Bt Builder

Discussions and help for the Bard's Tale Construction Set
Methuselas
Posts: 352
Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:03 pm

Re: Bt Builder

Post by Methuselas »

So I have the new screens done, except for the Main Screen. Resolution goes from 640x480 to 1280x960. I have screens done up to 1920x1440, though. The Wall/Door Templates are done, as well, so I am ready to build new Tilesets using a real Physical Based Renderer, instead of Mental Ray.

Starting at 1280, though I'm having issues. The gamescreen works fine, but in the Map Editor, the resolution of the main 3D window is 290x290 which is the standard size for 640x480. It's using the 1280 tiles, but the window view is using the 640 one. Anything higher than 1280x960 doesn't work at all and defaults to the 320x200 size.

Here's a link to the current 1280x960 build:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Jvh6oZ ... sp=sharing

Concerning the Map Editor, it would be nice to be able to point to a specific directory for the 3D window. I would prefer to use 145x145 for the 320x240 and 640x480 resolutions, then 290x290 for everything higher. It would give me more real estate for 1600x1200 and higher.

Now on to the Pocket Chip. I want it to have as similar a design as possible to match the PC versions. The Gamescreen is 403x200, but the Map Editor is 430x200 and the Pocket Chip wiki says it's resolution is 480x272. Which one can I use safely?
"Using No Way as Way; Having No Limitation As Limitation". - Bruce Lee.

BTBuilder Stuff - https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing
Methuselas
Posts: 352
Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:03 pm

Re: Bt Builder

Post by Methuselas »

Well, I missed the pictureselect.xml. I created a new background for it, called "pictureselect.png.", but at 1280x960, it's running into the same problem as the map editor. Instead of doing the full 580x580px main screen, it's only rendering a 290x290px area. Also, if a picture has a transparent background for the picture select, the images will stack on one another. The engine doesn't clear the main screen on each image, which it should.

The higher resolution images for mobs look really good with the test tileset I'm using, since they're using the same lighting and have the same perspective.
"Using No Way as Way; Having No Limitation As Limitation". - Bruce Lee.

BTBuilder Stuff - https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing
dulsi
Posts: 242
Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2007 7:15 pm

Re: Bt Builder

Post by dulsi »

I'm a little busy at the moment so I can't respond too much. There is no hard-coded limit to screen size but I think it might refuse sizes larger than your screen.

For your complaint about decoration file location, I'm thinking maybe we are stuck too much with BTCS's design. They had memory constraints that prevented loading multiple wall sets. Bt Builder doesn't have that. There is no reason we can't just have one wall set with all the walls. We would need better ability to switch wall type in the map editor because looping through them would be annoying.
hooshnik
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun May 24, 2020 9:27 pm

Re: Bt Builder

Post by hooshnik »

I used to be sombunall from years back, looks like I'm changing to this account.

Anybody know what happened to Caars' google drive link? Seems to be dead.

My Relis Nublar copy crashes now with the new version so I was going to download it again to see if there is a new version since years back that works but it's in the dead link.

Also BT Random Dungeon also depends upon the drive. I get this error:

- Downloading https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/fold ... aXdySmc/BT Random Dungeon v0.2.application did not succeed.

Anybody can help me either get Relis Nublar or BT Random Dungeon?
my possible btbuilder bugs: http://btbuilder.codeicepick.com/btbuilder_bugs.html
some btbuilder files: https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code ... XRURe20Iwk
Formerly my account name was sombunall
hooshnik
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun May 24, 2020 9:27 pm

Re: Bt Builder

Post by hooshnik »

I have updated my signature with some possible bugs I've found with btbuilder 0.5.18. Most of them are text bugs from Meth's manual. There are 12 bugs. I've held back a few bugs until I can check them out more in case they are fake. They are generated using the report function of mantisbt.
my possible btbuilder bugs: http://btbuilder.codeicepick.com/btbuilder_bugs.html
some btbuilder files: https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code ... XRURe20Iwk
Formerly my account name was sombunall
Methuselas
Posts: 352
Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:03 pm

Re: Bt Builder

Post by Methuselas »

dulsi wrote: Fri May 29, 2020 2:49 pm I'm a little busy at the moment so I can't respond too much. There is no hard-coded limit to screen size but I think it might refuse sizes larger than your screen.
Take care of yourself and family first, sir. All of this stuff is secondary.

The Unity Dungeon Crawler I was originally testing out, died and the Developer released it as open source. Here's a link if you want to check it out.

https://github.com/wovencode/retro-dungeon-crawler-kit

Right now, I'm in the process of getting some free animations done for this, so I don't have a lot of free time to devote to anything else. It's an open source RPG framework for Unity. The Developer has made some outstanding milestones in the year he's worked on it.

https://www.anyrpg.org/


As for the screen, there's no issue with the screensize, itself. It's simply the Tileset window. I'll take a picture of it, but to sum it up. Say the Tileset (Main Window) is like this.

