Profile for Vent
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Displayed name | Vent |
| Member number | 4186 |
| Title | Warrior |
| Postcount | 175 |
| Homepage | |
| Registered | Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
Recent posts
Pages
| Author | Recent posts |
|---|---|
| Article - The Moral of the Story in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Saturday, May 15 2004 15:24
Profile
Ok, I agree pollution morale isn't the center of this scenario. I disagree it must be the centrale subject for all scenario related to pollution. Also it changes from the too often seen plague. I disagree it has no link with any nowadays pollution problems. About a Small Rebellion, it follows many advices of the article plus morale is more in its center than most other games I ever played. That doesn't means it gives you the solution but that's what is very difficult with morale, give your solution to the player. And that's a little what you advice to avoid. Finally it would have been the perfect example for your "avoid black&white" advice. Even more, what makes this scenario popular is certainly a lot that aspect. At least myself I get hypnotized by this. [ Saturday, May 15, 2004 15:28: Message edited by: Vent ] Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| Article - The Moral of the Story in Blades of Avernum | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Saturday, May 15 2004 15:24
Profile
Ok, I agree pollution morale isn't the center of this scenario. I disagree it must be the centrale subject for all scenario related to pollution. Also it changes from the too often seen plague. I disagree it has no link with any nowadays pollution problems. About a Small Rebellion, it follows many advices of the article plus morale is more in its center than most other games I ever played. That doesn't means it gives you the solution but that's what is very difficult with morale, give your solution to the player. And that's a little what you advice to avoid. Finally it would have been the perfect example for your "avoid black&white" advice. Even more, what makes this scenario popular is certainly a lot that aspect. At least myself I get hypnotized by this. [ Saturday, May 15, 2004 15:28: Message edited by: Vent ] Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| Article - Your First Scenario in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Saturday, May 15 2004 15:16
Profile
Fun article and this time the fun fits to the subject. ;) I feels things which have been lived through! Your best article at this date. :P Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| Article - Your First Scenario in Blades of Avernum | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Saturday, May 15 2004 15:16
Profile
Fun article and this time the fun fits to the subject. ;) I feels things which have been lived through! Your best article at this date. :P Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| Better for map making... in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Saturday, May 15 2004 15:09
Profile
I agree the limited size of the window or the too large scale of the overview are boring. I know myself when I do stuff that I should take care of screenplay size but otherwise limits are boring. Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| Better for map making... in Blades of Avernum | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Saturday, May 15 2004 15:09
Profile
I agree the limited size of the window or the too large scale of the overview are boring. I know myself when I do stuff that I should take care of screenplay size but otherwise limits are boring. Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| semi-article: Attach your document in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Saturday, May 15 2004 14:57
Profile
quote:I am playing BoE scenario, still few but for the few, none of them had a rock solid readme, including no thanks to beta testers (but inside the game itself which isn't a so good thing appart at the end), hints or walkthrough not included and many more weak readme design. I need to see more example but I don't think it was in the BoE culture and traditions to do standard and complete readme files. [ Saturday, May 15, 2004 14:58: Message edited by: Vent ] Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| semi-article: Attach your document in Blades of Avernum | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Saturday, May 15 2004 14:57
Profile
quote:I am playing BoE scenario, still few but for the few, none of them had a rock solid readme, including no thanks to beta testers (but inside the game itself which isn't a so good thing appart at the end), hints or walkthrough not included and many more weak readme design. I need to see more example but I don't think it was in the BoE culture and traditions to do standard and complete readme files. [ Saturday, May 15, 2004 14:58: Message edited by: Vent ] Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| A game programmer's point of view in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Saturday, May 15 2004 14:48
Profile
As a quote, as a non BoE user, I bought BoA only because the demo appeal me and because there was 3 more scenario to play. I had never buy any editor only. An internal engine not exposed to the public cost a lot less than an engine like BoA. For example: - For internal use, the engine could not require scripts. That's even more true if the team is one person that do everything for A3 (instead of engine prog. team vs scenario team as in all big games). In the internal engine, a NPC script is in fact a funtion. - No need to design a script language, to design an interpreter or pseudo compiler or even a compiler (I think that was done for Quake 3). - All functions that are exposed to public use require a much more solid implementation and documentation, that's even more true when it's a one person team. - If A3 didn't required a function for scenario purpose then it wasn't done. At the oposite Jeff tried to think of very diversified functions that the authors could could want to have and that could be compatible with the engine. And so on, and so on. Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| A game programmer's point of view in Blades of Avernum | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Saturday, May 15 2004 14:48
