Abilities of sprites (graphics not creatures)

[SilentThief]

Ok, I did a search for my rant about them before, but it was too long ago to bring up the old post. Basically, I was hoping we could extend the use of sprite graphics. Like so:

1) if you post a text event (or other event) that does not have a -press return- et end of it, then the sprite winks in and then immediately is gone. I would like it so that an option exists you can use so that the sprite stays until you move. This could be used for random people walking around in town and then you could talk to them, or keep moving and ignore them.

2) if possible, allow overlaying sprites on top of each other, without removing the bottom layer. I realize this may be a pain to set up, but it would be worthwhile.

3) allow the designer to place sprites on overland and have the rules above still apply. This would benefit any siege mod with showing armies on the move and where battles will take place


When I was spouting off over the virtues of sprites (prolly some years back, cuz I cannot find the post), I had ideas of rain falling ever step as a sprite that changed each step (thru the 3 animation frames), a pit in the floor that if you didn't disarm it it would open underneath you, a darkness sprite that outside of you meager torchlight radius all was black, using sprites as the animation of an enemy up close swinging a weapon at you in an event driven combat...

and all of that falls apart if the sprite winks off and stays off with hardly any time to see it. I dunno if this is how it works still, but that was how it worked when I tested it.

ST

[manikus]

Hiya ST.

1.) Noted. There is a trick now, if you don't mind effecting the whole design. In your config file set the rate of the text appearing from 15 to something larger, then right a lot of text in the event. The sprite is displayed until the even finishes.

2.) We can use sprites in overlands. The other issue is noted above.

3.) You can already do this with a graphics program, even MS Paint I believe.
I know that we all want new features in DC, but some things we can already do easy enough. I want to focus our meager resources on what we can't already easily do.
Personally, if I had the ability to write a script to overlay two sprites or to just open up PSP, I would always choose the latter. I think it's easier, plus I can add shading and stuff that DC will never be able to do.

As for your ideas about what sprites can be used to do, they are all really cool. I look forward to the day when I get to play one of your designs.