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*  QUELLER TAK   *
*  By Quitch(y)  *
*    21/04/99    *
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Quitch(y) - quitchy@yahoo.co.uk

AI Central - http://www.planetannihilation.com/taec/queller/

Installation
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If you wish to play standard TAK, the open the Queller TAK ZIP.  If you wish to play with CUT (the Crusades balance) then open the Queller CUT ZIP.  Now extract the files into your Kingdoms directory.  They will automatically put themselves into the correct subdirectories.  Make sure you have the ZIP option enabled that allows them to do this, it is on by default.

How To Use The AI
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Firstly, you must not load TAK via the menu that pops up when you insert the CD.  Exit this menu.  You will need to add "-disablecavedogverification" (no quotes) after the games shortcut on the start menu.  If you have no idea what I am rambling on about, simply download TAK Fix from the Various Downloads section at AI Central - http://www.planetannihilation.com/taec/queller/ load it, and choose "Add Option."  Now load TAK from the start menu.

If you don't want to download a program to do this for you, here are some instructions, I'm not responsible if you screw up your shortcut, OK? ;)

Right click on your task bar (the grey thing, probably at the bottom of the screen).  Click on properties, and choose advanced from the next menu.  Go to the folder in which your TA Kingdoms shortcut is held, and right click on it.  Select properties.  Click in the target line.  Add a space after all the text in that line and then type "-disablecavedogverification" (no quotes).  Click on OK and close all the reminaing windows.  You can now load TA Kingdoms from that shortcut, and assuming all went correctly, Queller will no run too.

An AI Enviroment
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Since TAK only has one profile, Default, it has to work with as many maps as possible. Most maps are land with a bit of water, and this is what Queller is designed around.  Queller will not work very well on any map on which water must be crossed to reach an opponent.  If there is a land bridge, then that's fine.

Various Questions
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Q. Why does the AI seem to be the same?

A. Make sure you have added "-disablecavedogverification" to the games start menu shortcut.  You must load the game from that shortcut.  Use TAK Fix which can be downloaded from AI Central - http://www.planetannihilation.com/taec/queller/ if you're not sure how to do this.


Q. I've got Queller setup correctly, but the AI is still stupid, why?

A. Unfortunately I cannot edit the behaviour of the AI itself, we (the players) don't get that kind of access to the game.  All Queller can do is make sure that the AI uses a better mix of troops, and that it has enough mana to support its production.  AI's also play better on some maps than others.  An AI generally performs better on an open map than a maze like one.


Q. Can I use Queller in multiplayer and Boneyards?

A. You certinally can in multiplayer, and it should work on Boneyards just fine.  The other players don't even need Queller installed, you'll have Queller and they'll have whatever AI is on their machine.


Q. Does your AI eat other AI's for breakfast?

A. You betcha ;).


Q. Whatever happened to your 15 page epic readme style?

A. People weren't reading my 15 page epics :).


Q. But I liked your 15 page epic, why didn't everyone else?

A. Some people are just philistines :P.


Q. Why isn't my question answered here?

A. I'm too lazy to think of all the infinite problems people could have.  Contact me at quitchy@yahoo.co.uk for further assistance.

Credits
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Many thanks to XCOM Veteran and Cain who both helped me to pick up the ins and outs of Kingdoms incredibly quickly.  Or at least get the impression I had picked up the ins and outs :).

Thanks to XCOM Veteran, again, for asking me if I was going to make an AI in the first place, which prompted to me to go out and buy the game :).

Finally, thanks to Cavedog for keeping the HPI file format, which meant I didn't have to download another file viewer for TAK and CUT unit stats :).