VGAP Codes 1.00
Rob Bos
The VGA Planets Codes v1.00 (finally!)
Edited and mostly written by Rob Bos, with input from other sources quoted
where appropriate.
OK, this is version 1.00 of the VGAP Codes. Some sweeping changes have
been made from the non-official versions, including the seperation of the
questions into three blocks: One for all people, the second for players,
and the third for hosts.
Note to anyone who created their Codes with an earlier version: It has
been updated enough to have to worry about incompatibility. Sorry!
There will be no more than cosmetic changes from this point.
To use this in your signature file, please use the following format as a
guideline... and if you don't fit directly into a category, feel free to
put yourself down as in-between, like R+(++) or R+/++ or something like
that.
That said, here's where I come in:
[VGAP Code: L+ T+ G CT++ D- R++ CPv] (the first 7)
[F63a S--- F+ P UN++ N++ V- Y A+]
[hpT VP W-]
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General question block:
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1. How much of the Lore do you know?
(Or, Rate your level of knowledge of undocumented features, bugs and the
more obscure friendly codes.)
L!: I _wrote_ the game. You young whippersnappers, think you know
everything... well lemme tell ya this, you think you know *all* the
undocumented features? You think you know *all* the friendly codes,
*all* the features? I've put some in there you will NEVER guess at, NEVER!
(Special thanks to Tony Evans)
L+++: If there's a feature, a bug, a friendly code or an angle, I know it.
I've written PhD papers on the mathematical formulae used to model
native/colonist economics. I can recite fc's in alphabetical order. I know
which 'bug' to use, when to use it, and how to make sure the enemy doesn't
know it's been used. I can tell which other players know about the
features, and take action early in the game to neutralise them. I can
quote the full host order from memory.
L++: I use undocumented features regularly in my Plan To Take Over The
Cluster. I know which side of the screen to fight on, and how to get
there. I might not always know about a feature, but once I see it in
action, I can adapt it to my advantage. I can usually tell when
the enemy is preparing to use an obscure feature, and take action to
prevent it.
L+: I can usually remember most fc's without checking the
documentation. I have a few favourite tricks which use undocumented
features, but sometimes they are more hassle than I can be bothered
with. If there's an obvious goal, then I consider and usually use
features and fc's to achieve it. Sometimes I spot the enemy doing the
same.
L: I know there are some undocumented features. I once flew around a
gravity well at warp one for a while before noticing. I know there is
probably a friendly code for just about everything I want to do - but
need to check the docs to find out what they are. Sometimes I
remember at the last minute and use an obscure feature, but just as
often, I forget.
L-: I keep seeing undocumented features mentioned in the newsgroup. I
saw a web page about it too. There's a ship flying round in circles
next to one of my planets, I think that's something to do with them.
I don't use them much myself. I have the fc's printed out and next
to me when I play.
L--: I've heard about these undocumented features. Personally, I
don't like the idea. I mean - if some people don't know about them
it's not fair to use them is it? I can't be bothered trying to find a
calculator just to work out how much I should tax my colonists, just
wing it, that's what I do. I don't think anyone else uses them
either, at least, I've never seen them.
L---: None of the so called undocumented features exist. They never
work - I've tested them all in my own custom written VGAP utility.
They are all excuses from under-skilled players who just want to try
and scare newbies. They don't exist, so I don't use them.
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2. How many turns can you play in a week without getting yelled at by a
significant other/boss/parent/sibling, and without shirking other
responsibilities? (eating counts as a responsibility)
T+++: I... am a VGA Planets machine. I have no responsibilities. Every
waking hour is spent in front of a computer in which I have one of my
games running in the background while I work or am working on something
VGAP-related... when, of course, I am not actually playing.
T++: I usually play between 9 and 12 turns a week, the equivalent to three
triweekly games, one daily and one triweekly, or a daily and a onceweekly
matter, 12 games of one turn/week. Take your pick.
T+: 6 to 8 turns per week.
T: 3 to 5 turns per week.
T-: 2 turns per week.
T--: 1 turn per week... very busy. (if you're so busy, stop reading this!)
T---: I have little opportunity to play these days, unfortunately. I will get
into a game occasionally, but it can't be helped.
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3. How many full games have you played?
(as a measure of general experience)
G+++: More than you could possibly comprehend, little man... in fact, more
than I comprehend myself. I have played more games than there are people
who despise the Privateers. Almost every person who plays this game has
reason to fear me.
