Archive Part5
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MESSAGE: 1707 DATE/TIME: 01-02-89 4:59am
FROM : BRIAN WILSON RECEIVED : YES
TO : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin 2.0 THREAD : NO
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
You were asking about ideas for Begin v.2.0. Well, a few seem to have
entered my head.
The repairs are great, but it seems that when a computer-controlled
ship gets a gun repaired, it fails to re-lock it on any target, thus
making it useless. Maybe you could make it check for repaired weapons
and have the ship relock the guns.
I was thinkin also about having different specialized ships. My
personal #1 choice would be aircraft carriers in place of say
Dreadnoughts. The DN is a great ship, but all ship classes are just
basic battlewagons, with none of them having any specialized jobs. If
you could program in something like fighters on a carrier, and give
each ship a beginning AA strength of 100% then have it decrease as hull
hits are accumulated, then another player could send fighters off to
finish the wounded ship rather than using slow and potentially suicidal
probes. Fighters could travel at warp 20 and attack a specific target
(mentioned in the "launch fighters" command ie "launch fighters
Asteroid". It might make it interesting if fighters could ignore the
shielding.
In setting up the beginning configuration, could you have task forces?
The reasons for it are varied, and I won't go into them, but to order a
task force made, you could enter (in the start configuration) something
like "force 1 2 2 1" where the force has 1 DN (for the Federation), 2
HC, 2DE, and 1 IN. Then there would be a random number assigned to
each TF, and there could be entirely separate battles. You could "tell
force 16 torpedo force 11" (Force 11 being enemy). Also "break force
16" alowing each ship in TF16 to move independently.
Well, this is costing a fortune, but there are some ideas. Let me know
what you think.
Later,
Brian
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MESSAGE: 1711 DATE/TIME: 01-03-89 9:52am
FROM : BRYAN DONALDSON RECEIVED : YES
TO : DAVID COULTHURST PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Missions for Begin THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
David,
I like the scoring system you've suggested, and the idea of missions.
I wonder, however, how difficult the implementation of missions would
be. It would enhance the game if (somehow) the users could define
missions , or entire scenarios (fleets, features (planets, etc) and
missions.)
Of course, the game could just have a list of
1 destroy
2 capture
3 follow
4 protect
A all allied or enemy ships
B specific allied or enemy ship
But this would end up being a static system (use this tactic for this
mission...)
Bryan.
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MESSAGE: 1712 DATE/TIME: 01-03-89 11:15am
FROM : GLENN IRONHAT RECEIVED : YES
TO : DAVID COULTHURST PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: The Scoring System THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
David,
I like what you wrote up and appreciate the work you put into it. What
I would like to see is how these numbers would look in a couple of
different scenarios. Say 1 Fed DR vs. 9 Escorts... What would the score
be if all the escorts are destroyed except 1 and that one can be
considered captured. Second 4 HC. vs 4 BC.... Figure 2 HC with
50 % loss of life and all 4 BC destroyed. In both cases mission
accomplished.
Glenn I.
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MESSAGE: 1720 DATE/TIME: 01-06-89 12:17am
FROM : DAVID COULTHURST RECEIVED : YES
TO : BRYAN DONALDSON PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Missions for Begin THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
That may be the case, certain strategies would always be best in
each circumstance, even if there were many different types of missions
available. But at least some of the missions would force the player to
try strategies other than probe tactics or other "loophole" tactics to
attain high scores.
DAC
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MESSAGE: 1721 DATE/TIME: 01-06-89 12:21am
FROM : DAVID COULTHURST RECEIVED : YES
TO : GLENN IRONHAT PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: The Scoring System THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
I haven't gotten as far as actually testing the rating system yet, but
will do so. Has anybody taken a good look at it yet? I'm sure there
are some bugs to be worked out, and the only way to do it is to try and
push the system to the limits (especially any limits I haven't thought
of!). I hope to get some examples ready soon...
DAC
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MESSAGE: 1724 DATE/TIME: 01-06-89 8:45am
FROM : BRYAN DONALDSON RECEIVED : YES
TO : DAVID COULTHURST PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Missions THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
David,
Agreed.
Missions could also be expanded into a campaign (SFB Captain's Game.)
Complete a series of missions, and average/sum/(do something to) the
scores for each scenario or mission. I believe someone has already (way
back when) suggested this. Sure, your fleet can take out a superior
force of the enemy, but how do they do if they're damaged and/or
surprised? Would make for interesting times. We could rate the top
Fed, Klingon, Romulan, and Orion, along with whatever other races are
added or created.
Bryan Donaldson
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MESSAGE: 1734 DATE/TIME: 01-09-89 8:07am
FROM : MIKE CLARK RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: BEGIN/BOARDING PARTIES THREAD : NO
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
I HAVE BEEN FLIPPING THROUGH ALL THESE BEGIN MESSAGES AND THOUGHT OF
SOMETHING YOU MAY FIND ADAPTABLE TO THE GAME. I AM NOT INVOLVED WITH
THE GAME MYSELF BUT HERE IS MY SUGGESTION.. IF BOARDING AN ENEMY SHIP
IS A
POSSIBILITY CAN IT BE POSSIBLE TO FIND A WAY TO START A SELF-DESTRUCT
SEQUENCE WITH A TIME DELAY SO YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO ESCAPE AND ALLOW
TIME FOR MORE ENEMY SHIPS TO ARRIVE IN THE VICINITY AND WHEN THE
ORIGINAL SHIP EXPLODES IT MIGHT TAKE THE OTHERS WITH IT, SLOW THEM
DOWN, OR INCAPACITATE THE OTHERS LONG ENOUGH TO ALLOW YOU TO DESTROY OR
ESCAPE????? DON'T HOLD THIS AGAINST ME---LIKE I STATED ABOVE, I AM NOT
INVOLVED IN THIS GAME.
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MESSAGE: 1758 DATE/TIME: 01-13-89 12:37am
FROM : DAVID COULTHURST RECEIVED : YES
TO : GLENN IRONHAT PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Scoring System THREAD : NO
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Glenn,
I finally got around to figuring out some examples of my scoring
system and how it might work. I modified the original version a little
bit expanded on it much more here. The examples are in the following
message.
A few terms need to be explained for this stuff to make sense.
I'm using Joe Trouba's basic ship value stats from message #1574. He
explains what is behind these stats very well and anyone interested in
them should check out the charts included in that message. My
shorthand for those stats is "S&S pts." A related term in these
calculations is the "Combat Ratio."
