Crystiter - The resource tracker

[ciscoheat]

Smitten by the enthusiasm of this community, I made a resource tracker that is quite handy if I may say so. It has the following features:

• Easy crystite tracking by clicking on the playfield and selecting the crystite level
• Automatic land owner and resource tracking
• Auto-fill surrounding fields when a level 3 (high) crystite is found
• Planetary event tracker
• Autostarts Mule if put in same directory, so it's a launcher too

It's written in Autohotkey, the greatest script language for windows if you didn't know what it is. Source code is also supplied if you want to improve it. Again, you use it by clicking in the MULE game window, not on the tracker itself. (Except for the event tracker, but please contribute if you like!)

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

[gologged]

Nice piece of software! Got to try this

[Chuckie Chuck]

Rogue cat published a very nice one that also does some event tracking.  I'll check yours out and tell you which I like better.

[Chuckie Chuck]

Check Rogue Cats out Cisco.  Visually, it's awesome.  The only change one might make is to put the events and tracker on the same screen, but I found a way to do it and keep the scalibilty working very nicely, just run it twice and set the 2nd session to the event screen.

I do believe I like it better than yours.  The automation of tracking plots on yours is the only thing it is missing.  I love that I can change the size of the tracker on Rogue Cat's like resizing any other window, yours is a fixed size and that is a big draw back for me, enough to make manually tracking worth the effort.  I was impressed that it tracks who owns each plot and what is on the plot, but that is where my enthusiasm stops.

Rogue Cat's is well thought out, lets you map who got which plot manually, allows you to mark guesses on Crystite until you are sure with a different color flag.  I prefer selecting a little graphical icon to mark plots than typing in a number for the crystite level, now instead of two clicks on his, I have to click on a plot in the game, while on the map screen, and enter a number, well, that's a bit cumbersome, and I can only do it when the map is up.  I like Rogues method, very clean, don't have to wait for the game map to come around.  I think you might just think about using it instead, but good job on yours.  Would be cool if P.M. actually included them on the download page as extra utils (with yours and Rogue Cats permissions of course.)

Rogue Cat's Crystite Tracker v. 1.1

Rogue,

Is there a easy way to edit your tite tracker?

Would like to see a column to keep track of the number of Store fires, pirates, pests, elves, quakes, etc

I keep the FLA project, so I can make any changes needed to it. But, do you really need that stuff added? I simply type silly comments in chat like "Stupid pirates... =^¬_¬^=" when pirates come first, or "Puma pride!" when the shop burns, "Pestilicious" for plagues... etc. Then it's just scrolling up and down to check when they happened. Also a reset button would help a little with it. It's no problem to add them, so I guess it can be done in a few seconds/minutes.

(By the way, check your messages. I sent you one message on 27th November and you haven't logged into the forum for a long time. Nothing important, but I want the info.)

* EDITED - To avoid double posting.

OK, I made those changes and the new version 1.1 is now ready. Easy to handle and keep track of events now, but is it really needed that much? Anyway, enjoy it.

[ciscoheat]

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it. I have tried Rogue Cats tracker of course, and wasn't happy with it so I made my own. Wouldn't have done that if it fulfilled my needs.

The process is quite simple for crystiter:

1. Wait for someone to pick up an assay bot
2. Move the mouse to the land they're assaying
3. When the assay result is shown, click on the land and select crystite level. (Works even if the map is not displayed)

And if you need to focus back on the game screen without tracking, click on the status bar.

I'm not saying this one is better or worse, it's an alternative to manual tracking that's all. To avoid typing there could be another window that pops up when you click on the land, so you click instead of typing. But if everyone prefers Rogue Cats version instead, I don't see much reason to make an update...!

[Chuckie Chuck]

I'd like to see the best features of both combined is what I'm saying, but for now, I'll probably stick with Rogue Cat's.  The ability to resize the tracker so it takes up more or less of the screen would definately be a great add for yours, and I do like his graphics.

[ciscoheat]

Selecting the crystite level by clicking was a good suggestion, so I implemented that, updated first post with latest version. Resizing however is not something I see as important.

If you prefer nice graphics and manual tracking, ok what can I say?

[Chuckie Chuck]

Depends on what screen res you run in, someone may want to make it larger or smaller based on the system they run on.  (sometimes I'm on my laptop with 1280x800 15" screen and it a good size, although I almost would like to shrink it cause I surround my Mule stuff with Google Talk Windows to chat with my GF, and sometimes I'm using a 19"crt at 1600x1200 and the interface feels a bit small to me.)  For some people running 1080p resolutions (1920x1080 or higher) it could feel very small.

[Rogue Cat]

Fierce competence we have here. However, it's just like he said, a tool that suits his needs. That's the goal of any programmer making his own tools, his tool is fine the way it is. If he thinks more changes should be made, he will do them.

Keep in mind that AutoHotkey has the "power" to interact with different apps, while Flash' ActionScript is quite limited in that sense. (I'm using the old version 5, no idea if any newer version can interact that way, but I don't think so.) The best it can do is running JavaScripts from the webpage it is in or using XML to send and load data, other than that it is limited to the Projector itself. AutoHotkey is like a "helper" to do actions for other programs, while Flash and ActionScript are intended for design and interactive stuff.

Checking the newest thread:

What's Missing?

