Sneak Peaks Thread

[Jack]

I can do that "Restricted" thing.

And as for the hop around business, I'll be adding some script so that if you view a page outside the frames it kicks you back to frames. So, no cheating!

I know how tempting it will be with such a huge world, and the whole "taking a few minutes to actually reach a town now" change.

[Jack]

Oh, last two points:

(1) The bad news... looks like that split start won't be occuring. The hurdles with the system are too hard to leap over (specifically creating a parallel start and not having southern hyrule... though this is more like central Hyrule, being the mid-tier item area). If its really that big of a desire on all your parts, then I'll try to find a work around, but I'll be able to get HA2 out a lot quicker without it.

(2) The "good" news... I'm not done with the interface, and I'll be adding several features on the side--specifically: a "Farore's Wind" to transport you to North Castle, a small map of the world, a link to the Rules Set, your inventory, and a few more things.

[weienw]

And as for the hop around business, I'll be adding some script so that if you view a page outside the frames it kicks you back to frames. So, no cheating!

Ack, no copying and pasting of links? I actually had (still have) a Hyrule Adventures folder of bookmarks in my IE... with 16 major locations of Hyrule, so I could get just about anywhere in like 3 clicks  . Will this be a no-no with HA2?

Also... I think I didn't hint enough at the 'method' I chanced on in HA1, and still sorta works now. Has to do with... (here's my leet speek XD): "Suurch dawt pee-aych-pee" (yeah, anyone can figure that one out, true).

[Jack]

Bwahaha, the fix is in. I've doomed you all to frames... DOOMED.

And I'm turning search.php in a smoldering crater, so that will soon be a no-no as well.

EDIT: Woops, seems my first fix killed two birds with one stone.  

Though, thank you for the honesty, it'll make for a better game.

[weienw]

You're welcome. I don't think I have any fight left in me now ^___^. Now all I have to do is resist the urge to pore through the source code to... uh, figure out stuff . Thanks for your efforts to make this a great game (if I happen across something that could be taken advantage of, I'll let you know)!

One thing about search.php, though... once I figured it out, I used the asterik in the search field almost exclusively... while bad for the world-feel, I never missed a thread ever again (yay?)! This was especially handy for fulfilling mod duties, I must admit. And for everyone else, the upside of search.php was that threads in obscure places were much less likely to die away and never be found, (of course one could always OOC plug it somewhere visible (like NCC)).

I guess as long as you have a way of keeping an eye on every thread in the land, we're ok?

PS. And now we have to give newbs directions instead of just sending them to "viewtopic.php?t=48794"! XD Bugger (don't worry about me, I'm just being dramatic)!

[Jack]

It'll make things harder, but the benefits I see are twofold in how it promotes real-world feel:

1. It will, as you say, force directions to be used, so you actually have to travel the world to go somewhere. Won't it be great when you just start and you have no idea how exactly to get from point A to point B? Keep in mind the trip from NC to Rauru will take about 8 clicks or so if you know the quickest path. From NC to Ruto about 14. This'll make the caravans and ferries very crucial and worth achieving a pass to use.

2. The fact that you can't just start a thread out in the Hinterlands and expect it to get some passerby traffic promotes a real world feel in that it'll compell people to converge in the cities and towns to get matters together.

[Master Goron]

The only problem with that is that a lot of Hyrule may go unexplored for that reason. Maybe if there were those clicky things more often out there, maybe you could find hidden items... I think quests should be out there too, that way people have to explore, but it would be best if you said where they were.

Wouldn't it be cool if there was a quest and you put it in one of those clicky things, and we had to find it to get to go? I think it would, as long as people don't start telling everyone where it is.

Also, you do know the compass in Hyrule Fields(f28) is turned 90 degrees clockwise, right?

I'm assuming "who's online" has been gunned down then too, right? That was another good way to skip around to places, I'll miss it.

[weienw]

The only problem with that is that a lot of Hyrule may go unexplored for that reason.

I agree... some people thought that Hyrule 1 was confusing--although the world map thingie helped a lot. Any chance that we'll get a world map for this one (probably not)? Maybe we can get it if we complete a quest, a la Mayor of Ruto's trophy? Ooh! Maybe we could get a bland, unmarked/unlabled map, and with the completion of a second quest, get a compass which shows us landmarks and things, in the style of OOT dungeons (probably other dungeons, too). Just an idea.

as long as people don't start telling everyone where it is.

Well... I think I'd tell people where things were (e.g. if I needed help), especially if it was in character... Depends, though. It would mess some things up, of course--good point.

One thing that I'll miss because of the frames is opening in new windows (for IE). Often I like one window on "reply to thread" and another on the thread itself, especially for fast-paced quests. And maybe another window zeroed in on a thread somewhere else. But I guess I'll make up for it with good'ol Notepad.exe .

[Master Goron]

Maybe we could get a bland, unmarked/unlabled map,

That would be cool, I like that alot.

I think I'd tell people where things were... especially if it was in character

I was trying to say that we could have a quest where Narrator would say something like: "There will be a quest going on this Saturday. You must find the location to enter the quest. The only hint you get is that it is in Northern Hyrule. Good luck." IC, the person could say they knew it was in N. Hyrule, but they did not have the exact location.

I have a feeling people would PM each other and say where it was, therefore making the point it was not revealed useless. And it would therefore be OOC.

if I needed help

I have no problem with the helping of other people, my point was that it would eliminate the quests specialty. Especially since Narrator pulling all the tricks out of the game...

[Jack]

Ah don't worry the overworld will be populated with scores of hidden quests, items, and shops just waiting to be discovered. For example, you could be walking and discover a tree with a staircase cut into its trunk. Heading inside will find a business scrub willing to sell an item available in town for considerably cheaper than you could purchase otherwise.

THe reason the compass is turned on its side is because the bridge extends west across the lake but on the image it points up. The compass will rotate to always point which direction you are facing.

There will be a map on the side of the screen, but it will be unmarked. But, you should be able to figure out based on your surroundings and the territory where you are.

I'll also have signposts all around pointing out the way to the nearest town/point of interest.

I can assure you the overworld will not be empty, but will be filled with tons of great content. Also, there may be a few spots that go into the underworld (which WILL be joining East Hyrule, South Hyrule, and Death Mountain Area as one of the four big expansions at some point).

If I were to say where a quest was to start I would put it in a familiar spot (like Tantari Rock, the Windmill, the Lighthouse, etc).

[weienw]

I have a feeling people would PM each other and say where it was, therefore making the point it was not revealed useless.

Ah, I see what you mean.... I was confused earlier. But you're right, a lot of being in character would have to be on an honor basis. Not necessarily telling everyone everything would make things much more realistic too--if you were passing by and saw moblins attacking a man, you really were passing by! Good thought!

my point was that it would eliminate the quests specialty.

True! But then we might occasionally just have some small quests (party of 3-4)? Maybe Narrator might have "A man with thick stubble on his face staggers into the pub. 'Foul winds north of Rauru,' he chuckles, before ordering himself a pint." A few people might uncover this precise "foul wind," and they'd get to go on the quest. Maybe they'd bring along their close friends, too. ("Hey Shiva, want to go check it out?" "I'm always up for something like that, Korind--you know me!") I guess these would be some rare, hidden opportunities (events/quests) to get TP that only some would have the knowledge to take advantage of? Awesomely realistic stuff, in more ways than one: 1) Only some would find it 2) They'd only need to tell a couple people, like their buds--character relations to the max! (unless it was a huge undertaking, which then probably wouldn't be a small, secret quest) 3) TP would be more randomized this way... (as long as people don't maliciously keep things from each other to hoard TP, but I doubt anyone would do that, especially if it didn't fit character).

Could this be a possibility, Jack? Maybe a subtle, subtle clue in some tavern (or maybe a scrawled word on a wall [danger--E.ruto!) that would lead to a very deeply hidden quest somewhere (so hidden that it might not be found at all). Maybe out of the way, two/three clicks off the main road; click an arrangement of bushes and find a travelling scribe under attack by many stalchildren. The quester tells a friend or two or three about this (OOC PM); the troupe would then (IC) have all arrived there together (as if they all chanced on this scribe when going on a hike together). They'd complete the simple quest by 1) defeating the enemies in the immediate area, then 2) assist the scribe by escorting him to a location where he could uncover more data, and receive a TP each for their efforts ("The scribe cups his hands in solemn thanks. As the duo turns to leave, he coughs, "wait!" The man trots up to them and hands each person a small scroll.")

Simple, short, hidden quests for small, inquisitive groups? Is this sorta what you meant by

scores of hidden quests, items, and shops just waiting to be discovered.

? I really like the business scrub idea; an adventurer might be able to nudge their friend with a "I found this one shady character that can really give you a deal on that Bow that you wanted" and then give them general directions via PM. This would definitely involve more character relations... ^_^ whoo!

There will be a map on the side of the screen, but it will be unmarked.

Hooray! The HA1 map was really helpful when I first joined.

[bgrugby]

Just wanted to ask and figure would do it here since I have not seen it yet. About how much longer till the game is actually up?

[Jack]

It's taking a lot longer than I thought (the world, that is) sicne there's a lot of tedious, repetitve work involved in making each location. I could be done in by the end of next week if everyone was willing to start off with just the Hyrule north of the North-South Pass and Old South Road. I'd roll out the next part after an event unlocking it.

[Crambert]

I do not mind starting with just North-South Pass and Old South Road. I just want the game to start.

[bgrugby]

Same here.