Combat Ratio = Total Enemy S&S pts. / Total Ally S&S pts.
Combat Ratio quickly shows who has the upper hand in a standard combat
mission. If the Combat Ratio is greater than 1, the enemy has the
upper hand. If it is less than 1, the player has the upper hand. A
Combat Ratio of 1 is an equal match.
"Mission Difficulty," or MD, is another term. MD's of 1 are average.
MD's greater than 1 are tougher while MD's less than 1 are easier.
Since missions have not yet been adopted by Begin, MD will always equal
1 (I hope that won't always be the case...hint, hint...).
Now, on to figuring out the score.
FINDING A PLAYER'S SCORE:
Add up the total number of the following 8 steps.
1)Mission Points: Either A or B will apply.
A) If the "mission" is accomplished:
Combat Ratio x Mission Difficulty x (Ally S&S pts. + Enemy S&S pts.)
B) If the "mission" is unsuccesful:
-(Ally S&S pts. + Enemy S&S pts.) / Combat Ratio x MD
---This number can vary a great deal, and so makes most of the
difference in the final score. What this step does is it
rewards the player who fights at less than even odds whether
he succeeds in his mission or not and penalizes the player
who takes the easy way out and fights a weaker opponent. It
also puts stress on achieving the mission at hand and awards
more points for more difficult successful missions while
taking away more points for less difficult unsuccesful
missions and vice versa. If anyone can understand all of
that in one quick reading, give yourself a hand.
2)Points for surviving Allies:
Total of all surviving Allies' S&S pts.
3)Penalty for destroyed or damaged allies:
(Total of all destroyed or damaged Allies' S&S pts.) x -1
4)Penalty for allies captured by the enemy:
(Total of all captured Allies' S&S pts.) x -2
This penalty is doubled for Romulans and Orions!
5)Points for Enemies that are destroyed or damaged:
Total of all destroyed or damaged Enemy S&S pts.
6)Points for Enemies that are captured:
(Total of all captured Enemy S&S pts.) x 2
This bonus is doubled for capturing Romulans & Orions!
7)Points for Enemies that ran away:
(Total of all "Chicken" Enemy S&S pts.) x .5
8)Penalty for Enemies that live after you die:
(Total of all victorious Enemy S&S pts.) x -1
Captured allies (enemies) do not count as surviving allies (enemies).
Enemies that run away ARE counted as enemies that live after you die,
if you happen to die after some bad guys already left.
When all of these 8 numbers (many will be 0) are added up, the number
can be very large or very small. It can even by less than one, if you
really blow it. This number by itself however, means nothing. It must
be compared to an "Average Success" for the specific scenario.
The "Average Success" is determined by repeating the above calculations
(actually steps 1, 2 and 5 are all that apply) except that the Combat
Ratio is considered 1 (an even battle), the Mission Difficulty is
considered to be 1 (an average mission), and the mission is successful
(of course). All allies in the "Average Success" are considered to
survive while all enemies are considered destroyed.
The player's final score is determined by this calculation:
Score = player's total points / "Average Success" points
This score will look very familiar to Begin players, since a score of 1
is average and scores above are better. Scores less than 1 are bad,
and scores less than 0 are very bad indeed. Admittedly, this does seem
like a rather burdensome system to figure out a score, but the computer
can handle it with ease. However, we humans have to pick it apart and
see if we like it. For 2 examples of this system, see the following
message. I hope to have other examples ready soon, but everyone should
feel free to try this system on paper and comment on the results.
----DAC
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 1759 DATE/TIME: 01-13-89 12:42am
FROM : DAVID COULTHURST RECEIVED : YES
TO : GLENN IRONHAT PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Examples using new scoring system THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Glenn,
Here are the examples you asked for. I hope they make sense!
Scenario #1: Allies: 1 Federation DN (1225 S&S pts.)
Enemies: 9 Klingon Escorts (9x380 or 3420 S&S pts.)
Mission Difficulty = 1
Combat Ratio = 3420/1225 or approx. 2.792
Mission Accomplished
DN survived intact, 8 Escorts were killed, 1 captured
Scored as follows:
1)A) 2.792 x 1 x (1225 + 3420) 12968.84
2)DN survived 1225
3)does not apply
4)d.n.a.
5)8 Escorts destroyed (8 x 380) 3040
6)1 Escort captured (380 x 2) 760
7)d.n.a.
8)d.n.a. ________
TOTAL: 17993.84
========
This is compared to the scenario's average success:
1)A) 1 x 1 x (1225 + 3420) 4645
2)DN survived 1225
3)d.n.a.
4)d.n.a.
5)9 Escorts destroyed (9 x 380) 3420
6)d.n.a.
7)d.n.a.
8)d.n.a. ________
TOTAL: 9290
========
Score = 17993.84 / 9290 = 1.934 (a pretty good score)
Scenario #2: Allies: 4 Federation HC's (4 x 980 or 3920 S&S pts.)
Enemies: 4 Klingon BC's (4 x 800 or 3200 S&S pts.)
Mission Difficulty = 1
Combat Ratio = 3200/3920 or approx. .816
Mission Accomplished
All 4 BC's destroyed, 2 HC's 50% damaged each.
Scored as follows:
1)A) .816 x 1 x (3920 + 3200) 5809.92
2)2 full HC's, 2 50% HC's survived (2 x 980 + 2 x 490) 2940
3)2 HC's 50% damaged -(2 x 490) -980
4)d.n.a.
5)4 BC's destroyed (4 x 800) 3200
6)d.n.a.
7)d.n.a.
8)d.n.a. ________
TOTAL: 10969.92
========
This is compared to the scenario's average success:
1)A) 1 x 1 x (3920 + 3200) 7120
2)4 HC's survived (4 x 980) 3920
3)d.n.a.
4)d.n.a.
5)4 BC's destroyed (4 x 800) 3200
6)d.n.a.
7)d.n.a.
8)d.n.a. ________
TOTAL: 14240
========
Score = 10969.92 / 14240 = .770 (not very good, but not too bad)
I hope these examples shed some light on how this system might work.
I'm curous though, what would these exact same situations be scored at
in the present system?
-----DAC
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MESSAGE: 1767 DATE/TIME: 01-16-89 7:32pm
FROM : ROBERT NORTON RECEIVED : YES
TO : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin 16 THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
First, thanks for a really great game! At first, I was a little
concerned that there were no dazzling graphics, but the extremely
well thought-out play system made a believer out off me in a hurry.
