchronet 3.16a-Win32 NewsLink 1.102
* Vertrauen - Riverside County, California - telnet://vert.synchro.net

[mark lewis]

To: Kirkman

On Mon, 10 Feb 2014, Kirkman wrote to All:

K> But when I use the DPMI version of v3.09, I get farther. INSTALL
K> works, BIGBANG works. But when I try to launch TEDIT, I get the
K> following output:

K> Trade Wars 2002 DPMI module now loading.
K> Opening Global Message File
K> Opening Menu File
K> TEDIT has ended in error. The errorcode is 216
K> 02/10/26 03:26:05 PM AbEnd:
K> EC=216 LF=MENUFILE.TXT L1= L2=ReadLn_Menu Addr=0018:4134

DPMI... do yo have an EMS and or XMS memory extender loaded in your DOSEMU or
do you have EMS or XMS memory being made available??

i forget what language TW2002 is written in or i could tell you what runtime
error 216 is all about... but i suspect it is memory at this point seeing the
DPMI notation and guessing that your DOSEMU may not be setting up any EMS or
XMS memory for use...

)\/(ark

One of the great tragedies of life is the murder of a beautiful theory by a
gang of brutal facts. --Benjamin Franklin

--- FMail/Win32 1.60
* Origin: (1:3634/12.71)

[Kirkman]

To: mark lewis

> DPMI... do yo have an EMS and or XMS memory extender loaded in your DOSEMU
> or do you have EMS or XMS memory being made available??

Dosemu should be handling all that stuff.

I've tried changing various options like the EMS and XMS sizes. I've gone
through every single one of Dosemu's CPU emulation modes. I've tried it with
DPMI on and off.

I've also tried running TW2002 and TEDIT with the NOXMS and NOEMS switches.

But none of that makes it work.

> i forget what language TW2002 is written in or i could tell you what
> runtime error 216 is all about... but i suspect it is memory at this point
> seeing the DPMI notation and guessing that your DOSEMU may not be setting
> up any EMS or XMS memory for use...

I believe it's written in Turbo Pascal; the TW docs give a list of Borland
Turbo Pascal error codes for debugging purposes.

////--------------------------------------------------
BiC -=- http://breakintochat.com -=- bbs wiki and blog

---
ş Synchronet

[Kirkman]

Today's update:

I completely removed my build of Dosemu 1.4.0.8 today, along with FreeDos 1.1.

I replaced them by downgrading back to the stock Debian dosemu package from
apt-get (1.4.0.1 with FreeDos 1.0)

I also installed a copy of DR-DOS, which some Linux sysops apparently
preferred 10 years ago.

Interestingly, all the same errors I have been having also happen under
DR-DOS. So I can rule out FreeDos as the cause of my problems.

As I mentioned in my previous message, I have tried editing tons of dosemu
settings. None of the memory settings made any difference. Some of the
alternative $_cpu_emu settings did lead to different behavior, but it was
always some sort of crash, so ... not helpful.

At this point, the best outcomes I had reached were:

v3.09 plain - The installer, TEDIT, and TW2002 all cause dosemu to crash and
exit with "ERROR: EMU86: error 96"
v3.09 DPMI - Installer runs, Big Bang runs, but TEDIT and TW2002 crash inside
DOSEmu with a Turbo Pascal error message:

"TW2002 has ended in error. The errorcode is 216
02/10/26 03:38:39 PM AbEnd:
EC=216 LF=MENUFILE.TXT L1= L2=ReadLn_Menu Addr=001D:40EA"

My next strategy at this point was to try other versions of TW. I had pretty
much the same results with all the v3 versions I tried.

With v2, though, I had more success. I can get v2 Wide Beta 8 and v2 Wide Beta
A to install. But after BIGBANG, TradeWars just stalls at the "Trade Wars 2002
module now loading" line. This is almost the same place where v3.09 DPMI
crashes. But v2 doesn't crash. it just sits there forever, doing nothing until
I eventually close dosemu.

I also tried v1.01, but the installer batch file for that one was wonky, and
the .exe files crash dosemu anyway.

