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Post by boneheadiii on Feb 21, 2007 17:03:29 GMT -5
Just wondering how many people play (1E or 2E) online, or manage their collection in a spread sheet, or have anything else they do with their computer in the pursuit of Highlander happiness? And those that do, what do you like/dis-like about the software tools currently out there? And what tools would you like to see that aren't out there now? The only two I'm aware of are Eric's rWatcher eric2001.brinkster.net/downloads.asp and my HCCG Tools www.boneboxes.com/Highlander.aspx. Are there others I'm unaware of? I know some of you have no use for playing online, and the company prolly frowns on it since it makes them no money, but some of us no longer live near friends that play, and no longer have the pre-marital freedom to blow money on cards. And some that don't play online might just be interested in managing their collection to help with trading needs and the like. Anyway, just curious as to how many out there have interest in software tools.
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Post by jamesmcmurray on Feb 21, 2007 17:08:04 GMT -5
I've never played online, but I have made extensive use of the Watcherdatase software, especially for tracking and interacting with MLE stuff. It's always done everything I've needed it to.
I've never checked out your stuff, so can't really comment on it.
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Post by boneheadiii on Feb 21, 2007 17:10:48 GMT -5
A good point I failed to mention... If you want to play with MLE cards, it's almost a must to use software. Unless you want to do a lot of printing and gluing.
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Post by davester64 on Feb 21, 2007 17:13:34 GMT -5
I use Microsoft Excel to keep track of my collection. I like it as it allows me to sort the collection in various ways.
I do need to update it with the gems, but I'm too lazy to do it.
Dave
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Post by rplantau on Feb 21, 2007 18:16:19 GMT -5
I use a spreadsheet to track my collection and also to build virtual decks with cards I don't have...
I'd like to see a great interactive playing tool where you can scan your cards and play remotely against another player - because locally there aren't that many players and I'd like to be able to play some people from the US. I'd also like something for deck construction 2nd ed cards and gems as it is tedious using the spreadsheet - I assume boneboxes will be extended...
If someone doesn't do the remote playing thing and the current tools (which I haven't investigated) aren't snazzy enough then it I might try to do it myself! Timeframe is extended tho due to work...
A remote playing tool could potentially be made quite flexible such that one might also be able to use it for Magic and other CCGs. I'm thinking initially at least of a very bare implementation which relies on players to enforce the game rules.
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Post by Thorr on Feb 21, 2007 18:26:42 GMT -5
Cardtable is a great generic CCG tool for playing. There is even a Highlander fileset for it. It's not great, but it -is- a tool for use with just about any CCG.
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Post by boneheadiii on Feb 21, 2007 20:11:08 GMT -5
You got a link Thorr? I've never heard of it, I'd be interested in taking a look at it.
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Post by Thorr on Feb 21, 2007 20:43:18 GMT -5
Yeah, I have it around here somewhere.. I found Cardtable while looking for an online HL alternative before I found Watcher Database. It was that search that got me to MLE originally... IF you search in Yahoo groups, you'll find one called "cardtablefiles" I think. It's run by evilchris. I am fairly sure it's all there. I will dig further though.
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Post by jamesmcmurray on Feb 21, 2007 21:35:04 GMT -5
Apprentice was made for Magic the Gathering online play, but the deck files are simple text so you can use whatever card game you want with it. I've never played HL, but I've used it for Magic and it worked great.
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Post by Thorr on Feb 22, 2007 10:31:10 GMT -5
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Post by boneheadiii on Feb 22, 2007 12:59:42 GMT -5
rplantau, I tried to make something in the past that would allow real-time network play. But it's difficult to do, especially with firewalls and common user's lack of networking issues. So I settled for the next best thing, since it seemed there were a good number of people playing through email, chat and forums. My tool (BoneBoxes) does try to give some guidance on gem scores while deck building, but it's not fool proof. And I don't currently support 2E. Shouldn't be too big of a stretch, but I need to make sure I know all the rule changes involved. I initially set out to provide little more than the table, but I'm not interested in supporting anything other than Highlander, so I do have some rules built in, and the UI is obviously set up specifically for Highlander. Plus, I don't know if the powers that be would be ok with a fully on-line playing tool. Kinda detracts from people buying cards and keeping them in business. Good thing is, the only part of network play that my tool lacks is the actual networking. You just have to email turn files around, kind of manual networking Anyway, thanks for the input.
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Post by rplantau on Feb 22, 2007 19:35:06 GMT -5
Hey boneheadiii, I look forward to your 2ed deck builder I'm gonna have a play around and see if I can get anything happening re a network play tool, if only for an experiment since I have done very little in the way of programming for some years. (I use VB lately mainly for software test automation but it's pretty simple stuff) If I do actually get something up and running I will make sure to not breach any copyright in the process.
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Post by boneheadiii on Feb 22, 2007 22:19:08 GMT -5
Yeah, I have about decided that using a public server would be about the only practical way to do it. But my non commercial sites are hosted where I doubt they could handle that kind of traffic. I've given it some thought, just haven't had time to play with it.
And I've got a few other things I need to make happen first. Like a collection manager so you can associate images with your cards, and edit your card data. And supporting 2nd Edition. And I've been playing with an idea for showing cards with table placement so you can drag 'em around and lay them out how you like... Kinda hard to explain I guess, that didn't do it justice.
I've also thought about making this project open source, but I'm not sure if there would be any real interest there. This project is written in C# 2.0.
Anywho, good stuff.
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Post by boneheadiii on Mar 30, 2007 14:36:52 GMT -5
I just released a new version of BoneBoxes that now supports 2nd Edition. Includes a 2E deck validator, you can associate images with cards, supports hard and soft exertions (with 2E decks) and a few other new features. I have also posted a download for the source code for anybody interested. You can get them at www.boneboxes.com/Highlander.aspxThere is a lot in this release, so I won't be suprised if a few bugs managed to sneak past me. (Caught a few this morning after the initial release actually...) So please use the help menu and let me know if you find errors. Happy head hunting
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