Re: Project "v1.13 Stable Modding Platform" Looking for Coders and Betatesters[message #196551]
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Thu, 18 September 2008 10:25
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shed23 |
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Messages:130
Registered:October 2004 Location: U.K. |
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ShangaI'd place the blame on overlapping tiles and the brute version of the editor (instead of checking for errors and/or preventing bad mapping, it goes down in flames).
Exactly what I found with roads, and assumed the same for cliffs.
However, cliffs seem to cause a far more 'serious' glitch with the 'tearing' effect.
A while back, I messed about creating very simple road tiles, each one being a uniform colour and solid isometric 'square',(simply overwrote existing), had some troubles with JSDs' but they worked without assertion or general placement failures.
However, there were occasions, that if roads were placed over any debris, problems could still occur.
It was reasonable to then say that overlap was the main problem.
Unfortunately, I know zilch about JSDs', otherwise I would probably mess with tiles far more.
Are there any 'how to' guides for JSDs' out there ?
@Kriplo....
Good luck to you !!
We really (desperately) need a stable editor as a prime objective.
Thanks for you volunteering.
[Updated on: Thu, 18 September 2008 10:29] by Moderator Report message to a moderator
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Sergeant
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Re: Project "v1.13 Stable Modding Platform" Looking for Coders and Betatesters[message #196580]
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Thu, 18 September 2008 19:59
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Khor1255 |
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Messages:1817
Registered:August 2003 Location: Pleasantville, NJ |
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@ Kriplo
I should most likely send you the latest version of the map editor ChrisL sent me a few days ago. I am not getting the worst problems with this one and it does not have the major update nonsense. In fact, it loads faster than any beta editor I've ever used. I am going to ask him if this is alright or to (even better) send it himself so that he can explain (in coder talk) what you should be looking for with that particular version.
I'm really happy you are looking at the editor. A debug capability is a great first step. We have been talking about .jsds and their interactions with maps as being prime suspects for map editor problems.
There are many cool things that could be achieved with extended understanding of .jsds. A .jsd file is the 'structural' information about each map object and how it relates to game physics and overall interaction. These files control such things as how massive (tall or wide) map objects are as well as other properties like if they can be penetrated by gunfire, opened by a player (doors and crates), climbed on, jumped over, if they are water, if when shot they might explode, and most likely a few dozen things I did not mention. Unlocking the properties on these files would not only allow modders to have a better working map editor but might also provide us with the means to create new map objects with a better editor than those currently available (I know, greed rears it's ugly head again).
There are a few current editors that may or may not help you to understand .jsds (assuming you don't already). I could send them to you or you could get them from here:
http://kermi.pp.fi/ja2/editors/
The other major issue with the editor might be far easier. It seems the editor does not correctly erase or overwrite existing tiles. Ideally, if you placed a new tile on top of one (like a furniture tile) that the program would have to pick one or the other it would place the new tile automatically erasing the old one. This would only be desireable for tiles like furniture because you would still want to be able to place other things (that the game allows) on the same tile. You must currently erase the existing tile before adding your new one (which may be the only way to do it in the end and that is not a problem) but very often the game still acts as if some 'trace' of the erased map object is still there and this can result in assertion errors and other weirdness that make some modded maps a mess.
I hope you can do something about these problems but if you find that it is too boring or whatever please stop and work on something that entertains you. The worst thing would be to have you burn out before adding anything to the project. It is my sincere hope you stick with the map editor for a while but we all do this mainly for entertainment so please stay entertained.
@shed
Did you ever get your map editor working? I would also like to send you the one ChrisL sent me so it could be two people testing it instead of just one. Thanks for the input here. There are so few of us who respond these days that it is good to hear another voice once in a while.
@Shanga
Yes. Even the best JSD Editors are lacking (the Russian one I've never really been able to understand and it is supposed to be by far the superior one). Having all of this data understood and - dare I hope - externalized would be a fantastic leap for modding ability and general improvement of our understanding into an extremely important element of game physics. I really hope someone cracks this one.
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Sergeant Major
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Re: Project "v1.13 Stable Modding Platform" Looking for Coders and Betatesters[message #196586]
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Thu, 18 September 2008 22:00
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shed23 |
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Messages:130
Registered:October 2004 Location: U.K. |
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Khor1255@shed
Did you ever get your map editor working? I would also like to send you the one ChrisL sent me so it could be two people testing it instead of just one. Thanks for the input here. There are so few of us who respond these days that it is good to hear another voice once in a while.
I have, of sorts, got the editor up and running.
It is highly unstable though.
I would certainly appreciate your sending me the one by ChrisL. Once I have it, I will do my best to trip it up, or whatever.
I can seriously devote time to this towards the end of this month, and (hopefully), solidly from then onwards.
Regarding the JSDs'.
If I was to create a new static graphic, how is a JSD assigned, or with what program, and how ?
I am clueless on this one !!
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Sergeant
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Re: Project "v1.13 Stable Modding Platform" Looking for Coders and Betatesters[message #201867]
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Mon, 17 November 2008 20:51
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Gunjack |
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Messages:20
Registered:March 2008 Location: Stuttgart, Germany |
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If testers still needed (or will be some time later), i'm always ready.
p.s.: i speak german and russian, if it's of any help (native language level, born in former UdSSR, live since '96 in germany)
[Updated on: Mon, 17 November 2008 20:54] by Moderator Report message to a moderator
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Private 1st Class
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