Profile
As a quote, as a non BoE user, I bought BoA only because the demo appeal me and because there was 3 more scenario to play. I had never buy any editor only. An internal engine not exposed to the public cost a lot less than an engine like BoA. For example: - For internal use, the engine could not require scripts. That's even more true if the team is one person that do everything for A3 (instead of engine prog. team vs scenario team as in all big games). In the internal engine, a NPC script is in fact a funtion. - No need to design a script language, to design an interpreter or pseudo compiler or even a compiler (I think that was done for Quake 3). - All functions that are exposed to public use require a much more solid implementation and documentation, that's even more true when it's a one person team. - If A3 didn't required a function for scenario purpose then it wasn't done. At the oposite Jeff tried to think of very diversified functions that the authors could could want to have and that could be compatible with the engine. And so on, and so on. Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| Article - The Moral of the Story in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Wednesday, May 12 2004 12:51
Profile
quote:There are plenty good reasons to explain a goverment refused to sign a wordwide treaty despite it is the first pollution maker and all other industrialized country had sign. I'm confident we could find many good reasons not doing something with an effect not in near future. I agree it's complicate but if there's a blocking in governments and everyday everybody behavior it's not because of good reasons to not doing something but because a mentality need to change and I think it's far to be done. quote:Am I dreaming or why there's a BoE forum? If there are only BoE example I don't see why put this article here. Well when none of the few BoA scenario could apply, why not, but when it's possible... So you should better quit objecting my objecting. Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| Article - The Moral of the Story in Blades of Avernum | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Wednesday, May 12 2004 12:51
Profile
quote:There are plenty good reasons to explain a goverment refused to sign a wordwide treaty despite it is the first pollution maker and all other industrialized country had sign. I'm confident we could find many good reasons not doing something with an effect not in near future. I agree it's complicate but if there's a blocking in governments and everyday everybody behavior it's not because of good reasons to not doing something but because a mentality need to change and I think it's far to be done. quote:Am I dreaming or why there's a BoE forum? If there are only BoE example I don't see why put this article here. Well when none of the few BoA scenario could apply, why not, but when it's possible... So you should better quit objecting my objecting. Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| semi-article: Attach your document in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Wednesday, May 12 2004 12:32
Profile
quote::D quote:I quote myself : "You didn't succeed to solve." Otherwise, I don't think you need worry, you aren't Jeff and you don't ask a fee for your scenario. quote:If your scenario produce a bug then you are wrong and it's useless to accuse the engine. It's up to you to avoid bugs of the engine. quote:No this "How To" was about installation of the addon. Ha well it's how I understood it and second post of dragongirl confirms that. Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| semi-article: Attach your document in Blades of Avernum | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Wednesday, May 12 2004 12:32
Profile
quote::D quote:I quote myself : "You didn't succeed to solve." Otherwise, I don't think you need worry, you aren't Jeff and you don't ask a fee for your scenario. quote:If your scenario produce a bug then you are wrong and it's useless to accuse the engine. It's up to you to avoid bugs of the engine. quote:No this "How To" was about installation of the addon. Ha well it's how I understood it and second post of dragongirl confirms that. Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| semi-article: Attach your document in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Wednesday, May 12 2004 08:41
Profile
1 - About the "How to" I agree, even for the fully basic advices. Your scenario could be the first one a newbie try to play and that doesn't cost anything to copy/paste the standard instructions in your readme. 2 - About the pre made party, I don't understand what "put the data of that party in the text file" means. You means that this should be clearly mentioned in the readme file? If you mean that I agree otherwise if it means some resources manipulation, I can't agree. 3 - About walkthrough/hints I agree, it's better than nothing but I'd prefer a well organized set of html file that will be easier to provide hints without too high risks of spoiling. 