Utility Script: Share current orders with allies

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2540 days, 5 hours, 1 minutes ago
View big beefer's profile
big beefer
Utility Script: Share current orders with alliesWrite Reply
I've been working on a script to share current data between allies, and it seems to have passed the test by those who have tried it, so I'm making an official release thread for it. It's pretty useful for coordinating with allies, and probably even more so in team games. Previous discussion on it (mainly debugging, but if you're curious) is here:
http://planets.nu/discussion/allies-and-teams-wanted-to-help-test-new-information-sharing-script
Thanks to all those willing to try it out while still a bit buggy and help me track down the issues.

Here's how it works:
1. You must have a FULL alliance with someone.
2. BOTH players in the alliance need to install the userscript from the link below
3. You can tell it is working (at least in some form) by going to the diplomacy menu. Notice the new menu item "Update Allies".
4. After you make some changes to your turn, click the "Update Allies" button and a message will be sent to your allies containing all your current ship/planet/starbase data. You should see an "Updated Info" message sent (and they should get email notification, just like any other message).
5. When your ally opens their turn, the message you sent will be parsed automatically and that information will be used when displaying your stuff, so they will see all of the moves you've made and can coordinate with them as needed.

So basically both sides will now get all the CURRENT info on what's going on (waypoints (including snap-to ally's waypoint), current FCs even if changed, what's being built at each other's bases, missions, cloak states, etc). It should all be there, down to the build targets and tax rates on planets. You will now also view your allies stuff using the same interface you use to view your own, though you should not be able to edit them. The newest version also includes seeing allies' mine laying/sweeping, and shows towing between allies' ships.

Also, if you use the improved hover text script:
http://planets.nu/discussion/utility-script-integrates-dark-sense-and-super-spy-to-planet-hover-text
You should update to the latest version (0.11 or better). It integrates with this script to show all the ally stuff in the hover text as well.

DISCLAIMER: Because this script involves getting (and believing) information from an external party (your ally), it could be used to maliciously send bad information, etc. I don't really see that happening, but it is a possibility, so you should only use this with players you trust.

OK, here's the link to the script:
http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/140620

One final thought: this may also be a useful tool for mentoring games, if anyone is doing those still.
2531 days, 23 hours, 50 minutes ago
View mycroft's profile
mycroft
RE: Utility Script: Share current orders with alliesWrite Reply
This is by far, my favorite script yet. If only you had this one like 4 months ago! Would have really saved time on a team game I was in. 

I will let you know if I see any discrepancies. As of yet it looks solid.
2530 days, 0 hours, 6 minutes ago
View makko's profile
makko
RE: Utility Script: Share current orders with alliesWrite Reply
Installed script and there is no "Update Allies" button on the diplomacy menu page.

firefox 15.0.1 and debian linux.
2523 days, 18 hours, 41 minutes ago
View red megaman's profile
red megaman
RE: Utility Script: Share current orders with alliesWrite Reply
This is a very useful script, but I miss the ability to share orders with allies I only have an information sharing agreement with.  Not sure if it is possible to include this.  Ideally, one should be able to send turn orders to any subset of allied/info-sharing races.

Adding this option would make the script a lot more useful in the early stages of games, before full alliances are declared.

RM
2522 days, 13 hours, 35 minutes ago
View red megaman's profile
red megaman
RE: Utility Script: Share current orders with alliesWrite Reply
Scratch that.  I just realised the really simple workaround is
1. Change relationship to alliance
2. Update allies
3. Change relationship back to intel share

RM
2522 days, 12 hours, 19 minutes ago
View big beefer's profile
big beefer
RE: Utility Script: Share current orders with alliesWrite Reply
I'm not sure that will work. The script doesn't send ALL data related to your stuff (had issues with space limitations in big games). It assumes you will already have some information from being in the alliance, then merges the stuff from the message onto it. I'm not sure you get the same details with share intel.

Also, on the other side, it shouldn't try to parse incoming messages from non-allies, which was a precaution I put in to keep opponents from trying to send each other bogus data.
2521 days, 10 hours, 56 minutes ago
View red megaman's profile
red megaman
RE: Utility Script: Share current orders with alliesWrite Reply
I see.  Well, I'll still get some use out of it :-)

RM
2474 days, 3 hours, 52 minutes ago
View makko's profile
makko
RE: Utility Script: Share current orders with alliesWrite Reply
I finally got the script working.  To do it I had to install the Greasemonkey add-on before I installed any other firefox add-ons; makes no sense to me but works now.
2274 days, 14 hours, 22 minutes ago
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karaknor
RE: Utility Script: Share current orders with alliesWrite Reply
Really like this script; has been very valuable in a Team game for sharing Empire Dark Sense information, as well as for general coordination. Any chance of getting an update for the new site? The script throws an error when it loads a game on the new version.

In Firefox: TypeError: this.waypoints is undefined

Guessing this one may be a bit more complicated than some of your other scripts to update...
1590 days, 21 hours, 35 minutes ago
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crystalct
RE: Utility Script: Share current orders with alliesWrite Reply
Post resumed.
1590 days, 20 hours, 59 minutes ago
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aral
RE: Utility Script: Share current orders with alliesWrite Reply
Whatever the purpose of the bump, Crystalct - thank you! I did not know about this script :)
1590 days, 20 hours, 51 minutes ago
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glyn
RE: Utility Script: Share current orders with alliesWrite Reply
@Aral: Obsolete mod buddy.

I abandoned my work the second I saw Big Beefers ascension... only had some graphical stuff done and planned out a way to use message system to piggyback all kinds of mad ideas.

It's gonna be a good year.