My best score to date was 108+ against the vile Orion pirate scum.
I would like the function keys to do a Range command, hopefully
at 1000, 3000, 5000, 7000, 10000, 15000, and 20000. (These are
my favorites.) Alternatively, allow a helper file to configure
the function keys as the user would like. Or even just allow
ANSI.SYS definitions to work inside of begin. I'm not sure what
that would involve exactly though. For heavens sake, do not go
making the game extra-complicated, or at least offer it as an
advanced option. The present level keeps a feller busy for a looong
while. I called to find out about the manual, I am already registered.
I understand it should arrive, as we say in the trade, real-soon-now.
Thanks again, and keep up the good work!
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MESSAGE: 1769 DATE/TIME: 01-17-89 5:33pm
FROM : GLENN IRONHAT RECEIVED : YES
TO : DAVID COULTHURST PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Examples using new scoring system THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
David,
Great job !
I will read this over and get back to you later.
Thanks again, Glenn I.
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 1770 DATE/TIME: 01-17-89 11:48pm
FROM : JOE TROUBA RECEIVED : YES
TO : ROBERT NORTON PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin 16 THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Robert,
I don't know if you've read the messages on the board yet, but there
have been a ton of ideas for Begin. But NOBODY has thought of
something as simple and elegant and OBVIOUS as the function keys
adjusting the range. Excellent idea, and it sounds like an easy
modification to make, compared to a lot of the ideas that have been
tossed around here.
Ansi redefinition recognition is also a fantastic idea. Then people
could do some of their own "modifications".
Joe Trouba
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 1771 DATE/TIME: 01-18-89 7:12pm
FROM : BRAD MCELHANEY RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: FUNCTION KEY USAGE IN BEGIN THREAD : NO
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
HI EVERYONE - I SET UP SMARTKEY KEY REDEFINITION PROGRAM (ALSO TRIED
PROKEY) TO F1-FIRE ALL PHA 10
F2-TORP ALL
F3-PROBE ALL
F4-LOAD ALL PROBES 400 200
F5-LOC PHA ON ...
F6-LOC TORP ON ...
F7- STA PHA
F8-STA TORP
F9-STA PRO
F10-LOAD ALL TORP 150
INS-SC 6000
HOME-SC 2500
DEL-SC 15000
END-SC 25000
PG DN-SC 50000
I HAVE A AT KEYBOARD WITH SEPARATE CURSOR AND NUMERIC PADS AND THESE
DEFINITIONS WORK REAL WELL FOR ME.
SEE YOU ALL AT THE NUETRAL ZONE
CAPT DANGER- BRAD
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 1783 DATE/TIME: 01-24-89 10:59am
FROM : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin V1.65 THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
I should probably test the new version of Begin for at least a
couple of days before release. So I am looking for five registered
Beginners to try out V1.65. Any takers???
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 1784 DATE/TIME: 01-24-89 10:00pm
FROM : JOHN FLYNN RECEIVED : YES
TO : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin V1.65 THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Tom--
I'm up for testing 1.65! I'll call back tommorow night to check back
with you... Also, I'm getting that strange bulletin glitch mentioned a
few messages ago--i.e., Sometimes I'm told that bulletins x,y, &z have
been updated when they haven't been (usually it tells me ALL bulletins
have been updated since my last call. Very strange....
Looking forward to the new BEGIN...
John Flynn
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MESSAGE: 1793 DATE/TIME: 01-26-89 6:44am
FROM : JOEY BROWNING RECEIVED : YES
TO : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin V1.65 THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Sign me up, if you haven't got 5 already!
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MESSAGE: 1797 DATE/TIME: 01-26-89 5:05pm
FROM : ERIC CRISP RECEIVED : YES
TO : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin THREAD : NO
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
I think that a nice improvement for future versions would be that the
scores would be output to a file. Then you would know how well you've
done in the past..Also, the file could be uploaded and you could see
who has the best scores overall..just a thought...
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MESSAGE: 1799 DATE/TIME: 01-26-89 5:47pm
FROM : GLENN IRONHAT RECEIVED : YES
TO : JOE TROUBA PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin 16 THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Does anyone have the SMACS ( or another) keyboard macro program for
redefining keys to play any games?
I already have redefined my function keys to LOAD ALL PROBES,
FIRE ALL TUBES, FIRE ALL BANKS, etc. etc.
Does anyone want me to upload this ??
Glenn I.
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MESSAGE: 1800 DATE/TIME: 01-26-89 5:53pm
FROM : GLENN IRONHAT RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: keyboard macros THREAD : NO
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
I guess I should have read all the mail before replying to JOE TROUBA's
message. Looks like there are others redefining there keyboards too.
Glenn I.
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 1801 DATE/TIME: 01-26-89 9:07pm
FROM : JOE TROUBA RECEIVED : YES
TO : GLENN IRONHAT PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin 16 THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Glenn,
Somebody else talked about some utility to redefine the function keys,
but last time I looked, it wasn't here. So you might want to upload it
if you think it's worth it. (It's not particulary hard to do manually,
as far as that goes.)
Seen your copy of the manual yet?
Joe
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 1824 DATE/TIME: 01-30-89 7:10am
FROM : CHARLES ROUHIER RECEIVED : YES
TO : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin V1.65 THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Tom,
Count me in. Love the game and would sure like to help out in your
development or testing efforts.
Chuck
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 1827 DATE/TIME: 01-30-89 12:07pm
FROM : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Beta Testers THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Thanks for everyone's response on testing Begin. We now have
seven testers working feverishly on 1.65. It will be available
as soon as I get their comments.
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 1833 DATE/TIME: 01-31-89 8:57am
FROM : MIKE HIGGINS RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: New scoring THREAD : NO
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Has anyone tried out that new scoring method? It looks interesting to
me, but seems a little too complicated -- maybe we just need something
really simple, like assign a point value to each ship and compare the
totals. BTW, Begin 1.65 has a different scoring routine (because the
enemy evaluation routine changed). So, old scores and new scores
shouldn't be compared.
Mike
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 1855 DATE/TIME: 02-03-89 9:38am
FROM : SCOTT FOSTER RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Control of Ally ships THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
I find it disconcerting when attempting to manage a fleet
that my fellow ship commanders are unable/unwilling to
follow instructions. Also the limitations of the available
commands restrict my abity to control overall battle strategies.
