SSF:Smooth Sailing Fleet - Every ship tested against Grinder

[Sponge]

I'd agree that the Grinder's meteor spawns have the potential to really muck things up. However, I've run several (not as many as you, from the looks of it) grinder tests and the meteors haven't been a problem once. I try to clear them as they spawn, but sometimes I get lazy. There's two workarounds I know of, if you don't want to or are unable to clear the meteors every time.

1. Simply run multiple tests and average the results. This is a good idea with or without meteors.

2. Switch to destroy mode and have yourself a bit of fun at the meteors' expense. You only have to destroy the ones that look like they will hit your ship, and you can keep destroy mode active, allowing you to act much quicker than with the clear option. Still, if you're unlucky enough to have the meteors spawn right on your ship, there's not anything you can do.

[Jafo]

1. Simply run multiple tests and average the results. This is a good idea with or without meteors.

Multiple tests I totally agree with no matter what method you are using to test. However, average for my ship (no meteor intervention) was 11 waves, with intervention was 19th (and that was cut short due to meteor spawn on top of ships).

2. Switch to destroy mode and have yourself a bit of fun at the meteors' expense. You only have to destroy the ones that look like they will hit your ship, and you can keep destroy mode active, allowing you to act much quicker than with the clear option. Still, if you're unlucky enough to have the meteors spawn right on your ship, there's not anything you can do.

And based on the large number of runs I have done, that happens all too often (the spawn on top of scenario), usually at least once per run through the waves. It gets very frustrating to watch the meteors dominate the Grinder scores rather than the enemy ships.

[Sponge]

average for my ship (no meteor intervention) was 11 waves, with intervention was 19th (and that was cut short due to meteor spawn on top of ships).

Ouch. It honestly hasn't been causing many problems for me at all. I suppose it has something to do with the size/power of the ship, though. A well defended battleship capable of sustaining multiple asteroids wouldn't be nearly as beat up as a small ship. I've been doing most of my tests with some of my larger ships, thinking I'd leave the small ones for the end.

[DavidBeoulve]

Differing Scales
*chuckles* We are seeking perfection in a system that has none.

Here is the scale:

• Two fleets downloaded off of teh Interwebs - you have no idea how well they will scale against each other. You try them, and one slows down your PC and utterly annihilates the other.
• Or, two fleets downloaded each advertising The Grinder Comparison Method - they aren't perfect but they A) don't slow your PC down and B) actually give each other a challenge.
• Perfect Scale: Where each ship has to be scientifically measured out to the minute detail, to which few regular BSF ship builders will have the time or patience for.

When you are designing a system, you have to design one that people are actually willing to use. This is paramount; BSF is not a job, we can't impose anything on anyone else. But, if we find a system that is easy and fun to use (who feels putting their new ship through The Grinder is boring?) and helps the community (suddenly you have a few batches of fleets that get along, approximately) then that is worthwhile.

TMTDNR
Now, to be honest, you either like the system, or you don't. It isn't for everyone anymore than the design/look of any particular fleet is. For me, asteroids are part of the equation - if your ship is vulnerable to them, it won't do so well. If your only goal is to watch ships battle it out in AI mode than exact testing procedures matter - but personally I think some people are going to want to control one ship (which completely throws everything out the window).

The bottom line is that this method is kinda fun, easy to use, and gives a rough gauge. It's not exact science, but I'm guessing that's not why most people play BSF. They'd just like to see a tag on a fleet they are considering downloading that says "Hey, this shouldn't bog down your computer and might play well with your other fleets."

[Normandy]

shouldn't bog down your computer

That's always enough for me ^.^

[Latooni]

TMTDNR

Too much text, did not read? I've never seen this acronym before.

[Ethril]

That's what it looks like.

I usually use tl;dr. (Too long; didn't read)

[DavidBeoulve]

No, really, this is TMTDNR:
TMTDNR - yep. Someone was kind enough to use it on me once in the GP2X forums when everyone was sharing their usage of their obscure South Korean embedded linux handhelds, and I dared to talk about how my kids used it, and I never forgot it. Now I preface anything I think people might take issue with, rather than just do the appropriate thing and skip, with that.

My 8yo makes BSF ships, but I don't post about it.

Back on Topic:
I would be super grateful if someone posted about their testing experiences here or in their own thread. I'd love to get the ball rolling on a few fleets that don't eat the game engine. Not that those grand super dreadnaught battleships aren't cool, heck you should have seen the first version of the SSF Heavy Cruiser, I'm just aiming for a different goal. I figure just a few of my fellow BSF'ers might also be interested.

[Sponge]

I'm working on remaking my fleet in SM3, but after that I fully intend to start up a thread of Grinder-tested ships.

Quick question:
What are all the settings you use for your Grinder tests? I know you clear terrain and get rid of the station, but do you change any other settings?

[DavidBeoulve]

No other changes; I admit to being ignorant of the fact that I could even make the field larger.

To Review, I...

1. Place the ship-in-question as AI either above or below the station (whichever has less obstructing asteroids)
2. leave the game in real-time as I hurriedly go about destroying any obstructing asteroids
3. Destroy the space station
4. The match starts, and I watch.

Rarely did I ever destroy incoming asteroids. To me that's just part of the test - not all ships are good at handling asteroids.

[Sponge]

Alright- I'll be running all my tests like that, then. Just to be clear, you leave powerups on? Even without controlling the ship, you'll pick up powerups from time to time.

[Rutilant]

Alright- I'll be running all my tests like that, then. Just to be clear, you leave powerups on? Even without controlling the ship, you'll pick up powerups from time to time.

Good question! I really like this balancing system, and once all the details are ironed out I'll probably run a few of my ships through! Hopefully this'll result in some more modest fleets.

[DavidBeoulve]

Correct! No powerups. They can save a ship for two whole waves if it's healing, or certainly blow out one wave if it's weapons augmentation.

[Natch]

I thank you. You sir have done something that no one else has managed to do as of late; spurred me to build ships again.

That's right folks, Natch is back in action!

[Normandy]

What have we done? Oh my!

So, what's the plan for the next set of ships (set, specifically)?