Anti-Cheat Features in TOAW III

[Currahee]

Thanks for those insights. I agree completely that although making a game cheat-proof is theoretically possible, it may not be cost-effective given the current cycle of game production/marketing. At least we're better off with TOAW III than many of our older standbys, like War in Russia.

I think the undo is helpful; I hardly ever use it, but occasionally I or an opponent will, and I don't think most people object to a very occasional use; but the "warning" beep is what tells us it's only occasional. Frankly, if you've spent 50 hours on a game, and then accidentally move a fortified unit off an important victory hex by accident (which can definitely happen!), you ought to be able to undo it. This isn't FIDE championship chess. The undo is banned for most tournaments, but for non-tournament games, the opponents can agree to reasonable use. You program for a living, and may be attracted to absolutes; I work with people for a living, and find that being reasonable often pays dividends!

Reloading games and old positions and replaying moves are all potentially much more disruptive to fair play, than using the undo button. The other player never sees what's "undone"; it doesn't affect one or two units, but a whole series of combat resolutions; etc. And really, "I'm going to tell Mom" can be rather effective, if Mom's willing to bring smoke. But the most effective solution is to not play the offender again.

TOAW III is new, but I'm now in my fourth game, and in three of them, neither side has seen the "reload" messages. It does appear that the system is working, more or less as planned.