Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

Who wants some? :D

We'll have to make it, of course.

If you want in, let me know in this thread. :)

What do we need and what do we want?

-Articles-
These can be how to, "how I did xyz", what's going on in DC, what's coming up in DC, etc.

-Reviews-
There aren't too many designs or demos...but let's get 'em written about. :)

-Previews-
Adventures or demos that are on the way.

-Artist Corner-
New graphics and how they came to be, ticks of the trade, explanations of guides and templates

-GPDL/Logic Block-
Tricks and explanations of, you guessed it, GPDL and Logic Block

-Fiction-
Short stories, poems, songs

-Editorials-
Comments on or about different aspects of DC, AD&D or RPGs in general.

-Want Ads-
Requests for art, sounds, etc.

-Cover Page-
An original graphic related to DC or AD&D that we can put a title and text over or near to be our front page.

So, anybody want to play? :D:D:D

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

I think a newsletter would only make sense if there are significantly more readers than writers. Otherwise, I would prefer to handle most of the topics you suggested above with the forum.
Which brings me to the question how many DC users there are. Correct me if I am wrong, but at the Yahoo-Forum may even be less users than here at Ironworks.

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

One advantage of a newsletter over the forums is that it can be made available for downloads. ;)

By doing that, we are not just creating it for the current group of us, but for anyone in the future who is interested.

As per users, there are 160 members as of this moment. We shouldn't confuse posters with users. :) FRUA and DC have a long tradition of people just reading the lists b/c they use them as announcements for new releases/adventrues/art.

Also, the writing for the newsletter would be held to a different standard than just throwing out a response here in the forum. It would also encompass a bit larger scope, such as fiction related to DC.

I'm just testing the waters, anyways. :D:D:D It will most likely turn out that I am the only one that is really interested in doing this, so I'll just do it in parts on my webseite.

I'm just trying to think of ways to stay interested in DC. I've been doing this a long time, and well, to be frank, there isn't a whole lot going on in the coding department at the moment. If I can't grow other parts of the project, there's not much point in keeping this beast active. (I don't mean closing the forums or stopping making art, I just mean as an actively developed project on SourceForge.)

I'm trying to put off as long as possible writing the post telling everyone that development is dead. :( Don't worry, though. It's not going to happen any time soon. There are still many things I will try first. :D:D:D If only CocoaSpud had stayed with us until 1.0, since he was/is the guiding force behind the coding. Damn that World of Warcraft! :ninjas: (That's what we lost him to for about six months and then he discovered that he had lost his passion for this project.)

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

I see your points. I must admit (and already did earlier) that I also watched the forum for around 2 years before I started posting. So there may indeed be more readers than I thought. However, looking at the Yahoo forum, I got the impression that some people got lost during 2008 who posted in 2006/2007. Has the WOW-virus spread? :(

Concerning motivation for developers: If I was one, I would be motivated by more finished adventures and more promising demos... and perhaps a nice newsletter! :D

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

We had some people leave and some new people come. A lot of people just get quiet, but still subscribe to the list.

Ironically, the only active developer (Paul) doesn't play DC or Dungeons and Dragons.

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

Even so, it is motivation when your stuff is used. Provohost (and the city project, probably) for example is a good motivation for me to produce more art.

If Paul Stevens had added some additional editing options to his Dungeon-Master (or CSB) clone, I would probably never have gotten into DC. :D :D :D

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

Well, I am glad he didn't, then. :D:D:D

I completely agree with you. It's just funny that the coder that is most motivated is not a fan of this game.

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

I still don't know what I would do if there was an editor for Dungeon-Master-or-Might-and-Magic-3-5-similar games out there with options comparable to DC...

But back to the News letter - I would be ready to add some stuff on walls and perspectives, perhaps also things like how-to-draw (N)PCs in different styles.

But perhaps a poll would be useful to find out how big the general interest into a news letter is...

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

I've never played either one of those games. I've looked at Paul's site a few times, but since I didn't know anything about the game, well, I didn't download or read too deeply.

I'm glad to hear that you may be interested in helping with a newsletter. :)

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

I think a newsletter would be great! Some nice topics and hints have been on this forum (like coding/scripting/eventing tips that I cannot find anymore :( - it would help to make these accessible later on to new users (and forgetful guys like me!)).

Would be nice to have some information about mods or upcoming mods as well, with screenshots! :)

Not sure how much I would be able to help with less time on my hands these days, but I can try!

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

That's the spirit! :D

So, there are a couple of you fool enough, I mean brave enough to help me out. :ninjas:

Hypothetically speaking, with the categories I listed in the first post, are there any areas that interest you? If so, start thinking about what you might do with them.

Remember that these forums and the yahoo list are great sources for research.

As of this time, I will write a preview of the Official DC mod, unless Jadefang wants to do it. I'd also write an artivle or two about DC basic design and something for the GPDL/Logic Block section. I might even write a tavern song or two. ;)
I've also been thinking about perhaps folks would want to start a column. As an example, I might write a column about using 3D software to make graphics for DC.

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

Hmm - are you thinking of doing just a PDF version, or also an online HTML version? If you want to do the latter as well, I think I could help with that...

Not sure where you want to upload all this to (its own site, or an already established DC site (yours or the official site I guess?)?).

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

I would do an html and pdf version.

