Home » MODDING HQ 1.13 » Flugente's Magika Workshop » New Feature: IMP gear selection
New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336070] Wed, 24 September 2014 02:12 Go to next message
Flugente

 
Messages:3509
Registered:April 2009
Location: Germany
<font size="">New Feature: IMP gear selection</font>

The IMP creation process has come a long way since 1.00. Back then, it was a quiz, and the answers you gave influenced what traits and items you got.
Nowadays things are different. We select traits, personality, disabilities and other things directly. This allows us to finetune the IMPs to our liking.
What always somewhat annoyed me (and I assume others too) were the items one got. They depend on ItemChoices.xml, but this also involves randomness. One can never be sure what you get.
If one wants an IMP to get specific items, one has to basically

  • clean the xml,
  • add the items one wants (multiple times in case of ammo!),
  • save the xml,
  • start the game,
  • create the IMP (and hope you did not miss anything in the xml)
  • save the game.
If you want multiple IMPs, do that process again for ech and every one. Phew. This stinks. :badair:

Well, no more of that. As of r7529, we now have the IMP gear selection. At the end of the IMP creation process, you will be asked on wether you want to get you gear via the old method, or the new one:
http://i58.tinypic.com/vifxtv.png
This allows you to pick your weapons, LBE gear, armour and other items how you want to.
Which items can be selected depends on ItemChoices.xml (this is the input) and the traits you have selected. How high your stats are is not evaluated, because f*** that. People edit the xml for that very reason - because they are unhappy with the selection.
If you select expensive gear, you will have to pay the additional cost - if the cost is below the IMP cost, it is free. Might sound odd, but is less odd than the current system where you get everything for free.

This small video demonstrates the process (it shows the entire IMP creation process, in case you are not familiar with the current state of it):




  • The second gun slot is for sidearms (guns that can be held in one hand) or launchers. You cannot start with 2 ARs with this feature. If you don't like that, play with the old method.
  • How many items of a category you can purchase depends on hardcoded values. I will not externalise them, because I've had with externalising every crappy detail. Take it or leave it.
  • The ItemChoices.xml could need an update, which I may or may not perform soonish.
  • This entire feature could also be used for AIM and MERC. All that has to be done is to find room for it and do all the UI work. And find someone else to do it while you're at it.
  • No, I will not code a way to apply attachments to items while purchasing them.
  • No, this will not go in the 2014 stable release coldfix or whatever it will be called.

This has been added to the trunk in r7529 and is fully savegame compatible. GameDir >= r2152 is required, as new images were added. Using a lower GameDir will cause the government to spy on you.

[Updated on: Sun, 01 March 2015 00:53]

Report message to a moderator

Captain

Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336072] Wed, 24 September 2014 02:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
grim is currently offline grim

 
Messages:344
Registered:July 2006
Location: France
Nice improvement. The item limitation and surplus cost make a great balance.

The UI is very efficient and visual, i like it. If this kind of UI is in the end ported to the mercs inventory, it may be another great step!

Report message to a moderator

Master Sergeant
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336081] Wed, 24 September 2014 10:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Boge is currently offline Boge

 
Messages:55
Registered:July 2012
Gosh! You guys are killing me! I feel like I have to start all over every time just to experience it the right way!

Report message to a moderator

Corporal
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336082] Wed, 24 September 2014 10:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
fallschirmjager is currently offline fallschirmjager

 
Messages:42
Registered:June 2005
Location: Darwin, Australia
Very nice, Flugente.

Report message to a moderator

Corporal
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336083] Wed, 24 September 2014 10:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Uriens is currently offline Uriens

 
Messages:346
Registered:July 2006
Love it. :super:

Report message to a moderator

Master Sergeant
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336086] Wed, 24 September 2014 11:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
pheloncab is currently offline pheloncab

 
Messages:278
Registered:August 2004
Location: So. Cal. or texas
Double thumbs up...

Report message to a moderator

Master Sergeant
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336087] Wed, 24 September 2014 11:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Parkan is currently offline Parkan

 
Messages:439
Registered:April 2010
Location: Russia,Sevastopol

Cannot run new release version of new exe with this feature.The debug version-work.Is this problem of unstable builds or what?
Compiled exe with VS2008

Report message to a moderator

Master Sergeant
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336088] Wed, 24 September 2014 12:39 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Sargeno is currently offline Sargeno

 
Messages:69
Registered:December 2001
Location: Oregon, USA
When and where can I get the latest exe that works with this new feature?