G++: Memory fails to yield the precise number, but over the years, I
have played at least 20 hard-fought games to the death.
G+: I think, between 10 and 20 at least. Never really bothered to keep
much track.
G: Between 5 and 9 games. You see, I notch my monitor for each race I
have wiped off the face of this earth directly. I hope to have a nice
floral pattern in 10 years or so... with a little luck, I may even have
whittled my monitor down to a few dials and the tube.
G-: I have played a few games, between 2 and 4. Really enjoying it so
far.
G--: I have finished one game, and am looking forward to / playing in my
second.
G---: I'm still on my first game... and having a blast. Thinking about
registering to use those big-ass battlewagons and high-tech drives... they
are pretty slow.
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4. What are your combat and tactical skills like?
*Note: Combat and tactical skills have little to do with how much you
know about the game... I've been kicked around the block by people
who really could care less about "Host sequence" or "Tow Rules".
(Special thanks to F alk for much of the material here)
CT+++: I regularly invent new tactics, which will lead to death of all my
enemies. I wear an extremely smug smirk on my face at all times. I can
see immediately which ships are needed to kill any enemy fleet under any
shiplist, and how to deploy them. If an enemy uses an unknown tactic, I
will counter it and kill his entire attacking fleet in less than 5 rounds
(adapt, adopt, and improve). I fight in ways which leave my opponents
baffled at every turn, my ships are as extensions of my will... My
intentions are as the winds above the clouds. Mediocre players cower
in My presence. Give me two freighters and a probe, and I'll take on
the Cluster.
CT++: I know lots of tactics and invent new ones as they come to me, to
disturb my enemies. I can make use of altlists effectively. If an enemy
uses an unknown tactic, I'm baffled, but will adapt and adopt his tactics
quickly, so he will not win without severe losses. I know how to make a
ship unusable with minimum effort at the first sight (this means, a not
too weird Altlist). I fight with skill and daring, and confuse my
opponent regularly. Newbies prostrate themselves before me. Give me
time and space, little can stand up to me.
CT+: I know most if not all standard tactics, and can adapt new tactics
to my general strategy once I figure them out. I know which ships
regulary defeat other ships, or least I know how to sim it. If an enemy
uses an unknown tactic, this usually leads to a temporary loss of a
cluster, before I figure out countermeasurements. I don't need long to
find specific weaknesses in a ship-design (if there are any). I command
my ships like fine tools.
CT: I know some standard-tactics, and where to get the others.
I know which ship will win over another every time. I have trouble
reacting to and adapting fundamentally new approaches to the game unless
they are explained to me, but will incorporate what I have learned into
each new game as I play, getting better and better.
CT-: I know there are standard tactics, and where to get them. I
usually ignore anything that are not relevant to my situation.
I will not usually bother with fancy maneouvers unless in a tight
spot.
CT--: Tactics are irrelevant. We fight with brute strength, we need
no _finesse_, we have a job to do and we are going to do it in the
most direct way possible--tooth and nail.
CT---: Gimme a club/cube, and I show you my tactic.
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5. What kind of diplomatic skills do you have?
D+++: My Word is a command to My disciples; I am as "mystical as the
threefold earth;" I start wars by sneezing, I end them by saying
"Nice Doggy." I can negotiate my way out of any given situation,
and often win games without building warships. I write more
messages every turn than I get from the Host program. The Tim
Continuum obeys my every whim.
D++: Alliances are second nature to me; I never have to break any
agreement I make because there are as many loopholes in them as
there are people who listen to them. I actively stir up crap
(without making it obvious) between as many races as possible at
every opportunity... I can almost always drum up support for a
campaign. I am usually privy to the intelligence on conflicts
in most areas of the Cluster.
D+: I carefully make my alliances and non-agression pacts according
to my Plan To Take Over The Cluster... I am involved fairly often in
affairs beyond my circle of neighbors.
D: I make use of alliances and non-agression treaties often, but I
can do without them. I am about as likely to make a proposal for an
alliance as reject it. I write messages when I want something, when
someone writes me, when I need information.
D-: Beyond the local group, the rest of the Cluster can go f***
itself for all I care. I will not usually approach anyone for an
alliance or a non-agression pact, but I do respond to my messages.
