Re: Hidden force strength in PBeM - question From: A.Poulter@lboro.ac.uk (Alan Poulter) Date: Thu, 31 Jul 1997 00:00:00 +0000 pspinks@vegauk.co.uk.ih8spam wrote: : I'm trying to figure out a way of incorporating Hidden Strength into a : set of of PBeM rules. The game allows the positions of stacks to be : known to opponents, but not their total strength. There is no : gamesmaster or neutral third party who could arbitrate. : One of the key issues is one of trust / openness. For example, PBeM : players use a dice server - they don't say to their opponents "oh, bad : luck, I threw a 6". I'm looking for a system which allows PlayerA to : allocate units to stacks, and for PlayerB to know its strength when he : encounters it (e.g., attacks it or is attacked by it). : All suggestions welcome, plus comments on the workability of the one : idea I've had so far. It involves encrpytion. When PlayerA forms a : stack, he records the details in a file, encrypts it, and passes it : PlayerB. He does this (separately) for each stack. When PlayerB : encounters a stack, PlayerA divulges the relevant password. : If PlayerA changes the composition of one or more stack(s), he : creates, encrypts and distributes new files. : Anyone got any better ideas? BTW, the game in question is Imperium : Romanum 2. I would suggest that each player simply keep a record of all their stacks in one file. Then when you make a move, encrypt and send the file to the opponent. If a stack is revealed the owner declares what is in the stack but does not send the password for his encrypted file. The idea is that at the end of the game passwords are exchanged and so any cheating will be revealed. Each player needs to store copies of his opponent's encrypted file for each turn. This method is simpler than the one you propose. I used it to play 'The Emperor Returns'. -- Alan Poulter, Lecturer phone/fax:01509 223061/223053 Dept. of Information and Library Studies mailto:a.poulter@lboro.ac.uk Loughborough University mailto:apoulter@nyx.net LE11 3TU mailto:alan@poulter.demon.co.uk UK http://info.lboro.ac.uk/departments/dils/staff/apoulter/ Up