Lobby¶

The lobby uses a 196 byte data field to communicate game settings between the players. Lobbies always require a host to allow new players to connect. Only the hosting player can change the settings.

Packets are transmitted in intervals of 4s.

Values and Length¶

def LobbySettings
  byte20 :header
  4 bytes
  array :player_network_ids,
        type => :int32,
        initial_length => 8
  int8 :ready
  69 bytes
  int8 :checkboxes
  byte
        6bit :reveal_map
        2bit :game_speed
  1 byte
  byte
        4bit :starting_age
        4bit :starting_resources
  byte
        4bit :map_size
        4bit :difficulty
  int8 :map_id
  int8 :victory
  1 byte
  int16 :victory_limit
  int8 :max_population
  8 bytes
  array :player_civ_ids,
        type => :int8,
        initial_length => 8
  16 bytes
  array :teams,
        type => :int8,
        initial_length => 8
  int16 :zero
  int8 :map_description_length
  array :map_description,
        type => :char,
        initial_length => :map_description_length + 6
end

:player_network_ids
The network IDs of the players. If a slot is empty, the corresponding value in the array is 0x00.

:ready
This byte indicates readied slots. Every bit (read from right to left) is associated with a slot in the lobby. If the bit is set to one, the slot is closed. Slots are also considered ready when they are filled with an AI or are closed.

For example, the value 0x0c translates to a binary notation of 00001100b. Therefore, the third and forth slot are closed.

:checkboxes
A byte which is used to determine which of the checkbox options in the lower right are checked. Every bit is associated with checkbox. A bit is set to 1, when the checkbox is not set to its standard setting.

Checkbox | On|Off | Bit representation ————–|——–|——————- Team together | 0|1 | 01000000b Lock teams | 1|0 | 00001000b All tech | 1|0 | 10000000b Lock speed | 1|0 | 00000100b Allow cheats | 1|0 | 00000001b

:reveal_map
Determines whether the fog of war is present. Uses the 5th and 6th bit of the byte.

Mode	Value
Normal	0x00
Explored	`00001000b`
Visible	`00000100b`

:game_speed
Sets the default game speed. Uses the 7th and 8th bit of the byte.

Speed	Value
Slow	`00000001b`
Normal	`00000010b`
Fast	`00000011b`

:starting_age
Sets the starting age.

Age	Value
Standard	0x0
Dark	0x2
Feudal	0x3
Castle	0x4
Imperial	0x5
Post-Imperial	0x6

:starting_resources
Sets the amount of starting resources.

Resources	Value
Standard	0x0
Low	0x1
Medium	0x2
High	0x3

:map_size
Sets the map size.

Size	Value
Very Small	0x0
Small	0x1
Medium	0x2
Normal	0x3
Large	0x4
Giant	0x5

:difficulty
Sets the difficulty of the AI.

Difficulty	Value
Very Easy	0x4
Standard	0x3
Medium	0x2
Hard	0x1
Hardest	0x0

:map_id
The ID of map that will be generated.

:victory
Sets the victory condition.

Victory	Value
Standard	0x00
Conquest	0x01
Time Limit	0x07
Score	0x08
Last Man Standing	0x0b

:victory_limit
Amount of points to win in score mode or timer for the time limit game mode.

:max_population
This field is used for setting the maximum population for the game.

:player_civ_ids
The ID of the civilisations the players have chosen. Defaults to Random (0x1e).

:teams
The teams of each individual player. For whatever reason, the value for no team is 0x01 which leaves the teams 1, 2, 3 and 4 with these values:

Team	Value
None	0x01
1	0x02
2	0x03
3	0x04
4	0x05
Random	0x06

:zero
These 2 bytes are always zero.

:map_description_length
The length of the name a custom maps. Only present when custom maps are selected.

:map_description
The name of the custom map encoded in extended ASCII. It starts with 6 bytes that are used for formatting and not displayed by the game.