Announcement

**Frank80878** · September 11, 2000, 19:31

Hey Mark its been a while. I see you guys are making progress but I would like to help some more if I can. I am fairly knowledgeable in military matters and have studied the history of warfare (although modern warfare is my specialty), but like I told you before I cant code. So if you need an adviser, or a technical guy i can help. Just write back and tell me what to do.

P.S.
How much does this job pay!!!!
j/k :-)

**Mark_Everson** · September 11, 2000, 22:14

Hi Frank:

Thanks for responding to the "call to Clash" We can always use help!

There is a variety of things you could do that would contribute seriously to the military model. Just go ahead and start on whenever you think looks like the most fun! I will rank them in order of what I perceive as the most useful at this point.

1. Go over most of the military model with a "fresh eyes" approach. First looking for big issues like the potential for lousy gameplay or extremely unrealistic things. I think the gameplay is more important at this point, because big realism problems can probably be fixed with patches at a later date. Whereas, if it ain't fun, it's very hard to make it so with tweaks. The first thing I would like you to look at would be the "ticks" model for strategic movement. That's because it is what I am coding up now, so suggestions would be most timely there. There are references to where you find info on it at the end of the military III thread. After that I would like to hear your criticism on the model that Harli and Krenski worked out that I think you are already somewhat familiar with. Just follow the links to that model in the military III thread. You can recognize them because the links are to the names of the pages, which are Units, Scouting, Maneuver, and assault.

2. Nearly as important as the stuff above would be to work on models that are consistent with our philosophy to cover things like naval power and airpower. Krenski seemed to have something in mind for naval power, but it's going to be at least two months before he gets back to Clash. So if those things are of interest to you it would be a good time to start putting models out to discuss. But before you put real details into a model, I think you should post on the forum about the general outlines just to see if it catches the excitement at least of those of us who are interested in things military.

3. If you like the Harli/Krenski model, start putting numbers on some historical element and unit types. It's a bit unfortunate that your interest is at the modern end, because the first thing we willbe putting in the demo is the ancient military stuff. Nonetheless, that would be a useful thing to get going against the day when we are actually ready to handle a modern military.

4. Feel free to suggest something that you think would be the most fun. I think it's important that you do something that you're really interested in, or you will quickly tire of it.

Just let me know what part you are interested in taking on. Worry if you can find the links I'm referring to! I really looking forward to having some action back in the military area!

**Mark_Everson** · December 21, 2000, 19:39

These things are still needed, so I thought I'd bump this up.

**Mark_Everson** · January 20, 2001, 22:25

Well, its been a month, so time to run this up the flagpole again...

I think we'll have a good solid demo out in a month or less, so good ideas will likely see action soon!

**earksiinni** · January 24, 2001, 23:41

I replied for the webmaster position in another topic, but I do have suggestions.

1. Obviously the graphics set is being worked on. I checked out the Map Graphics section on the Clash site and agree the tileset should have a "subdued" feel to it (that was EXACTLY what I was thinking when I first opened the program). The tileset is too grainy right now, and in the Demo4 the "new" tileset was not better than the original because there was too much white in the water tiles (froth?). I suggest the water have a plain light or dark blue, maybe a slight gradient. The mountains look cool, keep 'em. The most pressing problems in the graphics in my mind are the villages (UGH), plains, and military units.

2. JAVA PEOPLE, JAVA! You should DEFINITELY take advantage of the cross-platform capability of Java. So far I only saw a Windows version extraction file. Don't let this advantage slip through your fingers!

3. The message box is too annoying. Messages should be put on the left hand side of the screen as icons like they are in Civ 3: CTP. If that's too hard for now there should be an elongated window where those icons can "pop up". The message box could be used for project status updates from the Internet?

4. I'm not even gonna mention the GUI, I'm sure that's being worked on.

5. Finally, I saw some diplomacy screenshots. I'm sure this is just a small portion of the whole government model, but adjusting the policies of the governors is just not realistic. You could adjust your own policies and have mostly governors that like your policies (but dont follow them EXACTLY) run for office (wait, am I getting into democracy?). However, you see my point.

Good work! Keep it up!

Earksiinni

**Mark_Everson** · January 25, 2001, 09:06

Thanks for the input earksiinni.

Just a quickie response, since this isn't really the place to discuss these things in detail...

Graphics: Agree with most of what you said. I encourage you to find the most recent graphics discussion thread (it'd be Old) off the web page if you want to cover these issues further.

Java: We will use its cross-platform capabilities, the windows extractor was due to a problem in netscape when directly downloading the jar file.

Message box: Is history, we're looking for something better. How do the icons in CTP work? (maybe find the old interface thread to continue this discussion). If you have to kill each one by hand, I Hate that...

**axi** · January 25, 2001, 11:40

Comments on demo4? Wow, that is about 1 year out of date!

Have you checked out the Beast?
http://home.austin.rr.com/lostmercha...ashEditor.html

It is the product of F_Smith's attempt to code the social/government models, integrated into a scenario editor. There is a thread about it somewhere in the forum, you could check it out if you don't understand what it's all about.

There are other goodies in the website as well, f.e. some very interesting spreadsheets, if you're interested in game mechanics.

------------------
"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act."
George Orwell

**F_Smith** · January 26, 2001, 12:44

Just been out of pocket for a while, so thought I'd try and quell the rumors I've been snatched away by Dutch Slave-traders . . .

The GUI/View code is undergoing a major rework this weekend. I can't be of any help in the actual look of the graphics themselves, only in how the GUI components display the graphics objects, but the screen interaction with the game is coming into Java2 and the 21st century as we speak.

**Mark_Everson** · March 4, 2001, 14:01

We Especially need a coder for the Technology area. If someone doesn't turn up soon, I'll have to do it, but I would prefer to stay focused on Economy.

Successful candidate needs good Java skills and probably at least 5-10 hours per week to work on Tech.

We also still are in desperate need of several artists, esp for tile and unit graphics.

-Mark

**Lord Maxwell** · March 23, 2001, 06:41

Mark already knows I exist, and I have a copy of the code base (which I will spend the weekend pouring over, this week has been busy with work that actually puts bread on the table.)

I am very much interested in the tech part, unless someone has snagged it already, and I should easily be able to devote 5-10 hours a week to the project. (I estimate it might be another week until I have read up on all the info available, and skimmed the code enough to feel at home in it.)

I might also trick my girlfriend into coding for it.

**Mark_Everson** · March 23, 2001, 07:34

Hi Lord Maxwell! Glad to have you in the project! Unfortunately Tech has been taken in the interim... and Gary is already making rapid progress. So you should probably keep looking for another focus area. Graphics and Diplomacy are the two things we most need now.

Let me know about your further thoughts on what you'd like to look into. I'm sure we can find something you'll be interested in coding. And anyone else you can drag in... the more people the faster the progress will be .

**Mark_Everson** · April 5, 2001, 14:35

Another Help-Wanted Ad...

We could really use a wordsmith type for several things:
-Working on teaser blurbs and short summaries for the website
-In a bit we'll need someone to write text for the gui
-Someone really dedicated could sumarize old threads and post the synopsis on the webpage!

If you're interested in any of these jobs, let me know. And as usual, if you have other talents, I'm sure we can find something for you to do if you're motivated!

**Mark_Everson** · April 22, 2001, 16:46

We still need all the stuff in the post immediately above.

We could also use more:

artists / art kibbitzers

someone to work on refining the military model, esp relating to navy/air forces

and we can Always use another dedicated java coder...

-Mark

**ecstasis** · April 29, 2001, 11:14

Hi

I would be interested in joining the Clash team as a Java programmer. I'm currently attending college in a computer programmer analyst course. Please email me if I can be of any help.

Josh
ecstasis@ugc.net

Announcement

Lurkers: Clash needs Java coders, artists, and military model ideas, + more!

Lurkers: Clash needs Java coders, artists, and military model ideas, + more!

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