(03-20-2014, 05:09 AM)Ratel Wrote: [ -> ]What I mean is that when I copy the file from my e-mail to my PBEM folder I sometimes notice that the usual SpEml00x.dat name appears as something else in the Save As window, even though the right name still appears in the e-mail.
Not same opponent and all opponets till nowhas been from Europe or the USA.
Opponents have done the setup 2 times out of the 3 times that I had this problem.
Always one file and never zipped.
I deleted the files. If it happens again I will send it to you.
Thanks. Going to re-istall my MBT now!!
Both CMT and DAT files must be sent.
This is obviously true for the first turn, and I've been told that they both should for subsequent turns, so my opponents and I always ZIP up BOTH files every turn. Perhaps something gets changed in the CMT file but the modified date remains the same?
Anyway, ZIP up both files into one zip file, then unzip to your PBEM folder and replace all.
Read the section in the game guide called:
Playing By EMAIL (PBEM), or Against Another Human
Sorry for the lack of formatting, but it says stuff like:
A regular secure PBEM game also requires that the exact same OOB files be used by both players. A Basic secure PBEM does not.This is
mentioned below, in more detail.
Transmission of Files to Your Opponent (Remote Games-Unsecured)
Non secure games are saved in the [WinSPMBT]\Saved Games folder. Secure games are stored in [WinSPMBT]\PBEM Games
Non Secure PBEM
Each game consists of 2 files, spsvNNN.dat, spsvNNN.cmt. These files MUST be transmitted to your opponent as a group!
PLEASE NOTE
DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES SEND YOUR OPPONENT THE FILE
NAMED "PBEMRegistry.dat"
THAT IS YOUR COMPUTERS RECORD OF WHAT PBEM GAMES ARE BEING
PLAYED IN THE VARIOUS SLOTS AVAILABLE !
It is best to open a windows explorer session and to navigate to the \save directory, ensure that you use 'view/arrange icons/by name', this will
keep the files grouped together by filename, thus making your task of selecting the correct set of 3 easier.. Here we select game number 10 but,
since the files are indexed from 0 (zero), this is the 11th save game slot in the actual game, remember to deduct 1 from the number used by
WinSPMBT. Ensure that explorer is set up to always show the extension of files as well.
Of course, it can be difficult to decide which game is the correct one, note that I have associated the cmt files with notepad using the normal
windows procedure to do so. You can then simply open the cmt file by double clicking on it as it will contain the game title, never edit this,
just look at it! (on the first time, if necessary, associate the cmt extension with Notepad in Windows when the program type dialogue comes up)
Also, note that I have set explorer to show all extensions, not to hide these, again, normal windows stuff, see your windows help file if unsure.
These 2 files are what we transfer to the other player, however, these can be rather large, and so it is best to zip these up using WINZIP,
ensure that both of you use the same file compression utility, whichever you choose (negotiate this between yourselves as part of your
battle setup emails). Winzip comes on the front cover CD ROMS of most decent computer magazines usually under the utilities section. It is the
premier zip package, also at
www.winzip.com. With winzip installed, there is a right mouse click extension to zip the files, select the 3, right
click with mouse, select zip and enter a file name.
In case of crashes, it is a very good idea to keep all your zipped up moves for the entire game until it is completed, in case you find you require
to retransmit a move to an opponent who has corrupted his move. Therefore, for each game it is useful to use a standardised zip file naming
convention. I tend to use gamenameNNN.zip, where NNN is the move number, so DonUSAGE194400.zip would be my setup initial move,
DonUSAGE194401.zip would be move number 1 after deployment and setup (the 0 move, remember!). I tend to put who I am playing, the 2
nations (player 1 on the left) and date in the name bit, to help tell the zips apart. I keep all the moves sent to me by my opponent as well to aid in
any disaster recovery, as if I keep his then should he make a mistake (say he deleted one on his PC), I have the backup on mine. Once you
have finished the game, then delete the zips.
