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Mar-28-2009 08:58

I have created a VH clue helper in PHP. It will show you who your co-conspirator is from the clues you give. If you don't have all the clues, it will give a list of all possible co-conspirators. It has been tested using the clues found on the DPI agency website, so if it is wrong, so are they ;)

You can find it at www.sleuthvhhelper.co.cc/

If you do find any wrong clues, please PM me the details.

Mar-28-2009 19:01

I'm probably gonna be the only person that says it *shrugs* so I apologise in advance as it is a very nice piece of programming in the way it does a complicated thing simply.

But... So any new Villain hunter rocks up gets all the clues on a silver platter? Not only that but they get all the gimme clues that can get you through a city in one go are up as well. In fact you might never know all the clues to all city because you short cut to the end all the time.

Here we are trying to find all these new whiz bang ways to encourage people to play sleuth, and I mistakenly assumed 'thinking' and 'challenging' people's minds might be one of them.

Anyway I've said what I had to say, and I wish all the villainhunters good luck using the program. Y'all can jump straight form pigeots program to adams program and it'll be the perfect level playing field.

It is a nice program :) I'm certainly not criticising that.

Mar-28-2009 19:57

Awwww poor Squirrell I'm sure you're not the only one :)

I love the helper but that's because I'm lazy and have done enough of them to get very bored sitting and re-writing clues :) It is very easy to use if you're lazy like me.

I can see your point about handing things on a plate SS I don't think anyone would want to argue that with you but then again there's a lot of things out there that do the same. Sleuth tips comes to the top of my head hehe. No disrespect Jojo I think it's a great site. At the end of the day MOST not all know the one clue thing anyway so I personally wouldn't have thought it makes that much difference :)

Anyway my point is no ones ever gonna please everyone such is life and I think it would be pretty damn boring if everyone did agree with each other ;)

Mar-30-2009 08:23

Just tried it today and it works well. It sure saves a lot of paper !! Thanks Adam :))

Apr-2-2009 09:19

gee, i've been using a text file to copy and paste the clues. this is more fun!

Apr-6-2009 20:54

How did this move to page 2? Putting it up again in case someone missed it :-)

Apr-16-2009 16:28

Squirrel those clues weren't a secret anyway. Ctown gave them all out in his spreadsheet on DPI's website and I'm sure there are other places I could have found them.

It sure does look a nice program. Exactly the same principle I use on my notepad :)

Apr-16-2009 16:47

Actually the spreadsheet doesnt give them away, but they are on the the website. I am contemplating taking them down however for reasons that SS has stated. The spreadsheet is just used for tracking purposes

Apr-16-2009 17:13

Well I looked at the spreadsheet and saw all the clues. I even checked the spreadsheet when I was down to 2 same gender townies to see which clue I was looking for to distinguish them from each other. It's not a criticism in any way, I'm just saying that one way or another the clues are out there to be had and it doesn't take too much research to find the answer to any question and have most of the game laid out for you.

I much prefer to do my own research and find things out in game but I also know there are detectives I can ask for help when I'm frustrated or just lazy and some who will just give me the answers straight up and not just hints.

P.S ctown. your hint is still so obscure that I am no closer to finding the next step towards the goal. I have stared at that page and tried reading it in the vertical and decoding and I even did a search and read thru SS clues about Cantaloupe and geese riding elephants high on pumpernickel! Arrggghhh

Apr-20-2009 16:14

Since I seem to be in a 'community mood' tonight and have touched most of the hot threads around, I guess it makes no difference if I poke this one too.

SS, I can understand there can appear a slight shade of frustration from doing a lot of work in acquiring and shaping information and then see everybody taking advantage of the results, and I trully don't want this to sound as lowering the importance of your work, but...as I said in another thread...it's not exactly brain surgery to point a villain when you have enough clues. It's simply a matter of drawing lines on a map and checking the gender of the contacts. The hard part in a VH is solving enough AI cases to get enough clues and do this in a reasonable amount of time. The VH helper and the spread sheets are simply tools to reduce your deduction time by a couple of minutes.

Apr-20-2009 16:55

(sorry Adam here I go again)

Nope. Wrong. Sorry, but wrong!

I'll give the whole game away shall I as I explain myself.

The AVH helper makes you use of ALL the clues, and solves the hunt FOR you!

For Example go to New York
Plug in 'Not the waiter' as your ONLY clue.
'Who ever could it be'.

If you were doing it yourself on a piece of paper your answer should be Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Make etc etc as a process of elimination allowing you to move on to your next clue...

But nope...

One clue, one answer, BUTCHER ... move on.

AND That IS giving the game away on a silver platter.

I'm sorry it's not about the work I've done and people getting that given to them, if anyone somehow thinks this is about 'me' and sour grapes coz I had to do all the hard work they are barking up the wrong tree...

...it's about people experiencing the game the way it was intended to be experienced.

...it's about letting new players solve their own hunts without someone saying 'here's the shortcut newb go for it', and experiencing the satisfaction of a job well done and a job 'complete'.

... of finding out after X amount of hunts, 'hey, Not the Waiter... I could have just solved that one by accusing the butcher!'

The AVH helper doesn't just 'eliminate', it actually solves the hunt for you.

You might as well just say please do X amount AI cases and there will be a reward at the end for you.

[Adam's a clever man. I have nothing but respect for his hard work and intelligence. I just happen not to like this particular thing, who the creator is is irrelevant.]