Import of Empire 4.2.12

[empserver] / doc / CHANGES2.3

Unless otherwise specified, the changes in this file were made by Ken Stevens

emp2.3.0.a.tar
- port to IRIX - Janjaap van Velthooven
- added "info Hidden"
- added "doc/econfig"
emp2.3.0.b.tar
- fixed abm news message
- reduced sam ranges to 2/3/4
- fixed MAJOR bug in unload
- arty now have to be 20% to fire
- widened range in "player" command
- fixed bug in "fuel"
- fixed "starv l"
- updated info pages
emp2.3.1.a.tar      
- harbours weren't getting packing bonus when importing on dist.
emp2.3.2.a.sh       
- removed a bunch of *.orig files
emp2.3.2.b.tar      
- added #include <unistd.h> to util/*.c for Linux compatability
emp2.3.2.c.tar      
- removed -g flag for linux because it made fairland crash on getopt()
emp2.3.3.a.tar
- fixed MAJOR bug in load
- cleaned up some old global variables that weren't used any more
- config.status no longer creates econfig (compile does it now)
- gave _exit() an argument for Linux
emp2.3.4.a.tar
- fixed server crashing bug in pinbomb
emp2.3.4.b.sh
- cleaned out GNUdepend files for Linux
emp2.3.4.c.tar
- changed configure script to ask for IP address
- made authorization check strict.  NOTE: this will make it harder to install.
- added this file
emp2.3.4.d.tar
- fixed a MAJOR bug in attack that was taking too much mobility.
emp2.3.4.e.tar
- fixed a but that was dividing by # of civs rather than multiplying
  by them for mountain caps.  OOPS.  This bug has been in the code for years!
- changed the output of the "player" command.
- fixed a minor bug in "load"
- changed "return fire does 190% damage" to "return fire does 190 damage"
- changed "power" so now you can specify country names in "power -c"
- added "info BTU"
emp2.3.4.f.tar
- info pages are now separated into "Basic" and "Expert" level pages.
  "Basic" level pages have a * beside them on the Subjects info pages.
- reduced "flapping" of "players" random output.
- now include self in repo * output.
emp2.3.4.g.tar
- a couple more IRIX patches - Janjaap van Velthooven
- bugfix for upgrade command - Janjaap van Velthooven
- extended syntax for one way orders - Julian Onions
- fixed a bug that would crash the server if an abm blew up on the launch pad
- fixed "was sunk at" message.
- you are now told if you abandon a sector by marching out of it.
- if you give someone back their cap by marching/moving/exploring out
  of it, it gets changed into an agribusiness.
emp2.3.4.h.tar
- fixed a server crashing bug in mfir
- telegrams to yourself no longer show up in the news
- fixed a server crashing bug in show
emp2.3.4.i.tar
WARNING: I am not sure how portable this code is...
- added hostname to struct player
- all hostaddr validation now also checks against hostname
- changed "player" command output to show time used and user@hostname
emp2.3.4.j.tar
- fixed a bug introduced in emp2.3.4.i.tar
emp2.3.4.k.tar
- players can now see which of their allies are logged on using the
  "players" command.
- fixed a server crashing bug in "players".
- you are now allowed to scrap in friendly harbours
- ask for double confirmation for scrapping trade ships (and tell
  people to use "scuttle" instead).
- fixed documentation for scuttle/scrap
- you are no longer allowed to attack with supply, aa, arty, or
  security units.
- the procedure for determining tech, research, edu, and happiness are
  now explained in precice detail in the info pages.
emp2.3.5.a.tar
- applied 3 patches from someone (sorry I forget who) they had to do
  with POSIX compatability
- fixed a MAJOR bug in ltend
- fixed a bug in "starva" which was stealing food from harbours
- fixed a server crashing bug which occurred when you hit return at an
  attack prompt.