With this in mind I propose that fleet commanders have the
option of excercising absolute control over ally ships during
the simulation. This could be accomplished by granting a number of
move sequences to the fleet commander equal to the number of surviving
ships in his fleet. Each move would take place from the ship in
question and all displays would be altered to reflect the situation
from said ship's perspective.
Of course moves should be executed contemporaneouy, and
change should have as little effect as possible on the timing
of results such as torpedo hits, helm and speed changes etc.
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 1974 DATE/TIME: 03-10-89 1:19am
FROM : JOHN PREBIT RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Where is everone? THREAD : NO
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Hey guys:
Seems to have been rather quit around here for the past couple of weeks
I guess everone is still testing the new version.
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 1977 DATE/TIME: 03-10-89 7:41pm
FROM : MARK BONAMER RECEIVED : YES
TO : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin THREAD : NO
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Tom,
Thanks for your note re:ships names and ratings. I'll compile a list of
ship names for you soon. I have one other question re:Begin at this
time. Sometimes, when I give an order to more than one ship at the same
time, the game does not cycle, and yet if I give an order to 'ALL'
ships, the game cycles. Is this a 'feature' of the game or am I just
slow on the uptake?
Thanks, Mark
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 1998 DATE/TIME: 03-16-89 2:23pm
FROM : TOM STOKES RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Greetings and Salutations THREAD : NO
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Greetings all,
I just downloaded the begin16 game from a local BBS and I seem to be
hooked! Yep,.....
The usual thing seems to go like this.....
WIFE: "Dear, we should be leaving in about 30 minutes. Are you ready
yet?"
ME: "Yes dear......."
WIFE: "Dear it is almost time to leave. Are you about done with that
silly game?"
ME: "Yes dear........."
WIFE: "DEAR!!!! We should have left 10 minutes ago!!!! Are you ready?"
ME: "Yes dear.........."
WIFE: "IF YOU DON'T TURN THAT THING OFF AND COME THIS INSTANT!!!!!!!!!!"
ME:"Yes dear........"
And so it goes! I enjoy the game very much and will continue to play it
often. any hints or help with strategy that other know of, would be
gratefully received!
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 2080 DATE/TIME: 04-11-89 4:27pm
FROM : TOM STOKES RECEIVED : YES
TO : BRYAN DONALDSON PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: help??? THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Bryan,
I have tried commanding a fleet of Orian ships. And like you say, it is
the pits! I ended up fireing torpedoes at them just out of frustration!
Lately I have been using 4 Romulan frigates against 2 Federation
Dreadnoughts. Seems to be a fairly even match. (allowing for my extreme
lack of experience.)
Does anyone have any favorite match ups?????
I did have one lucky battle! I set it up so I commanded 1 Kingon
dreadnought against 9 Federation dreadnoughts and 8 heavy cruisers.
Then, just for the hell of it, I went full speed into the center of the
enemy fleet and blew the self destruct! Wiped out all but 3 federation
ships! score of 279.4!!!!!!
Hard on the ship and crew, but what a glorious blow against the
federation!
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 2081 DATE/TIME: 04-12-89 5:28am
FROM : BRYAN DONALDSON RECEIVED : NO
TO : TOM STOKES PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: help??? THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Tom,
My personal favorite is Klingon Dreadnought against 7,8, or 9
interceptors, or a Fed DN against 7,8, or 9 escorts. Try to take tham
without using probes. Lotta fun !
Your strategy against the mass of enemy ships is effective, but you
can't tell your buddies back at the starbase how pretty the colors
were.
Look forward to chatting again.
BGD.
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 2216 DATE/TIME: 05-10-89 10:22pm
FROM : HENRY LEONG RECEIVED : YES
TO : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin THREAD : NO
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Here's a coupe more suggestions for Begin: How about having either
the report command or a "st warp" tell you the maximum warp and the
cruise warp that your ship is capable of? Would be handy when your
warp engines are damaged and you just want to cruise.
Also I've played the federation against the Romulans and I've never
been able to destruct a ship with 8 torpedoes (fuses set at 100)
the only thing that happens is 8 hits on his hull and all xx's
flashing. I've done this three times and it's still there. That's a
combined hit of 80 antimatters and it's still there! But a friendly
plasma bolt with a 30 antimatter warhead will destruct his ship.
What gives?
How about some command for an emergency venting of heat buildup in
the warp engines? Maybe it'd just take up all your available battery
power or require that you drop your shields or both or whatever.
How about another chart that'll tell you how many cycles you can
maintain a particular warp speed before the warp engines give out?
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 2761 DATE/TIME: 09-30-89 12:31pm
FROM : BILL ASHCRAFT RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: tssmacro.zip THREAD : NO
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
I was just wondering how you can save your macros so you don't have to
re-enter them every time you start tss up. Thanx,
Bill Ashcraft
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 2796 DATE/TIME: 10-08-89 11:15pm
FROM : BRUCE MAYNARD RECEIVED : NO
TO : NEIL GIFT PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin Strategy THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Well, the Romulans and Orions have a real problem... they tend to just
follow you, firing when they can (the latest copy I have had a bit of a
surprise tho... one "played dead" on me, and I tended to ignore it...
then it 'opened up' on me at 3000... was kinder dicey fer a bit there);
however, in the long run, they become very dead, as I tend to run from
'em in a straight line and pepper 'em with torps... it's not all that
hard to rack up a rating of 40 that way (note: this is a good way to
DIE when fighting Klingons, hehe) Welp, hope this helps (Howdy, Mike!
Ya, I be THAT Maynard hehe)
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 2802 DATE/TIME: 10-08-89 11:49pm
FROM : BRUCE MAYNARD RECEIVED : NO
TO : ROB GREENBERG PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: probes THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Of course, Kzinti probes would be the best in the game (they've used
'em long enuff as a favorite weapon), so they might have probes that
move at warp 4 or 5, and have a heavier warhead... seems to me that
might cover the whole problem...
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 2803 DATE/TIME: 10-08-89 11:51pm
FROM : BRUCE MAYNARD RECEIVED : YES
TO : MIKE HIGGINS PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: probes THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Well, according to Roddenbury, photon torps were an electromagnetic
construct meant to have 2 partitions... one gaseous matter, tyhe other
gaseous antimatter, with a small guidance system and mag-bottle
generator... (also meant mostly for taking out shields with EMP...)
while something like a probe is actually more like a missile...û note
that probes can track a target, while torp[s can't... so I'd suggest a
limit of O, say 100 probes (remember, the BoobyPrize was meant to carry
out many exploration missions as well as military duties)
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 2805 DATE/TIME: 10-09-89 12:02am
FROM : BRUCE MAYNARD RECEIVED : NO
TO : DAVID COULTHURST PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: probes THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Hmm... I find I very much agree with reducing the number of probe
launchers on ships to one or possibly two... (BUT, they could be larger
probes then), save for perhaps Kzinti ships (of course, if a user can
customize the ships available, all this talk goes for naught...), which
would almost vertainly have more available, probes being their main
weapon...
