Planetwars simulation mode

[GoogleFrog]

To test the metagame planetwars could have a wargames mode that proceeds rapidly. Changes required:

• Reduce the attack selection timer to 5 minutes.
• If the attack selection timer has 2 minutes remaining then a planet should be automatically invaded. The defenders should be selected automatically from the factions which are able to join the defense as soon as the automatic invasion launches. The purpose of this is to spread the defender metal around between factions. The invasion succeeds with a 50% probability (no game is run) and each structure in the battle a 20% chance of being evacuated or destroyed if the attack is successful or unsuccessful respectively.
• The planet to automatically attack should be selected according to the same ranking that is sent to chobby with extra control available via the secret topic. Planets whose name appear in the faction secret topic should be sent to the top of the ranking, this lets faction heads direct where to attack.

This system would make 20 automatic turns occur per hour so we could test a whole metagame over the course of a weekend. Players could still jump in at the start of the turns to fight battles in order to test ingame things and structure destruction.

If we have the time then this could be a good thing to run.

[Licho1]

Instead of topic peeking, we should probably get some markings on the map .. "avoid", "attack" and "develop", "defend" markings for example..

Initially i thought dropships would work like "attack" markings but with no warp cores they are not that much used.