DM - DM DBase reaction From: johnjohn@cco.caltech.edu (John Carlos White) Date: Mon, 14 Feb 1994 04:07:38 +0000 So, I just downloaded the DM database from the pub/MSDOS_UPLOADS/utils directory at wuarchive.wustl.edu, and I have some reactions and thoughts. First off all. I've been wanting to do something like this for a long time, but I never seemed to have the time to learn how to use some of the database building tools out there. I would like to thank John for taking the time to do this. I really like the way that this utility is set up. The framework is there, but not in the most useful way... Here are my suggestions. Name: The program needs a /warriors subdirectory, and should create one if it isn't there already. The program saves your warrior information under a filename that eliminates spaces, but not any other forbidden dos filename characters. For example, if you enter Butt.Head in the name field, you won't be able to save it. Skills: In the warrior information sheet, there is a section that speculates on the skill base of the warrior. Unfortunately, this part of the game is not mapped out perfectly, and this information isn't really useful on a sheet that should give me hard information on my warriors. I think that the better thing would be to include a field that is normally hidden that provides an area to enter exactly how many skills that it takes to get to expert in a field. Perhaps even a span of up to 4 skills, and an area that compares speculated and actual bases. I guess, my main beef is that there's no way for me to enter my actual skill level, if it doesn't match the speculation. Warrior Skill Optimization: Ok, I don't know what the algorithem was that was used to optimize warriros, but it doesn't work for me. Try this: take a dream warrior with 21's in wit, will and deftness. Subtract 6 points from wit, will, and 2 from deft. Enter these numbers into the field and optimize. Would you make this warrior? A better system would have the initial number fields user alterable like now. The center field would let me play with the numbers that I want to add to each by myself. That way, I can see what designs will get what skills, and take into account things like the benefits of high will that an algorithem can't handle. Fight History: The best way that I can think of for this to work would be for the fight history to be a set of fields a bit more detailed than the opponents list. That way, the Dbase can create an opponent entry from the fight history. There should be an entry for which skills were learned when, and this should feed right into the main data sheet's record and statistics keeping. The same should go for skill trains. View/Edit Opponents: I am unclear as to exactly what the "next" tool is supposed to do. Intuition says that I should be able to enter something in a field, hit next, and have the dbase run through any warrior that matches what I entered. But it doesn't seem to work that way. Create List: I would like to be able to output any list that I create to a text file that I can choose the name of. That way, the net can trade lists, and a hard copy isn't the only output that I have to deal with (besides, my print access is only over a network). What is the "unknown" anyway? Outputting some of this stuff: Is it possible to output some of the screens to a printer and to a .ps file? That would be cool... As I said, I think that this is a great utility! The above is just what I would like changed for it to become actually useful for me. I think that this utility could very well become the standard for people to use to keep track of their warriors. I wonder how much work John is willing to put into it? I encourage all of you to grab this thing and try it out! John White -- John White johnjohn@unholy1.caltech.edu The Kings are Stanley Cup bound. Really! Referenced By Up