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 2815 DATE/TIME: 10-09-89 1:06am
FROM : BRUCE MAYNARD RECEIVED : NO
TO : BRYAN DONALDSON PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: argh THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Ouch... just noticed I've been responding to items over a YEAR old,
didn't notice the YEAR on some of 'em... apologies (and red face) for
any annoyed by this...
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 2885 DATE/TIME: 10-22-89 10:51pm
FROM : BRUCE MAYNARD RECEIVED : NO
TO : JOEY BROWNING PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: game balance THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Well, this could be easily taken care of if players could design their
own ships, and simply assign 'race' names to them... it'd be no real
trick at all, I'd suspect...
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 2889 DATE/TIME: 10-22-89 11:03pm
FROM : BRUCE MAYNARD RECEIVED : YES
TO : GLENN IRONHAT PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: game balance THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
True. Personally, I'd just make it impossible to LOCK weapons on a ship
that's cloaked, and yopu'd have to TURN your weapon facings to whtever
you wanted to use... remember that in the series, they COULD generally
tell vaguely where the ship was, as long as it was moving... but had to
rely on proximity detonations.
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 2890 DATE/TIME: 10-22-89 11:06pm
FROM : BRUCE MAYNARD RECEIVED : YES
TO : GLENN IRONHAT PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: FOG OF WAR THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
The existing weapons systems are really rather well thought out... the
only time to change them would be in designing new vessels. truly GREAT
changes to the game would be a cause for grousing by almost all, as
there's no WAY to make anywhere NEAR everyone happy...
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 2892 DATE/TIME: 10-22-89 11:15pm
FROM : BRUCE MAYNARD RECEIVED : NO
TO : JOEY BROWNING PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: GENEAL IDEAS THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Just a quick note... 3-D is VERY hard to implement, but that isn't the
real problem... the question is, just how long do you want to wait
while the machine processes turns, or whatever? Going from 2-D to 3D
means a LOT more computation, so we havöºe 2D as a compromise...
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 2893 DATE/TIME: 10-22-89 11:19pm
FROM : BRUCE MAYNARD RECEIVED : NO
TO : LARRY MAYO PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: game balance THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Simple. FIRE masses of drones... I doubt they'd slow processing down
any more than masses of torpedos would (well, mebbe just a bit...
drones DO track, after all...)
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 2907 DATE/TIME: 10-25-89 6:06pm
FROM : ERIC CRISP RECEIVED : YES
TO : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: begin THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Well, you could probably use Doorway because I think that now it
handles direct screenwrites, but I'm not sure. Does the new version of
Begin have the top scores listing? You could have a simple door that
excepted the upload of this door file and then sorted the scores and
kept a running tab of the score for a certain scenario. Also, if you
made the door version of begin without colors it would make it
extremely faster than ANSI. Just a thought. HEy! My brother-in-law and
I run a bbs called Comp-U-Ease in San Jose that is part of the Relaynet
message system which has a national Shareware conference that you may
want to check out. You may be able to drum up some more registrations
and at least get the word out on the latest Begin Info. Give us a call
sometime. When is the 2.0 version due out anyways??
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 2956 DATE/TIME: 11-01-89 7:56pm
FROM : RUSTY COLE RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin THREAD : NO
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
I have a few suggestions that might make Begin a better game.
1. introduce certaion scenerios, ie., protecting a starbase; random
asteriods; your ship or fleet being surrounded by other ships; or even
you playing one race and there being a total of 3 or 4 races in the
game, a free for all.
These are just a few suggestions that I could make, this seemed to
be the best place to make the suggestions. What do other people have
to say about begin?
Rusty Cole
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 2977 DATE/TIME: 11-06-89 10:02pm
FROM : BRUCE MAYNARD RECEIVED : NO
TO : GARY ENGLE PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: BEGIN THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Warp factor also eventually developed into a beast5ie called COSMIC
BALANCE, and allowed you to design your own starships... still a bit
limited, but likable (yes, of COURSE I still like BEGIN better... hehe)
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3064 DATE/TIME: 11-19-89 2:43am
FROM : WINDY GATLIN RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: When is Begin 2.0 due out? THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
When is Begin 2.0 due out? Some of us are waiting breathlessly!
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3068 DATE/TIME: 11-19-89 5:40pm
FROM : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) RECEIVED : NO
TO : WINDY GATLIN PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: When is Begin 2.0 due out? THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Begin 2.0 should be out by the first of the year.
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3115 DATE/TIME: 11-23-89 7:33am
FROM : BEN PARRISH RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin... THREAD : NO
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Well, I think I'm finally getting a handle on the game...
The performance evaluator seems quite generous when you're going one on
<more than one>. I took a Fed. Heavy against 3 Rom. War Eagles. I
took some shots at all three, but in the end, I just set the ship to go
right at 'em and self destruct. I managed to take one of them with me.
So, they lost one and I lost one (the only one I had), and it told me
that I have the makings of a captain...
Gee, thanks...
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3124 DATE/TIME: 11-24-89 4:04pm
FROM : BEN PARRISH RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Performance evaluation? THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Something seems a bit odd with the the performance evaluator. You can
do relatively pathetically in tough situations and get a good rating,
or do pretty respectably in situations and get the boot. I dunno. How
is the rating determined?
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3127 DATE/TIME: 11-24-89 7:36pm
FROM : BEN PARRISH RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Hellooooo? THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Hey? Ain't anyone out there anymore? I'm calling VERY long distance
(I'm in Virginia) for this, so I expect to have many valuable
fascinating conversations about my favorite game! Hey!
Anyone, let me discuss the subject of 3-D on a computer screen. 3-D
has been continually attempted in the classic StarTrek games that the
Begin ads denegrate so cruelly. My favorite, if only for humor's sake,
is the "Stairway" technique, where you were able to go up or down one
'level' at the time, each level being your standard 8x8x8x8 galaxy, so
it worked like a building with an elevator. This, obviously, would not
do for a game such as Begin (or for a game such as StarTrek, really,
which is a game made for 2 dimensions...) So, once again, the question
comes to "How do we do 3D on a 2D screen?" This is, of course, putting
aside all the obvious CPU speed problems with the considerable added
processing time. Here are some options (that I'm just making up as I
go along...)
