This is the first release of my TWWINNER program.  It allows for the
creation of BBS bulletins showing who is ahead in the TW game, based
upon value of possessions, and not just on absolute experience points.

The current value assigned to each of the many things you can possess
are held in the following pascal constants:

     cloak_cost     = 25000;     d_scanner_cost =  2000;
     h_scanner_cost = 25000;     genesis_cost   = 25000;
     mine_cost      =   100;     beacon_cost    =   100;
     missile_cost   = 40000.;    detonator_cost = 15000;
     corbomite_cost =  1000;     e_probe_cost   =  3000;
     p_probe_cost   = 10000;     disruptor_cost =  6000;
     p_scanner_cost = 30000;     twarp_cost     = 50000.;
     shield_cost    =   100;     Fighter_cost   =   200;
     p_shield_cost  =  1000;

     fuel_cost      =    10;     organic_cost   =    50;
     equip_cost     =   100;

     exper_value    =     2;     align_value    =     5;

     ceo_share      =   0.1;

     Planet_cost : array[1..6] of real =
          (25000,100000,250000,500000,1500000,5000000);

The remainder of the vaalues are taken from the TW data files.  Thanks
to Jason Boyd for his TWFILES listing.  I started mapping the TW data
files a couple of years ago, and got about 75% done.  Jason's work
provided me with confirmation of what I had already done, and also
mapped the majority of the remaining data fields I had not been able to
figure out.

Some work is still needed.  If you know where to find any of the above
values in the data, Please let me know.  I especially would like to find
the current value of fighters and shields, as well as an average value
of the three traiding comodities.

I would also like to have your feedback on the scoring rates.  Is it
fair?  What would you change?  Are any of the values completely out of
line?

Use of the program is easy.  The only file you need is TWWINNER.EXE.  It
is written in Turbo Pascal, and compiled with the TP Version 7.0
compiler.

The command is TFWWINNER.  There are at present 7 parameters, two of
which take arguments.  At least one of the report generating parameters
is required.  If you run the program with no parameters, you will get a
message explaining the usage.  You will also get this message if you
enter an invalid parameter.

The parameters are:

     -dd followed by a directory path, with or without drive letter.
         This is the path to the TradeWars 2002 directory containing the
         data files.  If you enter an invalid path, it will not be
         caught until the open for the first data file fails.  If you
         omit this parameter, the program expects to find the data files
         in the current directlry

     -dr followed by a directory path, with or without drive letter.
         This is the path to the directory where you wish the output
         reports to be written.  If you omit this parameter, they will
         be written to the current directory.  If you enter an invalid
         directory path, then the program will probably fail with pascal
         runtime error 103.

     -rs Produces a report named SHORT.OUT, containing a list of players
         and their alignment and experience values sorted by total
         worth, but without the actual asset numbers being shown.  It
         shows who is ahead, relative to the rest of the players, but
         gives no indication of how far ahead he is. It is intended to
         be used during a game to show relative standings.

     -rl Produces a report named LONG.OUT, containing a list of players
         sorted by total worth, but showing the actual assets of each
         player.  Alignment and experience are also shown.  This is the
         report to use at the end of a game, to show who won, and by how
         much.

     -rb Produces a report named BULLETIN, intended to be used as a BBS
         notice about the program, and giving a basic rundown of how the
         score is obtained.  It will fit on one screen, and therefore
         doesn't have a lot of details.

     -d  DEBUG.  Provides some trace information to the console as the
         program is run.  Used to get an idea of which part of the
         program is currently being executed in case of failure.

     -t  TRACE.  Writes a file, TRACE.OUT to the report directory.  This
         is a VERY long file, containing detailed information about how
         a score is calculated.  If there are questions about how a
         particular score has been obtained, this should provide the
         ultimate answer.

That's it.  Current versions of the program will be available on my BBS,
the Athens GA PC User's Group BBS (706) 354-0817.  First time users have
30 minutes per day, and can download anything they can in 30 minutes.
It is also available for FREQ from 1:370/60 23 hours a day.  Speeds
supported are 300,1200,2400, and 9600 HST only.

Bugs may be reported directly to me here.  You can also post to the
fidonet TRADE-WARS echomail conference, but there is no guarantee I will
see it.  I try to read the conference, but the volume of mail doesn't
always permit reading of every message.  Make sure my name appears in
the header, and the subject line says something about TWWINNER and
you'll have a better chance.

The file name will be TWWINNER.ZIP  It will contain the following:

     BULLETIN         An example of a bulletin.
     LONG.OUT         An example of a LONG report
     README           This file
     SHORT.OUT        An example of a SHORT report
     TRACE.OUT        An example of a TRACE file.
     TWWINNER.EXE     The program.

All the above files are based upon an actual TW game played here about
18 months ago.  The real names of the participants have been removed
from the TRACE.OUT file.

I don't have access, but I hereby give permission to hatch this into the
TW file distribution network.

Harold Pritchett
Fido:     1:370/60.1
Internet: harold@uga.edu