Suffice it to say, I'm pretty frustrated by this. I don't understand why
TradeWars won't work for me, when it sounds like other folks have it running
on similar systems/installations.

I wish TWGS was an option, but it's only for Windows. (I should have
investigated that before paying for a license.)

--Josh

////--------------------------------------------------
BiC -=- http://breakintochat.com -=- bbs wiki and blog

---

ţ Synchronet

[DesotoFireflite]

To: Kirkman
Re: TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd
By: Kirkman to All on Mon Feb 10 2014 03:43 pm

Ki> I'm still trying to get TradeWars 2002 v3.09 running in Dosemu under
Ki> Debian Linux.

Just an idea, if you can't get it running, you can jump on my TWGS. Point your
door menu for TW to *rlogon valhalla.synchro.net:2002 . I'm running 4 games at
the moment.


- CAT (n.), Furry keyboard cover.

- C.G. Learn
- Valhalla Home Services! - Telnet://valhalla.synchro.net
- A Gamers Paradise - Over 100 Registered Online Game Doors!


---
þ Synchronet þ Valhalla Home Services þ USA þ http://valhalla.synchro.net

[Android8675]

To: DesotoFireflite

Re: TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd

By: DesotoFireflite to Kirkman on Wed Feb 12 2014 05:49 am

De> Just an idea, if you can't get it running, you can jump on my TWGS. Point
De> your door menu for TW to *rlogon valhalla.synchro.net:2002 . I'm running 4
De> games at the moment.

Whoa, how many players do you have on your server?


---
ş Synchronet ş Shodan's Core - shodan.synchro.net:23 & :2323

[Kirkman]

To: DesotoFireflite

> Just an idea, if you can't get it running, you can jump on my TWGS. Point
> your door menu for TW to *rlogon valhalla.synchro.net:2002 . I'm running 4
> games at the moment.

I will take you up on that offer. I was trying some rlogin solutions last
night, but this is the best.

I got it to work using *rlogin valhalla.synchro.net:2002. It connected, I
joined the game, and played for a couple minutes!

But something weird happens after I quit the game and return to the main menu.

Synchronet acts like it is echoing the characters from that rlogin command. I
would hit the space bar, and the system would put "v" at the menu prompt. Then
"a" then "l" etc, etc until it had spelled out "valhalla.synchro.net."

It finished with a crash. "!Javascript /sbbs/mods/classic_shell.js line 84:
Error: can't convert NaN to an integer."

Why does this text get echoed back at the main menu prompt?

--Josh

////--------------------------------------------------
BiC -=- http://breakintochat.com -=- bbs wiki and blog

---

ş Synchronet

[mark lewis]

To: Kirkman

On Tue, 11 Feb 2014, Kirkman wrote to mark lewis:

> DPMI... do yo have an EMS and or XMS memory extender loaded in your
> DOSEMU or do you have EMS or XMS memory being made available??

K> Dosemu should be handling all that stuff.

i thought it should be, too...

K> I've tried changing various options like the EMS and XMS sizes.
K> I've gone through every single one of Dosemu's CPU emulation modes.
K> I've tried it with DPMI on and off.

K> I've also tried running TW2002 and TEDIT with the NOXMS and NOEMS
K> switches.

K> But none of that makes it work.

ugh... i know that's got to be painful...

> i forget what language TW2002 is written in or i could tell you what
> runtime error 216 is all about... but i suspect it is memory at this
> point seeing the DPMI notation and guessing that your DOSEMU may not
> be setting up any EMS or XMS memory for use...

K> I believe it's written in Turbo Pascal; the TW docs give a list of
K> Borland Turbo Pascal error codes for debugging purposes.

runtime error 216 is a general protection fault... that simply means that the
program tried to access memory outside of its allocated memory area...

what dos are you using in your DOSEMU? have you tried using a different one?
like DOSv6 maybe?

perhaps this is one door that you can run in a DOSBOX? have you tried that?

