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Free triggering guide for R/D purposes

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 12:01 am
by Queen Yuno
Hello! This game updates twice a day: during Minor 12-1PM EST and Major 12-1AM EST, and that's when you trigger raids. Y

Warning before you click the spoiler: the text is written in controversial pink colors.



1) Download Spyglass:
-First you start by going here https://github.com/Derpseh/Spyglass and clicking on Download Zip.

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2) Find where your Spyglass Folder is located at, then EXTRACT the contents.
Here's how to do that: Once you got the Zip, you go to your Downloads.
You can either do this. Image
Or get 7-zip (an extractor program found here http://www.7-zip.org/ ) and do this: Image

Or just make a new folder, then put the Zip inside the folder.
So that when you extract the Spyglass Zip, all the extracted stuff will be inside your new folder (trapped.) Once you're done extracting the Spyglass zip:


3) Click this
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4) Click
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5) Now type your nation name in the black box.
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Hit Enter at the end.

This is how you generate a sheet.


Section II: How to calibrate your sheet:

To calibrate your sheet, go to one of the final updating regions (Such as Doll Guldur or Spear Danes, open up the regional activity, filter for just "Changes", and click on the timestamps. (Theoretically you should use From The End, but there is a bug that makes FTE take 10mins to update, so don't use FTE.) https://www.nationstates.net/page=activ ... ter=change

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You can scroll to Major or Minor updates, find the timestamps of the last nation's influence change for Major (12AM EST), and for Minor (12PM EST.)

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Convert those times into seconds using this calculator
https://www.tools4noobs.com/online_tool ... o_seconds/

(Disclaimer: Update lengths are close to 1 hour. So if you see So you see 1:08:57AM for Major, plug 1:08:57 in. And when you see 12:52:08PM for Minor, plug in 0:52:08.

Now open your Spyglass folder where you will find a text file labelled UpdTime. You will see two sets of numbers, so replace those numbers with your own numbers: minor and major, respectively. Then hit save.

You can re-generate a new sheet (normally) and it will have more accurate times.

(Note: If you don't want to calibrate your sheet, you should set 20 second triggers, if you do calibrate your sheet, you can set 7 to 10 second triggers.)

Calibration: Spyglass, at its present state, relies on manual input to determine the approximate lengths of major and minor update. Since this number is unlikely to stay the same, update times may decrease in accuracy over time. It is, however, possible to recalibrate by following these steps:

1: Find the length of major and minor updates. This can be accomplished by going to the activity page of a late-updating region (I like to use Spear Danes for this) Look for messages like the following: [nation]'s influence has increased from X to Y. Pick up the timestamp there, for the last two updates. Major happens at around 12 AM, EST, and minor at around 12 PM.

2: Convert the time into seconds. This is fairly easy- 3600hours + 60minutes + seconds

3: In your folder, you'll find a text file labelled UpdTime. Open that up, and plug in your numbers; minor and major, respectively. Save and close, and it'll use those numbers the next time you run Spyglass.




Section III: How to trigger using your sheet.

As for setting triggers, you can just stick a nation in a region that's displayed as ten or so seconds above your designated target region, spam-refresh that nation's page during update until its influence changes, and call the trigger when you see that happen. I also recommend you setting a second, 2 minute warning trigger.

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Step by Step Instructions for this:
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MAKE SURE TO DO THIS OUTSIDE OF UPDATE, and the trigger will be work for the nearest update that will occur:

All regions update in the same order, per update cycle.

1) Choose a target (make sure it’s an Executive Delegacy target.) If you have a specific target in mind, Ctrl+F to find it.

2) Find a "trigger region" which is a region that updates earlier than your target. To start, look at your target's update time, and scroll upwards to find a region that updates 20 to 15 seconds earlier than your target region. Choose that trigger region. (DISCLAIMER: You should set 7-8 second triggers instead of 15-20 second triggers if you don't want to be stopped by defenders. I only said 20 to 15 seconds because if it's your first time triggering, you might react slow, however, defenders can follow raiders if they have a 15 seconds window timeframe before the target updates. I personally set 10 second triggers. Keep experimenting. )

(3) Create a new puppet or just use a non-updated nation, and move your puppet into your “trigger region” (not the target region!)




4)) Watch for your nation’s Influence Rise. There are FOUR METHODS to do this. Choose ONE of the follow methods to do it.
Method 1) Go to your trigger’s nation page (example: https://www.nationstates.net/nation=insert_nation_name ) Then scroll to the bottom where you see the Nation’s Government Happenings. Then spam-refresh (F5) until you see a new happenings line pop out that says Nation’s Influence rose from Zero to Sprat. When you see that appear, call the GO command as fast as possible.

