UBUT
From BattletechMUX
The Unified BattleTech Unit Template
The concept of Battletech lends itself well to computer implementation. As a result numerous tools and systems have been created to permit game play and to augment the experience, many having been coded by fans.
One of the tasks which computers have made easier for player and admin alike is the creation and maintenance of Unit Templates. A Template is, in effect, a definition of a Unit: It lists all the characteristics of that unit. Details such as the amount of armor at a given location, how much ammunition a weapon has available and where it is stored are all included in a template.
Unfortunately, as most of the fan made implementations of Battletech have been created in isolation from each other - there does not exist a single format for the storage of Unit Templates. This means that if an admin or player creates a template for one game system he/she must convert it or retemplate it for use in another.
To overcome this a working group has been formed to create a Unified Battletech Unit Template: a format for the storage of unit templates which is common between Battletech implementations.
Currently members from two of the most actively developed projects MegaMek and Btechonline Battletech Mux have come together within the working group. Members of any other implementation are more than welcome to participate.
A mailing list has been created for this working group. Details of the list are available here
Goals
The goals of the Unified Battletech Unit Template project have been defined as:
Primary
To develop a new unit template for Battletech implementations which meets the requirements laid out by the members of the group.
Secondary
To arrange for publication of the developed template to ensure it's availability to any who wish to utilise it.
Tertiary
To have fun.
Status Report:
The UBUT is pretty much dead.
Sadly, although it was called for by the developers, the XML Schema developed by the UBUT team went unused.
The last public release of the Schema itself can be seen here
An number of sample templates can be found here
Perhaps it will see light at some future date. If so, a much improved version completed after the disbanding of the UBUT working group may be available. Contact Scotty on Frontiers to discuss access to it.
