We're not forcing anyone to use this program - it's your call if you want to
use it or not. This is the first stage of it's development - as time goes
on it will be easier to use, and give you more information. At present
we're only able to offer it to you on Excel format - thanks to Mike's
excellent work.
Later on we'll create a stand alone system (it's being
done) that will be more available for everyone. If you want to use the
normal system (which note you had to learn as it's different from DGE etc)
that's fine as well. Automagic is covered in News from Bree and on our
website. If you don't read Bree then you'll be confused. It's just a
system that we are developing that we think helps players and us to input
orders more accurately, speedily and save us a lot of effort.
We've not implemented the admin charge (60p or so) for turns not using
Automagic at present. We understand that change for players is strange -
we've been there enough times to know that it takes time to get used to but
we have had a lot of favourable response and we do think it is the future
of the game. Note the admin charge is 15% of the turnfee not the "28%" that
was quoted before by Chris. We have no immediate plans to do so and we'll
keep you informed.
Eventually we aim to have an automated system that will deal with all the
labourious bits and pieces that we do everyday. Inputting turns is BORING -
no-one here wants to do it. Ed, Stu, Rob, John, Clint, Sam will still have
a job if they want it. Claire and Caroline are doing this part time and
want to stop as soon as they can get away from us all. 
(Caroline is
doing our website and hopes to do another job and at present we're stopping
her so that faster we can do this for her the better and Claire is a student
that
is using this part-time to subsidise her income). We're planning to use the
extra time and funds to develop the game and possibly create new games. But
thanks for your comments.
(We want to look at the program more, write up player guides, improve the
website, re-write the rules, have someone on full time marketing etc - all
of which mean that we need time - I have 10 projects at present that I just
haven't got the time to look at). The major one is creating Stages 4-6 that
I have brought up many times before. This will free some of us up to do
that.
As for the money situation - as anyone who knows us knows we're not rich or
raking it in. I need some more money, and we can all do with some more.
We're intending to use some of the extra funds to increase the staff's
wages others for development issues, computers that aren't 16 years old that
sort of thing.
Automagic just asks you to put in the information that we already ask you
to - but it should be better than us. 731 NamEmis is one that we don't
catch a lot (731 is NamAgent btw) and always causes heartache when we say
"sorry no". I reckon it will cut down on this a lot. Other edits - the
bane of players and in the top 3 of "Reasons to drop Middle Earth" should be
cut down by around 50% (input checking catches some of them but not all -
we'll still be input checking the orders just saving on the 3 minutes a
turn - 1 and a half to input check) Ie the service will be BETTER not
worse - which I understand that you might be worried about.
Mistakes kill games, and leaves players having a bad taste for the game -
how can you ask
that "What's wrong with mistakes" and then later on ask that "those nice
messages informing you that you've made a mistake?" From my experience
mistakes are horrible - anything we can do to help players here is great.
We're looking at being able to distribute Excel so that players can use
Automagic - but we're hoping the other version of this will be available
(called MEOW - Middle Earth Order Write) so that BOTH are available for
players to choose which most suits their needs.
Next stage of development with Automagic is getting out a file that players
can import and use to auto-update their character files and locations each
turn. We're working on this at present. It's a continuing development.
When sending in changes to orders using Automagic - please send the entire
turnsheet again.
The process of what we do (it's not THAT automated - we wish). (We're
working on this at present)
1) Get turns from players on email using automagic. No need to print them
off (Automagic) print off email turns.
2) Save them in a directory that the MAIN program will access.
3) Stargate the information from the MAC game disk to the PC
4) Run Main - checks for order errors, bits and pieces that I don't really
want to go into, save the data in the Mac format.
5) Stargate information back to MAC
6) Input orders by hand (turns sent in by email, and by post) for MAC -
input check both "Automated" [cough] orders and hand input orders.
7) Do game process and other labourious bits.
It's all rather exciting, in a stressed, knackered, brain-aching, sort of
way...
Cloint
(Clint )
···
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Middle Earth Games
Mailto: me@MiddleEarthGames.com
Website: www.MiddleEarthGames.com
UK: Office A, 340 North Road, Cardiff CF14 3BP, UK
USA: PO Box 280, Medford, OR 97501-0019, USA
Aus: PBM Enterprises, PO Box 278, Emerald Victoria, Australia 3782
Phone times: 10am-6.30pm UK time (BST - British Standard Time); 5am-1.30pm
(EST), 8pm-2.30am (AEST)
UK: 029 2091 3359/ (029 2062-5665 can be used if the other is engaged) [Dial
Code: 011 44 2920. for US players]
UK Fax: 029 2062 5532
US: Phone & Fax: 541-772-7872 (10-5pm weekdays) (fax24hrs)
Aus: Phone & Fax: +61 3 5968-5652
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