This program refactors the stats of all the units, to assume a different sim speed, spitting out a static server mod. The basic idea is that you can run the sim at (for example) half speed but, with the mod, the game still plays as if you are running at full speed. This may allow more massive games to be played, the same game in theory would take longer before the sim speed starts slowing down. Any server mods produced by this program are intended for use with local servers. You can manually change the sim speed of a local server, which the server mods here are intended to counteract. There are a number of issues currently. The main ones are: path finding at extremely low sim speeds, input lag at extremely low sim speeds, possibly inaccurate sim speed controls. Some may be fixable some not, however with some common sense most can be (at least) mitigated. I'm giving the program some basic commandline options soon. When that's done I'll attach it, for now here's two mods the program spat out. The program is written in java, so you'll need java to run it: https://java.com/en/download/index.jsp The jar file and source is available on github. Quick hints to running the jar file: Find your commandline Run this: Code: java -jar path_to_jar_file --help If you can see the help text quoted below, you're good to go. Follow the help file from the program, it will be updated whereas this quoted text may not be Server mods created go into the current directory Code: Usage: StaticSimSpeedChanger [ops] [path_to_pa_dir] [speedup_factor] [ops] --help : This help path_to_pa_dir : The path to the PA directory, containing the PA executable and the media directory speedup_factor : The number of times you have to call /api/sim_slower to have a normal speed game, default 3 The formula to determine sim speed is 10*(0.8)^speedup_factor. For example the default of speedup_factor = 3 yields 10*(0.8)^3 = 5.12 FPS Quick hints to running the mods: Start a local server with the --http flag When in the game (not just the lobby), browse to http://localhost:8080/api/sim_slower with your web browser, to slow the sim down by 20% The 5.12 mod requires you to slow the sim 3 times The 2.62 mod requires you to slow the sim 6 times
I very much look forward to testing this in a real game. If it allows to play a reasonable game at a sim speed of 5fps instead of 10 then this can double the perceived sim speed in big games.
I don't know if everything that should be accounted for is accounted for. Currently these fields are altered: Code: ammo_demand atrophy_cool_down atrophy_rate construction_demand.energy construction_demand.metal factory_cooldown_time initial_velocity lifetime max_velocity navigation.acceleration navigation.brake navigation.hover_time navigation.move_speed navigation.turn_speed navigation.wobble_speed physics.air_friction physics.gravity_scalar pitch_rate production.energy production.metal rate_of_fire yaw_rate Basically time fields should be reduced, and rate fields increased. I'm sure I missed at least some fields, and currently the program doesn't look in arrays (don't even know if it needs to). If any modders know of something that should be accounted for and isn't, post it here.
I'm wondering if there's a better way to handle the economy. Instead of increasing production and draw, how about reducing cost and storage? It might cross off one of the usability issues, namely the eco is very important, and giving everything unfamiliar production and consumption is disorientating. There may be a problem with my logic, can't see it yet though so I'll try it. edit: Tried it, worked well as far as I can tell. A commander storage of 512 is much easier to comprehend than a commander metal production rate of 58. Can someone who is an active player let me know how it feels against an ai? I couldn't tell a difference, but I'm not an active player.
I can't get it to actually create a mod guess I'll just try the mod in the OP. Hope it won't break anything since it isn't 100% up to date with the current PA.
Play at half sim speed from the start. Speed up all gameplay elements by a factor of 2. Like tank max speed is 2 times as normal etc. It looks the same and -assuming the sim doesn't get too inaccurate- and plays at perceived normal speed at 5 sim fps.
@cola_colin That would be my poor testing, I added the commandline options too hastily. Testing the switch works by using the default value is not the best idea I don't have access to PA or a quick way to compile a jar, but try this if you can be bothered. I don't think much if anything has changed between versions for the json, but I'm not certain. @zihuatanejo What he said
Updated the github with the commandline fix, attached here are 5.12 FPS mods for the latest patches (v76766 and v76843-pte). https://github.com/pamods/StaticSimSpeedChanger
