Possible Improvements

[Shadow Stranger]

Now that the FRUA format is in public hands it is possible to make improvements.

One problem with the old format was the automap, it was never very detailed for starters. It used lines for everything, doors and impassable walls.
Then you could not have it showing at the same time as the 3D exploration view. Hence you need to use relatively simple layouts for towns else the player will have trouble keeping track of what is where. In some games the automap has its own window, thus you can always see both it and the exploration view.

[manikus]

Dungeon Craft has different options for mapping than FRUA does, though you can not have the 3D view and mapping open at the same time. Note, I do not say automapping, as that is only one of the options available. In DC you can also completely control the look as well.

As for folks using it -FRUA folks use it a lot. Check out the FRUA Yahoo forums and you'll see plenty of discussion about designers trying to find ways to curb it's use.

I don't think automapping was ever a reason for simple cities, but more likely other restraints of FRUA, like limited level size and a limited number of events per level. Fortunately, these aren't really factors in DC, unless 10,000 cells is not enough with it's 2.5 billion events PER LEVEL.

[Shadow Stranger]

In a future version of DC you might be able to incorporate it, there is more room available on the screen these days. You could also add features that have been available for years like the ability to add notes to the automap.

[manikus]

Something to think about with the mapping is what your screen would look like if it had a place for 'automap' but the designer chose to not allow mapping.

But, these are good ideas. Please feel free to add them to the feature request tracker at SourceForge.

https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?gro...54&atid=351754

[Shadow Stranger]

Normally that would be a gray screen, though the designer could customize what is shown.

Another idea is an editor for save games that allows you create a party suitable for an adventure of a given level. If you don't care for the party line-up of the supplied save game you can create your own.

[manikus]

Speaking strictly as a designer (not as a player), I don't want players swapping PCs in and out to make the game "easier". For example, I didn't put a locked door that can only be opened by a thief in, just so the player can swap in a thief and then swap them out again after the door.

I do realize that other designers may feel differently about this. But, I usally spend dozens of hours on the coding alone for a game I design. Call me an old fuddy-duddy, but I generally don't support game cheats, etc until a person has beaten the game once on their own.

As always, please feel free to submit these requests to the appropriate tracker at SourceForge.

[Shadow Stranger]

I sent both changes to the tracker.
Save game editor is meant to correct party line-ups that are not working out, or not working as well as they might.
Edit:
Has anyone decrypted the FRUA save game files? If not, in the area of PC information they would be much like the SSB variety. This might be useful in porting FRUA designs for porting any pregenerated save files that come with said designs

[manikus]

Cool.

I don't think that DC can currently import a saved FRUA game. But, it was never intended to, as it's for designers not players (the import feature that is).

[Shadow Stranger]

I am familiar with two shareware games by Spiderweb Software: Blades of Exile and Blades of Avernum. Both games are analogous to FRUA/DC, they create "scenarios" (designs). They always create parties that are level 1.
If the "scenario" (design) requires a party of level greater than 1 you have a few choices:

• use an existing save file of the right level, if you have one
• the designer includes a save game file of his own creation
• you use the High Level Party Maker, which will make your party of any level you desire.

I don't know how FRUA handled this. If designers included their own save files in the FRUA design, it might be handy to be able to recreate the FRUA save files for a DC import.

High Level Party Maker is a utility scenario/design.

[manikus]

DC and FRUA allow the designer to decide what level the party should start (from 1 to the max). The designer also may include a saved game for the players to use and the player can always try loading a saved game of their own, but if it is from a design with a different database, there will most likely be probblems.