Guinea pigs: Formation

[drcode]

If you don't mind looking at a work-in-progress, get the latest snapshot, run it for a few seconds, quit, and then open your 'exult.cfg' file. Search for 'formation', change the 'no' to a 'yes', and then start up Exult again.

And don't bother reporting bugs, as I already know how goofy it works:-) I don't have a lot of free time, so this may take at least a few weeks to become playable.

(I played around with the original, and noticed that they do an excellent job of keeping the party together. Even if you walk just past an open door, the party will stay on the correct side. About the only way to 'lose' a member without hackmoving is to stop in a doorway and then close the door.)

[artaxerxes]

I've tried it early this morning and it looks very good!

Of course, it is not identical to the original and it's so much the better.
However, I've noticed that when you walk straight, if it results in a companion being blocked, he won't move around to avoid the obstacle.

Anyways, something will have to get updated in the FAQ!

Artaxerxes

[Dominus]

I see no stinkin' FAQ writer so nothing will get updated
(for as long as I'm in germany at least)

[Karlos]

Looks like you managed to find both a computer and spare time while in Germany, however, so that excuse just doesn't hold water.


-Karl

[gruck]

works near perfectly except for the characters in the back row can occasionally get stuck on objects and have to catch up. Other then that I couldn't find any problems.

[gruck]

It would be sure great if you could switch between formations in game from the menu.

[Dominus]

Karl: hm, found a computer but not really time. At the moment I have to clean my mother's ex-boyfriends laptop off a nasty virus...

[MV]

Looks very good so far.

I had a quick play in TBG with a party of three, and while it does handle like the original in the way they stay behind and don't get in the way of each other, I also like the way they go when you change directions, they don't absolutely stay in formation, they sort of "turn". It's hard to explain, but, it's good so far.

[artaxerxes]

that's what I meant in my comment. It really adds to it I think. Please Jeff, don't correct that part!

Artaxerxes

[drcode]

Since I don't really know what I'm doing, it'll probably stay that way:-) The main things to work on are getting them around obstacles, keeping them from wandering through open doors, and also keeping them from climbing stairs that we walk past. I've seen that the original is really good at these, and that it's nearly impossible to lose a party member without cheating.

We'll probably add an in-game menu item when it's a little more stable.

[MagicMop]

Wow... that's good stuff! You've done a great job DrCode! Its not super stiff like the original, and not all over the place like the old method. I like it!

Now I'm wanting to play through the Black Gate AGAIN! I'd hate to know how many hours of my life I've wasted on this game!

Thanks again for all your hard work...

MM

[drcode]

Thanks! But is it really usable yet? I've walked through Trinsic with a party of 7, and ended up with only 3. Some got stuck on obstacles, which others wandered up the stairs and got stuck on the town wall:-)

I'll work on it some more, but it probably will be several days.

[Skutarth]

Ha! Finally you meet demands after so many requests...
Good job. I was looking forward to when you would give up and comply. Now to make it more user-friendly. Oh yeah, and the getting stuck on stairs and obstacles, et cetera.

We all thank you for taking the time to do this!