To do list

• Rewriting the code in C++ instead of Mathematica. This would be a huge task and may never be done. This could be someone's school project. :-)
• Future abilities as they come out.
• Adding the option of giving one of the players some free attacks at the beginning to simulate melee characters getting to the ranged characters. This might never be implemented because it would increase the size of the calculation too much.

Future features?

• The web interface can be improved by adding Javascript features, such as:
  • Hovering over an ability will activate a bubble that describes the ability
  • A selection box of current figures/squads will allow a select that will automatically input all the data for that figure/squad. [DONE!]
  • Hitting calculate will bring up a dialog box, estimating the length of time required for the calculation. (I'll need more data to be able to guess the length of time based on size of transition matrix.)
• Send suggestions to mathguy

Version history

• Version 1.0: the first working version. But this had a typo that affected results of squads (those results were a little bit off).
• Version 2.0: Corrected typo/bug in Version 1.0 that affected squads. This version now allows the numbers of units to be higher than the squad size, so that you can simulate using multiple copies of a squad. Also implements Rage.
• Version 2.1: corrects the typo that had labeled "Tough" in the wrong spot. (I accidentally relabeled Bonus Skull to Tough.) All Version 2.0: calculations with Tough had wrong answers - sorry!
• Version 2.2: Major improvements on efficiency when dealing with multiple common squads. (This reduced the size of the transition matrix in these cases.) Version 2.21 made minor improvements.
• Version 2.3: improvements: Interface renovated to be clearer. More abilities added: Blood Hungry,. Also, a minor typo in "Frenzy" ability fixed. (Calculations done with previous versions involving "Frenzy" might be off by less than 0.1%.)
• Version 2.31: Implemented Stealth Armor, Shield Wall. Fixed typo in Crippling Gaze. (Previous Crippling Gaze calculations would just fail because the transition matrix would be detected to be nonstochastic - a double check that is always done.)
• Version 2.32: Fixed typo in Unleashed Fury. (Previous calculations would just fail because the transition matrix would be detected to be nonstochastic.) Hopefully, these are the last typos introduced when Version 2.2 efficiency improvements were made.
• Version 2.40: Interface now has a quick selection box for existing Heroscape characters; selecting one will fill in all stats & abilities for that army card. Warnings will sound if certain combinations are selected such as Grimnak versus Charos, in this example, you should select "Grimnak (vs Large or Huge)" instead of "Grimnak". And really fixed CripplingGaze this time (hopefully).
• Version 2.41: Paralyzing Stare warning added (requires opponent to be small or medium).
• Version 2.42: A textbox that shows point value if official units are chosen (prorated if fractional squads).
• Version 3.1: New interface that is more space efficient. Created Attack Enhancement and Defense Ehancement selection boxes, for abilities such as Sword of Reckoning and Melee Defense. This is now needed because of the Rod of Negation! (It used to be that you could just enter a higher Attack of Defense number.) Abilities from Zanafor's Discovery, Raknar's Vision, and Thaelunk Tundra added.
• Version 3.12: HiveSwarm fixed.
• Version 3.2: Radio buttons added for limiting number of attackers when enemy is down to 1 figure. This is mainly used in conjunction with HiveSwarm. Set this number to 6 if enemy is a one-hex-base figure and to 8 if enemy is a two-hex-base figure.
• Version 3.21: More documentation.
• Version 3.30: Some abilities and figures from Thora's Vengeance added.
• Version 4.00: Abilities from Thora's Vengeance, Sir Hawthorne, Flagbearers, Dawn of Darkness added. The Valkyrie dice abilities required revamping the way probabilities were computed using generating functions.
• Version 4.01: Fixed some typos. (Previous version crashed on some inputs, but did not return any false results.)
• Version 4.11: Some Marvel characters added. Rest to be added later.
• Version 4.20: WaitAndFire and UnleashedFury fixed (typos were introduced in Version 4.0).
• Version 4.21: Fixed Throw14 when vs squads.
• Version 4.40: Wave 7 and Swarm of the Marro and rest of Marvel characters implemented (except for Silver Surfer).
• Version 4.50: Cosmic Blast implemented.
• Version 4.60: Lethal Sting implemented.
• Version 4.70: Updated the database of abilities that should not be used together. Fixed database of previous calculations, where Throw14 versus squads, HomeTree vs CounterStrike, Unleashed Fury with more than 1 squad were done incorrectly.
• Version 4.80: Smoke Powder fixed so that it occurs before every attack, not just once per turn.
• Version 4.81: Added Master Win Chiu Woo.
• Version 4.82: Fixed HomeTree for heros. Any calculations involving heros using the Leaf of HomeTree aura should be recalculated. (there were 13 of these calculations - they have been purged from the database).
• Version 5.00: Added Wave 8 abilities except for Pounce, which will be added soon, with an explanation of how it is implemented.
• Version 5.01: Entangling Web fixed. Fixed Eternal Hatred.
• Version 5.02: The ability Pounce is added.
• Version 5.03: Agent Skahen added.
• Version 5.04: Fixed stats of Marcu.
• Version 5.10: Fixed StingerDrain (StingerDrain calculations prior to 4-26-09 are incorrect. Those calculations have been expunged from the database.).
• Version 5.20: Fixed DoubleShields (Shields of Valor). A typo bug was introduced in Version 4.00 (May 15, 2007). D'oh. Calculations done with DoubleShields between May 15, 2007 and May 21, 2009 are incorrect.
• Version 5.30: Added Wave 9. Also fixed a bug in Rod of Negation where the rod was not used if it was at the very end of a round (it makes about 0.5-2.5% difference). Also fixed Pounce, which was not killing the pouncer sometimes. It might be worthwhile to redo any previous Rod of Negation or Pounce calculations. (Sorry.) Any Rod of Negation or Pounce data from the data base has been expunged (88 of these).
• Version 5.40: Added Wave 10 and D&D Master Set figures. Also fixed WaitAndFire again. Arg. Any WaitThenFire data from the data base has been expunged (690 of these). Remember the implementation of WaitThenFire is that the figures get +1 attack except on the very first turn if they go first; this simulates them being the ones to move into range of the battle.
• Version 5.45: Fixed BloodFrenzy (Sorry I misread the card to be a Krug-like ability.) Any calculations done with the Feral troll using testing beta version before Feb 14, 2010 are incorrect.
• Version 5.50: Added Wave 11 (D1) figures. Implemented Engagement Strike / Ice cold.
• Version 5.60: Implemented Squad of size 1 to mean common heroes. (For example, this makes a difference for Sudema and Braxas.) Added negative modifiers for D20Enhancement. (Useful for custom figures.)
• Version 6.00: New interface improvements, including mouseover activating balloons that describe the abilities.
• Version 6.10: Added implementable abilities from D12: the fledgling abilities and Psionic Blast. Also fixed a typo that would have affected results of ChillingTouch and Trample and made them worse than they should be. All Chilling Touch and Trample and Throw numbers before Aug 28, 2010 should be redone. There were 883 such calculations from before and this data has been expunged from the database.
• Version 6.11: Modified Searing Intensity.
• Version 6.20: Added more choices to "Squad size" to include squads of more than 1 common heroes, which is essentially what you get when you use Wyrmling Bonding or Master of the Elements. This only makes a difference for powers that distinguish squad figures from common heros such as Chomp, Poison Acid Breath, Stare of Stone.