The RNG is at 03001fd4-03001fd7. It seems to advance 3 times each frame whenever you can press A to select a target for an attack (and at no other convenient times from what I see). You can also advance the RNG by drawing paths as in my Fire Emblem run.
I don't see what needs manipulating in Andy's Time, but perhaps your strategy is better than mine for a TAS. My strategy involves blocking the enemy base on day 4 after building two recons.
I originally tried doing that, but the fastest I could do (I played on 100% for the tests, of course) was 8 days.
My strategy now involves building an artillery and bringing it next to the cannon by day 7, and combo it, attacking with the rockets and artillery.
EDIT: I've made a video describing it here. (The last frames are me realizing that the artillery was on the rocket's way :P)
I'm almost certain the lower infantry is not needed, and the artillery should definitely get out of the rocket's way, but that's about it. You'll redo it, or shall I?
P.S: I think Orange Dawn can be done in 4 days. We should decide: we want real-time or number of days? I, personally, would go for the latter.
I don't know what you meant when you said the artillery is on the rocket's way. The rockets and artillery can both fire from where they are at the beginning of day 7 to finish the mission easily. The lower infantry is unnecessary, since you have plenty of funds to buy rockets.
Lash Out can be done in 4 days by letting your cruiser and sub reach 1HP and sacrificing your lander and T-copter to get the needed stars for Victory March. I suppose a Double Time on day 3 would also be a 4-day win. Which one is faster would depend on whether Lash can be manipulated to not have enough stars for Prime Tactics on day 3.
The next mission is probably Flak Attack instead of Lash Out, since Test of Time is required to reach Liberation. With enough luck manipulation, it should be possible to leave only a lone enemy infantry at the end of day 2, for a quick 3-day victory by rout.
EDIT: You're right, Orange Dawn is Max's first mission, and Sami's second mission is Lash Out. What's your strategy for Orange Dawn?
Orange Dawn can be done in 4 days by letting your cruiser and sub reach 1HP and sacrificing your lander and T-copter to get the needed stars for Victory March. I suppose a Double Time on day 3 would also be a 4-day win. Which one is faster would depend on whether Lash can be manipulated to not have enough stars for Prime Tactics on day 3.
The next mission is probably Flak Attack instead of Orange Dawn, since Test of Time is required to reach Liberation. With enough luck manipulation, it should be possible to leave only a lone enemy infantry at the end of day 2, for a quick 3-day victory by rout.
I believe you're commenting on Lash Out, since you mention Lash. I meant Max's first mission.
Both Flak Attack and Lash Out shoiuld be quick missions.
Looks good, even though battle animations are off. I hope you find the (U) ROM eventually, because it would suck if this run was squashed because of a technicality.
I found the (U) ROM without the intro hack, and the movie plays without desynch if the first 422 frames are removed. (The hacked intro uses the start button once, and the game accepts the start button on frame 52.)
I found the (U) ROM without the intro hack, and the movie plays without desynch if the first 422 frames are removed. (The hacked intro uses the start button once, and the game accepts the start button on frame 52.)
Good! Note that any videos I send will still have that part, as it's easier to remove than add.
Since no answers were posted to my question: "We should decide: we want real-time or number of days?" I am trying to change the Orange Dawn victory by capture into a rout.
EDIT: Oh, I hadn't seen your edit Nitrodon. My strategy is to use Max's power to attack blindly (not that you can call it "strategy")
Not to mention the walthroughs don't take into consideration perfect luck (I'm not sure how much luck manipulation is in this game, but I'm sure there's at least a fair amount).
I'd also like to see a run of this. It'd be interesting to say the least.
When I played, I would reset every time a unit didn't move where I wanted it to, but I doubt there are other things decided by luck (damage is a set formula). Now my Cleanup video doesn't desync! Yay!
Damage may be a set formula, but variations do happen, I used to do the same thing you did but the damage did change. A straight move from a to b in 3 blocks and then attacking another unit does occasionally result in a 1 unit difference. It seems to happen once every while, but I know damage is also random at times.
Damage may be a set formula, but variations do happen, I used to do the same thing you did but the damage did change. A straight move from a to b in 3 blocks and then attacking another unit does occasionally result in a 1 unit difference. It seems to happen once every while, but I know damage is also random at times.
It is? Good thing to know.
After two attempts failed by lack of "luck", my third try on Orange Dawn now works (see first post)! The transport copter is now used as bait to bring Flak's units to my army at the island as soon as possible.