Method 2) You set up a RSS feed.
Go to this link: http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/rss ... ation_name
and replace nation_name with the name of your trigger nation.
so if I was using Yuno Owl as a trigger nation it would look like
http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/rss ... n=yuno_owl
Now spam-refresh this page until you see the html code change to show Influence Rise. THEN call GO.

(I heard this (RSS) method was faster since it loads less stuff: it loads a white html page instead of the full nationstates site (which has ads.) However, the speed difference is barely noticeable. If you’re new, stick with Method 1.)

Method 3) Add your trigger nation to your Dossier, then go to your Reports page, then spam-refresh Generate Reports until you see the nation's Influence Rise happenings, THEN call GO. (Reports page: https://www.nationstates.net/page=reports )

Method 4) Download a 1-second auto-refresh extension ( such as https://chrome.google.com/webstore/deta ... nbgbmfalko for Chrome.. Firefox one is harder to find..)
Then use this link:
https://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/ap ... mode=score
Auto-refresh the link. When you see this number count change (usually increases by +1), which means that the nation updated, call the GO command.

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CHOOSE ONE OF THESE METHODS ^ (Also, make sure you're watching for the nation you just placed in the TRIGGER region. Do NOT put your trigger nation in the TARGET region, only put it in the trigger region. This is a common mistake for 1st time trigger people.)



5)) After you call GO, your raiders should move into the TARGET region. You then wait a few seconds and check their nations. If their nation’s influence increased, that means you triggered on time: if no one’s influence increased, you took too long.

Remember to relax! ^_^ Making mistakes is fine, you learn from them and become a better raider. With steady practice, trial and error and repetition, you get better at triggering and can set shorter triggers. Be calm and don't worry.

Triggering knowledge is important if you want to lead your own region’s military.

Tips:
-I suggest setting a 2 minute warning trigger, and then your actual trigger (2 triggers.)





Written by Queen Yuno


Disclaimer:
-Spyglass is a sheet generator that parses the data dump and is made by Derpsles
-This is how *i* personally trigger
-i got the knowledge from a region that no longer exists so i'm not leaking any opsec by publishing this.

Dispatch version: https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=919773

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 12:04 am
by Queen Yuno
Thanks for reading!

I don't check this forum daily so telegram me if you need me. This guide covers Guide To Military Gameplay's triggering section (WHICH IS SEVERELY OUTDATED) and since it's in THIS subforum, I think this is the best place to post it. You can ask questions here.

Anyway hopefully by posting this, there will be more legitimate NS militaries. (PM me if you would like to add any more triggering advice.) If you need more help, post your questions here. If no one answers, or if you'd rather keep it private, telegram me.


~Yuno

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 12:17 am
by Queen Yuno
Hi all, I got a telegram from Valfor. He made a Spyglass for Mac that works for Python3, instead of Python 2.7.

Here's the telegram and link:
Link to Code: https://github.com/valfor/Spyglass



Dear Queen Yuno,

I am not sure if you keep Spyglass up to date, but I wanted to let you know of a development.

I am a macOS user, so naturally I followed the GitHub instructions to install/use Spyglass on mac. However, your code (I assume it is yours) uses Python 2.7, which I actually had trouble with. I wanted to tell you that I have converted the code into Python3, and it works as expected (I tested with a friend on PC and we got same results).

If you'd like me to share the Python3 code with you, let me know - I would be happy to do so! If you're already aware of a Python3 version, please disregard this telegram.

Thanks,
Valfor



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PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 4:46 am
by Pergamon
Fantastic. Many, many players will benefit from that.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 4:55 am
by Fauxia
Nice work! Quick question, are you really so bored as Delegate of TEP that you only spend your time coding :p ?

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 8:34 am
by Kanglia
Yuno, this is fantastic to see. So many people are gonna be helped from this. Hopefully more new blood show up :)

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 8:40 am
by Miporin
Quick note- the nation credited at the end doesn't exist.
Derpsles or Panzer Vier are likely what you're looking for ^^

Speaking of, since Spyglass is being referenced, there's a newer version being maintained by Khron, with some extra functionality and generally cleaner. I'll edit it link in in a mo'

E: here we go! https://github.com/khronion/Spyglass

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 10:00 am
by Kurnugia
noice

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 10:51 am
by The Atlae Isles
Fauxia wrote:Nice work! Quick question, are you really so bored as Delegate of TEP that you only spend your time coding :p ?

Hey! Being Delegate of TEP isn’t that boring! :P

Spyglass (and technically this guide) existed before she became Delegate.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 11:12 am
by Reploid Productions
AAAH MY EEEEYES!!!