12
34

Only Quadrant 1 shows pixels, 2, 3 and 4 are white. It's trying to display the whole image, but Quadrant 1 is the only one displaying anything.
For your complaint about decoration file location, I'm thinking maybe we are stuck too much with BTCS's design. They had memory constraints that prevented loading multiple wall sets. Bt Builder doesn't have that. There is no reason we can't just have one wall set with all the walls. We would need better ability to switch wall type in the map editor because looping through them would be annoying.
Honestly, I was completely oblivious to what BTBuilder could do, until I saw the decoration file. I started playing with photoshop and realized it's possible to just "stack" decorations on top of one another, over a wall tile. I could have made Tilesets 3x as big, if I had just rendered out a ton of decorations (flags, statues, beds, etc) and just did an overlay on each wall render. I would have never thought of that, if you hadn't added the decorations.

If we have just one wall set, why can't it use a walltag.xml, like the imagetag.xml for the picture editor? It has a search function just like picture editor and lists the walls, just like picture editor would. The way I've redesigned the UI elements, they're seamless and it could just use the Special Editor window to list the walls. You select one and drop it. It will keep dropping that one, until you cycle back to Wall, using SPACE. You, honestly, would find something more elegant, I'm sure.

The same thing could be done for a decorationstag.xml and the doortag.xml.

I'm going stir-crazy from not being able to leave the house, so I'm looking for stuff to do. All of the UI templates are done now, except for anything you've recently created. All of the slots won't take much to re-render (I'll only make the first 48 available to start and focus on Walls.) I have the template done for new tilesets, I just need to make 3d models.

If you wanted to do major overhauls, now would be the time. I'm really liking where this AnyRPG is going, so I'm helping the developer out as much as I can, but if you drop some major updates to BTBuilder, I'll go through and do a complete overhaul on the graphics.

That includes the pocket edition, which by the way, I need to know the maximum screen size I can use, so I can make a new UI template. ;)
"Using No Way as Way; Having No Limitation As Limitation". - Bruce Lee.

BTBuilder Stuff - https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing
Methuselas
Posts: 352
Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:03 pm

Re: Bt Builder

Post by Methuselas »

hooshnik wrote: Sat May 30, 2020 3:34 am I used to be sombunall from years back, looks like I'm changing to this account.

Anybody know what happened to Caars' google drive link? Seems to be dead.

My Relis Nublar copy crashes now with the new version so I was going to download it again to see if there is a new version since years back that works but it's in the dead link.

Also BT Random Dungeon also depends upon the drive. I get this error:

- Downloading https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/fold ... aXdySmc/BT Random Dungeon v0.2.application did not succeed.

Anybody can help me either get Relis Nublar or BT Random Dungeon?
Yeah, I found out it was down, a few weeks ago, when I tried to grab working copies, as neither of mine work, as well. I haven't checked previous versions to see which one Relis Nublar is still compatible with.
"Using No Way as Way; Having No Limitation As Limitation". - Bruce Lee.

BTBuilder Stuff - https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing
hooshnik
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun May 24, 2020 9:27 pm

Re: Bt Builder

Post by hooshnik »

Relis Nublar runs if you take out display.xml. Looks like Christian did some custom stuff there that's rejected in the new versions. If I had to guess I think the <status> stuff is supposed to be in status.xml now. The culprit is somewhere below:

Code: Select all

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?>
<display>
  <width>320</width>
  <height>200</height>
  <expanded>
    <xMult>2</xMult>
    <yMult>2</yMult>
    <directory>640x400</directory>
  </expanded>
  <background>ui/gamescreen.png</background>
  <x3d>16</x3d>
  <y3d>15</y3d>
  <label>
    <x>16</x>
    <y>103</y>
    <w>112</w>
    <h>13</h>
  </label>
  <text>
    <x>168</x>
    <y>14</y>
    <w>136</w>
    <h>96</h>
  </text>
  <status number="1">
    <x>10</x>
    <y>144</y>
    <w>302</w>
    <h>8</h>
  </status>
  <status number="2">
    <x>10</x>
    <y>152</y>
    <w>302</w>
    <h>8</h>
  </status>
  <status number="3">
    <x>10</x>
    <y>160</y>
    <w>302</w>
    <h>8</h>
  </status>
  <status number="4">
    <x>10</x>
    <y>168</y>
    <w>302</w>
    <h>8</h>
  </status>
  <status number="5">
    <x>10</x>
    <y>176</y>
    <w>302</w>
    <h>8</h>
  </status>
  <status number="6">
    <x>10</x>
    <y>184</y>
    <w>302</w>
    <h>8</h>
  </status>
  <status number="7">
    <x>10</x>
    <y>192</y>
    <w>302</w>
    <h>8</h>
  </status>
  <statBlock>
    <attribute>name</attribute>
    <position>
      <x>0</x>
      <y>0</y>
      <w>110</w>
      <h>8</h>
    </position>
  </statBlock>
  <statBlock>
    <attribute>ac</attribute>
    <position>
      <x>110</x>
      <y>0</y>
      <w>32</w>
      <h>8</h>
    </position>
    <modifier>-10</modifier>
    <negate>true</negate>
    <align>right</align>
  </statBlock>
  <conditional>
    <checkBit>
      <attribute>status</attribute>
      <bit>0</bit>
      <print>
        <text>-DEAD-</text>
        <position>
          <x>142</x>
          <y>0</y>
          <w>72</w>
          <h>8</h>
        </position>
        <align>right</align>
      </print>
    </checkBit>
    <checkBit>
      <attribute>status</attribute>
      <bit>5</bit>
      <print>
        <text>-STONE-</text>
        <position>
          <x>142</x>
          <y>0</y>
          <w>72</w>
          <h>8</h>
        </position>
        <align>right</align>
      </print>
    </checkBit>
    <default>
      <conditional>
        <checkBit>
          <attribute>status</attribute>
          <bit>1</bit>
          <print>
            <text>PSN</text>
            <position>
              <x>142</x>
              <y>0</y>
              <w>40</w>
              <h>8</h>
            </position>
            <align>right</align>
          </print>
        </checkBit>
        <checkBit>
          <attribute>status</attribute>
          <bit>4</bit>
          <print>
            <text>POS</text>
            <position>
              <x>142</x>
              <y>0</y>
              <w>40</w>
              <h>8</h>
            </position>
            <align>right</align>
          </print>
        </checkBit>
        <checkBit>
          <attribute>status</attribute>
          <bit>3</bit>
          <print>
            <text>OLD</text>
            <position>
              <x>142</x>
              <y>0</y>
              <w>40</w>
              <h>8</h>
            </position>
            <align>right</align>
          </print>
        </checkBit>
        <checkBit>
          <attribute>status</attribute>
          <bit>2</bit>
          <print>
            <text>NUT</text>
            <position>
              <x>142</x>
              <y>0</y>
              <w>40</w>
              <h>8</h>
            </position>
            <align>right</align>
          </print>
        </checkBit>
        <checkBit>
          <attribute>status</attribute>
          <bit>6</bit>
          <print>
            <text>PAR</text>
            <position>
              <x>142</x>
              <y>0</y>
              <w>40</w>
              <h>8</h>
            </position>
            <align>right</align>
          </print>
        </checkBit>
        <default>
          <statBlock>
            <attribute>maxhp</attribute>
            <position>
              <x>142</x>
              <y>0</y>
              <w>40</w>
              <h>8</h>
            </position>
            <max>999</max>
            <overflow>WOW</overflow>
            <align>right</align>
          </statBlock>
        </default>
      </conditional>
      <statBlock>
        <attribute>hp</attribute>
        <position>
          <x>182</x>
          <y>0</y>
          <w>32</w>
          <h>8</h>
        </position>
        <max>999</max>
        <overflow>WOW</overflow>
        <align>right</align>
      </statBlock>
    </default>
  </conditional>
  <statBlock>
    <attribute>maxsp</attribute>
    <position>
      <x>214</x>
      <y>0</y>
      <w>32</w>
      <h>8</h>
    </position>
    <max>999</max>
    <overflow>WOW</overflow>
    <align>right</align>
  </statBlock>
  <statBlock>
    <attribute>sp</attribute>
    <position>
      <x>246</x>
      <y>0</y>
      <w>32</w>
      <h>8</h>
    </position>
    <max>999</max>
    <overflow>WOW</overflow>
    <align>right</align>
  </statBlock>
  <statBlock>
    <attribute>jobAbbrev</attribute>
    <position>
      <x>278</x>
      <y>0</y>
      <w>24</w>
      <h>8</h>
    </position>
    <align>right</align>
  </statBlock>
  <icon>
    <image>ui/icons/light.mng</image>
    <position>
      <x>136</x>
      <y>13</y>
      <w>20</w>
      <h>20</h>
    </position>
    <effect>22</effect>
  </icon>
  <icon>
    <image>ui/icons/shield.png</image>
    <position>
      <x>136</x>
      <y>34</y>
      <w>20</w>
      <h>20</h>
    </position>
    <effect>23</effect>
    <party>true</party>
  </icon>
  <icon>
    <image>ui/icons/carpet.mng</image>
    <position>
      <x>136</x>
      <y>54</y>
      <w>20</w>
      <h>20</h>
    </position>
    <effect>39</effect>
  </icon>
  <facingIcon>
    <image>ui/icons/compass.ng</image>
    <position>
      <x>136</x>
      <y>76</y>
      <w>20</w>
      <h>20</h>
    </position>
    <effect>31</effect>
  </facingIcon>
  <icon>
    <image>ui/icons/sight.mng</image>
    <position>
      <x>136</x>
      <y>99</y>
      <w>20</w>
      <h>20</h>
    </position>
    <effect>25</effect>
  </icon>
  <xMap>64</xMap>
  <yMap>7</yMap>
  <widthMap>14</widthMap>
  <heightMap>14</heightMap>
</display>
What to yall want to do? I kind of feel like hosting it with the file removed... even unfinished it's really good if not overly ambitious. We could add Meth's status.xml to it and call it a day maybe? Also I am not sure which version I have exactly. Carrs may have made a better version since I last played. It looks like I might have fixed it to make it work for me (it's been years ago). I had to copy bt.xml to a parent directory but that might have to do with running it on linux I'm not sure. My 'Relis Nublar.xml' has a timestamp of 2014-09-25 and file size is 138771. Is that what you have Meth?
my possible btbuilder bugs: http://btbuilder.codeicepick.com/btbuilder_bugs.html
some btbuilder files: https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code ... XRURe20Iwk
Formerly my account name was sombunall
hooshnik
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun May 24, 2020 9:27 pm