1. Three displays similar to the currect scanner...One for each axis.
This is far too difficult to keep track of unless you are Rain Man...
2. A Cube instead of a rectangle for the scanner. This would require
graphics, obviously. I dunno how you'd make it possible to make all
the possible locations visible. It's difficult to picture in your
mind....
3. I once saw a program that would display two very similar rotating
cubes side by side on the screen, and if you 'relaxed' your eye
muscles, the two would come together and look 3 dimensional. Ha!
Obviously, we're getting to a point here where you have to just say
"You can't do it..." And you can just as easily get to a point where
you can say "You shouldn't do it..." I may catch hell for this, but
Begin, and StarTrek, and any other wargame ever made, no matter how
complex and realistic, are really chess games. The rules may be
different than chess, but that's basically what you're doing. In
Begin, the rules are that the pieces can only act within their limits,
and the object is to destroy (capture!) all the other pieces. And as
we all know, 3-D chess only exists in Star Trek.
So here we have it. Begin should not be 3-D. You must limit the
dimensions of a game to the dimensions of the equipment that it is
being played on. For computer games, the screen is the equipment, and
is 2D...Ergo, Begin should be 2D.
This concludes my speech. Is ANYONE out there?
-Ben
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3129 DATE/TIME: 11-24-89 9:03pm
FROM : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) RECEIVED : YES
TO : BEN PARRISH PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Performance evaluation? THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
It is directly related to the odds at the beginning of the game. The
more the odds are against you, the less damage you need to do to get
a good rating. If the odds are very much in your favor and any of
your ships get damaged, you get a poor rating.
Tom
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3131 DATE/TIME: 11-24-89 9:12pm
FROM : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) RECEIVED : YES
TO : BEN PARRISH PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Hellooooo? THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
I agree with your 2D conclusion. We have thought long and hard on
how to display a 3D universe and decided it would be more interesting
to add other features instead.
Sometimes I myself wonder if anyone else is out there. I look at the
activity log and see that there are many logins and logouts, but maybe
they were done by other computers (?). We have tried many times to
get conversions going but they don't usually last very long. Most
callers just want to download things.
Tom
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3150 DATE/TIME: 11-26-89 6:44pm
FROM : BEN PARRISH RECEIVED : YES
TO : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Hellooooo? THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
That's too bad. Begin itself seems like a rich enough subject to carry
along a decent conversation.
Perhaps everyone is just holding their breath for 2.0.
It's just one of the many trials of sysoping, I suppose. If you want
this to be a file-based board, then you're doing great. If you want it
to be message-based, then it's failing miserably. But there's no sense
worrying. If people have something to say, they'll say it.
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3153 DATE/TIME: 11-26-89 7:47pm
FROM : BRUCE MAYNARD RECEIVED : YES
TO : BEN PARRISH PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Hellooooo? THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Actually, I play 3D chess quite regularly... NOT the version shown on
ST, but any of SEVERAL variations...
1) 8 chess boards stacked.
2) 3 boards stacked.
3) 4D chess (you go crazy with this one... 3 sets of 3 stacked boards,
moves can get VERY strange)
4) Quadrachess (req. 5 boards, 4 arrayed non-touching in a square, and
one set above and between the lot. moves between boards MUST pass thrui
the "high-board".
5) There are a HUNDRED versions I haven't tried yet...
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3162 DATE/TIME: 11-27-89 3:45pm
FROM : BEN PARRISH RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Welp, I tried a variation of a setup that Tom recommended, involving me
against 17 other ships...I just blew a few of the other guys' shields
away, and then decided to ram my ship up their throats and self
destruct. But get this, it turned out that I hadn't timed my destruct
right, so I aborted it, and then a couple of moves after, a ship right
near me decides to self destruct first...Took me out...
Also took eight other enemy ships out. What a moron!
Performance rating? A mere 31.7...wow.
In other news, I also accomplished a -72.<something>...Pretty good, eh?
I know you're all fascinated by my Begin stories...
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3166 DATE/TIME: 11-27-89 5:59pm
FROM : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) RECEIVED : YES
TO : BEN PARRISH PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
I like hearing all Begin stories (usually).
Tom
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3167 DATE/TIME: 11-27-89 6:25pm
FROM : BEN PARRISH RECEIVED : YES
TO : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Oh yeah? Here's one for ya':
I was sitting at my desk playing Begin when I should have been working,
and the boss came in and FIRED me!!!
(No, no, not really...but that's a more exciting Begin story than most,
don't you think?)
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3168 DATE/TIME: 11-27-89 6:27pm
FROM : BEN PARRISH RECEIVED : YES
TO : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: I Have A Suggestion (#2536) THREAD : NO
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
I didn't see separate file areas for Clockwork Software, Higgins
Software, Windspear Software, Lunkhead Software, Jethro Software, or
any of the other myriad software groups associated with this board.
Am I hallucinating? If not, I suggest that that system be implemented.
If WordPerfect had a BBS, and WordPerfect 5.1 was shareware, I doubt
they'd file it under "Text Editors and Other Stuff"...y'know?
How come the guy who posts most on this board lives 3000 miles away?
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3173 DATE/TIME: 11-27-89 8:08pm
FROM : BEN PARRISH RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: More Begin Stuff THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Suggestion #24259924 : How about a command to not do anything for a
specified number of cycles. My RETURN key gets tired when I'm chasing
a retreating cowardly moron.
Suggestion #24259925 : The ship library is a great feature. Add to it!
Put almost everything you can think of in it.
I've now called precisely three hundred and forty one times today. You
must all think I have nothing better to do with my time and money...
So does Monday Night Football come on at 6:00 PM out there?
(That isn't a Begin thing, so forgive me for asking it here...)
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3174 DATE/TIME: 11-28-89 9:33am
FROM : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) RECEIVED : YES
TO : BEN PARRISH PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: More Begin Stuff THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
We don't want to add a Skip Cycle command because we will eventually
make Begin a multiprocess program. In other words, they do their thing
and you do yours simutaneously.
Tom
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3177 DATE/TIME: 11-28-89 4:47pm
FROM : BEN PARRISH RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: ## Ben Parrish Destruct! ## THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
I have this problem.