)\/(ark

One of the great tragedies of life is the murder of a beautiful theory by a
gang of brutal facts. --Benjamin Franklin

--- FMail/Win32 1.60
* Origin: (1:3634/12.71)

[mark lewis]

To: Kirkman

On Tue, 11 Feb 2014, Kirkman wrote to All:

K> At this point, the best outcomes I had reached were:

K> v3.09 plain - The installer, TEDIT, and TW2002 all cause dosemu to
K> crash and exit with "ERROR: EMU86: error 96"

this appears to be something with DOSEMU's CPU emulation stuff... as near as i
can tell, it is or was experimental...

K> v3.09 DPMI - Installer runs, Big Bang runs, but TEDIT and TW2002
K> crash inside DOSEmu with a Turbo Pascal error message:
K> "TW2002 has ended in error. The errorcode is 216
K> 02/10/26 03:38:39 PM AbEnd:
K> EC=216 LF=MENUFILE.TXT L1= L2=ReadLn_Menu Addr=001D:40EA"

ahhh! now *THIS* is something we can maybe work with :)

how big is your MENUFILE.TXT? the one in my TW2002 v3.09 is 45190 bytes...
there are 866 lines in the file with each line terminated using the standard
DOS CRLF pair...

how did you get the game files onto your system? if it was by FTPing the
individual files without forcing BINary mode then this may explain what
happened... FTP can (generally does) convert text file EoL sequences to the
local machine's EoL format... in this case, it might have converted the EoLs to
linux's plain LF (line feed) instead of keeping the DOS CRLF (carriage return
and line feed)...

[DesotoFireflite]

To: Android8675

Re: TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd

By: Android8675 to DesotoFireflite on Wed Feb 12 2014 08:20 am

An> Whoa, how many players do you have on your server?

I think 4 or 5 now, that's why I'm opening it up. Personaly I don't play, but I
wanted to give my users something they would enjoy.

- Don't eat the yellow snow!

- C.G. Learn
- Valhalla Home Services! - Telnet://valhalla.synchro.net
- A Gamers Paradise - Over 100 Registered Online Game Doors!


---
þ Synchronet þ Valhalla Home Services þ USA þ http://valhalla.synchro.net

[DesotoFireflite]

To: Kirkman
Re: Re: TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd
By: Kirkman to DesotoFireflite on Wed Feb 12 2014 11:44 am

Ki> I got it to work using *rlogin valhalla.synchro.net:2002. It connected, I
Ki> joined the game, and played for a couple minutes!

Ki> But something weird happens after I quit the game and return to the main
Ki> menu.

Ki> Synchronet acts like it is echoing the characters from that rlogin
Ki> command. I would hit the space bar, and the system would put "v" at the
Ki> menu prompt. Then "a" then "l" etc, etc until it had spelled out
Ki> "valhalla.synchro.net."

I have no idea, severl other systems are using it with no problem. This may be
one for DM to answer. I just logged in with no problems myself, so I really
don't know what to tell you. Have you checked wiki for TWGS for Synchronet,
there is a section on it that explains how to set it up on a remote system.

- CAT (n.), Furry keyboard cover.

- C.G. Learn
- Valhalla Home Services! - Telnet://valhalla.synchro.net
- A Gamers Paradise - Over 100 Registered Online Game Doors!


---
þ Synchronet þ Valhalla Home Services þ USA þ http://valhalla.synchro.net

[Kirkman]

To: mark lewis

Re: TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd

By: mark lewis to Kirkman on Wed Feb 12 2014 01:43 pm

> how did you get the game files onto your system? if it was by FTPing the
> individual files without forcing BINary mode then this may explain what
> happened... FTP can (generally does) convert text file EoL sequences to the
> local machine's EoL format... in this case, it might have converted the
> EoLs to linux's plain LF (line feed) instead of keeping the DOS CRLF
> (carriage return and line feed)...

EUREKA! Brilliant!

Yes, I use FTP to move files on and off my BBS, since it lives inside of a
VirtualBox VM.

I never would have thought to change the transfer mode from automatic to
binary. I suppose I could also do the unzipping on the Dosemu side instead of
on my Mac, which is what I had been doing. Less convenient, but probably
reduces the chances of compatibility problems.

Thanks a million.

--Josh


////--------------------------------------------------
BiC -=- http://breakintochat.com -=- bbs wiki and blog


---

ţ Synchronet

[mark lewis]

To: Android8675

On Wed, 12 Feb 2014, Android8675 wrote to DesotoFireflite:

De> Just an idea, if you can't get it running, you can jump on my
De> TWGS. Point your door menu for TW to *rlogon
De> valhalla.synchro.net:2002 . I'm running 4

De> games at the moment.

A> Whoa, how many players do you have on your server?

does that really matter? serious question... i have 4 games on my old v3.09 DOS
setup... each has a different hardness level and the higher the level, the more
NHP to deal with... the highest level has some pretty nasty BORG who have been
champing at the bit to chew some human arse for several years ;)

)\/(ark

One of the great tragedies of life is the murder of a beautiful theory by a
gang of brutal facts. --Benjamin Franklin

--- FMail/Win32 1.60
* Origin: (1:3634/12.71)

[mark lewis]

To: Kirkman

On Wed, 12 Feb 2014, Kirkman wrote to mark lewis:

> how did you get the game files onto your system? if it was by FTPing
> the individual files without forcing BINary mode then this may
> explain what happened... FTP can (generally does) convert text file
> EoL sequences to the local machine's EoL format... in this case, it
> might have converted the EoLs to linux's plain LF (line feed)
> instead of keeping the DOS CRLF (carriage return and line feed)...

K> EUREKA! Brilliant!

sometimes the crystal ball does actually work ;)

K> Yes, I use FTP to move files on and off my BBS, since it lives
K> inside of a VirtualBox VM.

based on the full error message that you (finally) posted, it was really the
only answer... my guess is that the code knows how many lines there are in the
file and simply loops through without actually counting them which would be
more proper than assuming that things are as they believe them to be... then
again, one might have also accounted for different types of EoLs but that's
today's world instead of yesteryears ;) O:)

K> I never would have thought to change the transfer mode from
K> automatic to binary.

many don't... i made it a habit many years ago but it can still bite one's ass
when they don't expect it... in some cases, you do want the EoLs to be
converted... in others, like this one, you don't...

K> I suppose I could also do the unzipping on the Dosemu side instead
K> of on my Mac, which is what I had been doing. Less convenient, but
K> probably reduces the chances of compatibility problems.

maybe... maybe not... i'm aware of at least one zip tool that will convert the
EoLs during the unzip process... it, too, can bite one's ass when least
expected ;)

K> Thanks a million.

you are welcome... i take it that you have your TW2002 v3.09 working now?

[Rastus]

To: DesotoFireflite
Have you tried creating a dosemu.conf for that directory?

You might have to turn off VM

create the file from a linux prompt and not dos.

Try these settings:

$_cpu = "80386" # probably won't matter
$_cpu_emu = "off" # ditto
$_dosmem = (640) # in Kbyte
$_xms = (1024) # in Kbyte
$_ems = (2048) # in Kbyte

DesotoFireflite wrote:

> Re: TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd
> By: Kirkman to All on Mon Feb 10 2014 03:43 pm
>
> Ki> I'm still trying to get TradeWars 2002 v3.09 running in Dosemu under
> Ki> Debian Linux.
>
> Just an idea, if you can't get it running, you can jump on my TWGS. Point
> your door menu for TW to *rlogon valhalla.synchro.net:2002 . I'm running 4
> games at the moment.
>
>
> - CAT (n.), Furry keyboard cover.
>
> - C.G. Learn
> - Valhalla Home Services! - Telnet://valhalla.synchro.net
> - A Gamers Paradise - Over 100 Registered Online Game Doors!
>
>
> ---

> � Synchronet � Valhalla Home Services � USA � http://valhalla.synchro.net
--

---
þ Synchronet þ Electronic Warfare BBS | telnet://ewbbs.synchro.net

[Android8675]

To: mark lewis

Re: TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd

By: mark lewis to Android8675 on Wed Feb 12 2014 08:12 pm

De>> valhalla.synchro.net:2002 . I'm running 4
De>> games at the moment.

