Creating A Spectator Mode

[SuedecivIII]

Hey, apologies if this is the wrong sub-forum.

TLDR: How do you make it so espionage missions always succeed?

I was interested in making a spectator mode for civ 3 multiplayer. Essentially, one player that can see the entire map and what all players are doing at all times. Like debug mode in single player. But based on what I've tried, debug mode doesn't work in multiplayer.

So what I've been forced to do is "reveal map" for the spectator player, recon missions to see particular patches of land under fog of war, investigate city for seeing inside cities, and steal plans to see all their troop movements across the map at once.

So my question is, is there any way to make it so spy missions always succeed? So that players don't get the annoying prompt from the spectator failing a spy mission on them. Elite spies would help, but ideally the missions would never fail.

Also other tips for a spectator mode would be appreciated. Like if it's possible to make recon cover more tiles.

 

[SuedecivIII]

Ok, I got it done. It works ok, although there's definitely potential for improvement. Here's the final product.

For a bunch of different reasons, I need to design custom maps for each play through. That's fine though. If I'm going through the trouble of spectating a game I might as well guarantee that the spawn locations are balanced, and no one has truly awful land or an awful start.

Downsides: It was hard telling where the action was happening. Often I missed combat or sneak attacks. It was also a pain checking cities using "investigate city" in the diplomacy screen. Especially since most people keep their stacks inside cities.

Upsides: There's a bug with recon in multiplayer, where sometimes the tiles will stay illuminated for many turns. If I could figure out how to trigger this bug, I could have most of the map lit at all times. Either way, it guaranteed quite a few tiles stayed lit up, which helped.

Also since I create custom maps for these games, I could do creative things that would never result from a random map. Things like y-wrapping, or a donut map with all the luxuries/strategic resources on islands in the middle.

 

[Balthasar]

Sounds like you're having fun! Wait until you start modding your maps...then the fun really begins!