Thurmstorm Ridge

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AuthorTopic: Thurmstorm Ridge
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I am making a really ambitious scenario for Blades of Exile, so far I have made quite some nice coherent adventures with many clues and hidden things (Which you will find by finding the right clue.). I have a small problem though, which needs to be solved before I continue with the current thing I am working on, what does Stuff Done Flag A and B means? I get it is a "boul" function that keeps a 4-bit value but what indicates the value and what indicates the variable?
Posts: 437 | Registered: Friday, May 13 2005 07:00
BANNED
Member # 4
Profile Homepage #1
FYI, "searching for clues" is perhaps the worst part of any RPG.

A SDF is basically an integer value. The parts A and B are "coordinates", but not really. Here:

0000000000
0000000000
0000000000
0000000000
0000000000
0000000000
0000000000
0000000000
0000000000
0000000000
Now if you decide to use SDF 2,3 and change it to 4, the grid will look like this:

0000000000
0000000000
0000000000
0040000000
0000000000
0000000000
0000000000
0000000000
0000000000
0000000000
And then when you ask something about that integer you just changed, you tell it to ask about SDF 2,3.

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Posts: 6936 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
Triad Mage
Member # 7
Profile Homepage #2
Yes, the A and B refer to the coordinates of the SDF.

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"At times discretion should be thrown aside, and with the foolish we should play the fool." - Menander
====
Drakefyre's Demesne - Happy Happy Joy Joy
Encyclopedia Ermariana - Trapped in the Closet
====
You can take my Mac when you pry my cold, dead fingers off the mouse!
Posts: 9436 | Registered: Wednesday, September 19 2001 07:00
Infiltrator
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Thank you, it made things clearer. Oh, and TM, you find the clues by talking with people and exploring their problems which will give you missions that leads to clues that leads to finding out something that will help you with the main goal of the scenario. Nothing too complicated in other words.
Posts: 437 | Registered: Friday, May 13 2005 07:00
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
Profile Homepage #4
That is too complicated.

Or rather, it's not too complicated, but it is entirely too indirect. Solve the big problem by doing fiddly, incidental stuff. Nah.

'Course, it's your scenario and all we know of it is those few sentences you've given us, but it doesn't sound very inspiring to me either.

Not trying to be harsh, but probably it's better that you get this now rather than when you release the thing. :P

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SupaNik: Aran, you're not big enough to threaten Ash. Dammit, even JV had to think twice.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Off With Their Heads
Member # 4045
Profile Homepage #5
Then again, Ash says that "not very inspiring" bit about everything that I tell him about my scenarios, so I wouldn't take that too much to heart.

[ Monday, July 11, 2005 14:52: Message edited by: Kelandon ]

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Arancaytar: Every time you ask people to compare TM and Kel, you endanger the poor, fluffy kittens.
Smoo: Get ready to face the walls!
Ephesos: In conclusion, yarr.

Kelandon's Pink and Pretty Page!!: the authorized location for all things by me
The Archive of all released BoE scenarios ever
Posts: 7968 | Registered: Saturday, February 28 2004 08:00
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
Profile Homepage #6
It's quite true that it's hard to judge a scenario on what you've been told about it, and it's also quite true that you'll never please everybody. If it's the scenario that you really want to make, go for it and ignore what everyone else says.

PS: Kel, be fair. :P

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SupaNik: Aran, you're not big enough to threaten Ash. Dammit, even JV had to think twice.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Shaper
Member # 73
Profile #7
Before making a scenario, I recommend reading these articles from The Lyceum's Designer's Forum. They were written about BoE, but the ones I picked out are mostly relevant to BoA as well:

"Beating Designer's Block" by Alcritas
"Beginner Epics" by Alcritas "Beta-Testing From A Designer's Perspective" by Alcritas
"Advice On Creature Creation" by Simmic
"Betatesting Scenarios" by Arenax
"A Comment On Scenarios" by Ben Frank
"Details" by Davrim
"Details: How To Make Quality Towns" by Aceron
"Dungeon Design" by Alcritas
"Another Suggestion of Note" by Alcritas
"The Evolving Role of Dungeons" by Drizzt
"Logic and Geometry" by Ben Frank
"Motives" by Alcritas
"The Path Not Taken" by Brett Bixler
"Starting Steps" by Alcritas
"Vahnatai - Friend or Foe?" by Drakefyre
"The Value of a Good Name" by Alcritas
"NPCs" by Alcritas
"Improving the Lines of Communication" by The Creator
"Tell a Good Story" by Drizzt
"Finding Ideas" by me (Please ignore the bit about my scenario I promised would be finished by the 5th contest. It obviously didn't get finished. I've revived the idea yet again, however, and I think it will be much better than my previous idea, but nevermind that for now.)
"Humor in Exile" by YMA "The Tactics of Hack'n'Slash" by The Creator
"Endings" by Measle
"Researching New Topics" by YMA
"Castles in the Air: Getting Creative With Your Setting" by Rosycat
"Occam's Razor of Exile" by Stareye

Remember though, these are just general rules. They aren't set in stone. Once you know why these rules are there, feel free to break them.

