Paths & Lakes

[Funky Dynamite]

True.

[Dinonykos]

To celebrate the birth of new Dinonykos specimen, I post this new example for paths and lakes...

[Arminius]

All you guys [and gals if any?] rock! Thanks everyone for contributing to this fine thread. Loads of useful info and ideas in here!

Those wall grids and guides gave me an idea. Is there perhaps some sort of mathematical forumula that could actually calculate and help us design new types of walls? If some math wizard could give me a kind of basis to work from I could experiment with the concept and see what I come up with.

I'm thinking of like a java or vb or other program using such a forumula or formulas to draw those grids on screen with perhaps a random mode and modes using specific desired dimensions and effects [round, square, flat, tall, regular, half-height, right curve, left curve, up curve, down curve, etc...]. Is this feasable or am I really stretching the bounds of feasibility here?

[Uatu]

Dayum! You sure make awesome wallsets and backgrounds, Dinonykos! That dungeon looks hot hot HOT!!!

[Uatu]

...and here I am looking for a new icon of some prehistoric arthropod! Doh! Congratulations on the new Dinonykos birthling!

[manikus]

Congratulations, Dinonykos! I'm amazed that with the addition of a little baby Dinonykos that you had time to do anything DC related.

That animation is something special. It seems it will be easier for our PCs to visit the Nine Hells and the Abyss now.

[Dinonykos]

Originally Posted by Arminius I'm thinking of like a java or vb or other program using such a forumula or formulas to draw those grids on screen with perhaps a random mode and modes using specific desired dimensions and effects [round, square, flat, tall, regular, half-height, right curve, left curve, up curve, down curve, etc...]. Is this feasable or am I really stretching the bounds of feasibility here?

The problem with DC is that the perspectives are not completely logical. This means that sometimes it is a matter of feeling and personal taste how to solve the problems with special walls (e.g. round walls, diagonal walls or "wall-floors").
Therefore, I assume that creating a program for creating grids might work, but you would still have to improvise a lot while drawing your walls using the grids. In my opinion it is not worth the effort (although the idea is certainly interesting).

[Dinonykos]

Originally Posted by manikus Congratulations, Dinonykos! I'm amazed that with the addition of a little baby Dinonykos that you had time to do anything DC related.

I did the walls (btw, the red lava/magma consists of three walls) and the BG between 1 and 3 pm last night... It took much less (much less, is that correct English?) time than e.g. the conifers. I was a little surprised myself that it looked quite good in the end.
The baby and my wife are fine and I since I have some free days, there is a little time left for DC.

[manikus]

Dinonykos, I am glad to hear they are doing well.

2 hours? That's pretty good. (And "much less" is correct English.)

I can't wait to see what you do next.

Oh, and as for the program to make the various types of walls - anyone with that kind of programming skill should be working on getting DC to version 1.0.

[Dinonykos]

Originally Posted by manikus 2 hours? That's pretty good.

Well, I had my first or second wheat beer after weeks of alcohol-free beer (assuming that every night I could have to drive to hospital), that might have inspired me. I think the major point is however that light effects as those in the "magma cave" are quite easily done in Paint Shop Pro (which I used) with a little practise, but in the end give a lot of atmosphere. Trees, furniture and so on in the opposite contain a lot of details, which takes much more time.

Originally Posted by manikus I can't wait to see what you do next.

A fully functioning drawbridge perhaps, but as you always write: Home and job first...
And also, if I find some time between job and family: progress with the adventure itself! After I found out how to do paths and lakes and so on, I find myself again in thinking about new optical gimmicks. However, a drawbridge would certainly be quite useful and give a LOT of atmosphere.

Originally Posted by manikus Oh, and as for the program to make the various types of walls - anyone with that kind of programming skill should be working on getting DC to version 1.0.

Good point!!!!!