Zope 3 DiplomacyPlanned Zope and Python adaptation of the Diplomacy Board Game. Inspired by and using some existing code from phpDiplomacy and Parlance.
Please note: In planning stages, no code yet
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to try.
TechnicalBuilt using Python and Zope3 (Possibly Grok), with half an eye on future Repoze and Repoze.bfg developments
Also planning to use HTML5 Canvas (for maps) and CouchDB (if possible). Both are being used as explorations of the respective technologies and may not be ideal, as such they should both degrade well. For example, Python Imaging Library (PIL) could be used for non HTML5 capable browsers and the site should work equally well with ZODB.
Possible Improvements PlannedThe first goal is to get some form of working site, that can be built from scratch, after this point the following improvements could be considered:
Ajax order drop down menus. Diplomacy messages should be copied to e-mail accounts. Better mobile phone version of site. SMS updates? Creator of game should have certain admin functions (Ability to kick players) End of turn reminders via e-mail/text. Although the missing of turns is half the fun, it's wouldn't happen in the board game. Banning of players should not cause a game to get stuck in a paused state. Alternative to phpDiplomacy score system could be explored. It works fairly well, but you can end up stuck in poor games unable to join new ones. (Much) better forum. Better site rules (phpDiplomacy ruls are ambiguous). For example, more detail on Convoys and the fact that they have to be 'dislodged' to cancel a move. See the rules collection BackgroundThe Board GameFrom Wikipedia:
"Diplomacy is a strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954 and released commercially in 1959. Its main distinctions from most board wargames are its negotiation phases (players spend much of their time forming and betraying alliances with other players) and complete absence of luck."
The Computer GamesFrom Wikipedia
"Avalon Hill released a computer game version of Diplomacy in 1984-1985 for the IBM PC.
Hasbro released a computer game version of Diplomacy in 1999. A major fault was that the computer AI was considered poor, one reviewer remarking "Gamers of any skill level will have no trouble whatsoever whaling on the computer at even the highest difficulty setting."
Paradox Interactive released a new computer version in 2005, which was given negative reviews. None of the computer games supported voice chat, which limited the possibilities for complicated alliances, until voice chat was added to the Paradox game in a later patch."
PHP DiplomacyFrom phpDiplomacy:
"phpDiplomacy is an open source, multiplayer, web based implementation of the turn based strategy game Diplomacy by Avalon Hill, in which you have to try and conquer Europe. To win you have to be strategic and diplomatic, making deals and alliances with other players, and stabbing them in the back when it suits you best."
ParlanceFrom pyPi
"Parlance is a framework for playing the Diplomacy board game over a network, using the protocol and message syntax developed by the Diplomacy AI Development Environment (DAIDE) community"
LicenseFrom Wikipedia:
"Diplomacy has been published in the United States by Games Research, Avalon Hill, and Hasbro; the name is currently a registered trademark of Hasbro's Avalon Hill division"
I haven't yet explored the restrictions of the trademark towards non-commercial, open source projects such as this, but I am assuming the large number of existing projects (such as phpDiplomacy) suggests that there are no current restrictions. If this is not the case, I am happy to stop the project immediately. [Less]