4 - About the emails, I don't remember to have seen that. I agree with the problem but I'm not sure how good is the solution. Still about readme files: - It doesn't hurt to put some subtle publicity in it. Provide a list of special features, provide a short but appealing abstract of the subject and a short introduction of the story, at the opposite avoid very long story background description put in the readme or put it at the extreme end of the text file and be clear to mention that it's not required to read this. - Avoid being too obviously pompous and pretentious. - Never wrote that your scenario is bad or has bad points. Players will see that themselves and otherwise you could spoil them their pleasure about flaws they could have not notice. - Put a long list of testers, if necessary create new names, that will always produce a good feeling and will help the players enjoy more your scenario. - Put a list of the known bug you didn't succeed to solve. Be sober, no need to accuse the editor or the game engine. - Put a list of you other scenario already made. A last point, don't expect the player will read any line of your readme file. Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| semi-article: Attach your document in Blades of Avernum | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Wednesday, May 12 2004 08:41
Profile
1 - About the "How to" I agree, even for the fully basic advices. Your scenario could be the first one a newbie try to play and that doesn't cost anything to copy/paste the standard instructions in your readme. 2 - About the pre made party, I don't understand what "put the data of that party in the text file" means. You means that this should be clearly mentioned in the readme file? If you mean that I agree otherwise if it means some resources manipulation, I can't agree. 3 - About walkthrough/hints I agree, it's better than nothing but I'd prefer a well organized set of html file that will be easier to provide hints without too high risks of spoiling. 4 - About the emails, I don't remember to have seen that. I agree with the problem but I'm not sure how good is the solution. Still about readme files: - It doesn't hurt to put some subtle publicity in it. Provide a list of special features, provide a short but appealing abstract of the subject and a short introduction of the story, at the opposite avoid very long story background description put in the readme or put it at the extreme end of the text file and be clear to mention that it's not required to read this. - Avoid being too obviously pompous and pretentious. - Never wrote that your scenario is bad or has bad points. Players will see that themselves and otherwise you could spoil them their pleasure about flaws they could have not notice. - Put a long list of testers, if necessary create new names, that will always produce a good feeling and will help the players enjoy more your scenario. - Put a list of the known bug you didn't succeed to solve. Be sober, no need to accuse the editor or the game engine. - Put a list of you other scenario already made. A last point, don't expect the player will read any line of your readme file. Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| Article - The Moral of the Story in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Wednesday, May 12 2004 07:48
Profile
quote:Ooops! quote:I appreciate the attempt to lowdown the scenario quality by the use of words "schoolkids (or something)". Using "something" only would have been enough. :D quote:That makes no sense, why Fantasy should be limited? There are echoes with modern world pollution. You didn't saw them but you hadn't been a good player as there are bad readers. Or perhaps you need play the boA version? quote:That's not the morale problem behind nowadays pollution. It's not a fix problem or any thechnics or risks evaluation. It's a problem of "Ha well for now it's ok, let future generation solve the problem when it will be really needed.". That's the core of the pollution problem and VoDT clearly goes in front of that point and I'm surprised you didn't saw that. Yes, the approach isn't subtile, a massive artillery is used, we are fully in a black&white point of view. I won't condemn the author about this choice because we blind ourself too much and we need more strong messages instead of possible confuse message that let people think, ha well it's ok future generation will solve the problem. About the grey point of view, you didn't mentioned a problem that think important. Except if you are a master writer you should put a lot of care when you try to avoid the black&white problem. You could easily end in something that seems to justify anything like child murder, serial killer, and so on. So I agree it's a point of improvement but a lot of care is required and it's not always a necessity as soon as the morale message isn't direct. A quote, in a morale article, in a BoA forum, do not mention A Small Rebellion is very surprising. Too complicate? [ Wednesday, May 12, 2004 08:01: Message edited by: Vent ] Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| Article - The Moral of the Story in Blades of Avernum | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Wednesday, May 12 2004 07:48
Profile
quote:Ooops! quote:I appreciate the attempt to lowdown the scenario quality by the use of words "schoolkids (or something)". Using "something" only would have been enough. :D quote:That makes no sense, why Fantasy should be limited? There are echoes with modern world pollution. You didn't saw them but you hadn't been a good player as there are bad readers. Or perhaps you need play the boA version? quote:That's not the morale problem behind nowadays pollution. It's not a fix problem or any thechnics or risks evaluation. It's a problem of "Ha well for now it's ok, let future generation solve the problem when it will be really needed.". That's the core of the pollution problem and VoDT clearly goes in front of that point and I'm surprised you didn't saw that. Yes, the approach isn't subtile, a massive artillery is used, we are fully in a black&white point of view. I won't condemn the author about this choice because we blind ourself too much and