42 replies to this topic

[theacefes]

UPDATE: I've moved this guide to my new site page. The code is slightly updated and it's a bit easier to read with more step by step instructions than probably necessary. I'll keep the older one up in case people like that better.

Hello again!

I'm sure many of you have seen my NPC tutorial for how to get an NPC in the game and give it basic dialogue. A while back, I put together a longer and more detailed version of an NPC guide that goes through a bit more on how to make your NPC XTREME and working correctly.

This guide can be found in the Wiki, but I figured it might be easier viewed here. I've tested everything in the guide, so I know it works, but I don't dare claim that everything you could ever want to know is in here. Awhile ago, I invited anyone who was interested to update the file in the Wiki to however they like, so that eventually we might have something easy for the very beginner to follow. Now, no one has done such a thing yet, for many reasons including time restrictions, not really caring to do so, etc. So this leads me to a simple conclusion, should anyone with coding knowledge find something wrong or something that needs to be added in the tutorial:

Don't complain about it. Fix it! It will be our little..."community project" har har (that was a good one )

Okay, seriously, here it is. It's got basic creation, banter, interjections, PIDs, flirts, basic (BASIC!!) scripting, music, sounds, portraits, and some other stuff that I can't remember without looking at it again.

Ace's NPC Creation Guide

Ace's slightly updated NPC Creation Guide (a little easier to follow)


UPDATE: New link, fixed some typos that would have caused errors upon installation.

Edited by theacefes, 19 March 2011 - 09:08 PM.

[Shaitan]

I love you

[Western Paladin]

Cool! I haven't read the whole thing yet, but the layout is easy to read and it looks very thorough.

[theacefes]

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I love you

rotfl!

Just think of it as my subtle way of saying "I want new material for NPCs!" to everyone.

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Cool! I haven't read the whole thing yet, but the layout is easy to read and it looks very thorough. smile.gif

I hope it is. I would like it to be improved on, because I know that there is always room for improvements.

[Sir_Carnifex]

Glad to see the guide back up. It's very useful for (ahem) simpletons like me who can't figure out anything for themselves. At least I am getting much better at detecting typos now.

One thing I want to mention...

It says in there that WeiDu tends to indicate that the error is about 5 lines below where it actually is. In my case, WeiDu usually says that the error is about 5 lines above where it actually is (varies some, but generally works this way). Perhaps this depends on the text editor used?

[Miloch]

Sir_Carnifex, on Jun 3 2008, 02:47 AM, said:

In my case, WeiDu usually says that the error is about 5 lines above where it actually is (varies some, but generally works this way). Perhaps this depends on the text editor used?

Yeah, it can; you can turn off line wrapping to get the true line count. Though WeiDU does lie sometimes. I just spent about 5 minutes looking for a bug in a line WeiDU kept returning that was fine - the actual error was 5 lines back.

[theacefes]

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It says in there that WeiDu tends to indicate that the error is about 5 lines below where it actually is

Actually it says this:

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Normally, you’ll get what’s called a syntax error, which means that there is something typed wrong in the code. WeiDU will also give you a line number and some text that the error is near. Typically, the actual error is about 5 lines above from where the error is said to be. If you find the error, fix it, save the file, and reinstall.

[Sir_Carnifex]

Read my post again and you'll see I did say the same thing, but in a different way.

[muffin-tacos]

I just thought I should say that I found this guide extremely helpful when I was making my own private NPC. So thanks very much for writing it!

[theacefes]

Sir_Carnifex, on Jun 4 2008, 11:44 AM, said:

Read my post again and you'll see I did say the same thing, but in a different way.

I'm still confused (call me stupid, but sometimes I need n00b explaining on "simple" things). I was just quoting directly from the tutorial that you stated supposedly said something else, actual word wise.

@ muffin tacos

No problem

[Sir_Carnifex]

It's all a matter of how it was worded. Take a look at this figure:

~ blah blah blah  // error is here.
=
~ blah blah blah ~
==
~ blah blah blah ~
EXIT   // WieDu says the error is here.

Now, if you take my quote...

Quote

It says in there that WeiDu tends to indicate that the error is about 5 lines below where it actually is

...and look at the figure, you'll see that WeiDu is placing the error five lines BELOW where it is. Ok, so that's correct. Now, look at your quote...

Quote

Typically, the actual error is about 5 lines above from where the error is said to be.

...Compare it to the figure. You'll notice it works out the same. The difference is that I'm using a different subject. Therefore, I had to switch around the wording for it to mean the same thing. Yeah, I know...confusing...but I didn't feel like going back to read the tutorial again so I decided to paraphrase instead.

Of course, the whole point is that it would appear that different text editors will result in WeiDu pointing you in one direction or another.

[Fyorl]

Perhaps it has something to do with line-endings?

[theacefes]

Ah, ok. I get you now.

I was confused because I saw what you had quoted was actually inaccurate word for word, not the concept. I see what you are saying, but the actual tutorial said what I had quoted.

But yeah anyway, go ahead and use this thread for contributions, too!

Edited by theacefes, 04 June 2008 - 09:38 PM.

[zixi]

Just a quick thank you for the guide. I've just got my first NPC into the game and I have to say I haven't had this much fun since I got my first LISP program to run... (or perhaps that ought to be stumble). It's a great guide... I think it will be some time before game makers hammer on my door demanding I work for them but your guide is great and I'm amused by my success so far! I haven't programmed in years - I just tell other people to write code (and fast!!) but the Guide is virtually idiot proof - or at least this idiot managed fine...

I even had a bug to start with and I've really forgotten how much joy one feels when one finally fixes it... thank you for reminding me!

[Vigdis]

Wohooo! Great great great. A miracle, ya be. Thankies! *is off to read the guide*