A>> Whoa, how many players do you have on your server?

ML> does that really matter?

Kindda, 4 games with 0-2 players each or 1 game with 4-8 players? I'd be
interested in playing maybe if you had some 20+ player games running.

I'd even point my users there maybe.


---
ţ Synchronet ţ Shodan's Core - shodan.synchro.net:23 & :2323

[mark lewis]

To: Android8675

On Thu, 13 Feb 2014, Android8675 wrote to mark lewis:

De>> valhalla.synchro.net:2002 . I'm running 4
De>> games at the moment.

A>> Whoa, how many players do you have on your server?

ML> does that really matter?

A> Kindda, 4 games with 0-2 players each or 1 game with 4-8 players?
A> I'd be interested in playing maybe if you had some 20+ player games
A> running.

back in the day, sure... sadly not these days, though...

A> I'd even point my users there maybe.

i don't know how that could be done... other than having them sign up accounts
on my system to participate with...

)\/(ark

One of the great tragedies of life is the murder of a beautiful theory by a
gang of brutal facts. --Benjamin Franklin

--- FMail/Win32 1.60
* Origin: (1:3634/12.71)

[DesotoFireflite]

To: Android8675

Re: TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd

By: Android8675 to mark lewis on Thu Feb 13 2014 08:34 am

An> Kindda, 4 games with 0-2 players each or 1 game with 4-8 players? I'd be
An> interested in playing maybe if you had some 20+ player games running.

The more systems we have playing, the more users that will be in each game,
which will be a win win for everyone. I can't grow the game, if no one will
take a chance and join.

- CAT (n.), Furry keyboard cover.

- C.G. Learn
- Valhalla Home Services! - Telnet://valhalla.synchro.net
- A Gamers Paradise - Over 100 Registered Online Game Doors!


---

þ Synchronet þ Valhalla Home Services þ USA þ http://valhalla.synchro.net

[Android8675]

To: mark lewis

Re: TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd

By: mark lewis to Android8675 on Thu Feb 13 2014 08:26 pm

A>> I'd even point my users there maybe.

ML> i don't know how that could be done... other than having them sign up
ML> accounts on my system to participate with...

Assuming you're running SBBS you can use Rlogin <destination bbs> <sbbs door
code> and instead of loging into the destination bbs it'll just run the door
game specified.

some of my games use this to kindda combine player pools into one game. Game
just takes the username from rlogin as the player.

kindda shocked more bbs's don't do this. mentioned it a few times on dove in
the past.


---
ž Synchronet ž Shodan's Core - shodan.synchro.net:23 & :2323

[mro]

To: DesotoFireflite
.,: This is something about TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd,
DesotoFireflite said it to Android8675 on Fri Feb 14 2014 04:11 am
--ДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДД-ДДДД---ДДДДДДДДДДДДДДД---ДДДДДДДДД--ДДДДДДДД

> An> Kindda, 4 games with 0-2 players each or 1 game with 4-8 players? I'd b

> An> interested in playing maybe if you had some 20+ player games running.

> The more systems we have playing, the more users that will be in each game,
> which will be a win win for everyone. I can't grow the game, if no one will
> take a chance and join.

you guys need to find some users who want to participate in bbses and play
games, most of all. the sysops calling sysops deal doesnt work for long.


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[DesotoFireflite]

To: mro

Re: TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd

By: mro to DesotoFireflite on Sat Mar 01 2014 02:37 pm

mr> you guys need to find some users who want to participate in bbses and play
mr> games, most of all. the sysops calling sysops deal doesnt work for long.

I wish I had enough players. It was a waste of money to get the game, but I
thought it might help to get new members. So much for ideas.. LOL

- CAT (n.), Furry keyboard cover.

- C.G. Learn
- Valhalla Home Services! - Telnet://valhalla.synchro.net
- A Gamers Paradise - Over 100 Registered Online Game Doors!


