The Return of Viking Chess (Hnefatafl)

Want to talks about games you like, would like to see developed on the Oric, it's here.
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barnsey123
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Re: The Return of Viking Chess (Hnefatafl)

Post by barnsey123 »

ibisum wrote:13-year old mind is blown, yet again, that someone is doing real graphics on the oric. ;)
Well, not quite...all the graphics were created on PC and then used a mixture of Gimp and Ms Paint
to covert into a format that PictConv (OSDK) can use. Once Pictconv worked it's magic the graphics can then be
included in oric software. I doubt if I could have produced something like that without the original
PC image...It does mean that we can make modern oric software look more attractive than would otherwise
be possible (well, it would still be possible just much more laborious).
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barnsey123
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Re: The Return of Viking Chess (Hnefatafl)

Post by barnsey123 »

v0.104 Added SheldonBlocker which makes it harder to beat...SUCKER PUNCH requires much more thought (hoping to be a simple routine which will
draw the king into a killing zone.) Maybe include in HNEFATAFL II

Although it's still got a few flaws I think it's just about ready. Now need to work on prettying up the loader...
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barnsey123
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Re: The Return of Viking Chess (Hnefatafl)

Post by barnsey123 »

v0.107 new loader with nice checkerboard effect.

Found a fault in a central routine. Added greater level of difficulty for ODIN but also
upped the turncount (so less reliance on artificially low turn restrictions which was
always a bit of a cop out.)

Still struggling with one or two minor issues but I think the next stage is to glue the loader
and main prog into one wav file.

I'm thinking TAP2WAV for each tap file then somehow append the wav files together?
will need to add a cload to the loader. Any thoughts?
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Dbug
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Re: The Return of Viking Chess (Hnefatafl)

Post by Dbug »

barnsey123 wrote:Still struggling with one or two minor issues but I think the next stage is to glue the loader
and main prog into one wav file.

I'm thinking TAP2WAV for each tap file then somehow append the wav files together?
will need to add a cload to the loader. Any thoughts?
copy /b loader.tap+game.tap nhefatafl.tap
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Symoon
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Re: The Return of Viking Chess (Hnefatafl)

Post by Symoon »

What is your "loader" made of? A graphic screen?

If so, solution is in 3 parts, all saved in AUTO mode:
1- a small basic program doing HIRES:CLOAD"":CLOAD""
2- your graphic screen or code or whatever. If you want it to be compatible with ROM1.0, place a #60 (RTS) before your datas, and save the whole in AUTO mode. This way the ROM 1.0 will load it, execute the RTS and switch back to the program, doing the 2nd CLOAD. If you don't do this, you may be back to "Ready" !
3- the main program

Sorry if that wasn't exactly the qestion ;)
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barnsey123
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Re: The Return of Viking Chess (Hnefatafl)

Post by barnsey123 »

Ladies and Gentlemen....I present to you my first completed Oric Game: Hnefatafl v1.0
hnefatafl.tap
v1.0 Oric 30th Anniversary Edition
(41.9 KiB) Downloaded 621 times
Loading Instructions:
Insert tape and CLOAD""

A few graphical effects later and a couple of short pauses (so you can read the greets and tributes) the main game will load.
You have a choice of playing against the computer (1 player) or against another human (2 player)

When playing against the computer you always play the part of the KING (and his men).
In a future release you will be able to play as the ATTACKERS but that is some way off.

A full PDF with oric specific instructions will be published here in the next few days but here is something to get you started:
**********
In this version of HNEFATAFL the edge of the board is hostile only to the king. The corner squares
and an unoccupied central square are hostile to all pieces (they can be used in takes). If the king occupies the central
square it is hostile ONLY to attackers.

All pieces move like a rook/castle in Chess (horizontally/vertically - NOT diagonally).

You cannot leapfrog a piece and you can only move to an empty square.

The interface prevents you from making illegal moves.

