The BattlePak is a collection of user made components that you can use when creating rovers to compete in the BattleSpot contests (www.battlespot.com). Other MindRover sites are also welcome to use the BattlePak as a reference point with the understanding the the BattlePak will evolve over time as new components are added. The BattlePak requires that ALL free Cognitoy add-ons are already installed. If you don't have them, goto www.mindrover.com and get them from the download page. It is also recommended that you have MindRvoer v1.08 installed. However, many BattlePak add-ons will also work with v1.07 (this is becoming less true as updates are made. However, if you'd like to work with me to resolve any version issues, I am willing to help). The BattlePak won't work with v1.06 or earlier. To install the BattlePak, unzip BattlePak.pak to the modules directory where you installed MindRover. (For most people, this will be c:\games\mindrover\modules\) If you wish to remove the extra components, simply delete the BattlePak.pak file. For players using v1.07, you should also extract BattlePak107.pak as it contains some Cognitoy enhancements that weren't in the official distribution until the v1.08 release. (* = new item) =============== The BattlePak includes the following logical components. For full instructions on using them, check out Desertfox's site or contact the original creator. You can find a link to Desertfox's site from the links page on www.battlespot.com. To contact the original creator, I'd recommend posting something on the Forums at www.mindrover.com. You are also welcome to contact me by email at sord@battlespot.com AimingHelp - Calculates the correct aiming angle for an offset sensor/weapon combination. Made by BurnPanck. AngleFinder - Enhanced version of Cognitoy's component. This one provides floating point output. Enhanced by SteveT. Absolute - Outputs the absolute value of the input. Made by Desertfox. Average - Outputs the average value of all the inputs since the last reset (presumably using the formula output=sum(x)/count(x) ). Made by Desertfox. BinaryChaser - Uses a binary search to find a target. It was created for use with rotating radars, but can also be applied to many other situations. Made by DavidW. DebugTrail - Leaves behind a trail of arrows so you can see where your rover has been. Made by SteveT. Delay - Outputs the last input at a fixed time during a tick. This will prevent multiple changes and trasient values from getting propagated. Made by Sord. Delta - Outputs the change in input in a variety of formats (difference and rate in both linar and degrees units). Made by Sord. Expression - Outputs the result of your own custom equation using two inputs. Made by Cognitoy (unofficial add-on). Enhanced by SteveT. EyeJack - Provides a set of convience functions for controling and reading the sensors (sonar and radar). GunJack - Provides a set of convience functions for aiming and firing the weapons. If setup properly, it will automatically refire the weapon and allows you to query if the weapon is reloaded. HealthManager - Manages your rovers health packs by montioring your health and triggering them in sequence as the rover takes damage or as instructed by the rover. LogicalTransmitter - Works like the RadioTransmitter, but it doesn't take up a space. LogicalReceiver - Works like the RadioReceiver, but it doesn't take up a space. LogicTest - Performs a number of boolean logical operations so a single component can provide a variety of outputs. Normalizer - Maps 4 Outputs to 4 Inputs, but propotionally adjusts the outputs to be within the min/max values. Made by Desertfox. PID - Proportional Integral Derivative controller. Attempts to get feedback to equal target by adjusting output. Pow - Outputs the input raised to the power. Made by Sord. Pump - Outputs the input when turned on and will periodically retrasmit the input if ticktime is set. Made by Desertfox. RamChip - Stores 5 strings values the can be sent when triggered. Made by Pyromaneyakk. Selector - Outputs one of the six inputs based on the selection value. Made by Enigma. Smooth - Outputs over time a series of values that converge towards the input. Made by Enigma. StringSplitter - Extracts a portion of the input string. Made by SteveT. Sweeper - Outputs over time a series of values that are controlled by increment, interval, maximum, and minimum inputs. Made by Desertfox. TickTimer - Generates events based on the number of ticks (a tick is an update cycle and = 1/20 second). TimingTest - Debugging component to help determine which of two events that occur in the same tick happens first. TrakJack - Converts travel and rotation settings to tread control inputs. VehicleSkin - Displays a customizable skin over your rover so you can change its appearance (requires additional setup to create new skins, and even to view others, but having this at least allows the rovers to load correctly). Made by SteveT. WrapVar - Outputs the input wrapped to the minimum/maximum values. Made by Enigma. =============== The BattlePak includes the following physical components. AutoCannon - A rapid fire cannon with an 8 shot magazine and extended range. Made by Sord. BattleLaser - A laser weapon that rotates 360 degrees and has a variable power setting. Made by Sord. CheapRadar - Slow updates, fixed angle and range. But hey, it's cheap! Made by SteveT. CombatRadar - A fast updating, long range, wide scanning radar (but at a high cost). Made by SteveT. CompassPlus - Like the Compass, but you can query it for your direction every update cycle (tick). *ImperialBattery - A 4 barreled heavy gun. Made by Liebig. LongFastRadar - A fast updating, long range radar (costs more than standard LongRadar). Made by SteveT. HealthPack - A modified version of the Cognitoy addon, this one is limited to just 100 points of healing. XYReporter - Like the XY Sensor, but you can query it for your location every update cycle (tick). XYLocator - Like the XY Finder, but you can query it for output every update cycle (tick). WayPtLocator - Like the WaypointFinder, but you can (easily) query it for output every update cycle (tick). Made by SteveT. =============== The BattlePak contains the following chassis. UFOChassis - This replaces the built in UFO. It is identical