Virtual Playtable Forum

WOW, massive improvements in performance, runs great now!
Lacks 2 really important key features to be playable, show top x cards of library, and shuffle. That's the bare minimum needed now.

Will it be possible to test the deck (in solo) against an other deck as in MWS ? This function would be very useful for people like me who have no permanent internet connexion.

Impressive improvement however.

> Will it be possible to test the deck (in solo) against an other deck as in MWS

Yes, of course.

Very good!

I've tested it a bit, but apart from the connection protocol itself (which I understand of course was a big task), I think I can't test many new features now, so I'll just ask some questions and give you some suggestions:


- I noticed the undo feature, does it hints about possible save/load features as well?

- a "redo" button would be helpful as well

- hope a "spectator" feature will be available as well. I believe this is absolutely mandatory, and I noticed it's not in (at the moment at least)

- I've suggested this in the past, and I'll do it again until implemented ( :-P ): mana icons on cards in hand should be lowered a bit, in order to avoid covering the card art, which is very helpful to recognize them. Lowering the icons will cover the already unreadable text anyway. If you fear some strange and lenghty mana costs (such as WWUUBBRRGG), just let the text wrap up instead of down.. but default visualization should not cover the art

- browsing libraries & graveyards is nicer this way compare to the plain list as in MWS, but I'd add some horizontal lines to better display card order (which is left to right and then top to bottom by row). At the moment it's not yet possible to rearrange cards and display them ordered

- I don't think that forcing you to load a deck before connecting to the server is a good idea.. quite the opposite. First of all, I may want a different deck depending of the game format I'm going to join, and I may not know yet if I'm going to join rather than host. Secondary, I may just want to go there and chat (since now there's a chat), and in the end I not even see a way to change deck between one game and the other without leaving the server and losing my current opponent. It would also be nice to have a shortcut icon in the installation folder to launch the application in "game mode" already, without loading the deck editor every time.


EDIT: of course the server/connection interface is yet to finish, so I'll avoid comments on that by now.. anyway, I've tried to test it by connecting with two local clients to the defaul server. Worked well until I closed one.. and the other just didn't realize my opponent was gone. Protocol bug or interface bug?

> I noticed the undo feature, does it hints about possible save/load features as well?

yes, in future it's possible. But because saved games can't be replayed if internal command parameters was changed, I will add this feature when gameplay actions becomes stable.
Undo sometimes useful in game, in MWSPlay was "Undo last draw card", I think generic undo is better. Also I use internal undo to resolve some action collisions (you and your opponent do some mutually exclusive operations on same object), game will be automatically returned to last stable state.

> a "redo" button would be helpful as well

I will add it.

> hope a "spectator" feature will be available as well.

Yes, later.

> mana icons on cards in hand should be lowered a bit

Changed in 0.5.preview2

> some horizontal lines to better display card order

ok, I will try to change it.

> I don't think that forcing you to load a deck before connecting to the server is a good idea..

It's for test only. Later I will implement free deck load mode.

> Worked well until I closed one.. and the other just didn't realize my opponent was gone. Protocol bug or interface bug?

It's bug, in 0.5.preview2 this bug is not fixed. I will see it more.

Virtual Playtable 0.5.preview2 available. See updated link to download in first post of this thread.

- added some play interface actions (Shuffle, Show X top cards and etc) with hotkeys
- added sounds

This looks really great. I'd love to test Linux or OS X versions. I tried to run the jar from the CLI with java -jar mtg.jar but got an error about it being an invalid jar. I'll gladly build for OS X or Linux if help is needed.

Mac OS X version will be in future, but for first I want to finish Windows version.
mtg.jar is not executable, it's contains only MTG database, card frame images and java classes for card rendering and etc.

Bugs:
- On solo mode, you can't see the other players library, it always shows yours.
- Sometimes cards get bugged in the graveyard (you take them out and they remain there), moving the card back to the graveyard doesn't fix the problem.

One thing I have noticed is missing from the "Sets" list is the Premium Deck: Graveborn. Also, a feature that needs to be added is taking control of an opponents cards, as well cards from their graveyard.

Needs a way to flip the Innistrad double-faced cards on the table, and to peek at the other side without flipping.

Will test ASAP but doubt I'll find someone to play with. Will do spread the word though :) Will there be available downloadable dedicated server software ?

to run dedicated server call "Playtable.exe -server", it starts server on default 4747 port (do not have any interface yet, empty window shows).

Thank you !