---
þ Synchronet þ Valhalla Home Services þ USA þ http://valhalla.synchro.net

[mro]

To: DesotoFireflite
.,: This is something about TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd,

DesotoFireflite said it to mro on Sat Mar 01 2014 04:57 pm
--ДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДД-ДДДД---ДДДДДДДДДДДДДДД---ДДДДДДДДД--ДДДДДДДД

> To: mro
> Re: TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd By: mro to DesotoFireflite
> on Sat Mar 01 2014 02:37 pm

> mr> you guys need to find some users who want to participate in bbses and p

> mr> games, most of all. the sysops calling sysops deal doesnt work for lon

> I wish I had enough players. It was a waste of money to get the game, but I
> thought it might help to get new members. So much for ideas.. LOL

I've noticed that since about last summer bbs activity has dropped even more
so. also we've lost some good bbses during this time.

regarding tradewars i'm not sure whats going on with that. i know pritchard
cut a deal with some canadian guy and made some money off of a partnership.
then a lot of stuff fell through and i'm not sure where it's all going.

i don't participate in that tradewars scene and never really liked tw. most
of those people play tw with a 'helper' program anyways. i think that takes
some of the fun out of it.

If i was the owner of tradewars i'd just setup a big server and have people
that owned tw link up to the host server.

[DesotoFireflite]

To: mro
Re: TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd

By: mro to DesotoFireflite on Fri Mar 07 2014 10:29 pm

mr> i don't participate in that tradewars scene and never really liked tw.
mr> most of those people play tw with a 'helper' program anyways. i think that
mr> takes some of the fun out of it.

Yea, I agree with that. I have watched the helper engines, and it goes by so
quickly, it takes the fun out of it. Like I said before, I don't play TW, as
I'm just not into it. As for the helper, I look at it as somewhat of a cheat.

mr> If i was the owner of tradewars i'd just setup a big server and have
mr> people that owned tw link up to the host server.

LOL, that is actually what I thought I was going to have when I purchased it. I
had no idea I was going to have to act as a host for other systems. Live and
learn:)

[mro]

To: DesotoFireflite
.,: This is something about TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd,

DesotoFireflite said it to mro on Sat Mar 08 2014 11:30 am
--ДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДД-ДДДД---ДДДДДДДДДДДДДДД---ДДДДДДДДД--ДДДДДДДД

> mr> i don't participate in that tradewars scene and never really liked tw.
> mr> most of those people play tw with a 'helper' program anyways. i think t

> mr> takes some of the fun out of it.

> Yea, I agree with that. I have watched the helper engines, and it goes by so
> quickly, it takes the fun out of it. Like I said before, I don't play TW, as
> I'm just not into it. As for the helper, I look at it as somewhat of a cheat

when i took over datastream i had people who would login with these helpers,
[which i call trainers] and they would go so damn fast and they'd drag down
the system for a very long time. the person is not playing the game, this
helper is automatically doing a lot stuff that is part of the game play.

i asked some experts how i could tone down my resources being taken up by
these players so my real users could enjoy the bbs, but what they offered up
wasnt very helpful overall. eventually i had to make my actual bbs difficult
to use by these helper programs. my lightbar door menu!

> LOL, that is actually what I thought I was going to have when I purchased it

> had no idea I was going to have to act as a host for other systems. Live and
> learn:)

it's sad whats happened to bbsing, but facebook and stuff like that has taken
over. i get callers every day still [because i've been around so long], but i
dont know these people.

[DesotoFireflite]

To: mro
Re: TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd

By: mro to DesotoFireflite on Sat Mar 08 2014 02:26 pm

mr> it's sad whats happened to bbsing, but facebook and stuff like that has
mr> taken over. i get callers every day still [because i've been around so
mr> long], but i dont know these people.

No, it's not the same. I remember when we would have BBS partys, and the
members would come over for burgers and drinks on a regular basis. We would
have these parties at different SysOps homes during the year, and everyone
(most Everyone) were friends. Sometimes I wonder why I still do this. I only
have one original member left from my over 700 I had back in the 90's. We are a
dying breed, but as long as I am able, I will continue to do this to keep the
good old days alive.