to the original with the one exception that it has 200 health (instead of 300). The lower health keeps it balanced and allows it to be used in the BattleSpot contests. Made by Sord. =============== The BattlePak includes the following scenarios. You must have the addons_v106.pak (or an equivelant that contains the DemoArena) to use it and the MouseHunt.pak to use the default opponents (for the Mice chassis). Arena Combat - A modified version of the Rocket Arena where you must win-by-3. Also checks for deadlock conditions (lack of damage and/or movement). Made by Sord. Chaos Reigns - An 8-rover free-for-all in the Arena. Made by Sord. Hallway Hunt - A modified version of Corridor Combat where you must win-by-3. Also checks for deadlock conditions (lack of damage and/or movement). Made by Sord. River Race - A 3 lap race around the river track. Made by Sord. River Battle - Go 1-on-1 in the river with a minimal component selection. Made by SteveT. Total War - A modified version of Word War 1 where you must win-by-3. Also checks for deadlock conditions (lack of damage and/or movement). Made by Sord. =============== The BattlePak107 includes fixes for the following problems in v1.07: - Arena Race would fail to score laps after a rover was killed. (Fixed to score laps correctly) - The sonar could be used multiple times during a single update cycle. (Fixed to only allow at most a single ping during each cycle) - The number of radars on a rover effects the intial random seed for a scenario. (Fixed so radars don't affect the seed value) =============== The BattlePak also includes the following components as they are used by old rovers. You are still allowed to use them, but there are better components available and I'd recommend you use them instead. RPN - Use the Expression component instead of RPN. Made by Shelby (who got the whole component thing rolling, Thanks!) Rectifier - Use the WrapVar component instead. Made by Desertfox. =============== If you wish to use a component that is not currently in the BattlePak, you can submit the component to contests@battlespot.com, along with a description of what it does and the ice source file. Additionally a new .tga icon file and a .mrh help file would be good to include. The ice, vmf, and any tga or mrh files will be included in the BattlePak.pak file. Not all components will be allowed in the contests. Components that make creating rovers easier will likely be added to the BattlePak. Components that are overly complex with little general value, components that replicate the funtionallity of existing components without adding any significant value and components that either exploit bugs in the game engine or otherwise modify the rules of the game will not generally be allowed. If you are creating a component for inclusion in the BattlePak, please check with me in advance to verfiy that it will be allowed. All user created components used by a rover competing at BattleSpot must be part of of the BattlePak. If you are not the original author of the component, you will need to get the author to give me permission to include it. The final decision on adding a component will be made by me [Sord] using my own judgement. ------------------ Jan.03.04 - Updated ImperialBattery with 1.4 reload time. Updated CheapRadar model. Nov.11.03 - Fixed result text output in RiverRace scenario. Sep.29.03 - Added ImperialBattery. Mar.11.03 - Added AimingHelp component. Mar.06.03 - Re-added some missing files (WayPtLocator icon, AutoCannon help, and TickTimer help). Feb.26.03 - Added BinaryChaser. Enhanced Expression with additional logical operations. Changed CheapRadar to use a custom model. Fixed TickTimer to removed useless output. Fixed LongFastRadar to wrap angles instead of clamping them. Jan.13.03 - Added TimingTest. Updated help for AutoCannon. Added missing icon for WayPtLocator. Oct.15.02 - Added LongFastRadar and VehicleSkin. Updated CombatRadar to cost less. Sep.22.02 - Fixed River Battle to include default opponent (BattleBog). Added StringSplitter. Sep.04.02 - Updated CombatRadar and CheapRadar to wrap input (like other radars). Added WayPtLocator (similar to XYReporter and XYLocator, but for waypoints). Added DebugTrail (not really useful for combat, but neat anyway). Added River Battle scenario. Jun.15.02 - Fixed AutoCannon so you can read its AmmoLeft and tracer status. Jun.02.02 - Changed AutoCannon's internal angle value to float for better precision. May.22.02 - Added AngleFinder, AutoCannon, CheapRadar, and CombatRadar. Updated BattleLaser (floating point angle) and Expression (trig stuff). May.08.02 - Added HealthPack (a modified version of the Cognitoy addon). Added the Arena Combat scenario. Mar.24.02 - Fixed GetThinking(0) warning messages for Delay, Delta, EyeJack, GunJack, TrakJack, PID, Pow, and Smooth Updated LogicalTransmitter to remove +/-100 limitation. Updated XYReporter and XYLocator to have a design time switch for sensor basepoint. Mar.12.02 - Updated for v1.08beta release (and still compatible with v1.07). Jan.13.02 - Added XYLocator, CompassPlus, and TickTimer. Also fixed XYReporter with vehicle position offset, and enhanced the Total War and Hallway Hunt scenarios with a realtime status display. Jan.06.02 - Added XYReporter. Updated Hallway Hunt and Total War scenarios with deadlock tests. Dec.29.01 - Added the River Race scenario, the BattleLaser weapon, and the LogicTest component. Nov.13.01 - Added HealthManager component. Oct.13.01 - Added UFOChassis modification (health reduced to 200 from 300). Sep.14.01 - Fixed Chaos Reigns again (fix got lost somehow). Fixed Smooth component (divide by zero error). Aug.19.01 - Added Hallway Hunt and Total War scenarios. Mar.19.01 - Fixes for Arena Race, Sonar, and Radar. -Arena Race will now properly score laps after a rover is killed. -The sonar will only produce at most a single ping on each tick. -The radar will no longer effect the random number generation. Mar.12.01 - Bug fix for Chaos Reigns scenario. Mar.07.01 - Added help file for PID Mar.04.01 - Added TrakJak, EyeJack, GunJack, LogicalTransmitter, LogicalReciever, and the Chaos Reigns scenario. Jan.03.01 - Added missing RamChip and WrapVar components. Dec.24.00 - Added missing Smooth component. Dec.21.00 - Initial version of the BattlePak.