[ Monday, July 11, 2005 17:32: Message edited by: The Almighty Doer of Stuff ]

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My Myspace, with some of my audial and visual art
The Lyceum - The Headquarters of the Blades designing community
The Louvre - The Blades of Avernum graphics database
Alexandria - The Blades of Exile Scenario database
BoE Webring - Self explanatory
Polaris - Free porn here
Odd Todd - Fun for the unemployed (and everyone else too)
They Might Be Giants - Four websites for one of the greatest bands in existance
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Posts: 2957 | Registered: Thursday, October 4 2001 07:00
Agent
Member # 3364
Profile Homepage #8
Wouldn't you know it... I think that the 'searching for clues' bit (or really the 'finding clues' bit) is the best part of a scenario.

Go, figure. :P

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"Even the worst Terror from Hell can be transformed to a testimony from Heaven!" - Rev. David Wood 6\23\05

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can." - John Wesley
Posts: 1001 | Registered: Tuesday, August 19 2003 07:00
Shock Trooper
Member # 2626
Profile #9
I strongly agree.
There are many Players and, thus, many opinions.
Some prefer to only advance by the sword.
Some prefer to only search for treasures.
Most prefer a mix of both styles.
Since you can not write for, nor satisfy, everyone, it's best that you write what you feel and what you do best.
If, in time, you choose to write differently, one direction, or the other, that too, is right and proper.
No matter which style you choose, you're going to find those who like your work and those who don't.
It's important to understand that peoples opinions, though variable, usually stay within the same style.
So, write your scenarios, as many and as often as you want and never forget that there will always be some of us who will play them and like them.
me :D
Posts: 257 | Registered: Wednesday, February 12 2003 08:00
Triad Mage
Member # 7
Profile Homepage #10
I like searching for clues, but only if it's not too hard :P

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"At times discretion should be thrown aside, and with the foolish we should play the fool." - Menander
====
Drakefyre's Demesne - Happy Happy Joy Joy
Encyclopedia Ermariana - Trapped in the Closet
====
You can take my Mac when you pry my cold, dead fingers off the mouse!
Posts: 9436 | Registered: Wednesday, September 19 2001 07:00
Shock Trooper
Member # 2626
Profile #11
I agree that it's enjoyable if, "it's not too hard". Although.......
I don't think they should be "too easy", either or it becomes pointless.
I like serious clues, or the type you have to "find".
I really don't like, and won't play, the sort of scenairo that's a "mind game" with the Author.
For instance, one of the series of Games I really hated were the "Zork" Games. The entire game was spent trying to think of what word the Author was thinking of. I found them to be pointless.
Some of the best Games are made so you need to have done a particular task to learn, or acquire something. That's not "hard". It's "good".
Each person's definition of quality may be different, but it still comes down to "paying your dues" and "earning your way".
Ultimately, it makes the accomplishment worth the effort.
me
(See him stick the name, "Ultima" in there?) ;)
Posts: 257 | Registered: Wednesday, February 12 2003 08:00
Master
Member # 4614
Profile Homepage #12
That sounds like a not-too-bad scenario. It's good to know SDFs, though, as any scenario with an inherent lack of them is bound for not the kind of compliments you'd like to get over as CSR.

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-ben4808
Posts: 3360 | Registered: Friday, June 25 2004 07:00
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quote:
Originally written by Drakefyre:

I like searching for clues, but only if it's not too hard :P
Do not worry, I think you misunderstood what I ment with "clues". If you need to find something important in my scenario, all you have to do is exploring the maps, talking with people and solve their problems. For instance:

In the starting town you ask the common "job" question to the bartender. He gives you the general price info and adds a complaint about lack of customers since the local church burnt down. You ask him about "church", he tells the story and then direct you to someone who worked there. She tells you that some goblins burnt down the church in some raid and killed her best friend. She tells you where the goblins are and you go off killing the goblins and then come back and get a special item called "red ruby". In a cavern nearby, there is a statue in front of a gate, it tells you it got a missing eye, if you got the red ruby you will get through.

Of course this is just an example and not the actual plot.

By the way, I need beta-testers for the scenario, so, who wants to beta-test it once I am finished? (I am half-way already so it will be soon.)

P.S. I forgot to mention I have created games since 1998 when Tarana Software started. I have also been doing experiments of many sorts on VoDT to learn how to use the scenario editor since 18 months ago. Quite a while back, eh? Of course this is my first real scenario.
Posts: 437 | Registered: Friday, May 13 2005 07:00
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
Profile Homepage #14
I already played Exile 1.