- added a new command "echo" at Kevin Morgan's request
- fixed a few minor formatting errors
- fixed an output warning which you got when you aborted assaulting
  your own sector
emp2.3.5.b.tar
- fixed a bug which gave land units positive mobility if they went
  below -127 (e.g. marching into a mountain)
- fixed a bug which required nuc missiles to have shells to launch
- fixed a bug which was preventing choppers from landing on ships
- fixed an error which prevented the server from compiling with
  the ORBIT option off.
- fixed a bug which would throw the server into an infinite loop if
  two ships followed each other.
- fixed a typo in scra.c that someone else's smart compiler caught.
emp2.3.5.c.tar
- cut sector damage in half (except for nukes)
- fixed "WARNING: sector ownership changed" integrity check message
- fixed "not in supplied harbour" message in "fuel" command
- fixed "lost x% to starvation" message in production report
- boarding mil no longer pack a lunch
- The following changes were made to the sonar command:
  - will only work from ships at sea
  - will only detect ships at sea
  - will now detect the shoreline
  - will only detect things if there is a straight line of water
    between the detector and the detected (no longer works around corners)
  - now displays a map and changes your bmap
  - for ships with tech > 310, shows mines on the map with an X and
    puts the X on your bmap
- fixed minor bug in input routine of "fire" command
emp2.3.5.d.tar
  - Never again will you see in the news:
    TheBorg execution squads gun down helpless TheBorg civilians
  - If you lay, sweep, or hit a sea mine, then an 'X' will automatically
    be put on your bmap
  - All ships (including subs) in harbors are now visible via the "lookout"
    command by all ships (including subs) in adjacent sectors
  - Fixed a bug in sonar which was hiding subs beneath 'X's
emp2.3.5.e.tar
  - Fixed a server crashing bug in supply routines (supply units were
    drawing petrol from themselves in infinite recursion)
  - Fixed a server crashing bug in attack code (bad return value)
  - Fixed a server crashing bug in "declare" command (null pointer)
  - Fixed a server crashing bug in "fire" command (use of freed
    memory) - Yannick Tremblay
  - Fixed bug in "edit ship" which wasn't displaying ship properly
  - Engineers assaulting from landing ships were being charged too
    much mob (bug fixed)
  - User defined plane ranges were not being used by the mission code
    (bug fixed)
emp2.3.5.f.tar
  - Fixed a number fo bugs related to shelling - Yannick Tremblay
  - Fixed a MAJOR ship damage bug
  - The budget command has been changed so that now you may choose not to
    pay maintenance costs.  Also, "mil" on ships/planes/units has been
    moved from the maintenance costs for those items to the "Military" section
    of the budget.
  - If you can not afford to maintain your ships/planes/units or you
    choose not to maintain them using the "budget" command, then they will
    loose ETU/5 % efficiency at the update.
  - If you are broke at the point of the update when it comes time to
    build something, then that thing will not be built.
  - Broke countries are now allowed to use all commands except for:
      arm assault attack board bomb build convert disarm drop enlist explore
      fire fly grind harden launch lmine mine paradrop recon satellite scrap
      shoot sweep torpedo treaty upgrade work
  - Broke countries are now allowed to use these commands:
      demobilize lload llookout load lookout lradar lrange lretreat ltend
      lunload march mission morale mquota navigate order qorder radar range
      retreat sail sonar sorder spy supply tend transport unload unsail
emp2.3.5.g.tar
  - Fixed a server crashing bug in budget command
  - increased sea mine hitchance from mines/(mines+50) to mines/(mines+40)
  - increased sector damage from 50 * dam / (dam + 50) to
    100 * dam / (dam + 100).
  - fixed a bug which was preventing engineers from tearing down 100% sectors
  - added new <brief?> argument to sonar output which suppresses map
  - reduced land mine damage from 10 + random(20) to 6 + random(10)
emp2.3.5.h.tar
  - Fixed server crashing bug in "morale" command.
  - Engineers no longer "raise" eff from 100 to 92, they "lower" it.
  - Engineers working are now only charged mobility for work they do
  - Ships fueling themselves now loose petrol/oil
  - Now, when a sector is abandoned or revolts, the takeover() function
    is called to stop production, wipe distribution levels, etc...