Can you fix the size/color in that opening post please? That size 200 bright pink is downright eye-searing.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 11:35 am
by Vulturret
Good guide! :clap:

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 11:35 am
by The Atlae Isles
Reploid Productions wrote:AAAH MY EEEEYES!!!

Can you fix the size/color in that opening post please? That size 200 bright pink is downright eye-searing.

It ain’t Yuno without that characteristic eye-searing pink. ;)

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 11:41 am
by Marilyn Manson Freaks
Sig worthy ^



Also, Yuno, I thought this was a diss post made by some puppet :P


For a minute I thought about the non NS triggering. :D

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 12:46 pm
by Jar Wattinree
The Atlae Isles wrote:
Reploid Productions wrote:AAAH MY EEEEYES!!!

Can you fix the size/color in that opening post please? That size 200 bright pink is downright eye-searing.

It ain’t Yuno without that characteristic eye-searing pink. ;)

Surely Yuno can fix the size, though, out of consideration.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 1:14 pm
by Queen Yuno
@Perg, Faux, Kang, Kurn, Vult, &Manson : Thanks for the support!
@Derps: THANKS FOR MAKING SPYGLASS ^_^ I haven't tried Khron's version but I'll give it a test since I finished my last RL exam today so i've now got more time on my hands than i did

Reploid Productions wrote:AAAH MY EEEEYES!!!

Can you fix the size/color in that opening post please? That size 200 bright pink is downright eye-searing.

I changed the hot pink to pastel pink (hopefully it's more relaxing to look at?)
200 size is so that it fits size-relative to the big screenshots.
Anyway, I'm glad you saw this thread.

Fauxia wrote:Nice work! Quick question, are you really so bored as Delegate of TEP that you only spend your time coding :p ?


TEP Delegacy is the most fulfilling and exciting aspect of anyone's 2-year NS life, I wouldn't ask for any other NS role. But I have to admit, THERE'S NOTHING TO DO AT UPDATE besides WA-voting, and recently there's nothing to vote on :\
This game needs more fendas, raiders, updaters, for us WA-locked vicarious ppl ~ And regions need competent militaries. An accurate triggering guide won't magically make them but it's a start.
*Considers telegramming random regions' delegate a link to this thread*

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 1:30 pm
by The Atlae Isles
Jar Wattinree wrote:
The Atlae Isles wrote:It ain’t Yuno without that characteristic eye-searing pink. ;)

Surely Yuno can fix the size, though, out of consideration.

I vote for spoilers.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 1:53 pm
by Drop Your Pants
Queen Yuno wrote:THERE'S NOTHING TO DO AT UPDATE besides WA-voting, and recently there's nothing to vote on :\

I find following the actual WA's around with a puppet for moral support (and trying to beat them in) is a good waste of update when you're WA-locked.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 2:56 pm
by Jar Wattinree
The Atlae Isles wrote:
Jar Wattinree wrote:Surely Yuno can fix the size, though, out of consideration.

I vote for spoilers.

Spoilers for the screens? That's an idea. :lol:

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 3:31 pm
by Reploid Productions
Queen Yuno wrote:I changed the hot pink to pastel pink (hopefully it's more relaxing to look at?)
200 size is so that it fits size-relative to the big screenshots.

AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

That's even worse!! x_x Seconding the suggestion for spoilers for the screenshots and regular size/color text for the text!

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 3:41 pm
by The Atlae Isles
Reploid Productions wrote:
Queen Yuno wrote:I changed the hot pink to pastel pink (hopefully it's more relaxing to look at?)
200 size is so that it fits size-relative to the big screenshots.

AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

That's even worse!! x_x Seconding the suggestion for spoilers for the screenshots and regular size/color text for the text!

I only suggested spoilers because the guide is rather long; keep the pink! :P

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 3:50 pm
by Queen Yuno
lol@ Reppy's reaction

I spoilered the entire thing for now and added a warning about its insides. (For now.) Sorry about your eyes D:
*passes the eye drops*
(Disclaimer: the drops are pink)

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 3:53 pm
by Reploid Productions
That pastel pink is damn near impossible to read on the light theme- it's such a low contrast with the background color. Probably contrasts fine on dark, but it's borderline unreadable on the light theme. :P

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 3:55 pm
by Tim-Opolis
Yeah, this is a solid guide but it'd be real nice if you could actually read it on the light theme.

Can't ya just use the default forum text color, Yun?

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 3:59 pm
by Tupelope
i think the pastel pink is fine to read on the light theme, only thing thats bugging me is the extra closing spoiler tag after the written by yuno part

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 4:09 pm
by Queen Yuno
>_>
÷_÷
If this final version doesn't satisfy you gameplayers, I'll blacken it to obsidian.
*sweatdrop* tfw I say to ask questions...only for 100% of them to be about colors rather than triggering/game mechanics :lol: