v0.8.13 (Troubling Times) active on Google Play

Useful links
Source code of the game - Contribution guide - ATCS Editor - Translate the game on Weblate - Example walkthrough - Andor's Trail Directory - Join the Discord
Get the game (v0.8.13) from Google, Github, F-Droid, our server, or itch.io

Secret doors and other conditional map changes

Unstructured ideas, requests and suggestions for the development of the game.
Tomcat
VIP
Posts: 1353
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 7:05 am
android_version: 7.0

Secret doors and other conditional map changes

Post by Tomcat »

This came up in an email to Oskar earlier today, so I thought I'd post it. I was thinking about wanting to add a secret door to a map I'm making:
I wonder if it would be possible to code secret doors in the future (later than 0.7.0). A new map layer with the secret tiles, to be changed when a condition is met, like a quest level. This could be used for opened and closed doors, fixed and broken objects...all sorts of possibilities...
I haven't dug through the code for parsing maps yet, but adding an optional ”Conditional” layer only for maps that need it might be relatively simple. This layer would contain just the tiles that change, to be displayed over the existing Object and/or Ground layer when a condition is met. Set an event in the Key layer over the changing tile(s) whose attributes define the condition. Write the code that makes it all work.

Any thoughts?
Norbert
Lvl:52 XP:2597576 AP:12 HP:124 AC:282 AD:30-42 CHS:27 CM:2.0 ECC:18% BC:132 DR:2
Skills: CS:2 IF:2 Ev:3 Rg:1 DgPro:1 1HPro:2 LtAPro:2 FS-DW:2 Sp-DW:1
Equip: FP BSS JoF RoP PRoB SrpHbk GoLF EnhCH EnhCB
Other: DotSP VD GoW FB TG RoD+6 Oegyth:6
User avatar
nyktos
VIP
Posts: 3463
Joined: Wed Sep 14, 2011 5:38 pm
android_version: 7.1 - Nougat
Location: Nor City, Dhayavar

Re: Secret doors and other conditional map changes

Post by nyktos »

im glad someone else is pushing for this...
ever since the puzzle in the Blackwater Settlement - i have been starving for more!

i think we need more of this in AT!!!

:twisted:

i have a few ideas that would require exactly what you're talking about.

- something for Small Rocks...
- something for Oegeth Crystals...
- something for random Gems we collect...

a few little puzzles & traps that will make the journey more than just killing...
we can even plant hints around the world - for the hard puzzles.

[so now, not only are we adding flavor text...
but problems that can only be solved through interacting with the world & problem solving.]
"Embrace the Shadow"

Image

[Lv: 60] [HP: 175] [AC: 361] [AD: 25-39] [BC: 75]
[Dual Wielding Swords] [Unarmored Fighting]
Pyrizzle
VIP
Posts: 6435
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2011 1:00 am
android_version: 6.0 - Marshmallow
Location: Fire Nation HQ

Re: Secret doors and other conditional map changes

Post by Pyrizzle »

Quest spoiler in example:
Simular to how you cannot get thru the second half of the Fallhaven Prison without the secret code from the warden's necklace.
I am definitely a fan of this idea! Adding keys and other restrictions to areas would be a great addition, I would also allow us to build high level areas near low level towns w/o fear of new adventurers wondering into places they are not ready yet.

Very good suggestion! +1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Player Name:Pyro
Lvl:24XP:244KAP:2/10HP:80AC: 189%AD:13-21CHS:-6CM: 0BC: 20%DR:2
IF:2Reg:2FSDW:1

May Elythara bless you and light your path!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tomcat
VIP
Posts: 1353
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 7:05 am
android_version: 7.0

Re: Secret doors and other conditional map changes

Post by Tomcat »

I'm looking for more than just increased use of keys. I want to enable keys to alter the map. Find a secret door, and now you see it. Fall through a trap door, and next time you get back to the top, you see the hole. Chop down the magic tree, and you see a stump and a log. (Not that you necessarily want to let the player deforest the entire world though!) Discover the secret to the magic lamp in the underground passage, and now you see tunnel instead of black. Ad infinitum....
Norbert
Lvl:52 XP:2597576 AP:12 HP:124 AC:282 AD:30-42 CHS:27 CM:2.0 ECC:18% BC:132 DR:2
Skills: CS:2 IF:2 Ev:3 Rg:1 DgPro:1 1HPro:2 LtAPro:2 FS-DW:2 Sp-DW:1
Equip: FP BSS JoF RoP PRoB SrpHbk GoLF EnhCH EnhCB
Other: DotSP VD GoW FB TG RoD+6 Oegyth:6
Tulkas
Posts: 288
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2012 3:34 pm
android_version: 4.0

Re: Secret doors and other conditional map changes

Post by Tulkas »