    * Automatic Tracking
    * Development Tracking
    * I'd like the option to turn off the titlebar

Automatic tracking and turning off the titlebar is beyond of what a Flash5 projector can do. I could easily add more stuff to track the development too, and even the mountains at the plots. It would require either new layers to display one at a time, or resizing the icons to a mini-tiny one to put them all together. However, the second one would a bad choice if you want to keep it small. And having to control all of it at the same time (placing mountains, coloring plots, defining development, tracking events...) all the time and after each event would become terribly tedious, not to mention that you would go nuts trying to control your production, answer the chat, planning your next move and deducing crystite plots. Most of times, the best tool is the simple one.

[Chuckie Chuck]

Personally, I'm not really a programmer, and my scripting knowledge is more limited than I would like it to be.  I can figure stuff out with study, and understand what someone else wrote reasonably well, but to actually write my own stuff?  Nope, not gonna happen in this lifetime.

Both trackers have high and low points.  I actually after playing some test today, decided I may just enjoy using them both together (when I'm using my high res display)

Just observing the high points and low points of the two.

Course, if they get to perfected, you'd have to stop playing because the computer would be doing all the hard work for you, lol.

[WhoosThis]

I took a look at the logs and noticed you do not get the coordinates of the plot when you assay, just the results. Unless you get really advanced and use screen recognition techniques its not possible to automate the assays.

One thing that could be automated and helpful would be to give the probabilities of pre/post production events and player events.

[ciscoheat]

I've considered automatic assay tracking but concluded that it's too much work at the moment. The ultimate vision, which is surely doable with autohotkey, is a transparent overlay on the playfield with the assay signs automatically placed on other peoples land when they make an assay. But I don't think I'll do that one.

Stats are always nice, the resources and owners are tracked and easily to implement, but not the amount of resource on each land. That combined with store availability could result in quite advanced predictions. But how much is enough?

Good thinking about event probabilities too! Is it always the same prob for every event (except when they've reach max of course)?

[Null]

The ultimate vision, which is surely doable with autohotkey, is a transparent overlay on the playfield with the assay signs automatically placed on other peoples land when they make an assay. Stats are always nice, the resources and owners are tracked and easily to implement, but not the amount of resource on each land. That combined with store availability could result in quite advanced predictions. But how much is enough?

That's the 10 billion dollar question Cisco.

How much is enough?

I dont have a problem with players comming into my servers, using these kinds of tools.  To me, if someone needs the help, these proggies offer a good "trainer", but other than that, does anyone else feel like all of this makes P.M.U.L.E. fake and unenjoyable?  I guess it really boils down to what limits each person will go beyond to win a game.

My opinion is, there probably are personal proggies floating around that do show you essayed plots of your opponent without you needing to manualy track them.  The reason I say this is, If one watches closely and tests this theory, they can see that more often than not, no matter how perfectly you execute (and on server mind you) hiding the essay with the wampus could be impossible.  I've watched a few key players (time and again) "somehow" get passed the covering wampus message and know exactly what is on that plot, even many rounds passed essaying.  I know if you're quick, you can sometimes see the message just before it dissapears while being replaced by the wampus message.  Yet, for some, this is executed flawlessly, seemingly every time, the technique of hiding your plot essay is almost pointless.  This is a tactic players use because it offers an edge to the essaying player.  Im not saying this is factual, but the theory seems to hold up from my experiances.

The point I am making is this.. As such proggies pop into the forums, or is handed from person to person, the playability of the game seems to turn into a something less exciting and fun.  New players may use these and get better at playing, but keep in mind, alot of tried players use these tools, so in reality, if you dont use these tools yourself, you're only playing against someone with not only a cheat sheet, but tools to do all the guessing and number work for them, alowing minimal knowledge of the game while having a advantage over anyone without.

Some people can do without by making their own notepad to keep track of the game, but having a program doing everything for you, requiring you only to keep your eyes open and make the next move, because everything is laid out for you already, just seems unsporting.

Again... To each his own.  When I get tired of P.M.U.L.E., I'll just find another game, wether trackers are out there or not.  There are more people using these things then they will admit in game.  Once again, you can see it in the playstyle by keeping a close eye on things.  Sure, you can do the same with a good memory, but only some of it. 

Please feel free to add your own thoughts here and things that you've been witness to.

Closing
----------------------

If we use such things, why dont we just go one step further and tell players how to catch on to other advantages that they may not realise are so easy to do..

Cant catch the wampus?

Get WinRar, open up the data file, and replace any graphic or color you want to any in game images.  Change the gif image of the wampus into a plain red dot.  This will alow you to catch the wampus every single time, so long as you have the means to get to it on time.  Change the image all together and make the wampus sprite something more visable if you want.

You can edit the colors, fonts and letters of the plot essay message so you can stop from missing it when players try to hide the essay message behind the wampus.

Unfortunatly, the game, in it's current condition, can be edited and chopped so much that gameplay for P.M.U.L.E. is really not enjoyable at all.  I personaly dont see many players hanging on to their "worth" as they realise that the challenge of P.M.U.L.E. has been compromised and laid waste.


For those that made the trackers, Kudos!  They're good work.  I'm sorry to see the community endulge, but to each his/her own.  For those that TRUELY do not use them, even secretly, Salute!  You sir/maam, make my matches feel much more enjoyable and unpredictable.

[Chuckie Chuck]

LOL, I just change the jar extension to zip and edit and change it back, don't even need RAR.  Jar files are just zip files with the extension changed.  Explorer can look at them.

[Null]

winwar is just another winzip with more functionality.  I said winrar because it's just one of the many ways, yet still simple enough to obtain.