  - Engineers are now charged 1 mobility point per land mine laid
  - Added number of land mines in the sector to the "strength" output
  - Fixed lots of typos
emp2.3.5.i.tar
  - Fixed a bug in "bomb" which was preventing light bombers on acc's
    from being able to take off.
  - Artillery no longer consume petrol or food when they fire (they
    only consume shells).
  - increased land mine damage from 6 + random(10) to 10 + random(10)
  - if land units are accompanied by engineers, then their chance of
    hitting a land mine is divided by 3.  E.g. if there 
    are 25 mines in the sector, then a land unit has a 33%
    chance of hitting a land mine.  If it is accompanied by an 
    engineer, then that chance drops to 11%.
  - If an engineer sweeps a land mine that it cannot carry, it drops
    it as a shell into the sector.
  - Engineers now sweep a number of times equal to 2 times the number
    of shells they can carry.
  - The chance of an engineer finding a land mine in a sector is now
    50% time the "att" value of the unit:
          # of sweeps   chance of finding a mine
old system   5            66%
eng1  130    6            60%
eng2  165    8            75%
meng  260    8            90%
  - The "visibility" of a sub to an ASW plane has been increased from
    vis to 10 + vis * 5.  This should dramatically improve the chances
    of ASW planes locating and hitting subs.
emp2.3.5.j.tar
  - changed visibility of subs from 10 + vis * 5 to vis * 4 in the
    asw hitchance calculation.
  - when subs on interdiction miss, both parties are now informed
    (in the old system, neither party was informed)
  - you are no longer allowed to hit subs with missiles (oops!)
emp2.3.6a.tar
  - Forts will now only automatically interdict ships that the country
    would be able to see using the "coastwatch" command.  Ships out of
    visual range will not be interdicted by forts.  Note that
    ship/ship, unit/ship, plane/ship interdiction was not changed,
    and also the "fire" command was not changed.  _only_ fort/ship
    interdiction was changed.
  - If a NEUTRAL (or worse) ship sails within your coastwatch range,
    then you will receive a telegram like this:
TheBorg lc2 light cruiser 2 (#666) sighted at -9,-1
    This telegram is sent before any interdiction is done.
  - When an ASW plane flies an interdiction mission to hit subs, it will
    now also report on any subs it happens to see along the way (in
    the same way it would if it were flown using the "sonar" command).
emp2.3.6b.tar
- now when you march or navi, any new sector designations
  automatically appear on your nav map and get added to your bmap (you
  no longer need to do a "look" to find out their designation.  Note
  that subs will only see sea, harbors, and bridges and will have to
  "look" (and risk detection) to see anything more.
- you can now filter your satellite output to list, for example, only
  banks owned by country #7 which are over 60% efficient.  The selectors
  available are exactly the same as those used by the "census", "ship",
  and "land" commands.  See "info satellite" for more details.
- added two new toggle flags (default on):
  - if "toggle coastwatch" is on, then you will receive a telegram every
    time a neutral ship moves within your coastwatch range.
  - if "toggle sonar" is on, then you will receive a telegram every
    time one of your sonar cabale ships detects a sonar ping.
- now a 20% engineer only does 20% of the "work" that a 100% eng does.
- fixed a bug which was counting ghost units in "spy" output.
- fixed a bug which was including sats as planes in "spy" output.
- fixed a bug which was giving rebels ownershiip of sats over the sector
emp2.3.6c.tar
I have made asw interdiction more extensive and subs more sneaky.
Here is the new system:
- ASW planes will now fly out to track any non-FRIENDLY (including
  NEUTRAL) sub movement.
- However there is a chance that the plane won't even leave the ground
  and notice any sub movement at all.  The chance of detection is
  identchance = (1 - (1 - hitchance)^2).
- ASW planes will no longer detect subs they fly over while flying an
  interdiction mission.