The possibilities are endless. Good idea. Even goes with my other idea about a ultra high level dungeon being revealed after certain conditions are met.

http://andorstrail.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=189
Lvl: 196, XP: 13,700,094, Gold: 1,447,699, RoLS: 1, ElyR: 0, RoL: 1, ChaR: 1, GoLF: 0, ShaF: 2, SRoV: 12, VSH: 6, WMC: 0, GoW: 0
HP: 1081, AC: 400, AD: 106-122, AP: 4, ECC: 39%, CM: 5.75, BC: 213%, DR: 4
Thystonius
Posts: 490
Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2012 11:49 am
android_version: 2.3 - Gingerbread
Location: Netherlands (ikbendebob {at} yahoo {dot} com)
Contact:

Re: Secret doors and other conditional map changes

Post by Thystonius »

Tomcat wrote:I'm looking for more than just increased use of keys. I want to enable keys to alter the map. Find a secret door, and now you see it. Fall through a trap door, and next time you get back to the top, you see the hole. Chop down the magic tree, and you see a stump and a log. (Not that you necessarily want to let the player deforest the entire world though!) Discover the secret to the magic lamp in the underground passage, and now you see tunnel instead of black. Ad infinitum....
For what it is worth since I just write a lot but don't code, I totally support this awesome suggestion. Away from grinding, into an interactive realm.
Lvl 74|XP 7,280,442|€ 364,324|2013.08.27
HP 229|AC 238%|AD 46-55|AP 3|ECC 25%|CM 3.0|BC 140%|DR 10|SR
RoLS 2|ElyR 1|RoL 0|ChaR 0|GoLF 1|ShaF 1|SRoV 0|VSH 0|WMC 0|GoW 0
WA 1|HH 1|Clv 1|BS 5|CS 2|CE 1|IF 5|Reg 1|DPS 1|DP 1|SP 2|LAP 1
User avatar
Meirerion
Posts: 210
Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2012 10:49 am
android_version: 2.3 - Gingerbread
Location: Under a keg.

Re: Secret doors and other conditional map changes

Post by Meirerion »

Thystonius wrote: For what it is worth since I just write a lot but don't code, I totally support this awesome suggestion. Away from grinding, into an interactive realm.
Same for me, this is really needed to create more depth in quests with the other idea I had long ago (queststage-based map changes).
~May Elythara's wisdom light your path
User avatar
PK17
Posts: 839
Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2012 7:33 pm
android_version: 4.0

Re: Secret doors and other conditional map changes

Post by PK17 »

It would work pretty good with the volcanoe idea I keep brining up, it could be dormant until you talk to someone specific then it can start erupting. He can then go on to tell you that the volcanoe will destroy his whole town, unless someone can go see what is making it erupt. Also... if you have conditional tiles, couldn't you make boots that allow you to walk on lava or certain types of tiles. ie: walk on water, over ice that is too slippery, or something along those lines.
Take a stop by my game thread for some forum fun!!!

http://andorstrail.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4577
sdevaney
Site Admin
Posts: 1187
Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2011 10:17 pm
android_version: 14 - Android 14
Contact:

Re: Secret doors and other conditional map changes

Post by sdevaney »

AFAIK not currently possible but definitely interested in seeing this myself.
oskarwiksten
Captain Awesome
Posts: 368
Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2011 8:51 am
android_version: 2.3 - Gingerbread
Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Re: Secret doors and other conditional map changes

Post by oskarwiksten »

Tomcat wrote:Adding an optional ”Conditional” layer only for maps that need it might be relatively simple. This layer would contain just the tiles that change, to be displayed over the existing Object and/or Ground layer when a condition is met. Set an event in the Key layer over the changing tile(s) whose attributes define the condition.
Good idea, Tomcat! We've been wanting to do this for a long time. In order to make it easy for map creators, I think it's crucial that using conditionals on maps is easy and that it's obvious how it works.

There are two things I think we need to define before we can start adding something like a new tile layer:
  1. Do we always want to add tiles to the new layer, or would we also need to remove tiles from "objects" layer?
  2. Should it only affect the "objects" layer, or also the "above" layer?
Adding just another layer is easy, but I'm thinking that might not always be sufficient. For example, check out blackwater_mountain5.tmx , where we'd want to clear that rubble after some quest thing has happened. That particular map also has some stuff in the "above" layer, which is just a trick to make it look like there's more rubble there than what we can place in the "objects" layer. We'd have to have some strategy on how to handle both removing those things from the "objects" and "above" -layers, and how to handle adding new tiles to each layer.

Anyone up for doing an example of a TMX file for blackwater_mountain5.tmx with some new layer or some other representation of "objects"&"above" where the rubble can be conditionally removed?
/Oskar
Post Reply