Beta Test feedback/screenshots

[jdb1984]

Sorry I didn't see the PM sooner. It's been a bit since I was last here. I'll get you my report when I get the chance.

[Dave]

commentator : Yeah, those Kalkoth battles are killer - literally!

@jdb : no worries, just take your time and post when you are able. Thanks for your help!

[mckinstry]

Dave I was wondering about eastpaws "strange luck" as he called it by getting the same random number result on the first several rolls.

For PHP there is a random number generator that somtimes generates the same sequence of numbers called rand.

srand can be used before it to ensure the sequences are random -

eg.

srand ((double) microtime() *10000000);
$var = rand (1,6);

Could this be a reason why eastpaw kept generating the same sequence of numbers at first with whatever language you are using?

[eastpaw]

Just tried out Hardcore. Two more bugs added to my first post. I've also crossed and paled out items that have been addressed (particularly bugs that are not) so that Dave may more easily see what needs to be looked at.

Commentator, I share your pain.

Mckinstry, that's interesting! Looking forward to Dave's reply on this.

[jdb1984]

Hardware:
I'm playing this on Windows XP, though i don't know the specifics of my computer, or how to find out what they are. Some help would be great.

Anyways, it ran great.

First impressions:

The number of options available just simply floored me. From every house rule conceivable, to text, to picking your starting CS/EP...it had it all. The journal was nice too, telling me notes on everything I did, as well as keeping track of what happened in battle, and even the chance to add your own notes (great for keeping track of codes).

Bugs:
-If you go into town (section 144, book 1) and lose a weapon, the journal still says you lost an item. -Not a bug, you *did* lose an item - it just happened to be a weapon. Actually, the journal entries are intended to be generic enough to accomodate such possible differences (If it had said "you lost a Backpack item", that would be a problem, but it's general enough as it is.)
-When I hit my head and lost 1 endurance (book 2, section 78), it was marked as starvation damage - I double checked this - it does not add in as starvation damage. It goes under the "Other" category. You may have sustained a point of starvation damage earlier from a poor Meal with the captain or crew.
-In Book 2, section 196, you are allowed to say you have Sixth Sense, whether you have it or not. - fixed - thanks for the catch!

Suggestions:
-Maybe an explanation that you need to hover over the dots to see a more detailed explanation of what it does. I had to find out on my own. -Where would I put it? Personally, I think it's not too confusing, as is... If anyone else requests this, I'll go for it.
-Though it's not a big deal, a better look at how the paper and background we're choosing would look would be nice - Not sure how this would be accomplished. Good idea, but if it goes in, it will have to be at a much later date.
-Maybe the option to see no illustrations. - What?! you don't like the images at all? I think they add so much to the atmosphere and general good looks of the books, that I'm loathe to even give the option of turning them off altogether. Sorry!

Completions:

By the Book:
Book 1:1 completion, 0 deaths
Book 2:1 completion, 0 deaths
Book 3:1 completion, 2 deaths

Hardcore
Book 1:1 completion, 0 deaths
Book 2:0 completions, 3 death (The only way I can beat it is restarting the whole campaign, thanks to my Kai Disiplines.)

[Dave]

Mar 12, 2009 11:24:45 GMT mckinstry said:

Dave I was wondering about eastpaws "strange luck" as he called it by getting the same random number result on the first several rolls.

For PHP there is a random number generator that somtimes generates the same sequence of numbers called rand.

srand can be used before it to ensure the sequences are random -

eg.

srand ((double) microtime() *10000000);
$var = rand (1,6);

Could this be a reason why eastpaw kept generating the same sequence of numbers at first with whatever language you are using?

I am seeding (which is what the s part of srand() stands for) the random number generator.

I think we just have to accept that in any sequence of truly random numbers, you can have an infinite number of the exact same result, however unlikely. I think that, to some extent, that is what happened to eastpaw.

I say, to some extent, because the number chosen is actually based on the RNT for the book, and when you click on "pick a random number", it actually chooses *two* numbers - one is the row and one is the column. It does this whether or not you have chosen to skip the animation. Since the number "5", for instance, appears in several places on the random number table, it could easily be that when eastpaw got 6 fives in a row, each of those fives came from a different combination of row and column. So, if he had enabled the animation, he would have seen that even though he got several 5's in row, they were not, in fact, the same 5.

I hope that makes sense.

[ghanesh]

Hi Dave,

I have gone through the program I think it's great - the previous version was good, but this is far more superior. I am impressed with the fan art - this is a very good idea. It didn't crash at all, ran perfectly smooth. I shall PM you some screenprints.