- Old farts never die! They just smell that way...

[mro]

To: DesotoFireflite
.,: This is something about TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd,

DesotoFireflite said it to mro on Sat Mar 08 2014 04:57 pm
--ДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДД-ДДДД---ДДДДДДДДДДДДДДД---ДДДДДДДДД--ДДДДДДДД

> No, it's not the same. I remember when we would have BBS partys, and the
> members would come over for burgers and drinks on a regular basis. We would
> have these parties at different SysOps homes during the year, and everyone
> (most Everyone) were friends. Sometimes I wonder why I still do this. I only
> have one original member left from my over 700 I had back in the 90's. We ar

yup, makes me sad. same thing here. they had meetups at late night diners
and you could see the person behind the handle.

that stuff doesnt happen anymore, even with facebook.

[Android8675]

To: DesotoFireflite

Re: TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd

By: DesotoFireflite to mro on Sat Mar 08 2014 11:30 am

De> Yea, I agree with that. I have watched the helper engines, and it goes by
De> so quickly, it takes the fun out of it. Like I said before, I don't play
De> TW, as I'm just not into it. As for the helper, I look at it as somewhat
De> of a cheat.

Depends on how much it helps you. Look at WoW's Addon system, you can pretty
much write an addon for Wow that just everything save for actually playing the
game for you. I used to love the QuestHelper addon...

Go here, get this quest
Go kill 20 rats
Go get this other quest
Go to this location, wait for messenger
Go back to first NPC, turn in mission, etc...

pretty much how to get the most exp as fast as possible, the only thing it
doesn't do is move you around and kill stuff for you.

If the helper app just remembers the sector layouts and helps you navigate from
point a to b without having to enter all the points in between, that's not
really a cheat, it's just cutting out the boring stuff.

I'm playing Lord, I'd love it if I could just tell it to go kill stuff in the
forsest until done. Stop only if I have enough exp to level, or something other
than a monster shows up... BBS Doors are capital boring. I wish there were more
rogue-like's with BBS door build options built in.


---
þ Synchronet þ Shodan's Core - shodan.synchro.net:23 & :2323

[Android8675]

To: mro

Re: TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd

By: mro to DesotoFireflite on Sat Mar 08 2014 02:26 pm

>> LOL, that is actually what I thought I was going to have when I
>> purchased it had no idea I was going to have to act as a host for
>> other systems. Live and learn:)

mr> it's sad whats happened to bbsing, but facebook and stuff like that has
mr> taken over. i get callers every day still [because i've been around so
mr> long], but i dont know these people.

Facebook is fading out, at least the kids are getting bored of it. Should be
interesting to see what comes along next.


---
ţ Synchronet ţ Shodan's Core - shodan.synchro.net:23 & :2323

[mro]

To: Android8675

.,: This is something about TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd,

Android8675 said it to DesotoFireflite on Mon Mar 10 2014 11:04 am
--ДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДД-ДДДД---ДДДДДДДДДДДДДДД---ДДДДДДДДД--ДДДДДДДД

> De> Yea, I agree with that. I have watched the helper engines, and it goes

> De> so quickly, it takes the fun out of it. Like I said before, I don't pla

> De> TW, as I'm just not into it. As for the helper, I look at it as somewha

> De> of a cheat.

> Depends on how much it helps you. Look at WoW's Addon system, you can pretty
> much write an addon for Wow that just everything save for actually playing t

> game for you. I used to love the QuestHelper addon...

> Go here, get this quest Go kill 20 rats Go get this other quest Go to
> this location, wait for messenger Go back to first NPC, turn in

to continue your analogy, tradewars helpers are more like 'wowglider'; they
play the game for the user like wowglider plays a toon in wow.

[mro]

To: Android8675
.,: This is something about TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd,

Android8675 said it to mro on Mon Mar 10 2014 11:06 am
--ДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДД-ДДДД---ДДДДДДДДДДДДДДД---ДДДДДДДДД--ДДДДДДДД

> mr> it's sad whats happened to bbsing, but facebook and stuff like that has
> mr> taken over. i get callers every day still [because i've been around so
> mr> long], but i dont know these people.

