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[clockwork]

http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=87683.0

This was a pretty sick implementation on DF play. Anybody ever figure out a way to implement multiple and simultaneous UI designations on the same game?

[wierd]

DFTerm.

http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/Utility:Dfterm3

It allows multiple users to grab control of a single remote terminal, through which they can manage an instance of dwarf fortress.

It has some quirks, but it works.

I tried to host a DFterm server once, but my upload pipe was too weaksauce to host properly.  Way to go american ISPs. Somebody hosting a DFTerm server needs to have a computer beefy enough to run DF at appealing speeds, *AND* an upload pipe capable of sending rapid telnet traffic to multiple connected users.  I have the computing hardware available, (Even have a genuine datacenter server I could use now!) but I lack the bandwidth.

Still, this is a way you can do a genuine multiplayer DF fortress.


As for "Multiple simultaneous* overseers working at the same time*", that is something that DF is not designed for.  DF is not a MUD, and does not have any code to run as one. It would be interesting to see toady make such a thing, but as I understand, he is not a unix/linux officianado, and has assistance with his linux and OSX ports.

(I really think a fully network daemonized version of DF, a-la how NetHack originally worked, and how Rouge originally worked would be a thing of unimaginable awesome-- because it really could allow some serious crazy to happen-- such as multiple user fortresses in the same world working simultaneously at different sites, multiple overseers in a single fortress, and random adventure mode players wandering through actively administrated fortresses-- but with DF's current process model, it would require a super computer from an alien spaceship to pull off. A fully MUD style DF would be crazy-cool. Sadly, DFTerm does not provide this. More, what people did with friends in the 80s and 90s with single player video games, trading the controller around.)

[Max™]

I wonder if there woudl be an easier route doing the second part, allowing simultaneous adventurer logins while there was an active fort player.

Even if you couldn't get the same craziness of multiple overseers, having other overseers retire now and then to roam around as adventurers sounds kind of TOTALLY FREAKING AMAZING... just my .2 dorfbucks.

[Swonnrr]

I'm pretty sure that a multiple-overseer DF is in the realm of possible.
We talked about it with a friend (we're both in computer programming school), and using DF-hack/therapists like tools, it may be possible.

The idea would be the game running normally, with a probably-modified dfhack "connected" to it, and then a "client" per player sending designations and receiving map data.

Output: Use a stonesense-like tool to pull map data and interface to both players
Input: Use DF-hack as a bridge between an interface, and in-game designation.

That would require building a working external interface, wich was our main topic of discussion at the time.
Now, we never really looked inside dfhack, therapist, or similar tool's guts, so there may be huge blockers.

But until proven wrong, I will consider it "Possible, requiring huge modding work".
And maybe, one day, we will actually get our hands dirty and get into it.