PBEM (or Head to Head) Procedure
Set up a generated battle the following way:
This looks just like a normal battle versus a computer, but note that ALL the settings buttons are set to human player. (It is possible to set up with
computer purchase etc, but in most human versus human play, both will want to buy and deploy without the computer's help). In any case, in a
human plays human game, the setting for 'computer purchase' is ignored by the game for player number 2. So it really is best left at human for
all of the 6 buttons.
For a scenario which one wants to play human versus human, just start the scenario and set both players as human, then continue as for a
normal battle generator game, but there will be no purchase or deployment as this is already taken care of in the scenario design. You just
exchange files for password (if secure) or start (if unsecure).
Player number 1 is responsible for setting the pre game settings, battle type, map size, number of turns, date and visibility and so on. In
especial, he is responsible for setting up the preferences screen to what the 2 players have mutually agreed before the game. Is a secure
game, the in-game preferences will be updated to those for the PBEM game just loaded. You may therefore need to reset these if you want to
play another game in the same session ither manually, or by exiting and restarting. Unsecure games do not save the preferences settings, so
the 2 players should take care to set these up properly, if they are different to what is normally set on the PC, before starting an unsecure PBEM
game.
Player 1 now hits the continue button when he is satisfied with the set up parameters and continues to the normal buy screen where he now
buys his toys. Once he has done this, he hits the done button in the purchase menu, just like for a game against the AI. However unlike a game
against the computer, he now sees the password entry screen:
OK, this is where a secure and an unsecure game diverge.
A)- For a secure game, you enter a password here. Press the password button, then type in your desired game password and press
'enter'. Once a Password has been entered a new button will appear. "Full Security" is the default and if that is what you want press
Continue now. If, however, your wish to play your PBEM with the new BASIC PBEM Security then press this button once and it will change to
read "Basic Security". If that is what you want press Continue. (The password will be shown in the box at the base of the screen, it may be a
good idea to write this down in case you later forget it!). If you do not like the password or made an error - pressing password again lets you
edit it.
For more information on BASIC security click HERE
or B), For an unsecure game, just press the continue button at this point and go on without a password having been entered.
It is this action by player 1 which determines if the game will be secure or unsecure, if secure (player 1 entered a password) then player 2 will
be presented with the password entry screen, if not, player 2 will not see the password entry screen.
Now, player 1 will see the save game screen.
If this is an unsecure game (you never entered a password, recall!), then you can use any of the normal save game, like a regular game. (Slot
1 is the auto save game slot, including non secured games. Do not save here! ). As an unsecure game, you can save later saves to any legal
slot, just like regular games. Or even into another copy of WinSPMBT on the same or a different computer. Unsecure games are regular save
games stored in the normal [WinSPMBT]\Saved Games folder. Unsecure games operate just like normal games for saves and exits - you can
exit out of the turn in mid-turn if you want to.
However, if this is a secure game (password was entered), then you will be provided with the save PBEM file menu at this point. Secured
games encrypt the save game data, so your opponent cannot open this up in a hex editor and peek at things. In addition, secured games will
autosave at the end of the game turn to that slot only (you have no choice to move a saved copy elsewhere), and also, the save game notes
the path to the game as well, so you cannot move a copy to another install of WinSPMBT to try to 'break' it, it just will not play. Secure
games are saved in the [WinSPMBT]\PBEM Games directory, not in the regular save games folder. Also, when player
1 is saving the game for the first time, he MUST use the mutually-agreed save game slot number he negotiated with
his opponent during the game set-up process. Recall that both players must use the exact same slot on their PCs.
NB - It is probably best to use a reasonably structured save game name such as perhaps "Eric (USA) v Fred (USSR ) 5/1978" when you save
the game for the first time.
This example shows the files for the second PBEM save slot being selected ( remember, the slots are numbered from (0) ZERO and not (1)
ONE.
One thing that confuses some folks with secured PBEM is that, when playing a secured PBEM game the normal 'exit game' button (the RED
one that points upwards) is now used to save your secured PBEM game at that point, in order to come back and complete it later. Recall that
you must use the same save slot, this will store your game at the current point in play. It is not, repeat not an "end game" button, just a pause
and save my turn button! But, we have found that some users are confused by this and used this button to as they thought, finish the turn off,
then bundled the files and sent these to their opponent, whereby his game choked on the files, naturally enough, as they are a save of the first
player's current point in the game uncompleted, and he is still the active player, not the opponent he sent the partially completed move to.