@xdaft: to test online play, I suggest to launch two clients, and just connect both of them to the server, so that you can play just switching from one client to the other.

Virtual Playtable 0.5.preview3 available. See updated link to download in first post of this thread.

Added:
- dialog when create online game (to set description, password)
- token rendering in play (only text and colored frames, without art yet)
- "Start new game" menu item in play
- dialog to load deck before start game (sideboarding will be added later)
- fixed disconnect messages in online play
- minor changes

>> Bugs:
>> - On solo mode, you can't see the other players library, it always shows yours.

Fixed.

>> - Sometimes cards get bugged in the graveyard (you take them out and
>> they remain there), moving the card back to the graveyard doesn't fix the problem

I have not understood or can't reproduce it.

Hey, Great program! My friend and I just got it yesterday and we both like it. We have tested the play and it worked really well just a couple questions for you.

1. Are you working and a way to transform cards in play?
2. I would love to be able to highlight cards and tap them all at once(like in MWS)

Other then that I love your program, great job! Thank you very much!

Thank you, transform will be available in next build.
To highlight card press Shift+Click, I will try to make highlighting more intuitive in next build.
Write there all features you need to play, I will implement them in first order.

I was using a dredge deck when the graveyard bug happened. I was constantly moving cards in and out of the graveyard, suddenly one of the cards was both in the graveyard and in play. Moving the card from play to the graveyard or vice versa did nothing, it was in both places.

Happened only twice, but I can't figure out the cause.

Virtual Playtable 0.5.preview4 available. See updated link to download in first post.

- added "Transform" command (name/pwr/tgh changed automatically)
- added "View card info" command in play to show window with card image and oracle/rulings text (you can use it to see other side of double-sided cards).
- changed default theme for Playtable interface, now it's green (feature to set custom avatar and background will be added later).

Screenshot: http://virtualplaytable.com/download/vpt050pre4.png

Just letting you know the new build is awesome. The Transformation works great, the view card info is beautiful, and the new green interface looks great! Thank you so much, keep up the great job!

Somebody has an error? :
Playtable.exe doesn't run, but shows "JavaVM terminated abnormally" and adds log file in folder like 'hs_err_pid2516.log'

I have uploaded changed version (see link vpt050pre4d.zip on top), try it, is bug solved?

Hi, just wanted to list some features I would like to see:
- click and drag rectangle selection of multiple cards
- option for multiple highlited cards not to lose their layout when moved together
- option to change attributes to multiple cards at once, like adding +1/+1 counter on each [insert card type here] you have can be quite, when bother doing it once at the time
- more than one color (red) for target arrows (shift+rightdrag = green arrow, etc..)
- also tokens should vanish after reaching their destination (other that battlefield)
- some shortcut for going to the next phase would also be nice (tab for example?)

Looking forward to next release, keep up the good work ;)

Bug report: "Run as administrator" is required for changes in tokens to persist between executions. It seems like it cannot edit the INI file properly.

Also, feature request: Need a way to copy opponent's cards/tokens

- The exile zone should in fact be separated to face-up and face-down zones. Also needs a way to turn cards face-down on the battlefield (morph).

> Bug report: "Run as administrator" is required for changes in tokens to
> persist between executions. It seems like it cannot edit the INI file properly.

What folder did you use for unpack and run Playtable?

Ah... I used a program file folder... that's what's causing the problem...

By the way,
- The "Soldier" default token is misspelled.

Did some more testing.. here what I've noticed / didn't like:

*********
LIBRARY:
-can I add a specific card version to a deck? For example, a chronicle rather than a legend ?

-there's something not working correctly in the quick filter in the library: for example if I write "swords to plowshares", said card is correctly displayed on the left, but in the grid "sowrd of feast and famine" is being selected, and if I click the green arrow, the wrong card is added

-browsing cards I've noticed that when I select one with a much higher price, the box including prices gets a little bigger, and the whole left colum with the card image and text gets a bit bigger too, resulting in the grid on the right being pushed aside a few pixels. Similar things happen (in the other direction) when I then select a card with a lower price I'd like a reset filter button, without the need to reopen the filter window

-Filter needs some more options, like in MWS

-Cards currently show printed text rather than oracle. I usually prefer using crops JUST for being able to see oracle at first glance. There should be an option where I choose which kind of text i want. Oracle should probably be the default, as certain cards are functionally different since when they were printed

-when I close vPT with an unsaved deck, it asks me to save or not. That pop up is missing the title

***************
PLAY MODULE:
-copied cards should be treated as tokens and disappear when moved in some place other than playfield

