Virtual Skipper

Aquabat · Capitaine Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 291

Hi Guys,

Thought I would post this to see

1) If anyone finds it helpful
2) Triggers any other ideas for AHK

Just being playing around with AHK with the aim of making AHK tack the boat on a press of the key, before now I have on occasions messed up with the mouse and messed up the tack / gybe

I have not yet figured out a way to find the tack left / right location when a window has been resized. So as test I have fixed the window size to 1024 x 768 in VSK (for AHK this is 1040 x 804)

The script is below .. please treat as a TEST only....

, key - tack left
. key - tack right
r key - to resize the window back to 1024 * 768

Now there is no reason why this should not work in full screen mode but you will need to change the 'click` locations depending on you screen resolution I guess, AHK comes with a tool called Window Spy (right click on AHK)

#,:: - TACK LEFT
IfWinExist, VskAC32
WinActivate ; use the window found above
WinGetActiveStats, Title, Width, Height, X, Y

click 277,782

return

#.:: - TACK RIGHT
IfWinExist, VskAC32
WinActivate ; use the window found above
WinGetActiveStats, Title, Width, Height, X, Y

click 759, 780
return

#R::
IfWinExist, VskAC32
WinActivate ; use the window found above
WinGetActiveStats, Title, Width, Height, X, Y
;MsgBox, The active window "%Title%" is %Width% wide`, %Height% tall`, and positioned at %X%`,%Y%.
WinMove,,,,, 1040, 804
return
_________________
Rob

Aquabat · Capitaine Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 291

Issues / Ideas

1) What is the window name for VSK5, I have VSK32. This might not work on VSK5 pure
2) Figure out the location of tack area for any window size
3) Could the helm be made to center when TWD at 30 degrees ? (might be a problem on a gybe though!! , could check to see the colour of the SPI botton, if yellow then centre at 160 maybe)
_________________
Rob

pumpkin · Matelot Joined: 24 Jan 2008 Posts: 113

Cool idea!

But wouldn't having an "auto-tack" key subject the helm to being "slammed" over? Judging from my experience as a sailor and as a virtual sailor this is not the proper way to tack a boat.

I guess it would come in handy but I don't think I would use it when racing.

Good luck. Tr?s content

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http://freeworldyachtclub.net

Aquabat · Capitaine Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 291

Looks like my assumption that the best way to tack in VSK might not be the best way..

I tack by clicking the mouse on the 50 figure on the rudder scale ...now it would seem that some think its quicker at around 30 .. less loss of boat speed .. now this would make sense in the real world and I have not had a chance to test. However .. this script will still work, you just need to get the new XY position ...at 30 mark

Also .. the keys for left and right tack need to be pressed with the window key (next to the left shift key)

Rob
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Rob

Camster · Posted: 02 Mar 2010 16:43 Post subject:

I find for tacking that progressive helm is the best. I have tried various combinations and it varies a bit with the wind & waves.

Start with helm degrees 10° > 20° > 30° > 20° > 10° as you go through the tack & experiment till you consistently keep the lowest BS at 9.2 or more in F5+.

I do have a AHK to achieve this for F5 but find it's not that great. Often you tack on a shift and the numbers above need adjusted for that. Also you cant change your mind mid-tack which can be awkward. Finally I had some disasters when the AHK failed to work which gave the other boat a lot of grief!
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Sandy

Aquabat · Capitaine Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 291

All very interesting ... thanks Sandy

I can now keep my boat speed up by about 1 knot by going over 30 degrees ... all new stuff for me.

Rob
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Rob

fosterbarry · Capitaine Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 291

Many players would see the use of AHK in the manner described as cheating. There is a post somewhere in this forum from Trev saying players will be banned/ kicked from his races if AHK is used. Of course, AHK cannot be detected so any form of policing will not work.

The game of vsk required most skills in vsk3. In vsk4 it was slightly deskilled and in vsk5 huge deskilling took place. Sadly, the use of AHK to produce the perfect tack/gybe removes one more skill that previously separated the men from the boys.
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Smile... it's good for the face!

Camster · Posted: 03 Mar 2010 1:21 Post subject:

As I have explained, AHK does not produce the perfect tack and you will be quicker manually. I dont use it after some earlier tests.

Now using a joystick ... that could be cheating lol

Cool

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Sandy

fosterbarry · Capitaine Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 291

What is cheating and what is not cheating could be an interesting forum topic for discussion. For example, some players sail with minimum graphic settings because it's supposed to be faster. Theoretically those players who sail with higher settings, because they want to see the game in its full glory, would be at a disadvantage.

Then what about all the add ons? The special radar, puff/lull enhancer etc etc. Some players use a stealth skin!

So what do you guys think is going too far?
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Smile... it's good for the face!

California · Posted: 03 Mar 2010 3:27 Post subject:

Installing any add-on for the purpose of gaining an advantage over other players –like a tacking program, or better instruments, isn’t fair play in my view, but I’m old fashioned. Sourire

pumpkin · Matelot Joined: 24 Jan 2008 Posts: 113

euphoria · Vieux loup de mer Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 565

Aquabat · Capitaine Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 291

Hi Harald,

Camster · Posted: 08 Mar 2010 15:57 Post subject:

I'm not sure what the issue is here. If you want to reward helming & trimming skills, then you can use the Simulation Mode with VSK5.

The lack of popularity of this mode is not anyone's fault.
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Sandy

euphoria · Vieux loup de mer Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 565