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SupaNik: Aran, you're not big enough to threaten Ash. Dammit, even JV had to think twice.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Master
Member # 5977
Profile Homepage #15
In my own scenario I'm working on ("were the rivers meet"), I have a structure, simialair to the Av 3 structure, when dealing with the plagues. Its the common structure of doing something brings you further. I will try to make different pathes, because some would want to play it differently. What it generally comes to, is that you have to do something, in order to progress. You do this mainly bu quests. i think this also counts for Eagle's scenario. clues is maybe a strange way to say it, but you can callit that way.

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Play and rate my scenarios:

Where the rivers meet
View my upcoming scenario: The Nephil Search: Escape.

Give us your drek!
Posts: 3029 | Registered: Saturday, June 18 2005 07:00
Shaper
Member # 73
Profile #16
If you didn't have to do things to progress, it wouldn't be a game, now would it?

--------------------
My Myspace, with some of my audial and visual art
The Lyceum - The Headquarters of the Blades designing community
The Louvre - The Blades of Avernum graphics database
Alexandria - The Blades of Exile Scenario database
BoE Webring - Self explanatory
Polaris - Free porn here
Odd Todd - Fun for the unemployed (and everyone else too)
They Might Be Giants - Four websites for one of the greatest bands in existance
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Posts: 2957 | Registered: Thursday, October 4 2001 07:00
BANNED
Member # 4
Profile Homepage #17
I agree with Ator.

Kel, when Ator says "be fair", he's being far gentler than I would. I'm not entirely convinced that you give a damn about the plots of Bahss or LP- it's possible that my perspective is marred by the mishandled gameplay of each, but it seems like those stories are devoid of ambition to the extreme.

Eagle, your scenario idea sucks. It sounds terrible and stereotypical, and I feel bored hearing about it. When thinking about a scenario to write, think about what you want to happen first and foremost. Sacrifice your ideas into RPG stereotypes only when needed.

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*
Posts: 6936 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00
? Man, ? Amazing
Member # 5755
Profile #18
As written by TM
quote:
Eagle, your scenario idea sucks.
Now that is a compliment!

Keep working on it Eagle, ya gotta finish a scenario in order to be an author.

*this message is 100% sarcasm free*

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quote:
Originally written by Kelandon:

Well, I'm at least pretty sure that Salmon is losing.


Posts: 4114 | Registered: Monday, April 25 2005 07:00
BoE Posse
Member # 15
Profile Homepage #19
That's right. Keep on working. TM is our resident curmudgeon.

Like Mikey in the old Life cereal commercial - He hates everything!

;)

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All that we see, or seem, is but a dream within a dream.

Visit the Louvre, the BoA Graphics Database at http://www.personal.psu.edu/bxb11/boa/louvre/
Visit Alexandria, the BoE Scenario Database at http://www.personal.psu.edu/bxb11/boe/alexandriajs/
Posts: 653 | Registered: Thursday, September 27 2001 07:00
Shock Trooper
Member # 2626
Profile #20
Ab-so-loot-lee!
There's no such thing as a "bad" opinion.
It stirs feelings, creating thought.
Play on!
Posts: 257 | Registered: Wednesday, February 12 2003 08:00
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
Profile Homepage #21
There is too such a thing as a bad opinion!

If your opinion is that 1=2, it's a pretty lousy opinion.

To clarify, Kel, what I've heard about Bahss's story hasn't impressed me, and what I've heard about LP's gameplay hasn't impressed me. But that does not necessarily mean that they are bad scenarios or even that I wouldn't enjoy them.

I just felt compelled to seperate my opinion from TM's there. :P

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SupaNik: Aran, you're not big enough to threaten Ash. Dammit, even JV had to think twice.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00
Shaper
Member # 32
Profile #22
It's not TM's fault he tends to always be brutally honest. Think of it as constructive criticism...

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Lt. Sullust
Cogito Ergo Sum
Polaris
Posts: 2462 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Master
Member # 4614
Profile Homepage #23
Even if you believe that 1=2, that still can't be called a lousy opinion. After all, they do have "proofs" for this. :P

Maybe a correctable opinion.

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-ben4808
Posts: 3360 | Registered: Friday, June 25 2004 07:00
E Equals MC What!!!!
Member # 5491
Profile Homepage #24
1=2 is a lousy opinion.

If your opinion is that 1=2 is not a lousy opinion, then by inference, that is a lousy opinion.

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SupaNik: Aran, you're not big enough to threaten Ash. Dammit, even JV had to think twice.
Posts: 1861 | Registered: Friday, February 11 2005 08:00

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