The exit game button in a secure PBEM auto-saves your secure pbem game for you to come back later and complete. It knows which slot to
use, so there is no save game dialogue here. There is a text message explaining this which will display, and you will have to press any key to
continue, this was added to remind users that the game is not yet ready to send to the opponent (turn is incomplete).
You use the BLUE end turn button to end your turn. I will repeat this, you use the BLUE end turn button to end a PBEM game move.
Please press the BLUE button at the bottom of the buttons to COMPLETE your turn. Don't send your part move save off (RED upwards
pointed button) to the other player, he cannot play it! (if secure PBEM - if unsecured, you just sent your current turn in progress to your opponent
to look at, as he can open it !)
In a remote game, player 1 now sends the two zipped up files to player 2, who places the zip file somewhere safe (remember to keep all the zips
in case of need to reload) and unzips the files contained in this to his [WinSPMBT]\Saved Games or [WinSPMBT]\PBEM Games (if secure)
directory under windows.
He then starts the game, and goes to the regular 'saved games' screen, if this is an unsecured game, or to the 'Saved PBEM' screen if it is a
secure game. There he loads the appropriate save game, and continues with play. In the setup, player 2 buys his forces, is presented with the
password screen (if a secure game), and then he deploys his forces. On hitting the end turn button (red button!) at the end of the deployment,
the following happens:
If this is a secure game, the game is automatically saved in the appropriate slot in the [WinSPMBT]\PBEM Games folder with no user action
required to select a save slot as this is already known. Player 2 now exits to windows, and zips up the 2 files for this game and transmits to
player 1. REMEMBER ALSO, the secure encrypted game saves live in the[WinSPMBT]\PBEM Games directory, and not, repeat not in the
[WinSPMBT]\Saved Gamesdirectory with all other game saves (including unsecured PBEM game saves)!
If this is an unsecure game, player 2 will see the normal save game menu screen, and can select any legal save slot. Player 2 now zips up the
appropriate 2 files (as he can change the slot, he should remember which he used!) and transmits to player 1. In unsecure games, you must
remember to save manually, unlike in secure games. When presented with your opponent's start screen, save and exit.
Player 1 now receives the zip file from player 2, unzips to his save (or email for secure games) directory and saves the zip file for backup
purposes. He then starts the game, goes to the save games screen and selects the appropriate slot and starts the game. If a secure game, you
get prompted for a password, if not, no password is asked for.
Player 1 now deploys and plays his first turn, on finishing his first turn (end turn, red, button!) he then zips the appropriate 3 files and transmits to
player 2. This is now move 1, so he should name his zip file <name>001.zip. Remember to save all the zips in case you need to come back for
disaster recovery!
Player 2 and player 1 now repeat the process of receiving, unzipping, playing, zipping and transmitting until the end of the game. (Though in
PBEM games, often the 2 players decide at some point what the victory will be, and mutually end the game early with an agreed win or lose).
Important point for secured games, part of the anti cheat method is that both OOB files are checked to see if they have changed so your
opponent cannot place an improved one in place with wonder weapons. This is for your protection against cheats, but what it means is that on
both player's PCs the 2 OOB files must not ever change during the lifetime of the game. Any changed OOB file will result in a
complaint about a corrupt OOB file from the security code. If you are playing a set of PBEM games, say for a competitive ladder, that use a set
of modified OOB files, perhaps provided by the organiser, then it is best to install the entire game into a second directory and use this second
copy of WinSPMBT (with the appropriately changed OOB files) for the competition games. This is the best way to handle games with user OB
files, rather than say, trying to remember to load spob000 (original) to play 2 games, spob000 (competition) for 2 others, and spob000 (Fred's
version) for the PBEM with Fred, who insists on his particular changed OB set. If either side uses allies or captured stuff then these OOBS will
need to be provided as well, so it is probably best if using modified OOBS in PBEM to transmit the entire OOB set for safety as you will have no
knowledge that your USSR (say) opponent will be buying Tanzanian (say) OOB Chinese light tanks.