-discard/cycle/reveal/hide card from hand do not seem to work or do anything (revealed cards should also be marked somehow)

-moving card from hand has multiple options to do the same thing, and half of them are not working. I think keeping the "Move -> Where" submenu style should be better

-sideboard and exile piles are missing. Regarding exile, you should either allow both face up and face down cards to be put in the exile, or have two distinct exile pile. I think the first should be preferred, as face down exiled are rare (but still a possibility)

-along with mana counters, a storm counter could be useful

-when the deck is opened for searching, I can right click through it (to create a token for example, which then appears on the playfield behind the window)

-the mulligan animation seems to make me draw the new cards at the same time I'm putting the old away.. does it ACTUALLY shuffles the old hand in the deck before drawing new ones? EDIT; I tried a mulligan with 50 cards in hand, just to discover that: ok, it seems to work correctly, but it's bad that I see some cards stay in hand JUST cause I will draw them again.. it's not really intuitive and realistic

-a shuffle animation would be nice, nothing more than seeing the cards in the deck fan a bit to the side and then rearrange back in place (that would also be nice to see during a mulligan: put back, shuffle, draw)

-missing the possibility to select multiple cards with a boxing movement: useful to apply the same command to multiple cards, in particular

Is it possible to support a draft's deck at http://ccgdecks.com
Any 2 slide card cause Virtual Play Table has exception (javavm::CallVoidMethod())
Screen Capture
1. http://images.temppic.com/17-01-2012/images_vertis/1326772570_0.34348500.png
2. http://images.temppic.com/17-01-2012/images_vertis/1326772570_0.84431800.png

Draft Test
http://www.tempf.com/getfile.php?id=1152194&key=4f14f06f076e5

Hope you could fixed soon. ^^ Thank you Detonator.

> Is it possible to support a draft's deck at http://ccgdecks.com

if it save decks in apprentice/MWS format, it must be loaded.
But Virtual Playtable will have it's own online/solo draft simulator mode, I'm interesting in it instead of support other sites or simulators.

> Any 2 slide card cause Virtual Play Table has exception

I will check, sometimes decks from other sites have a little different card names than in my database.

> Any 2 slide card cause Virtual Play Table has exception (javavm::CallVoidMethod())
Screen Capture <---------- i mean "double-side cards", not "2 slide card" : sorry for incorrect typing T_T.<br />
Virtual PlayTable can open a deck from ccgdecks.com except the deck that has double-side cards because ccgdecks.com save only the first-side card name.

Example
Card Name: Grizzled Outcasts and Krallenhorde Wantons
VirtualPlayTable --> Grizzled Outcasts#Krallenhorde Wantons
ccgdeck.com --> Grizzled Outcasts

that's why Virtual Play Table can't find double-side cards from ccgdecks.com

hope you fix soon ^,^ Thank you detonator

New build: http://virtualplaytable.com/download/vpt056.zip

- full support of HQ image scans (480x680)
- implemented rendering code for all card types (flips,splits,planeswalkers)
- added context menu for card image for fast change card size (left click to preview in full size)

Screenshot: http://virtualplaytable.com/download/vpt056.png

Build with changes in network play will be in couple days.

V.56 looks and plays great. Special thanks for putting the errataed text on the cards themselves, Detonator.

The only problem seems to be that a lot of cards are being shown with incorrect stats. Armored Skaab, Anurid Swarmsnapper, Benalish Emissary and all 1/4 creatures are being shown as 1/1 instead.

Sustaining Spirit, Silent Attendant, Enclave Cryptologist, Halimar Wavewatch, Abu Ja'far and all 0/1 creatures are being shown as 0/0.

Stomping Ground (and all the other Ravnica painlands, like Hallowed Fountain) don't show their damage rules text.

Otherwise, it's looking great. Thanks again!

Confirming the previous post. Otherwise all is great :)

Pwr/tgh and ravnica painlands fixed:
http://virtualplaytable.com/download/vpt056a.zip

- Old .deck files with double-faced cards do not load correctly.
- "Rage Extractor" text is wrong (phyrexian mana symbol doesn't appear correctly)
(edit) Figured out that you can still show the original image; I suppose I'll do that unless I am playing with old cards where I might prefer the errataed text.

> - Old .deck files with double-faced cards do not load correctly.

Cards ID was changed for double-faced cards, from "Grizzled Outcasts#Krallenhorde Wantons" to "Grizzled Outcasts" to be compatible with other sites decks.
Change it in your deck (delete and add again) or edit .deck files in text editor.

