Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site polyof.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!ron1!polyof!john
From: john@polyof.UUCP ( John Buck )
Newsgroups: net.games.emp
Subject: Re: Re: Fun DB bug
Message-ID: <151@polyof.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 7-Sep-85 15:31:06 EDT
Article-I.D.: polyof.151
Posted: Sat Sep  7 15:31:06 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 10-Sep-85 20:23:30 EDT
References: <2974@sdcc3.UUCP> <105@bbnccv.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Polytechnic Inst. of NY, Farmingdale
Lines: 59

> In article <2974@sdcc3.UUCP> ewa@sdcc3.UUCP (Eric Anderson) writes:
> >
> >If you realize that empire is basically a huge database manager with a
> >wargame tilt, and consider what problems usualy face the designers of such
> >a database, some fascinating bugs can be found by exploiting the weaknesses
> >of the database implementation.
> >
> >Using this technique it is possible to do things such as turn water into land.
> >To do this you need merely to get people into a sea sector, once you own it it
> >can be redesignated as wilderness or any other normal sector type. The trick is
> >to get people into the sea.
> >
> Ok, I did it...I took my two bridge heads and turned them into research plants.
> my bridge spans went 'crumble...screech...splash' with over 50 civs on each. I
> then redesignated them into wildernesses.  When I took a census of the area, I
> didn't own it, and when I made a map it was still OCEAN!  Probably full of my
> civilians, none of whom can swim!!
> 
> --pat traynor--
> 

Gee, it would seem there ARE still people out there using the OLD OLD OLD
Empire (grid sector layout, not the "new" hex layout).  Anyway,  this is
actually quite an old hack, and turning sea into land (or bridge spans into
land) is NOT the best way to use it.  (Who would want to turn a span into
land anyway?????  Spans cost 0 mobility to move across, even 100% 
normal sectors costs mobility.   spans are better).. Be that as it may,
this same feature is available through load, trade/set, move, transport,
etc.  Checkpoint sector (with a span or road, dont even have to do this).

One partner goes to move people off the span, the other guy redesignates
the bridge head.  The bridge collapses (and takes EVERYTHING that was on
the bridge with it, there is no getting this stuff back, it really does
get destroyed)

The other guy, who still has his move in progress, then drops the people
on the 'sea'.  He now owns the sea with people on it.  You may now
redesignate it cause you own it..  Old, stupid versions of Empire do
not check for such things as 'active' sectors.  My version, anyway,
does not let you do anything to a sector that someone has active.  (move
in progress, attack in progress, load, etc.)  This was the
Empire Bug for October, but, it seems we get to air it a bit early.

You can win a game of empire in 3 hours with this bug.  IE make it impossible
for anyone to approach your population or power.  (If you know
how to use it the right way).   Of course, I'm speaking for the OLD empire
game only.  Newer releases tend to correct most of these annoyances, and
eliminate most cheating.

PS to all those who have requested my C source version of Empire...  I have
written up a procedure for "How to get My Copy of Empire".  I have submitted
it to Peter Langston (author of the original Empire) for his approval.  I have
not heard from him yet, when I do I will send mail to all those who have sent
me mail asking for my version.  Please be patient, you have not been forgotten.
And besides, new bugs are being corrected weekly.  (Not daily like they
were 2 years ago!). 

John Buck from the Institute for Better Emping.
(decvax!mcnc!rti-sel!polyof!john   or   philabs!ron1!polyof!john)