we need more strong messages instead of possible confuse message that let people think, ha well it's ok future generation will solve the problem. About the grey point of view, you didn't mentioned a problem that think important. Except if you are a master writer you should put a lot of care when you try to avoid the black&white problem. You could easily end in something that seems to justify anything like child murder, serial killer, and so on. So I agree it's a point of improvement but a lot of care is required and it's not always a necessity as soon as the morale message isn't direct. A quote, in a morale article, in a BoA forum, do not mention A Small Rebellion is very surprising. Too complicate? [ Wednesday, May 12, 2004 08:01: Message edited by: Vent ] Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| Article - The Moral of the Story in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Tuesday, May 11 2004 18:26
Profile
Pinochet was strongly helped by CIA to get the power, he was a terrible dictator, the few days that follow he executed about 20.000 people. Or did I confuse him with someone else? I don't think so. For the advice given through the article I tend to agree, but the example of VoDT seems to me just wrong. I don't remember a single comment about "the polution is wrong" in this scenario. It had prety bad effect that can be only wrong isn't it? That's all. At best the little morale you can see, but is this morale? Is about politic power neglecting polution or mor specifically a waste "just" forgotten. [ Tuesday, May 11, 2004 18:42: Message edited by: Vent ] Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| Article - The Moral of the Story in Blades of Avernum | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Tuesday, May 11 2004 18:26
Profile
Pinochet was strongly helped by CIA to get the power, he was a terrible dictator, the few days that follow he executed about 20.000 people. Or did I confuse him with someone else? I don't think so. For the advice given through the article I tend to agree, but the example of VoDT seems to me just wrong. I don't remember a single comment about "the polution is wrong" in this scenario. It had prety bad effect that can be only wrong isn't it? That's all. At best the little morale you can see, but is this morale? Is about politic power neglecting polution or mor specifically a waste "just" forgotten. [ Tuesday, May 11, 2004 18:42: Message edited by: Vent ] Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| High level scenarios wanted in Blades of Avernum | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Monday, May 10 2004 08:55
Profile
I agree with Kelandon, not to mention that for me instant death is one of the worse flaw in any game. Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| Article - 10 Dread Diseases in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Friday, May 7 2004 10:03
Profile
Common Kelandon, what can I do with your remark so general? If you have comments on any remarks I did don't hesitate, I'm not afraid of negative critics. About the point 7, I just made a remark, I strongly doubt I didn't understand this point. 1 - Could you give me a longer series of BoE scenario that fail in the problem? Just one isn't enough. 2 - I disagree on the advice "keep all your doors visible". The advice should have been in my opinion: Build good hints for all you secrets, the more the player will want find it the easier the hint should be. In the design of the hints, don't forget to be diversified and at least a little original. Is this advice too complicate for a newbie? I'm not sure, newbie doesn't mean stupid. If there's a typical error by newbies about secrets it's a wrong design for their balance between their hints and how much the player will want to find it. The player could want to find it because it is mandatory. But also because you show him that there's a secret (not how find it). And if you also give hints that there could be treasures to find you raise how much he wants to find it. ALL secrets should have hints that show how to find it. But the the more the player will want find the secret the easier the hints must be and the higher the number of hints must be. Then if the author, newbie or not, take care of designing all secrets like that and don't forget to have diversity and some originality in hints design, then even if there's a bunch of secrets and many mandatory, that could be a great scenario, at least for me. You just won't be the good player for this scenario if you don't like this hypothetical scenario. About the problem that before there was BoE and when you have BoA, you could not have BoE and be able to play his scenario. That's a problem but not up to advice to strip all secrets from newbie scenario. [ Friday, May 07, 2004 10:04: Message edited by: Vent ] Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| Article - 10 Dread Diseases in Blades of Avernum | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Friday, May 7 2004 10:03
Profile