- Tokens with long ability descriptions do not render correctly (some text overlaps the top of the text box)

In v.56a, the werewolf faces of Mayor of Avabruck/Howlpack Alpha and Daybreak Ranger/Nightfall Predator are missing their rules text.

Also, the art for Ludevic's Abomination, the card back of Ludevic's Test Subject, isn't showing up any more.

Hallo! on 056 version - "couldn't connect to server" may a need to open some port?

server is not worked now.
Today later will be new build and I will start server.

http://virtualplaytable.com/download/vpt057.zip

Fixed: art for Ludevic's Abomination, rules text Mayor of Avabruck/Howlpack Alpha and Daybreak Ranger/Nightfall Predator, rendering Tokens with text, phyrexian symbol in Rage Extractor text

In play added "Play card facedown", "Turn face up"/"Turn face down" commands for Battleground and Exile zones, cards from library now by default moved into play facedown, and some other minor changes.

Server restarted.

.57 looks great, Detonator. The card text visual quality is really cleaned up and is much easier to read at smaller sizes now.

It's a very minor issue, and I'm starting to think that it's a problem on my end, but the art for Ludevic's Abomination is still not showing up for me. I'm positive I haven't misspelled the image's name because it used to show up fine in earlier versions of VPT.

Can anyone else confirm this or is it just I?

Otherwise, thanks, as always, for the great work.

- Tokens appear face-down when created?
- Sorry for mentioning this again, but just in case - still needs a way to manipulate the bottom card of the library (Cellar Door). There are workarounds for other missing features, but none I know of for this one that doesn't involve looking at cards you shouldn't, or messing up the order of the library.
- Needs a way to transform Kamigawa flip cards.
- Minor: Rendering issue with the flavor text in Armored Warhorse. There are weird black things below every "of".

JNSiQwa: It works for me. If you want, check the Innistrad.zip file in your images folder. There should be a file named "Ludevic's Abomination.full.jpg" in the Innistrad\ENG folder.

Keep up the good work.

I'm actually using just cropped images. I have no idea how that could make a difference, though, since every other image in every other set appears to be loading fine. The image is definitely there in the Innistrad folder, is not corrupted and is spelled correctly. It just doesn't want to be found apparently.

Ah, then maybe that's the problem - full images work, but cropped images still have whatever bug it was?

Good idea, Spheniscine. I hope that's it and I'm not just missing something obvious.

Also, there's a bug with library searches in the Test Play mode. Each player can search their library only once. Any further searches of the library only show the card backs, not the card fronts.

Bug appears in online play too.

Workaround until it's fixed: Put one of the cards into your hand. All the library cards will then display normally. You can then put the card back into the library (it will appear face-down, but you'd know what it is).

> I'm actually using just cropped images. I have no idea how that could make a
> difference, though, since every other image in every other set appears to be loading
> fine. The image is definitely there in the Innistrad folder, is not corrupted and is
> spelled correctly. It just doesn't want to be found apparently.

I will check it again.

> - Tokens appear face-down when created?

I forgot to check it, will fix today.

> - Sorry for mentioning this again, but just in case - still needs a way to manipulate the bottom card of the library (Cellar Door).

I will change card window dialogs, and implement what you want.
I have long todo list, and not all implemented yet.

> Also, there's a bug with library searches in the Test Play mode. Each player can
> search their library only once. Any further searches of the library only show the
> card backs, not the card fronts.

Ok, will check.

> - Minor: Rendering issue with the flavor text in Armored Warhorse. There are
> weird black things below every "of".

It's random bug can appears on any italic text characters, problem in specific font and font rendering engine (FreeType), will try update to other font rendering engine (DType), but not in close future.

Next build will be tomorrow.

- Using "Move Card To -> Exile" closes the program.

I've been thinking on how best to implement Innistrad block's various "Return a [category C] card at random from graveyard to hand" cards.

I think the most versatile solution would be to allow shuffling the graveyard; that way you will just pick the first card that is in category C. The only problem with this is that it's not really correct according to the comp rules, as there are a few old "graveyard order matters" cards.

It would also be cool if it kept a running count of how many creatures there are in the graveyard (are there other forms of "number of [category] in graveyard matters" cards?)

I can implement "Reveal random card from graveyard", if it's creature, you use it, else try random again.

This topic too long, please continue in next:
http://virtualplaytable.com/forum/discussion/27/virtual-playtable-0.5.8