I've already taken the liberty of creating a layout. :) I thought that would be a good place to start, just in case I ended up doing it all by myself. :D

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

Cool :)

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

I don't know about 'cool', but it was something to do to take a break from school work. Ahh, the life of a geek. ;)

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

If only I was connected to the internet, instead of using library and/or borrowed computer to post :(

Still, I would be likely to throw a GPDL code snippet out now and then.

ST

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

Yeah, that kind of stuff would be great! (Especially for guys like me who know little-to-nothing about all that.)

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

I'm going to start working on some stuff while I have some break left. :) Though, I don't have my main computer to use as thee is some issue that is yet to be resolved, but when it is, it will no longer be a windows box. :)

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

Sorry for not being around as much lately. I just noticed this DC newsletter thread and got excited! I'll look over my stuff and see what could be potential newsletter material.

I've been doing some work on some materials and utilities for another editor called ACK - Adventure Creation Kit which is Chris Hopkin's own DOS prog modeled on Stuart Smith's ACS - Adventure Construction Set. [If you look into it check out the Amiga version of ACS it looks way better than the other ports.] With ACK you can create ACS style games that look as good or better than the Amiga ACS but in DOS or on a MAC. I go by the alias Garth's Equipment Shop in the small but active ACK community. Currently the most active ACK enthusiast hang out is in an ACK subforum of a Forum called Jolt Country which actually started out as a BBS long long ago.

Anyway, only reason I mention all this here is 1. To explain my recent absence and 2. because I think the various things I've been doing with ACK tile/icon editing could easily be applied to DC combat icon editing.

I can write up a tutorial on using Image Magick command line util in combination with Windows NT Command Shell routines [batch files but with extension .cmd] to batch process whole directories of images for use as combat icons. Same principles can also be applied to other DC art as well.

EDIT: Hey just noticed something. My one year anniversary as a member of the DC community here at Ironworks is right around the corner! Woohoo!

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

Hi Arminius. :D

I'm curious to see an example of what you're talking about. I'm not sure what you mean by "editing" of combat icons.

I look forward to anything you (or anyone else here) comes up with for a newsletter.

I haven't started writing any articles myself, but I do have a list of ideas that I want to cover. :ninjas:

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

Hey Arminius - I can't seem to access any of those links in your signature. Are servers down? :)

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

All the links worked fine for me...and I checked less than 15 minutes after you did. Maybe it's just spotty? They do have a completely different look from before. :)

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

Hmm - strange, I just clicked all four links now again, and I still don't see anything (except an error)! Maybe browsers from Japan are blocked? :D

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

That would suck. :(

Arminius, do you know if your ISP blocks Japan?

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

Prolly not much going on with the DCNL with the failure of the HD, huh.

Sorry again :(
ST

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

Nothing directly DC related was kept on the main hard drive. :D

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

Ok, thats good. Is there currently enuff stuff going on (or already done) to make a DCNL?

ST

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

There's probably enough for half a dozen newsletters, unless we're just talking about coding news... :(

There's all kinds of other stuff - art, designs, theory, etc. :)

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

There should probably be at least one design per newsletter, I think :D

A event trick/quest tip/scripting thing might be nice, too.

And maybe some art!

Lots of other stuff, too...

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

Are you offering to do a design for the newsletter? :D:D:D I don't think designs are necessary, personally, but we should review them, discuss how to make them and preview any if possible. :)

I like the other stuff, and having art and a tips section is definitely part of the plan. :ninjas:

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

Ha ha - gulp! I could never deliver in time, let me assure you... :D

A preview for a design could work, as long as there are (at least) some screenshots and other eye candy to start with...

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

:) Sounds...awesome! :D:D:D

I'm happy to say that I've already received my first submission for the DCNL (until we can come up with a name) - thanks Arminius.

Here's what I imagine as the minimum for a preview (not just for you, obviously, but for everyone) and that would be a screenshot, another piece of art such as a portrait, one frame of a sprite or one pose of an icon; and prose that talks to the technical side (size, time to play), genre and/or mood and intended audience, and a brief description of the plot or story...maybe a bit of the background or some such. :)
I don't know if there would be a maximum :) but I imagine the ideal to have about three or four screenshots, one of which would be of a battle (unless you design did not have any), a portrait/small pic, and an icon or sprite. :ninjas:

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

Wow, that was fast, Arminius! :D

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

Does anyone want to write a review of one of the designs that's available?

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

Someday when I get more time (ha ha) I'll finish my demo mod. I've been trying to get a job, and just recently had to correct a security compromise on this laptop. I just installed McAffee antivirus and its working just fine.

ST

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

I thought you said fix a security concern? :D I am not a big fan of McAfee. I'm not a big fan of anything that can not be uninstalled without manually editing the register.

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

Ha ha - better keep your mod virus-free! ;)

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

I scan everything with my tri-corder before installing. :D

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

??? I don't know anything about that... but I know there are ways around certain stubborn to remove stuff from windows. That sort of thing is why I wanna change to non-windows, tho; stuff that sets up and you don't know what it is for or why its there or how to get rid of it.

Not giving someone computer-flu was my main concern with it.

Whats that?

ST

Re: Dungeon Craft News Letter #1
 

And while I think it would be a good career move, I shouldn't HAVE to get windows IT certification to keep the computer working properly

ST