Your input can be easily improved. The A button is delayed just as much as every other button, so feel free to press it earlier. For instance, L and A can be pressed on the same frame, and if the on-screen cursor automatically catches up (as it does when you are 2 spaces ahead of it), the direction buttons and A can be pressed on the same frame. This tendency of the on-screen cursor to automatically catch up causes some counterintuitive results for optimal cursor movement.
As for the strategy, bait is only necessary when you want draw forces away from some other unit. Also, when you get attacked, remember to press A two frames before the circle appears around your unit.
I have already explained both ways of manipulating luck. If you didn't do either of those, the outcome of the enemy phase will not change.
http://dehacked.2y.net/microstorage.php/info/1796/Advance%20Wars%202%20-%20Black%20Hole%20Rising%20%28U%29%20%28Intro%20Hack%29%20%28Mode7%29%20%5B1060%5D.vbm
Your input can be easily improved. The A button is delayed just as much as every other button, so feel free to press it earlier. For instance, L and A can be pressed on the same frame, and if the on-screen cursor automatically catches up (as it does when you are 2 spaces ahead of it), the direction buttons and A can be pressed on the same frame. This tendency of the on-screen cursor to automatically catch up causes some counterintuitive results for optimal cursor movement.
As for the strategy, bait is only necessary when you want draw forces away from some other unit. Also, when you get attacked, remember to press A two frames before the circle appears around your unit.
I have already explained both ways of manipulating luck. If you didn't do either of those, the outcome of the enemy phase will not change.
http://dehacked.2y.net/microstorage.php/info/1796/Advance%20Wars%202%20-%20Black%20Hole%20Rising%20%28U%29%20%28Intro%20Hack%29%20%28Mode7%29%20%5B1060%5D.vbm
Aha! I knew something in my attempt was slower than yours. I spent a lot of time creating that movie because I'm not so good, does that make it softer :P A little trick I've figured out: the game accepts input exactly 3 frames before you actually seem to visually get control.
A question I wanted to ask earlier: how did you figure out the RNG address?
And, on a final note:
I have already explained both ways of manipulating luck. If you didn't do either of those, the outcome of the enemy phase will not change.
If I didn't, my third attempt wouldn't have succeeded, would it?
I'm going to watch your movie... If I have anything to comment, I'll edit this post.
EDIT: As promised, just to say it seemed to be faster than mine. I can remember passing the 10000 mark, and you managed to do it before that. Another question: How much time did you take to make that movie?
I can move the cursor just fine in frame advance after that movie. Remember to wait until just before the cursor appears over your unit (around frame 12377). If you are referring to the time you tried to press L at the end of that movie, your cursor was already on the first unit. Pressing L a second time would have moved your cursor to the second unit.
Except for the fact that you entered Flak Attack before Andy's Time, the movie looks good. There is a small counterintuitive result that could have saved 3 frames while you moved the B-copter to safety. Basically, you can make three knight's moves to make the cursor automatically catch up at the right time.
Here is my movie for Flak Attack:
http://dehacked.2y.net/microstorage.php/info/1828/Advance%20Wars%202%20-%20Black%20Hole%20Rising%20%28U%29%20%28Intro%20Hack%29%20%28Mode7%29%20%5B1060%5D.vbm
There is some delay while atacking a B-copter, it's luck manipulation so I can kill it instead of letting it go with 1 HP. It's a shame I didn't manage to kill that last infantry before the end of day 2. Nitrodon has already seen that I've improved my A-key timing a lot since my other runs.
BTW, Nitrodon, I didn't quite get your tip on the copter; I left it out until I can at least understand it. I press A before the circle appears though.
Joined: 8/15/2005
Posts: 1942
Location: Mullsjö, Sweden
I downloaded it in the school instead, worked there. I'm using this computer, a laptop, in the school so I can follow your progress anyway:). But thanks for the thought to put it on Rapidshare!
Very good improvement! Mostly because of that you avoid the battle scenes, but your movement with the marker is lots better. Nice job.
Guybrush: "I'm selling these fine leather jackets."
Wally: "Really?"
Guybrush: "No. I 'm lying."
Wally: "In that case, I don't want one!"
Currently working on:
Nothing at the moment.
Hi guys! I'm afraid i've not been able to work on this very much over this month, pretty much because I'm tired. Every time I wanted to do it, my sister had something to do and I had to stop.
I hope that, while I can't do it, somebody helps me because a lot of people want this run done (me included).
Note to self: Current WIP is at http://dehacked.2y.net/microstorage.php/info/1818092008/advwars.vbm
What's lacking is the destruction of the rockets, so I can unleash Sami's SCO Power, which would give me a win on the spot with an easy capture.
EDIT: Bah, the strategy's failed for half a star. Back to the drawing board for me...