I will ally if there is obvious benefit to me with minimum risk.
D--: My diplomacy is done from behind a large fleet of warships. I
will not ordinarily agree to any form of association with any other
race unless there is a lot in it for me... I regard diplomacy as in
bad taste.
D---: Diplomacy is for losers, weaklings and the Federation. The
Tim Continuum obeys my every whim. I am more likely to respond with
a declaration of war than an agreement to an alliance or
non-agression pact request, since they are obviously worried about
conflict with me. I can fight my way out of any given situation, I
don't need friends to get information, I have... other means.
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6. At what point will you drop a game?
R+++: I fight to the bitter, undying end of my empire. My ships run
guerrilla ops, the planets I am losing get scorched earth implemented, I
hurl any form of abuse I can think of, attempt to garner support from any
possible corner, run if I have to. I would never drop a game, I have to
be evicted, kicking and screaming, with my last breath used to
denounce the object of my wrath. NOTHING is getting MY planets, not
even over my dead body, NO WAY, NO HOW!
R++: Usually when the situation seems utterly hopeless, I stop playing,
but only in very rare situations: if I have *no* chance left and no
chance of rebuilding, if I am under attack from most of my neighbors and
no military to speak of. I will usually hang on long enough to implement
scorched earth and make sure the enemy doesn't benefit from my territory.
R+: When the situation is extremely grim, I sometimes bail. A surprise
invasion taking out a large proportion of my empire, a quickly crumbling
defensive effort, it'd all take a hell of a lot of time that I don't
have.
R: If there is a good chance I won't survive the next month, I'm off to
greener pastures. A surprise invasion, a slowly crumbling defense, a
repelled attack, these are not worth following up on. If I'm too far
behind in the scores, why bother?
R-: When the situation starts to turn against me, I don't have much
stomach for going on. If I'm not in the top five, there's really no
hope anyway.
R--: Someone makes a threatening move, and I don't have a large
military/diplomatic/economic advantage, I'm out of there.
R---: Someone makes a threatening move, and I'm out of here. I play the
game for fun, not to get wiped out. So what if I have the Borg Fleets Of
Doom on my side? If I'm not at the top of the scores, I'm nothing.
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7. Which client program do you generally use?
(Thanks to Roger@firedrake for the idea)
CP!: I use a hex editor to unpack, give orders, and repack.
CPw: WinPlan
CPv: VPA
CPd: DosPlan
CPu: VPUtil
CP?: I use a mixture of the above.
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Begin second block: Players' questions.
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1. What's your favorite race?
nFx where 'n' is ranking and 'x' is race number.
i.e. 1R5 Privs, 2R11 LCOM. Alternatively, write F12345 in order of
preference.
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2. What is your first impulse when you see a small, weak probe ship from
a previously uncontacted race?
S! If I think I can use them, I will.
S+++: Carefully consider the possibilities of an alliance.
S++: Send friendly messages to gauge the type of person they are.
S+: say "hello," promptly forget about it unless they look scary.
S: Ignore them completely or offer non-agression.
S-: Offer NAG and fire up the military-industrial complex.
S--: Bluster about and threaten them.
S---: Blow them out of the sky.
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3. How tough are you?
F! What difference does it make?
F+++ I am tougher than nails.
F++ I am a nasty SOB.
F+ I am sorta tough.
F I am a typical person.
F- I am sort of a wuss.
F-- I am mostly wuss-bait.
F--- I am a mega-wuss.
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4. How long have you been playing VGA Planets?
P+++: Since version 2.0 was released.
P++: Since '94.
P+: Since '95.
P: Since '96.
P-: Since '97.
P--: For a couple of months now.
P---: Couple days now.
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5. How much do you frequent agvp or #vgaplanets?
UN! No access to Usenet or IRC.
UN* BBS'er/non-Internet VGA Planets connections.
UN+++: I live on agvp/#vgap. I check in every half hour.
UN++: I devote _some_ time to real life.
UN+: I drop in quite often to see what's up.
UN: I can take it or leave it. Interesting though.
UN-: I occasionally drop in to read up on things.
UN--: I rarely drop in to agvp OR #vgaplanets
UN---: Why bother? I've got email and web pages...
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6. How do you feel toward newbies?
N+++: I welcome them like brothers. I am a newbie.
N++: They are the future. The game could not continue without them.