- Once the planes have arrived at the sector where the sub movement
  was detected, then identchance is checked again.  If success, then
  the plane is able to identify the owner of the sub.  If the owner
  is neutral, then the player gets the message:
        np1 naval plane 1 #2 tracks TheBorg subs at 2,-6
  If the plane is unable to identify the owner of the sub, then the
  player gets the message:
        np1 naval plane 1 #2 detects sub movement in -3,-3
  If the ship was identified as HOSTILE or AT_WAR, then the plane will
  drop depth charges.
- If depth-charges miss, then the ship owner will get
  the message:
RUMBLE... your sub in 24,0 hears a depth-charge explode nearby
- torp and fire will now only tell the victim that a "sub" torped
  them, or that return fire damaged a "sub" (rather than giving out
  detailed information about the sub number, type, and owner...)
- max sonar range has been reduced to 7 and sonar output no longer
  prints blank lines.
- sonar has been changed in the following way:
  detection = (source "spy" value) + (target "vis" value)
  If the detection value is less than 8, then sonar will just print
    Sonar detects sub #12
  If the detection value is above 7, then sonar will report the type of sub.
  Only if the detection value is above 9 will the owner of
  the sub be revealed.
- For ASW planes flying "sonar" or "recon" missions, a similar change
  has been made.  The plane needs to pass one identchance check to see
  the type of sub, and needs to pass two identchance checks to see the
  owner of the sub.
- Note in both of the above cases, owner and type of FRIENDLY and
  ALLIED subs will always be revealed.
emp2.3.6d.tar
- made scrap and scuttle more flexible
- supply units, security units, aa-units and artillery can no longer
  be put on reserve mission, and they will no longer react to a battle.
- asw planes were tracking their own subs (oops!)
- interest from banks no longer turns off at 60% efficiency.  Now the amount
  of money you get from your bank is simply scaled by the banks efficiency.
emp2.3.6e.tar
- fixed MAJOR bugs in budget, scrap, and scuttle (oops!)
emp2.3.6f.sh
emp2.3.6g.tar
- Fixed a bug in "work" which wasn't charging them enough mobility
- Changed "capitol" to "capital" in a hundred million places
- Updated a number of info pages
- Fixed output formatting error in "sorder" command
- Applied a patch from Jan van Beethoven (AIX port)
emp2.3.6h.tar
- fixed a bug which was causing dd's to interdict neutral subs.
- wrote "info Hitchance" which outlines in detail the chance of
  anything hitting anything else.  This page compliments "info Damage"
  which gives all the damage formulas.
- the defense strength of mountains was reduced to 16 to 8 (the
  defense strength of a fort).  There was a problem of land units
  in mountains being invulnerable to everything but nukes.
emp2.3.7a.tar
- missile interception (both abm and a-sat) has been changed so that
  interceptors are chosen from the owner of the target sector first (so
  that your ally's abm1's won't launch instead of your abm3's)
- if a tradeship won't give the player any cash if it is scuttled
  where it is, then the player will be asked for a second confirmation
  before they are allowed to scuttle it.
- applied a patch from Ville Virrankoski which fixes a bug in budget
  (the cost to repair planes on aircraft carriers was not being included
  in the budget)
- fixed a bug which was preventing bombers from being able to drop nukes.
- fixed a bug which let asw planes bomb subs they couldn't see
- fixed a bug that was sending a telegram to the deity when planes on
  an acc flew air defense missions.  An obscure but annoying bug.
- changed isblank() to blankrow() in lib/commands/sona.c for portability
- fixed a server crashing bug in lradar (some coder put a global
  variable in lib/commands/rada.c BAD BAD BAD)
emp2.3.7b.tar
- fixed a bug in bomb which put the server into an infinite loop when
  the player aborted at the "commodity to bomb?" prompt.
- when your cap is sacked, you now get a telegram telling you how much
  money you lost and they gained.
- when your cap is sacked, then your cap will be moved to a random
  adjacent (possibly unowned) sector (the treasurers fleeing the
  palace).  This was mainly done because players were retaking mountain
  capitals every update (you can't redes a mountain to be an aggie!)
- added three new files in the doc directory: "PRIORITY", "WISH_LIST"
  and "WACKY_IDEAS".