Occasionally, my ship will just blow up for no apparent reason. The
last two times it's happened, it's been right after I was hit with a
plasma torp. Is there something about these menaces to society that
can cause gigantic ships to just blow up like an unblossomed dandelion
in a harsh wind?
(Nice simile, there...)
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3178 DATE/TIME: 11-28-89 6:40pm
FROM : BEN PARRISH RECEIVED : YES
TO : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: More Begin Stuff THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Ahh, "real-time", you mean? That'd work...
Would there be a "pause" feature? hehehe
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3179 DATE/TIME: 11-28-89 11:02pm
FROM : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) RECEIVED : YES
TO : BEN PARRISH PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: ## Ben Parrish Destruct! ## THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
I don't believe it. I think that you may just be confused. :-)
Could you have been typing with your fingers to the left one row
of keys? How about more exact details on this strange event.
Tom
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3180 DATE/TIME: 11-29-89 5:45am
FROM : BEN PARRISH RECEIVED : YES
TO : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: ## Ben Parrish Destruct! ## THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
OK. I suppose perhaps one shield was in the blinking range (what is
that, less that 15%?) and I was jes' strollin' along firing zillions of
torpedos. I believe I was playing the part of a Klingon Dreadnought.
Then all of a sudden, I got this :
:: plasma ::
## <SHIPSNAMETHATICANTREMEMBER> destruct! ##
And then this was me :
"Fascinating. Darn. Rats. Shucks. That's the FOURTH time something
like that has happened to me!"
Perhaps when I typed "fire all torps" it came out "destruct 5" by
accident...
Then again, maybe I'm just confused. Hey wait! That's it! I was
playing Space Invaders! No wonder...
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3182 DATE/TIME: 11-29-89 11:29am
FROM : BEN PARRISH RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: :: plasma :: THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
There's definitely something devastating about plasma torps. It now
happened to my enemy, which I appreciate...He had had merely a few
shield hits against him, and then he (a Klingon Battle Cruiser) had the
misfortune to run into my plasma torp...and then :
## Mulicron destruct! ##
Them plasmas are powerful.
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3183 DATE/TIME: 11-29-89 4:07pm
FROM : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) RECEIVED : YES
TO : BEN PARRISH PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: :: plasma :: THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
They are powerful, but only closeup. When shooting at distant targets
I will stick with the MKVII's.
Tom
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3195 DATE/TIME: 12-01-89 7:25pm
FROM : TONY DOIMEADIOS RECEIVED : YES
TO : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Comment @ 12-01-89 7:25pm THREAD : NO
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Greetings....
I recently discovered BEGIN 1.65...and quite simply love it!!
I am an advid Star Fleet Battles player, and BEGIN is the closest
I can come to playing SFB by myself....
I plan on sending in my $15.00 this friday (payday...hehhe) to obtain
the latest version...I don't recall seeing the SAVE command in the
docs that came with the game.
I fully support you (morally and<by friday> monatarily) in your effort
to produce begin 2.0...
I eagerly look forward to playing the new version, and look forward to
calling back when my registration takes effect....
Tony...out
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3202 DATE/TIME: 12-03-89 7:58am
FROM : JOHN HELMICH RECEIVED : YES
TO : BEN PARRISH PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
I normally play by stacking the decks against me (like odds of 3-5
against). My favorite method is to charge them, with launchers loaded.
I'll phaser and torp everyone I can. When I shoot through a group, I
launch probes at the ships behind and detonate them when I'm about 1500
downrange. If there aren't alot of ships, it will generally destruct
them. However, if there are a couple of battle cruisers, etc in that
group (packed about 1000 circle), the detonation of the ships will also
destroy mine. So it goes, but I will get a good score out of it.
(a couple of lucky probe patterns, then one that kills me will rate
around 24)
John
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3203 DATE/TIME: 12-03-89 8:05am
FROM : JOHN HELMICH RECEIVED : YES
TO : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: More Begin Stuff THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Multi process begin - wow- what a concept! I guess if you were running
in desqview, you could have the computer play you in REALTIME (like the
old trek games on the PDP-11's ) Can't wait to see this one!
John
Build in modem routines and you could play over the phone with someone
else.
What a great country!
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3204 DATE/TIME: 12-03-89 8:09am
FROM : JOHN HELMICH RECEIVED : YES
TO : BEN PARRISH PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: ## Ben Parrish Destruct! ## THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
I've had an incoming torp detonate the torps I just fired the same turn
when they are very close to my ship. Alot of damage from that. Same
thing happens with probes. I check a range of 4000 before firing torps
to see if I can expecto be hit the following turn. Hope it helps.
John
PS those plasma are a pain in the a**, aren't they?
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3207 DATE/TIME: 12-03-89 8:07pm
FROM : BRUCE MAYNARD RECEIVED : YES
TO : BEN PARRISH PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Hellooooo? THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Wasn't TRYING to disprove yer pet theory there, was just proving that
3D chess does INDEED exist... and, of course, that version of 4D chess
is SIMULATED 4D... assuming that the 4th dimension would be an axis
existing at right-angle to the other 3 axis... (axes?)
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3208 DATE/TIME: 12-03-89 8:13pm
FROM : BRUCE MAYNARD RECEIVED : YES
TO : BEN PARRISH PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: ## Ben Parrish Destruct! ## THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Ah, THAT one's SIMPLE... plasma torps are SO friggin' nasty at
relatively close range that if one hit your 'bad' shield arc, it'd
pro'ly just tear yer ship (yes, even a DN) to liddle biddy bits...
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3225 DATE/TIME: 12-04-89 6:45pm
FROM : BEN PARRISH RECEIVED : YES
TO : JOHN HELMICH PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
That's an interesting technique. I wouldn't have thought of that.
John's BruteForceKamakaziBlowEmAllToHell Technique...
I usually try to use a bit more finesse, which always ends up with a
miserable score. (Not really, but I rarely get more than a 2 or 3, but
I go for Most Bad-Guys Blown Away Rating, my own personal performance
evaluation...)
/
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3226 DATE/TIME: 12-04-89 6:48pm
FROM : BEN PARRISH RECEIVED : YES
TO : JOHN HELMICH PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: ## Ben Parrish Destruct! ## THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Yes. Me Hate Plasmas...I just figured out today that you can blow
up torps with phasers...I guess that's in the Advanced manual, which I
haven't gotten yet...anyway, it's quite helpful...lock one bank on
anyone shooting torps at you...
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3228 DATE/TIME: 12-04-89 6:51pm
FROM : BEN PARRISH RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin... THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
My new favorite ship is the Fed. Interceptor...
