Dark Age Army Builder Files for AB v3 -- v1.1

[DarkHost]

Ok. I fixed the download problem with the v1.0 files. And for the record, the problem was of my doing, not that of AB.

To atone for my sin, I have added the Brood and St. John quickstart force lists to the file set.

Please report any problems you find to me at [email protected]

[punkrabbitt]

See, this is why Darkhost is the Man!

[Pr0fane]

Dh, any idea as to backwards compatibility for those people who haven't purchased the newest ArmyBuilder?

[punkrabbitt]

I believe that would be a "zero" unless they have actually managed to get a negative number involved somehow...

[Pr0fane]

I ask because I was on the beta list while it was in development, and I believe that was one of their goals, to keep the data compatible. But that was a while back so I'm no longer sure.

[DarkHost]

Punkrabbitt is correct, there is no compatibility between AB v2.x and v3.x files. What does exist is a program that converts (with 98% to 99% conversion rate) v2.x files to the v3.x format. Unfortunately there is not a similar program to convert v3.x file to the old v2.x format.

[gunslinger]

Punkrabbitt is correct, there is no compatibility between AB v2.x and v3.x files. What does exist is a program that converts (with 98% to 99% conversion rate) v2.x files to the v3.x format. Unfortunately there is not a similar program to convert v3.x file to the old v2.x format.

methinks lone wolf was not so happy with all the "pirate" version 2 discs out there ... which is sad because i bought that about 3 months before they decided to upgrade and after paying 30 dollars for one, i didn't want to spend another 30 to upgrade.. it made no sense to me.. oh well, pen and paper works fine for me

[DarkHost]

That may have been an issue. However, AB v3 is not just a warmed-over version of AB v3 with a more robust licensing system. It has pretty much been rewritten from the ground up with new features and functionality.

That said, unless you are generating large numbers of force lists or play other games (e.g., WH, WH40K) that have complex force list rules, AB is a bit of overkill for for Dark Age.

[gunslinger]

well my friends that use it for 40k etc have the same issues we have always had.. the detailing for some reason or another just doesn't know the army list and no one seems to agree on what is official or not..

again, it might be the cats meow, i will just do without..

[DarkHost]

Apparently the WH and WH40K army lists are some of the most difficult to develop.

[gunslinger]

Apparently the WH and WH40K army lists are some of the most difficult to develop.

in the ab developers defense, yes, the are the most difficult, because there are so many "shady" areas and unclear rules points..

[DarkHost]

And don't forget that the people developing the list are not members of the Army Builder development team. They are volunteers, like me, who have stepped up to to support their chosen game.

I spent enough time banging my head on the desk getting the Dark Age files built. I don't envy the lumps that must be on the noggens of the WH and WH40K developers.

[Wayne Rogers]

Apparently the WH and WH40K army lists are some of the most difficult to develop.

in the ab developers defense, yes, the are the most difficult, because there are so many "shady" areas and unclear rules points..

Heh..didya read the blurb (I think it was Jervis Johnson) in the last White Dwarf about rules lawyering...and that the "rules are open to interpretation"? Of course he is right...but its not often you see a games developer admitting such.

[gunslinger]

Heh..didya read the blurb (I think it was Jervis Johnson) in the last White Dwarf about rules lawyering...and that the "rules are open to interpretation"? Of course he is right...but its not often you see a games developer admitting such.

jerivs is awesome.. he sees the game for what it is.. and that unfortunately is why he was stuffed into a closet called specialist games.. so his "style" wouldn't be allowed to be seen.. someone just recently let him out it seems..

[DarkHost]

I agree that rules are always going to be open to interpretation as it is not possible to write rules that account for every possiblity.

On the other hand, there is no reason why unambigous army list specifications cannot be written.

In my mind any issues with WH or WH40K army lists and AB are due to conflicts introduced by GW into the lists as part of their constant rewriting, or AB feature limitations with respect to the convolved army list constraints.

[gunslinger]

honestly, i blame most of the broken lists, and often asked questions as people being lazy, not reading their codex, and not having a rule book..

[DarkHost]

My contact with WH and WH40K has been very limited, so I will defer to your greater experience on this point.

[gunslinger]

On the other hand, there is no reason why unambigous army list specifications cannot be written..

i will put my thoughts here. first Gw deals with more than one language (so ambiguity will happen) second, Gw deals with at least 4 different versions of English, the queens, australian, canadian and american.. of which all are a bit messed up.. in that ambiguity sets in.

then you have those that like to play for fun and don't get carried away with rules lawyering, and you have those that look for every loophole and exploitable area to gear their army, and then power gamers that just play to win and beat an opponent and those that could care less if they win or lose or how the rules work.. some find it important to have the rules, some don't.. etc. etc. etc..

the amibiguity is not just in the company but in the people that play.. nothing i have written above wrong or right, i am just pointing out that to just stand there and point the finger at the company is not good.. sure, they should shoulder much of the rules interpretation and tighten things up.. problem is .. no matter how tight it gets, it will never be tight enough.. it won't.. the game is too broad to do that.. otherwise you spend hours looking over rules, like i have found when i see people play certain other games.. particularly historical stuff... but i digress...

ambiguity allows for flow.. it's pretty much been proven that way in roleplaying games as well. let the game master have the reins and it all works out in the end..

i personally lay the game on the players.. they can chose to have fun or be dicks about it.. then i determine whether i play them again based on how they played..

[night hunter]

Any guess as to when the Exodus lists might be added for Skaard, or the Skaard Quick list?

Thanks!

I know it takes a lot of work, and I have tried to do it but ended up giving up- just wanted to see your progress...

[DarkHost]

I have done some preliminary work based on draft lists. I am now waiting for my copy of Exodus to arrive, at which point I will restart my efforts. I am guessing that will happen next week.

Feel free to keep pinging me about it, as I need all the help I can get to keep my eye on the prize and not get distracted by home renovation projects.

[chessman1]

Any chance of a Dragyri Air Caste List any time soon?

[DA_Grafter]

Well, depending on what you call soon. The next book to be released is Evolution, with Brood and Saint John... so the soonest would be the book after that...

[chessman1]

Well, I realized that, but I meant basically putting the quickstart list on Army Builder

[DA_Grafter]

That's up to Darkhost, but I doubt he would do it twice.

[DarkHost]

That's up to Darkhost, but I doubt he would do it twice.

Actually, I would be more than happy to put the Dragyri Air Caste quick-start list into the ABv3 DA files. :)

[DA_Grafter]

Well, there you have it, thanks Dark :)

[chessman1]

Thanks