averagemoe
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File: Scared queen.hold (24.4 KB)
Downloaded 62 times.
License: Public Domain

I found these two sets of unused tiles for alternate roach queens in the TSS Custom Elements pack and thought I'd do something with them. So I decided to make an improvement to the concept of scared roaches.

Attached is an anyone edit hold demonstrating my work.

This funny looking roach queen behaves exactly like the "scared roach" custom element, but when you scare it away, it's markings turn yellow. When it goes back into "attack" mode they return to red. And to think I only had to add two commands to the script and one custom character with no default script to make it happen.

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[Last edited by averagemoe at 10-09-2015 07:10 PM]

averagemoe
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It came to my attention that I may need to specifically state that people have my permission to use these things. You all do by the way. In fact, I'd be pretty drat thrilled if TSS was updated to use these in Beethro's Mansion.

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averagemoe
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File: Scared Roach Deluxe.hold (22.6 KB)
Downloaded 5 times.
License: Public Domain

So, I got to thinking about the fact that the script for the Scared Roach uses more than twenty variables to define where the flashlight is. That's a lot of variables. I figured that there must be a more efficient way to do that.

Well, the flashlight uses build markers to indicate it's cone of influence, so I made it so the roaches just look for whether they're standing on a build marker.

It was kind of an interesting problem, making them able to detect the flashlight on both the start and end of their move. I had to actually make them check if the square they're about to move to has a build marker before they move to it.

This means it's also fully compatible with any flashlight shape you make out of build markers.

(By the way, I put the script for the flashlight in the "yellow markings" version of the roach. It wears multiple hats.)

As a bonus, I also set it up so that they can handle invisibility and alternate targets. The rule I came up with is that they will be attracted to things like normal roaches, but always flee from the player if they get scared, and will keep fleeing in the same direction even if they can't see the player.

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The internet is no place to act like a wild animal.

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[Last edited by averagemoe at 05-14-2024 12:35 AM]

RoboBob3000
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As the guy who created the initial Scared Roach script, I'm pleased to see that someone is looking at it and improving it! I haven't looked at this hold, but I fully endorse the changes you're making, as they sound pretty clever. Good stuff.

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averagemoe
Level: Smiter

Rank Points: 488
Registered: 03-22-2012
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File: timebomb.png (113.8 KB)
Downloaded 73 times.
License: Public Domain

For what it's worth, here's another thing I've been working on.

A modification of the graphic for the Hand Bomb from RPG that I made for a variation on the "Bomberman" mechanic seen in TSS's post mastery level. The shortening fuse provides a visual countdown to when it detonates. (Obviously, this isn't the actual image used for the script. It's so wide it had to be split across two characters.)

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The internet is no place to act like a wild animal.