calamarain
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 933
Registered: 03-25-2007
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Please humbly pardon (and correct me on!) any etiquette violations I should make, for I am a first time poster.

Myself and a couple of friends (they're both long time DROD players, I'm slightly newer, only been playing a couple of years) are designing a hold. Is there a general consensus on how large it should be before putting it here for a test/opinion? It's currently got two levels completed and tested, a third level in progress and a smattering of odd rooms that will go somewhere. It's JtRH style.

Also, a question. Does anyone else find the sheer *range* of stuff available in TCB to be... overwhelming? One can already create very complex puzzles just with the KDD elements, but with all the different elements from JtRH and CB? (e.g. just arrowtokens, fegundos, golems and doors could make a stupidly complex room). Would this make testing insane, and thus lead to possibly overlooked trivial solutions. Brings the old game "Chip's Challenge" to mind...

Thanks,

Calamarain

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Insane
Level: Master Delver

Rank Points: 154
Registered: 08-06-2005
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About the first question, I generally post my holds after the first level is made.

-Insane

Ps. Welcome to the forum!

calamarain
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 933
Registered: 03-25-2007
IP: Logged

OK. I'm trying to keep the hold in a form where all rooms are accessible (I did read "The Architectural Process" before posting ), but I just wondered if there was an appropriate size.

First level's pretty, but just a roach introduction, it doesn't need extensive testing/stuff. Second level's a viciously evil trapdoors/doors/arrows level, I suspect it'll end up late in the hold. Third one's the series of scattered rooms. Rather unimaginative though, and needs work.

Will post the hold once I've organised the scattered rooms. Thanks for your advice.

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jbluestein
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1670
Registered: 12-23-2005
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More important than what form you post it in is how you describe it.

If you say 'here's a hold, work in progress, not everything works yet but it's anyone edit and take a look at this room this room and this room', people won't take much issue with you if it's unfinished.

If you say that it's in beta, well, it ought to be mostly done.

My opinion, anyway...

Josh

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"Rings and knots of joy and grief, all interlaced and locking." --William Buck

RoboBob3000
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1982
Registered: 10-23-2003
IP: Logged

Nothing to worry about. I'm sure if your hold passes through your own personal concern-for-ettiquette quality gates, then you're already in better position than a great deal of holds that get posted here. The Architecture board isn't expecting perfection. It's more of an opportunity to get feedback before actually publishing, if that is the desired end result.

Edit: Welcome, by the way!

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http://beepsandbloops.wordpress.com/

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[Last edited by RoboBob3000 at 04-13-2007 12:45 AM]

calamarain
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 933
Registered: 03-25-2007
IP: Logged

Well, thanks for all the welcomes I feel loved. Or at least tolerated

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My Holds

calamarain
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 933
Registered: 03-25-2007
IP: Logged

Update: Five full levels of the hold done, with a couple of odd rooms that'll be added into future levels. The roach intro, a mimic/invis/decoy level, a serpent/rattlesnake level, a doors/trapdoors level, and a wubbas/golems level, and my friend's building me a roachqueen level.

I'm somewhat odd about things like this, so I probably won't post a beta version until the puzzles are at least complete. I hate abandoned works, so I don't tend to post my own work-in-progress unless it's in a mostly finished state. I'm not adding any scripting or speech yet, I'm going to get all the puzzle rooms done before I do any of that. Then I can go nuts with the storyline . Fortunately, I have a friend who can perform a wonderfully deep but cold voice, and he's amenable to doing some Slayer lines in exchange for beer, and my own vocal range isn't bad either.

A quick scripting question then - can the 'default' sounds be overlaid in a hold? e.g. if my friend were to record a wav of the standard soundbite "The wisp will find you... the hook will follow...", could it replace the pre-recorded one for this hold? It wouldn't sound right for the slayer to have one voice when reciting from the script, and another for in-game.

And if this is possible - can it be done in JtRH, or does it require TCB's engine?

Thanks,

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coppro
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1309
Registered: 11-24-2005
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It can't be done such that it would override the sound only in that hold. You can do it on a global level, but not for just one hold.

calamarain
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 933
Registered: 03-25-2007
IP: Logged

A quick scripting question then - can the 'default' sounds be overlaid in a hold? e.g. if my friend were to record a wav of the standard soundbite "The wisp will find you... the hook will follow...", could it replace the pre-recorded one for this hold? It wouldn't sound right for the slayer to have one voice when reciting from the script, and another for in-game.

coppro wrote:
It can't be done such that it would override the sound only in that hold. You can do it on a global level, but not for just one hold.

What about an equivalent alternative then? Can a "slayer NPC" be scripted that will move and react as a slayer does, but plays custom sound effects when certain conditions are fulfilled?

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coppro
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1309
Registered: 11-24-2005
IP: Logged

No, sorry. Maybe a feature request to make.

calamarain
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 933
Registered: 03-25-2007
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coppro wrote:
No, sorry. Maybe a feature request to make.

Feature request made It's a nice straightforward one too, though might be hard to implement.

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calamarain
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 933
Registered: 03-25-2007
IP: Logged

Quick update, the hold-in-progress is up to 6 complete levels, two half-levels. 64 rooms total. I'll post it for beta testing when the themed levels are done. The leftover rooms will be used to make "mixed bag" levels.

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calamarain
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 933
Registered: 03-25-2007
IP: Logged

File: Way Forward.hold (37.1 KB)
Downloaded 46 times.
License: Public Domain

Whee! Wonderful feeling of accomplishment - All themed levels done. 106 rooms, and I'm making a start on the sound files/effects for the hold.

A couple of "mixed bag" levels, and something cool if you get all the secrets... and it's done

Not bad for a first hold ;-)

EDIT: This post now holds the modern (Nov 2009) Way Forward Hold

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[Last edited by calamarain at 11-25-2009 12:06 AM]