Game 148: Primeval with Wizard Mentor #2

[Cipher]

The web order entry process is ready for live game TESTING. There are still a couple of items on my plate to get cleaned up, but we are looking for a live game to start using the utility. Is EVERYONE in the game willing to go this route?
We'll need feedback (honest and quick) and need the players to be tolerant of dealing with any related issues - understanding that turn processing delays or potential turn re-runs are not out of the question.
However, the small player base for this game and the fact that newer players typically ask better questions makes this an attractive option from our perspective.
If you are or are NOT interested in using the utility to not only check orders, but as the actual order submission process, please post here. Once we've heard from everyone in the game we'll proceed accordingly.

[unclemike]

Let me emphasize that this means that you will no longer be submitting your turns with the Excel spreadsheet file anymore but only when you press the SUBMIT TURN button on the web page.

Here is the link again:
http://fallofromegame.com/alamazeorders/

Just typing your orders on the web form and pressing the VERIFY ORDERS button isn't enough -- you actually have to press the SUBMIT TURN button for the software to save your file on the server.

If you log out and want to make a correction, press the LOAD/CLEAR ORDERS button to automatically load the values that you previously saved on the server so you don't have to retype everything again.

You may submit your turn even if an error was displayed during validation.

One of the advantages that I personally like is that you may now submit an unlimited number of corrections to your turn as long as it is submitted before the turn's due date. Rick mentioned to submit your orders with a 2 hour lead time so plan on submitting at least one copy of your orders before 10 am that day.

If you have any questions then ask me or post on the forum. I'll be updating the official forum thread for the online system later which will have the updated document that describes what is being validated for every order/spell. Refer to that document if you have questions on any item.

[kevindusi]

I'm game, and I think it makes a lot of sense for the new folks to learn this way at the start, rather than learning the "old way" and then having to relearn the "new way". Biggest question for me is the "lead time" issue, since I'm on PST... but if that means I have to submit the night before, ok.

[GAMBIT1965]

I would agree

[unclemike]

All five players sent me emails and are now registered to use the online system so we're a go on this !!!

There's just one outstanding issue that Cipher is currently working on for the SUBMIT TURN button to work properly but we'll have it resolved before you send in your turn 2 orders.

Have fun

[BlueGolem]

The Elven hosts enthusiastically embrace this idea!
Frankly, I found the Excel sheet method to be a bit brittle, with no way of knowing if your orders were received
as intended by Evil Genius Headquarters. This method has the side benefit that, once your orders are uploaded,
you can hit LOAD/CLEAR ORDERS to verify that they were received correctly.

Two questions arise from my limited experience with it so far:
1) Is it possible to make the various cells navigable via the arrow keys, like a regular Excel spreadsheet?, and
2) What happens if you press the big red button labeled "Don't Ever Press Me"?

Well, one question, anyways...

[unclemike]

The Elven hosts enthusiastically embrace this idea!
Frankly, I found the Excel sheet method to be a bit brittle, with no way of knowing if your orders were received
as intended by Evil Genius Headquarters. This method has the side benefit that, once your orders are uploaded,
you can hit LOAD/CLEAR ORDERS to verify that they were received correctly.

Two questions arise from my limited experience with it so far:
1) Is it possible to make the various cells navigable via the arrow keys, like a regular Excel spreadsheet?, and
2) What happens if you press the big red button labeled "Don't Ever Press Me"?

Well, one question, anyways...

You can TAB across fields but not use arrow keys yet. I can add the code to handle the processing of arrow keys but for now, you can click on each field with your mouse cursor or use TAB to transverse among the fields.

[kevindusi]

2) What happens if you press the big red button labeled "Don't Ever Press Me"?

Now a real killer, when he picked up the ZF-1, would've immediately asked about the little red button on the bottom of the gun...

[Panda]

Are we supposed to submit turn 1 orders with this? I emailed my spreadsheet on Sunday

[Cipher]

Everything is in place to use the web order entry SUBMIT for game 148 turns.

Please don't use both email and web order for the same turn 1 - if you've done it one way, just let that ride for the turn.

Everyone start using just the web entry for turn 2.

I still have some tweaks to the verification data that the routine uses, mostly around what levels the different kingdoms get spells, so if you get an error that a spell is not available for a certain power wizard, but it shows on your results that it is available, it will be processed.