Report message to a moderator

Corporal
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336092] Wed, 24 September 2014 13:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Flugente

 
Messages:3509
Registered:April 2009
Location: Germany
@Parkan: silversurfer reported this bug a few days ago. It seems to be a VS2008 problem. I'll see if I can find a solution tonight.

@Sargeno: This should be in the next SCI DepressivesBrot releases. Alternatively you can compile it yourself, but SCIs are way easier.

Report message to a moderator

Captain

Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336093] Wed, 24 September 2014 14:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Parkan is currently offline Parkan

 
Messages:439
Registered:April 2010
Location: Russia,Sevastopol

Ok.Will wait a fix.

Another question:The variable choose for IMp items will be configurable through IMPitemchoices.xml or a different file?I didnot find itemchoices.xml in data or data-1.13 directory.

Report message to a moderator

Master Sergeant
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336098] Wed, 24 September 2014 18:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Sargeno is currently offline Sargeno

 
Messages:69
Registered:December 2001
Location: Oregon, USA
Flugente
@Sargeno: This should be in the next SCI DepressivesBrot releases. Alternatively you can compile it yourself, but SCIs are way easier.


I imagine that DepressivesBrot will have the next SCI out per his usual update schedule so I can wait as I don't own a compiler and the SCI are indeed easier.

Thanks.

[Updated on: Thu, 25 September 2014 02:06] by Moderator

Report message to a moderator

Corporal
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336121] Thu, 25 September 2014 02:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Sargeno is currently offline Sargeno

 
Messages:69
Registered:December 2001
Location: Oregon, USA
If I ask really nice might it be possible to get at least the new exe files as I can extract the rest of the files for this feature from the latest SVN?

Thanks in advance.

Report message to a moderator

Corporal
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336122] Thu, 25 September 2014 02:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Flugente

 
Messages:3509
Registered:April 2009
Location: Germany
@Parkan: Fixed in r7530.

@Sargeno: Nope. If I'd upload an exe, then soon everybody would want a custom-built one every time we commit anything.

- We don't have many procedures, so let's at least follow the few ones that we have. -

Report message to a moderator

Captain

Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336124] Thu, 25 September 2014 05:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Sargeno is currently offline Sargeno

 
Messages:69
Registered:December 2001
Location: Oregon, USA
Understood, was but a simple request.

Report message to a moderator

Corporal
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336140] Thu, 25 September 2014 14:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Vincent J. Claymore is currently offline Vincent J. Claymore

 
Messages:285
Registered:February 2011
This is incredible. So amazing. Thank you!

Report message to a moderator

Master Sergeant
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336155] Thu, 25 September 2014 23:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
axor01 is currently offline axor01

 
Messages:31
Registered:July 2013
Location: RSA
How is the cost of items calculated? Awesomely feature Mr Flugente .

[Updated on: Thu, 25 September 2014 23:10] by Moderator

Report message to a moderator

Private 1st Class
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336156] Thu, 25 September 2014 23:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Flugente

 
Messages:3509
Registered:April 2009
Location: Germany
Cost is the unmodified price of the items, minus the IMP cost. You do not get money back if you buy less though Wink. As a result, the first 3k$ are kinda free, for everything else exceeding that you have to pay extra.

Report message to a moderator

Captain

Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336163] Fri, 26 September 2014 06:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
axor01 is currently offline axor01

 
Messages:31
Registered:July 2013
Location: RSA
Very good. Cannot wait to see this incorporated into Urban Chaos string.

Report message to a moderator

Private 1st Class
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336179] Fri, 26 September 2014 12:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mravac Kid is currently offline Mravac Kid

 
Messages:68
Registered:May 2004
Location: Opatija, Croatia
OMG YES YES YES!
This is the answer to all my complaints about JA2 Very Happy

Report message to a moderator

Corporal
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336190] Fri, 26 September 2014 13:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Forral is currently offline Forral

 
Messages:71
Registered:May 2009
Location: Sweden
This is great! I don't know how many times I've rewritten the IMPChoices.xml in order to setup balanced, flexible gear allocation that doesn't create anomalous configurations for unusual skill and trait combos, only to fail in one way or another every time.