Re: Bt Builder

Post by hooshnik »

There is something else I notice too. If you look at the art for the male half-orc in Relis Nublar the aspect ratio is wrong and it is too wide. Maybe the image directory should be removed too and is outdated (it can run without it)? Is there anything really new in there that isn't in the latest btbuilder?
my possible btbuilder bugs: http://btbuilder.codeicepick.com/btbuilder_bugs.html
some btbuilder files: https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code ... XRURe20Iwk
Formerly my account name was sombunall
Methuselas
Posts: 352
Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:03 pm

Re: Bt Builder

Post by Methuselas »

hooshnik wrote: Sun May 31, 2020 5:09 am My 'Relis Nublar.xml' has a timestamp of 2014-09-25 and file size is 138771. Is that what you have Meth?
Yeah, my archive is corrupted. I can't open it - I can look at it, but I can't unzip it. It may have been corrupted on multiple changes to various external drives The timestamp and filesize match mine, though.
"Using No Way as Way; Having No Limitation As Limitation". - Bruce Lee.

BTBuilder Stuff - https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing
hooshnik
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun May 24, 2020 9:27 pm

Re: Bt Builder

Post by hooshnik »

I've made an archive of the archive and posted it in my sig. I noticed bt.xml was not put in a parent directory which I think is needed. I copied and renamed bt.xml to relisnublar.xml with no space in between relis and nublar to distinguish it from the main map which does have a space and is in the subdirectory. This is what I use to make it work as I seem to remember getting it in a non-working condition which kind of weird but whatever. I left everything intact including the music and images.

==People should know that taking the images directory out of the way might be a good idea==
my possible btbuilder bugs: http://btbuilder.codeicepick.com/btbuilder_bugs.html
some btbuilder files: https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code ... XRURe20Iwk
Formerly my account name was sombunall
hooshnik
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun May 24, 2020 9:27 pm

Re: Bt Builder

Post by hooshnik »

Woops. False start! I moved status.xml to the main parent of the archive and added .disabled extension. I kind of want people to be able to play it out of the box. The file should be available now. A bad version of the archive was available for about 2 minutes.
my possible btbuilder bugs: http://btbuilder.codeicepick.com/btbuilder_bugs.html
some btbuilder files: https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code ... XRURe20Iwk
Formerly my account name was sombunall
Methuselas
Posts: 352
Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:03 pm

Re: Bt Builder

Post by Methuselas »

I hope everyone is well and surviving the COVIDIOT bullshit. Lockdown has made me and the family a bit squirrely.
"Using No Way as Way; Having No Limitation As Limitation". - Bruce Lee.

BTBuilder Stuff - https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing
User avatar
Darendor
Posts: 1502
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:53 am
Location: Red Deer, Alberta, Canada

Re: Bt Builder

Post by Darendor »

Methuselas wrote: Tue May 25, 2021 6:49 pmLockdown has made me and the family a bit squirrely.
Tell me about it - I'm spending the rest of this week as a banana.
hooshnik
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun May 24, 2020 9:27 pm

Re: Bt Builder

Post by hooshnik »

I am working on a secret btbuilder related project. A non-covid sickness may have sidelined it. I also may have put some kind of sample in my signature.
my possible btbuilder bugs: http://btbuilder.codeicepick.com/btbuilder_bugs.html
some btbuilder files: https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code ... XRURe20Iwk
Formerly my account name was sombunall
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