You take an enemy piece by sandwiching it between two of your pieces as in XOX or OXO.

The king is captured if he is surrounded by attackers on all 4 sides (remember the sides of the board and empty
corner and central squares are dangerous)

There are three modes in which to play: SAGA, THOR and ODIN.
SAGA: beginner mode, you have lots more turns available and the AI is weak.
THOR: 25 turns and the AI is a little stronger
ODIN: 20 turns and a stronger AI.

If the turnlimit is reached the game will end in a stalemate.

At the end of a game the trophy screen is displayed and you can win trophies in various ways (explained fully on the forthcoming PDF)

You can play again without having to reload the game. Just follow the on-screen instructions.
***********
Please, if anyone finds any bugs or has any questions please contact me ASAP.

There are still things I want to do with it so there will probably be further updates in due course (mainly AI improvements).
I haven't tested it on a real oric (it probably wont work on an Oric-1 but should work on an Atmos)

I must thank everyone involved in making this game a reality but special thanks go to Dbug and Chema (without their help
I'd have probably given up by now!). Of course, I must mention Twilighte (he was the first to reply on this thread) who
was truly an inspiration.

Happy New Year to everyone at DF and all in the Oric world. :D

thanks and regards
Barnsey

PS: Symoon: I used your idea with the double cload (I didn't think it would be that simple!) :D

PPS: Dbug: I'll be tidying up the sources on the SVN and will provide a README on how to build it.
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Chema
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Re: The Return of Viking Chess (Hnefatafl)

Post by Chema »

Congratulations man! I am looking forward downloading and playing!!
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Iapetus
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Re: The Return of Viking Chess (Hnefatafl)

Post by Iapetus »

Congrats! :)

Now it's time to play... :D
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coco.oric
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Re: The Return of Viking Chess (Hnefatafl)

Post by coco.oric »

Congratulations
I'm going to play on it on my pc and i hope within 2 days on my real oric
coco.oric as DidierV, CEO Member
Historic owner of Oric, Apple II, Atari ST, Amiga
Antiriad2097
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Re: The Return of Viking Chess (Hnefatafl)

Post by Antiriad2097 »

Well done, this obviously took a great effort and I'm glad you shared your progress with us.
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Symoon
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Re: The Return of Viking Chess (Hnefatafl)

Post by Symoon »

Great job !
Beware though in your TAP file, you have to either remove one of the first four $16 values, either add one at the beginnings of the following parts holding only three $16.
If you don't you'll have trouble loading your file with Euphoric latest versions, wihch work in two different loading modes according to the amount of $16 at the beginning of the TAP file.
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peacer
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Re: The Return of Viking Chess (Hnefatafl)

Post by peacer »

Thanks for all your efforts and congratulations !

As long as someone creates new software, Our beloved Oric keeps on living !
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barnsey123
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Re: The Return of Viking Chess (Hnefatafl)

Post by barnsey123 »

whoops. Bug in 2 player mode...instant stalemate...will post fix shortly (slaps forehead)
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barnsey123
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Re: The Return of Viking Chess (Hnefatafl)

Post by barnsey123 »

v1.1 Fixes bug in 2 player mode. Also fixed a minor issue in the turncounts on the trophy
screen (if it was the very last turn of the game it would increment the turn count)

Sorry for any inconvenience (I should have called this a BETA release...)
hnefatafl.tap
v1.1
(41.93 KiB) Downloaded 624 times
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barnsey123
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Re: The Return of Viking Chess (Hnefatafl)

Post by barnsey123 »

Instructions...
Hnefatafl.pdf
Doc version 0.1. For software version 1.1
(326.98 KiB) Downloaded 592 times
Note: Other than the key clicks in this game the only other sound effect is a ZAP. If you hear a ZAP (you shouldn't) please send me a screenshot (this means an endless loop condition has occurred). It will break out of the loop, emit a ZAP and make some lame move. This will not occur in 2 player mode.
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