This resolves those issues in a very final manner. Great job!

If I'm to nitpick, however, I can't help but think those orange slots in the load-out selection look a touch jarring. I feel the purpose would be much better served by a darker 'greyed out' version of the normal yellow background, emulating the looks of the rest of the interfaces in the game. To be perfectly honest, I feel the use of orange here screams 'programmer graphics!' and also suggest it's an auxiliary system added as an afterthought rather than an integral part of the game, which it will in time be.

Report message to a moderator

Corporal
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336195] Fri, 26 September 2014 13:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
DepressivesBrot is currently offline DepressivesBrot

 
Messages:3658
Registered:July 2009
Forral
To be perfectly honest, I feel the use of orange here screams 'programmer graphics!' and also suggest it's an auxiliary system added as an afterthought rather than an integral part of the game, which it will in time be.

From a slightly different topic, but the quote fits soooo well:
Flugente
People will not like your pictures. Tell them that these are only placeholders, and you will gladly replace them if they deliver better pictures. This will never happen, and those placeholders will stay in the stock data for the next 5 years.

Report message to a moderator

Captain

Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336198] Fri, 26 September 2014 13:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Flugente

 
Messages:3509
Registered:April 2009
Location: Germany
@Forral: Hmm. All true... perhaps that does seem to indicate 'error' more than 'nothing selected, all ok'... might check wether no box at all in these cases works better.

Report message to a moderator

Captain

Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336199] Fri, 26 September 2014 14:23 Go to previous messageGo to next message
awatz is currently offline awatz

 
Messages:42
Registered:August 2002
Location: Philippines
where can i download r7530?

Report message to a moderator

Corporal
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336207] Fri, 26 September 2014 17:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
silversurfer

 
Messages:2793
Registered:May 2009
You just wait until Depri releases the next SCI or download the GameDir and source code from SVN and compile your own exe.

Source:
https://ja2svn.mooo.com/source/ja2/trunk/GameSource/ja2_v1.13/

GameDir:
https://ja2svn.mooo.com/source/ja2_v1.13_data/GameDir/

Report message to a moderator

Lieutenant
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336209] Fri, 26 September 2014 17:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Sargeno is currently offline Sargeno

 
Messages:69
Registered:December 2001
Location: Oregon, USA
Are there any free open source compiler programs that work well for this?

Report message to a moderator

Corporal
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336210] Fri, 26 September 2014 17:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
DepressivesBrot is currently offline DepressivesBrot

 
Messages:3658
Registered:July 2009
If the requirement is just free, VS Express is what everyone is using, recommend the 2010 version since that's the latest with specifically set up projects. Newer ones may or may not require conversions that may or may not break stuff.

Report message to a moderator

Captain

Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336212] Fri, 26 September 2014 18:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Sargeno is currently offline Sargeno

 
Messages:69
Registered:December 2001
Location: Oregon, USA
Okay, I will give it a try.

Thanks.

Edit: I went to MSDN and downloaded the ISO for Visual Studio Express 2010 but I when I try to install I get "F:\Setup.hta is not a valid Win32 application" error. How do I fix it?

Thanks again.

[Updated on: Sat, 27 September 2014 00:07] by Moderator

Report message to a moderator

Corporal
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336222] Sat, 27 September 2014 00:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
HunterHunter is currently offline HunterHunter

 
Messages:19
Registered:September 2014
When the next release is planned?

I just want to start a new game because I have currently time and I would like to find Mike and Slay. It would be fine if you just create an exe of the newest Version (including the weapon selection and if possible with mostly german text/sound). I'm a programmer, but I know that it's really not so easy to load a project and compile it. The time for providing the new exe is not so huge Smile isn't it? Smile

Report message to a moderator

Private
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336224] Sat, 27 September 2014 00:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
DepressivesBrot is currently offline DepressivesBrot

 
Messages:3658
Registered:July 2009
Since it includes the time futilely spent trying to convince me, you have plenty of time to get it to run (Exact time can be seen in my thread). Especially with extra wishes like GER loc. :devilaugh:

Report message to a moderator

Captain

Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336225] Sat, 27 September 2014 01:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Sargeno is currently offline Sargeno

 
Messages:69
Registered:December 2001
Location: Oregon, USA
DepressivesBrot
Since it includes the time futilely spent trying to convince me, you have plenty of time to get it to run (Exact time can be seen in my thread). Especially with extra wishes like GER loc. :devilaugh:


If this is directed at me then, "The horse you rode in on".