Common Kelandon, what can I do with your remark so general? If you have comments on any remarks I did don't hesitate, I'm not afraid of negative critics. About the point 7, I just made a remark, I strongly doubt I didn't understand this point. 1 - Could you give me a longer series of BoE scenario that fail in the problem? Just one isn't enough. 2 - I disagree on the advice "keep all your doors visible". The advice should have been in my opinion: Build good hints for all you secrets, the more the player will want find it the easier the hint should be. In the design of the hints, don't forget to be diversified and at least a little original. Is this advice too complicate for a newbie? I'm not sure, newbie doesn't mean stupid. If there's a typical error by newbies about secrets it's a wrong design for their balance between their hints and how much the player will want to find it. The player could want to find it because it is mandatory. But also because you show him that there's a secret (not how find it). And if you also give hints that there could be treasures to find you raise how much he wants to find it. ALL secrets should have hints that show how to find it. But the the more the player will want find the secret the easier the hints must be and the higher the number of hints must be. Then if the author, newbie or not, take care of designing all secrets like that and don't forget to have diversity and some originality in hints design, then even if there's a bunch of secrets and many mandatory, that could be a great scenario, at least for me. You just won't be the good player for this scenario if you don't like this hypothetical scenario. About the problem that before there was BoE and when you have BoA, you could not have BoE and be able to play his scenario. That's a problem but not up to advice to strip all secrets from newbie scenario. [ Friday, May 07, 2004 10:04: Message edited by: Vent ] Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| Article - 10 Dread Diseases in Blades of Avernum Editor | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Friday, May 7 2004 06:19
Profile
In general, it's ok to quote BoE scenario despite it's a BoA forum but I'd wish to also get for each rule a BoA example or an example explained with text. If you don't want to break the humour tone of the article, perhaps you could put the examples in a sort of annex. Without those sort of examples this article is a bit difficult to understand for a non BoE player. There are always exception to any rules, including this one. That doesn't mean rules should be dropped. The problem comes when the rule has too many exceptions. Anyway I can' resist comment them all. :) 1: Stupid Party Syndrome Rare, the "A little stupid party syndrome" can be seen more often but it's a difficult problem. 2: Scooby Doo's Disease Are you saying that the series like Colombo, Hercule Poirot and certainly other are crap? I think you point the finger on something but it's not exactly what you explain. Or I didn't understand it well. 3: Verbal Diarrhea Personally I will have add Text Diarrhea. Ok that's certainly a less general rules. I will also add the Panels Diarrhea a series of panels with short sentences and only one question choice that bring nothing. Woo better get only one big panel or even better one half size panel. If you really want provide that sort of text density (non verbal Diarrhea), please put the non necessary stuff inside a book that the player can't miss but can skip too. 4: The Plague Can someone explain me this rule with different words or with more details? I can't understand it. 6: Delusions of Grandeur All authors have Delusions of Grandeur. :) Otherwise it seems a bit out of the context or you are meaning that custom monsters and big final showdown with Rentar-Inhro are never good scenario choices? ;) 7: Knocker's Migrane Well with right hints that's not necessary so wrong. The problem is more required secrets without hints and avoiding repetitive actions in general. 8: Weapon Envy I would make a rule with mostly the same words but about sizes of area, rooms, text panels... Otherwise I'm not sure to have understand or to agree. For "weapons" bigger is better but in general Smaller is more beautiful. :P 9: Insanity and 10: Linda's Condition Remove them or explain better. Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |
| Article - 10 Dread Diseases in Blades of Avernum | |
|
Warrior
Member # 4186
|
written Friday, May 7 2004 06:19
Profile
In general, it's ok to quote BoE scenario despite it's a BoA forum but I'd wish to also get for each rule a BoA example or an example explained with text. If you don't want to break the humour tone of the article, perhaps you could put the examples in a sort of annex. Without those sort of examples this article is a bit difficult to understand for a non BoE player. There are always exception to any rules, including this one. That doesn't mean rules should be dropped. The problem comes when the rule has too many exceptions. Anyway I can' resist comment them all. :) 1: Stupid Party Syndrome Rare, the "A little stupid party syndrome" can be seen more often but it's a difficult problem. 2: Scooby Doo's Disease Are you saying that the series like Colombo, Hercule Poirot and certainly other are crap? I think you point the finger on something but it's not exactly what you explain. Or I didn't understand it well. 3: Verbal Diarrhea Personally I will have add Text Diarrhea. Ok that's certainly a less general rules. I will also add the Panels Diarrhea a series of panels with short sentences and only one question choice that bring nothing. Woo better get only one big panel or even better one half size panel. If you really want provide that sort of text density (non verbal Diarrhea), please put the non necessary stuff inside a book that the player can't miss but can skip too. 4: The Plague Can someone explain me this rule with different words or with more details? I can't understand it. 6: Delusions of Grandeur All authors have Delusions of Grandeur. :) Otherwise it seems a bit out of the context or you are meaning that custom monsters and big final showdown with Rentar-Inhro are never good scenario choices? ;) 7: Knocker's Migrane Well with right hints that's not necessary so wrong. The problem is more required secrets without hints and avoiding repetitive actions in general. 8: Weapon Envy I would make a rule with mostly the same words but about sizes of area, rooms, text panels... Otherwise I'm not sure to have understand or to agree. For "weapons" bigger is better but in general Smaller is more beautiful. :P 9: Insanity and 10: Linda's Condition Remove them or explain better. Posts: 175 | Registered: Friday, April 2 2004 08:00 |