New Technique :
Let your big boys get a few hull hits on a bad guy, then tell your big
boy to bug off, and then go in with your interceptor and phaser the bad
guy to death. Use the big ships as the broom, and your interceptor as
the dustpan...
...or something like that.
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3259 DATE/TIME: 12-07-89 2:49am
FROM : HENRY LEONG RECEIVED : YES
TO : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Hellooooo? THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Yeah, I call LONG distance too, I'm in Boston so I gotta call REAL
late. It'd be nice if the modem answers quicker, sometimes 30 seconds
isn't long enough to establish a connect. Does the first of the month
mean that it'll be out next January? How about letting some registered
users beta test it early? Some interesting things to try: Orion
Assassin against a War Eagle, tricky. I've only been able to do it once
out every three shots. Modem to modem play should make things a lot
tougher, I think if I were the War Eagle, I ought to be able to blast
that Assassin out of the sky, the computer just isn't smart enough to
take me out.
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MESSAGE: 3260 DATE/TIME: 12-07-89 2:54am
FROM : HENRY LEONG RECEIVED : YES
TO : BEN PARRISH PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
I think I've managed to get some pretty dismal ratings. Try being a
Federation ship and have every escort you at the closest range, then
self destruct in 5 seconds, usually blows them all away if they're
federation dreadnought, fire a few pods at various ships too, gets you
something like a -150 to -175 rating. Klingon ships can usually run
away before you blow up.
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3280 DATE/TIME: 12-09-89 2:50am
FROM : JOHN HELMICH RECEIVED : YES
TO : BEN PARRISH PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
John's BruteForce Kam... Has a nice ring to it. Wonder if they are
teaching it at ROTC nowadays ;-)
Seriously, I don't know of any other way to survive a 17 on 1 scenerio.
I always have to take out as many ships as fast as I can, otherwise they
surround me and phaser me to death. A couple of probes in a close
packing of ships works for me.
The best part is that if you survive it, you can finess when you are
down to 3-4 ships.
John
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3281 DATE/TIME: 12-09-89 2:55am
FROM : JOHN HELMICH RECEIVED : YES
TO : BEN PARRISH PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: torps THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Never thought of locking a bank on a ship torping. I thought you had
to turn a bank to the mark of the incoming torp (which I can rarely
figure out). Plus, you have to fire the phasers when the torp gets
within 2000 radius of ship (if federation), otherwise you waste the bank
on empty space.
I have turned banks to 180 mark for the plasmas. They like to come up
your tail if you let them. 1 Hit doesn't guarantee taking a plasma
out. Cest la guerre (or something like that - I took Spanish)
john
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3288 DATE/TIME: 12-09-89 11:38pm
FROM : HENRY LEONG RECEIVED : YES
TO : JOHN HELMICH PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Actually, it's not that hard surviving a 17 on one situation, as long
as you've got some decent long range torps or probes to work with. Just
run away and they'll all come after you except for Orion Pirates,
usually about 3-6 of them will head for the exit the moment the game
begins. Usually I just get them enough so that they don't have engines
or torps, then come back later and destory them all. Nice destroying
ships.
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3313 DATE/TIME: 12-12-89 9:12pm
FROM : RUSTY COLE RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin THREAD : NO
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Begin strategy lesson 127435890322
Get your enemy to chase you, let them in close. But! Not to close,
about 2000-2400. At this range most phaser won't reach and lthey are
too close to use torps. Then toss probes, probes, and more probes.
Or, get then within 1000, having them chase you. Then toss
probes. after a turn, the probes will be behind the enemy (about 1000
away from you) then detonate. You may be close, the enemy ship will be
closer--obviously--and their ship will act as a shield for you.
Give it a try.
Can't wait for the new version!!!!!!!!!
Rusty Cole
P.S. I'm also long distance, Wichita KS.
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3332 DATE/TIME: 12-14-89 1:46pm
FROM : JAY CHEROSKE RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin THREAD : NO
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
I found a very minor bug (if it could even be called that) in the
latest version of Begin. I had instructed another ship in my fleet to
escort me for a while, and I started wondering whether I could tell
that ship to escort any of the enemy ships. This was forbidden by the
game, but when I told the ship to escort itself it agreed. When I
typed "fleet" to check its status, it reported that it was indeed
escorting itself. I don't have any idea what a ship would do under
these circumstances, but it probably should be prevented.
Thought someone would like to know...
Jay
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3339 DATE/TIME: 12-16-89 8:35am
FROM : BEN PARRISH RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: How to get lotsa points... THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
1 fed. Interceptor vs. 17 Romulans (whatever type)...
Go in close to one ship and just start firing away. Chances are, the
barrage of plasmas coming at you will destroy you, but will also
destroy whatever ship you were bothering at the time you were blown up.
Rating : 40 +
/s
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MESSAGE: 3342 DATE/TIME: 12-16-89 11:39am
FROM : JORDAN ARCHER RECEIVED : YES
TO : BEN PARRISH PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: How to get lotsa points... THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Come on Ben you can do better than that. My score under that situation
is 85.94.
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3343 DATE/TIME: 12-16-89 8:59pm
FROM : HENRY LEONG RECEIVED : YES
TO : BEN PARRISH PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: How to get lotsa points... THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
Here's a better way, Federal Heavy Cruiser against 8 Romulan War Eagles
and 8 Bird of Preys along with 1 Frigate. Rating for total destruction
of all ships and yours in perfect condition: 241.49. This can take a
while though, just run way to about 10-13,000 from the closest enemy
and fire torps at him. Afterwards, come back and finish them all off
with probes. Except for the last ship, make sure they're all dead
before you go near them, they have a tendancy to self destruct when
none of their phasers or plasma torps are working.
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3371 DATE/TIME: 12-21-89 4:19pm
FROM : BEN PARRISH RECEIVED : NO
TO : ALL PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: Begin THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
New record for me : 170.2
1 Assasin v. 9 War eagles and 8 Birds o' Prey...
===============================================================================
MESSAGE: 3416 DATE/TIME: 12-31-89 3:54pm
FROM : JEFF KNIGHT RECEIVED : YES
TO : TOM NELSON (SYSOP) PRIVATE : NO
SUBJECT: starship THREAD : YES
FOLDER : B, "Begin/Clockwork Software"
How does a person save a game with version 1.65?
I believe it is the latest.
Hw can i become a user contributer via the bbs?
Thanx,
Jeff
cc: Tom Nelson
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