The Last Homely House

Middle-Earth => Bag End => Topic started by: Ulmo on November 06, 2008, 08:08:41 AM

Title: Decipher's online game
Post by: Ulmo on November 06, 2008, 08:08:41 AM
So D's online game and collection manager is going away soon, but I really like the functionality of the Collection Manager and I want to write my own application that does similar search etc.

I'll write it such that it will run on Mac, Linux and PC.  So you'll need to have some flavour of Java installed on your machione.

Is anyone else interested in this?  If not, it will be my precious.
Title: Re: Decipher's online game
Post by: menace64 on November 06, 2008, 09:16:40 AM
I know the game goes down sometime in 2009 - do you know when, specifically?
Title: Re: Decipher's online game
Post by: FingolfinFinwe on November 06, 2008, 09:59:18 AM
This is really sad, as that format was really nice to play the game in.  I will miss it.   :'(
Title: Re: Decipher's online game
Post by: Ulmo on November 06, 2008, 11:23:34 AM
I know the game goes down sometime in 2009 - do you know when, specifically?

June 30, 2010.
A long time in some respects, but it will go away and I hope to still use the program but with no internet load, the program doesn't run.  That's why I want to write my own.  That, plus I'm a geek that just wants to (re)create it to see if I can.
Title: Re: Decipher's online game
Post by: Kralik on November 06, 2008, 03:34:00 PM
Zorbec's Decklist Builder has the job done for you, I think. It can be run offline, and takes care of decks and collections. I know from experience that it works in Linux under WINE, and could probably work on Mac as well using Codeweaver's Crossover.
Title: Re: Decipher's online game
Post by: Elrohir on November 07, 2008, 03:54:51 AM
It does not work with WINE on my Linux  :'(
Title: Re: Decipher's online game
Post by: CCCORNIV on November 07, 2008, 05:16:38 AM
  I've used Zorbec's decklist builder and it is nice, but I use the offline collection manager of Decipher's LOTR software to search for cards or just browse for ideas, it's a very clean interface.  If Ulmo can mimic just that aspect of the software, with clickable thumbnails and the like, then that would be awesome.  I have an excel database that has clickable links to all the cards and is searchable to some extent, but it is harder to use than the interface in Decipher's online software.
Title: Re: Decipher's online game
Post by: Ulmo on November 07, 2008, 07:13:37 AM
Zorbec's Decklist Builder has the job done for you, I think.
I've never been able to download it, can't get past around 800KB or so.
But I just need some small distraction from work at lunch when I don't play LotR and thought it would be fun :)
Title: Re: Decipher's online game
Post by: Kralik on November 07, 2008, 09:11:35 AM
It does not work with WINE on my Linux  :'(

Odd... I had no problems whatsoever. Which distro?

I've used Zorbec's decklist builder and it is nice, but I use the offline collection manager of Decipher's LOTR software to search for cards or just browse for ideas, it's a very clean interface.

Are you talking about the binder-style interface? I see the appeal. :)

But I just need some small distraction from work at lunch when I don't play LotR and thought it would be fun :)

By all means go for it! Zorbec's software is more of a "Decklist Builder" than a collection manager. Here's a screenshot of my setup:
Title: Re: Decipher's online game
Post by: Redgar on November 08, 2008, 10:19:29 AM
Hi there,

I'm not wise in the ways of software fu, but I've been opening the program directly from the LotROTCG.exe.  This skips the whole check online for updates' step, and so I wonder whether it will be possible to keep offline deckbuilding even after Online Play ends.

Also, I don`t know if such a thing is possible, but a utility to convert Decipher deck files to xml files (or whatever type of files your deckbuilder will use to store collections and decks) would be absolutely amazing!

Anyway, it`s fantastic that you`re planning this project,

Just my 2 ep worth,

Redgar
Title: Re: Decipher's online game
Post by: CCCORNIV on November 08, 2008, 06:38:49 PM
Genius Redgar!!!!  I don't know why I haven't tried that before. 
Title: Re: Decipher's online game
Post by: Ulmo on November 09, 2008, 07:57:43 AM
I've looked at the Decipher deck files and it looks like it's something I might be able to figure out - given enough time :)
Title: Re: Decipher's online game
Post by: Kralik on November 09, 2008, 09:14:09 AM
This skips the whole check online for updates' step, and so I wonder whether it will be possible to keep offline deckbuilding even after Online Play ends.

Perhaps just disconnect your network/wireless and start it to see if it works?
Title: Re: Decipher's online game
Post by: Ulmo on November 25, 2008, 12:33:02 PM
I've come up with an algorithm to convert the LotROTCG.exe .ldc deck files into SdA .dck files.
Anyone want to zip up their .ldc file and have it converted, just email me.
Title: Re: Decipher's online game
Post by: SomeRandomDude on November 25, 2008, 01:08:19 PM
This skips the whole check online for updates' step, and so I wonder whether it will be possible to keep offline deckbuilding even after Online Play ends.

Perhaps just disconnect your network/wireless and start it to see if it works?

It doesn't.
Title: Re: Decipher's online game
Post by: Ulmo on November 25, 2008, 01:22:24 PM
This skips the whole check online for updates' step, and so I wonder whether it will be possible to keep offline deckbuilding even after Online Play ends.

Perhaps just disconnect your network/wireless and start it to see if it works?

It doesn't.

It does if you use the executable LotROTCG.exe, not the shortcut.  I've been running it this way since Redgar pointed it out.
Title: Re: Decipher's online game
Post by: CCCORNIV on November 26, 2008, 11:15:20 AM
Loads up a lot quicker. :up:
Title: Re: Decipher's online game
Post by: Celebrimbor on December 05, 2008, 06:53:01 AM
Hi there,

I'm not wise in the ways of software fu, but I've been opening the program directly from the LotROTCG.exe.  This skips the whole check online for updates' step, and so I wonder whether it will be possible to keep offline deckbuilding even after Online Play ends.

Also, I don`t know if such a thing is possible, but a utility to convert Decipher deck files to xml files (or whatever type of files your deckbuilder will use to store collections and decks) would be absolutely amazing!

Anyway, it`s fantastic that you`re planning this project,

Just my 2 ep worth,

Redgar

I've been doing this about 4 years now.  I didn't know everyone else had the same problems.