Here is the info you requested:

Computer info

System model: Packard Bell Easynote
BIOS Version: NEC R2.00

Intel Pentium M processor 1.86 Ghz
Version: x86 Family 6 Model 13 Stepping 8
Speed 1861 MHZ

Operating System – Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600
Service Pack 3.0

Memory Capacity: 1GB

Local Disk: Total Capacity 70.51GB Used 10.05GB





Errors:

Select a Book Page: Book 4 should read “The Chasm of Doom”, not “The Castle of Death” - fixed
Book 2 section 321 does not give the option of using hunting. - I don't know how you could go hunting in the middle of the ocean... Doesn't hunting include fishing?By the Book does not allow saving - not a bug! Only a "custom" game rules option allows you to save/load at will. Rest assured that any time you quit the program, it will save your progress, and also any time you progress to the next book.
Book 2 section 290 does not allow you to eat a meal – you automatically lose 3EP if you turn to this section - You lose the 3EP because you don't take the time to eat, you head off immediately to attack the assasin. Crazy, I know, but that's how JD set it up!
Hardcore rules – should allow you to choose your weapon if you have weaponskill – in return for this being the only weapon you have weaponmastery and grand weaponmastery in the higher books - Won't work quite that way in Seventh Sense. When taking Weaponskill, it's still random, but when taking Weaponmastery, you get to choose your 3 weapons to be skilled in - but no more beyond that, even on gaining rank.
Hardcore rules – if fighting with a 2 handed weapon, you should not lose any EP in first round of combat - added. Good suggestion!
Hardcore rules – you need to eat a meal when prompted even if you have hunting. You lose 3CS and 3EP if you don’t. Having hunting allows you to ignore the CS loss ONLY ( you still lose 3EP). - I can't easily figure in the 3CS loss, plus I don't really like that variation, so can't be bothered to figure out a way to code it in the near future... Sorry!
Book 1 Section 238 - You only get +2cs for the surprise attack in the first round - it has been given in the second round as well. - this section doesn't contain combat - please check for which section you are referring to (I checked book 1 & 2, sections 138,238, and 338 - no luck!)
Doesn’t seem to be able to save multiple profiles - strange, it works well on my system... Currently, to switch to another profile after you start to play, you must restart the program. I'm working on a fix for this. Would you double check that you can create and save multiple profiles from the main menu (before starting a book)?
Book 2 Section 30 - Fighting the zombie crew, the enemy damage is x0, when it should be x2 with the Sommerswerd. The program goes into a loop at that point - Sounds like you didn't actually equip the Sommerswerd, which is a surefire way to die when fighting undead. When you say "loop", do you mean the program froze? Or simply that it continued to do "x0" damage to the zombies? Once you begin a combat, you cannot switch weapons, so it's essential that LW select the appropriate weapon before he launches in...





1) I played the following scenarios:
Custom Rule, using 19CS 29EP (0 death)

Extended combat results table
Healing discipline rules not allowing starvation type
Using intelligent damage


Custom Rule, Random Number (1 death)
Allowing saving/loading at any time
Extended results table
Using intelligent damage
Using intelligent autoheal


By the book


Hardcore rules

[mckinstry]

Ahh, I understand.

Not that I ever had any doubt about your programming ability

[Doomy]

Mar 12, 2009 13:08:17 GMT jdb1984 said:

Hardware:
I'm playing this on Windows XP, though i don't know the specifics of my computer, or how to find out what they are. Some help would be great.

On your desktop, right click on "My Computer" and select "Properties" to get details of the CPU type, operating system and RAM.
The graphics card can be identified by selecting Start-> Control Panel -> Display -> Settings. It will appear above the currently selected resolution. Once you have the card name you can Google that for a more detailed spec.

[Dave]

I think it's telling how everyone is on Windows XP...

Do none of my beta testers have Vista? Of course, it ought to be perfect on there too, but just in case...

ghanesh, you should be able to modify your post - would you mind adding that little post to the info in your first post? Then I'll have it all in one handy place when I finally have time to address the various issues at hand.

[Taryn]

I'd be willing to do some Vista testing...

[ghanesh]

Dave, the post has been modified as requested.

[commentator]

I've been playing on Vista Home Premium Dave and it's been working great so far. Fourteen games down and no problems at all.

[Dave]

Oops, missed that little detail. Thanks comentator.

@taryn - I would happy to add you to the beta test. I'll send you a PM with instructions. Thanks!

[Doomy]

My next computer will be running Vista as well, as I had no other options.