N+: I help them out whenever I can.
N: I am indifferent to newbies.
N-: New players are useless.
N--: New players are a bane in my life.
N---: Newbies?! where? heh heh...
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7. How do you feel toward self-described 'advanced' players?
V+++: They deserve our admiration.
V++: They deserve our respect.
V+: It remains to be seen.
V: I will not be coerced into accepting their opinions of themselves.
V-: Their constant smirking gets on my nerves.
V--: They are smug, arrogant people who would really be better GONE.
V---: I flame them on sight. A _really_ advanced player wouldn't
give it away to keep the enemy off balance.
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8. How long do you take to play your turns?
(Thanks to Tony Evans)
Y+++: I spend several days considering each possible move carefully, I
sim every battle, I set up games using Overlord to test out theories
and patterns before I even begin to move things around with the
client. I write messages, and then rewrite them for maximum impact in the
direction I want them to go.
Y++: I spend much time carefully planning out my strategy for the next few
turns; most of it away from the computer. I sim key battles and obscure
rules when I'm not exactly sure what will happen, carefully making sure
that everything works without a hitch.
Y+: I spend time to coordinate my fleets well, write messages, and
generally making sure everything ticks like a swiss watch.
Y: I usually do my turn until I feel that nothing too serious will happen,
and coordinate the sensitive battles and crucial ops much more closely.
Y-: I don't need to spend much time, as most of my actions are
pre-planned. On extremely sensitive areas, I will make doubly sure that
everything goes without a hitch.
Y--: I don't need to spend much time playing a full turn... I've got it
down to reflex action in some cases... I know ahead of time where my ships
are going, what they are going to do... why think it through again?
Y---: I spend about 1 second on each order. I find it more fun that
way.
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9. Do you enjoy using addons?
A+++: Add-ons? Love em, can't get enough. Every game I host/play in has
at least 10.
A++: They're fun to add a little variety to the plain-vanilla game.
A+: Good, but not in excess.
A: I'll usually play with one, sometimes two.
A-: I would prefer to leave them.
A--: They're somewhat useless; they add too many variables.
A---: Add-ons suck and ruin the original game. Give me pure-planets
anyday!
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Begin host questions: (block 3)
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1. What host program do you use?
hpT: The newest host released by Tim.
hpT-: An older version of Host.
hpP: Newest version of Phost.
hpP-: Older version of Phost.
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16. How much VGAP-related programming do you/have you done?
VP!: I don't program. Yet.
VP+++: I have written an enhanced program capable of replacing parts of the
VGAP cycle, such as a host program, client, computer player, or auto host.
I know most every little obscure programming detail, including all the HST
file formats. I can quote host order from memory.
VP++: I have written a series of utilities and addons for the player and
host sides.
VP+: I have written a utility, once, but aside from that, I expend my
efforts in more useful directions.
VP: I -could- write a utility if I had a good idea... I'd need to know
file formats etc though.
VP-: RST/TRN files are black boxes to me, HST files... I know they are
there, but don't really need to know. If I do ever need to know, I know
where to look.
VP--: Programming an addon would add to an already oversaturated market.
VP---: I really, really could not care less about the format of such and
such files. It is trivial and useless information as far as I am
concerned.
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20. How do you typically host games?
W++++: You'll need IE4 even to find out what games I'm running.
W+++: Everything can be done via the Web, including TRN
submissions and RST downloads.
W++: You'll have to use the Web at least once to join. (e.g. Robo)
W: You can use email or Web to join, drop and play games. (e.g. NAVGAP)>
W-: Commands, TRNs and RSTs, are sent by email; there's a web page wit
current information on vacancies, and maybe downloadable RSTs. (e.g.
GHost)
W--: Everything has to be done by email; the web page just tells you
which address to send it to.
W---: What web page? I need no stinking web page!
W----: What web?? I can't _stand_ spiders!
--
Rob Bos... of the Collective; Cluebringer to the Clueless;
and planner/executor of the Plan to Take Over the Cluster!
[VGAP Code: L+ T+ G CT++ D- R++]
[1N6 2N7 3N2 S! F++ P UN+++ WWW++ N+ V- H- VP Y A+ CPv W!]
VGAP Code: www.sfu.ca/~rbos/vgap/info/VGAPCode.txt
TKF infopage: www.sfu.ca/~rbos/tkf/