> Facebook is fading out, at least the kids are getting bored of it. Should be
> interesting to see what comes along next.

i dont know, facebook has held itself strong against challengers.
even though the challengers suck at what they do. g+ still doesnt know what
the shit it's doing.

facebook evolves, atleast. people love broadcasting their dumb shit. i just
use it for spying on people and posting funny pics.

atleast it's not as bad as tumblr. i wish tumblr would close.it's either
porno or soup pics on tumblr.

[Android8675]

To: mro
Re: TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd

By: mro to Android8675 on Tue Mar 11 2014 10:20 pm

mr> to continue your analogy, tradewars helpers are more like 'wowglider';
mr> they play the game for the user like wowglider plays a toon in wow.

Yeah, that's no bueno. Too bad, TW is a pretty good game.

I recently found out I have an old source build of Freelancer for the PC. While
highly illegal, I'd love to incorporate a space shooter like Freelancer into
Tradewars. Like if you come across pirates it'll call Freelancer to determine
the outcome. Talk about fun.


---
ş Synchronet ş Shodan's Core - shodan.synchro.net:23 & :2323

[mro]

To: Android8675
.,: This is something about TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd,

Android8675 said it to mro on Mon Mar 17 2014 08:47 am
--ДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДД-ДДДД---ДДДДДДДДДДДДДДД---ДДДДДДДДД--ДДДДДДДД

> I recently found out I have an old source build of Freelancer for the PC. Wh

> highly illegal, I'd love to incorporate a space shooter like Freelancer into
> Tradewars. Like if you come across pirates it'll call Freelancer to determin

> the outcome. Talk about fun.

well i wouldnt do anything like that right now with freelancer since roberts
is working on that crowd funded star citizen game.

[Android8675]

To: mro
Re: TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd

By: mro to Android8675 on Tue Mar 18 2014 07:48 pm

>> I recently found out I have an old source build of Freelancer for the
>> PC. Wh highly illegal, I'd love to incorporate a space shooter like
>> Freelancer into Tradewars. Like if you come across pirates it'll call
>> Freelancer to determin the outcome. Talk about fun.

mr> well i wouldnt do anything like that right now with freelancer since
mr> roberts is working on that crowd funded star citizen game.

Chris Roberts isn't even credited in Freelancer, he wasn't on the project. I
think his brother (Erin?) helped out here and there.

Wasn't gonna do anything, I just found it funny that I came across an old build
CD. The code is WAY alpha, in fact nowhere near release code. That game went
through so many changes in the last year of dev. I do have the commandline
codes that I used to metric testing (run a ton of random pirate encounters,
record outcomes to check difficulty).

Again, fun.


---
ţ Synchronet ţ Shodan's Core - shodan.synchro.net:23 & :2323

[Tempest Fury]

On Wednesday, February 12, 2014 5:49:52 AM UTC-5, DesotoFireflite wrote:
> To: Kirkman

> Re: TradeWars 2002 v3.09 contd

> By: Kirkman to All on Mon Feb 10 2014 03:43 pm
>
> Ki> I'm still trying to get TradeWars 2002 v3.09 running in Dosemu under
> Ki> Debian Linux.
>
> Just an idea, if you can't get it running, you can jump on my TWGS. Point your

> door menu for TW to *rlogon valhalla.synchro.net:2002 . I'm running 4 games at
> the moment.

>
>
> - CAT (n.), Furry keyboard cover.
>

> - C.G. Learn
> - Valhalla Home Services! - Telnet://valhalla.synchro.net
> - A Gamers Paradise - Over 100 Registered Online Game Doors!
>
>
> ---
> þ Synchronet þ Valhalla Home Services þ USA þ http://valhalla.synchro.net

> --- Synchronet 3.16a-Win32 NewsLink 1.102
> * Vertrauen - Riverside County, California - telnet://vert.synchro.net

I have a TWGS running as well on my synchronet bbs, how would you set it up so you can accept connection like that ?