Because the other guy is not me and I am trying to find a fix for the HTA error but can not find any online.

So thanks for nothing.

Report message to a moderator

Corporal
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336226] Sat, 27 September 2014 01:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
DepressivesBrot is currently offline DepressivesBrot

 
Messages:3658
Registered:July 2009
No, I meant the other guy.

Report message to a moderator

Captain

Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336227] Sat, 27 September 2014 01:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
grim is currently offline grim

 
Messages:344
Registered:July 2006
Location: France
?? Hmm no, i guess it was directed at HunterHunter.

Report message to a moderator

Master Sergeant
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336228] Sat, 27 September 2014 01:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Sargeno is currently offline Sargeno

 
Messages:69
Registered:December 2001
Location: Oregon, USA
Then I apologize as I have been trying to get the install error fixed all day by searching for fixes (I.E. Windows Update and various websites) and not getting anywhere.

I am basically left to just waiting for the next exe release.

Report message to a moderator

Corporal
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336230] Sat, 27 September 2014 02:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Sargeno is currently offline Sargeno

 
Messages:69
Registered:December 2001
Location: Oregon, USA
Figured out the error. My MSHTA.exe was not associated for .hta file types, now it works but which part of the program do I need to install?

Report message to a moderator

Corporal
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336234] Sat, 27 September 2014 10:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
DepressivesBrot is currently offline DepressivesBrot

 
Messages:3658
Registered:July 2009
Iirc, just the VC++ compiler, the rest is unnecessary.

Report message to a moderator

Captain

Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336243] Sat, 27 September 2014 16:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
HunterHunter is currently offline HunterHunter

 
Messages:19
Registered:September 2014
I have the exe now, thanks, but one more question:
From where I can get the needed new files (game dir version)?

http://www.bears-pit.com/board/ubbthreads.php/topics/56723/Instructions_for_using_SVN.html
=> seems to points to an old instruction. No game dir found on:
https://ja2svn.mooo.com/source/ja2/trunk/Documents

I tried to use this but not working too:
https://ja2svn.mooo.com/source/ja2/trunk/GameData/German_Version

[Updated on: Sat, 27 September 2014 16:23] by Moderator

Report message to a moderator

Private
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336244] Sat, 27 September 2014 17:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Sargeno is currently offline Sargeno

 
Messages:69
Registered:December 2001
Location: Oregon, USA
Okay, I shall give it a go then.

Thanks.

Report message to a moderator

Corporal
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336260] Sun, 28 September 2014 10:28 Go to previous messageGo to next message
silversurfer

 
Messages:2793
Registered:May 2009
HunterHunter
I have the exe now, thanks, but one more question:
From where I can get the needed new files (game dir version)?

I tried to use this but not working too:
https://ja2svn.mooo.com/source/ja2/trunk/GameData/German_Version

The GameDir is located at https://ja2svn.mooo.com/source/ja2_v1.13_data/GameDir/. This is the English GameDir. The localized ones only contain language specific data. So in fact you need both to form a complete GameDir if you want to play in German.

Report message to a moderator

Lieutenant
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336292] Sun, 28 September 2014 20:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Deimosruhk is currently offline Deimosruhk

 
Messages:19
Registered:January 2013
This might be the single best upgrade to JA2 since the skill upgrade way back when.

+1000

Report message to a moderator

Private
Re: New Feature: IMP gear selection[message #336353] Wed, 01 October 2014 01:35 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
HunterHunter is currently offline HunterHunter

 
Messages:19
Registered:September 2014
thx, it works now.

Report message to a moderator

Private
Previous Topic: New feature: enemy generals
Next Topic: New Feature: Radio Operator
Goto Forum:
  


Current Time: Fri Mar 29 08:48:31 GMT+2 2024

Total time taken to generate the page: 0.02343 seconds