The Lands of Arda

[SerraAvatar]

Heya,
I dont have access to the builder forum and dont see any reason why this topic shouldnt be public.

We want to keep extending Arda, but there is a file limit... meaning after some time new haks will be needed. Items, creatures etc. in haks cant be changed, so Id rather add no more haks if we can avoid it.

Things we can do to save room is:

Putting several levels or interiors of a place on one map.
No more keys (check next point).
ONE master lever script (you place a local string in the lever with the tag of the door, and the master lever script reads it out and opens the door on activation).
ONE master dropp script (works the same as above:
->you place local strings of the tags of the dropps, local ints of the number of dropps and local ints of the dropp chance on the boss and the master script reads them out on death)

I have no idea why this hasnt been used from the beginning, it would have saved much space and kept the scripts at an acceptable amount.

Anotehr thing is who will keep the master mod of Arda, doing all the small fixes like exchanging bugged priests by new onces etc.

And are there any suggestions for dropps or forges we might need? What kind of area would you like to have added? For example, I really enjoy slaying hill giant in Oulu´s area. Having huge sized mobs is something really different from the common Arda. I might have a look and check what huge sized creature models are still available and make an new area (fitting into the lotr scheme of course). AT the moment Im much more enjoying outdoor areas than dungeons or cities too (there I see a huge lack).

Any thoughts?^^

[oulu]

Points are good. I just dont know how to do that sort of master script so could you please post it here or email it.

MERP books are still full of places, creatures and items to add so im all in for expanding Arda. There are not too many players regularly, but if we keep updating the module, the current players might keep interested longer and it could be used as an advertisement for the possible returning players.


My plans for the moment are:

Complete redoing of Fornost. I am going to increase the difficulty a bit, aiming to increase the possible places to visit around lvl 5-15.

Updating the Abandoned Crypt in dead marshes, for it has plenty of lore that hasn't been implemented to the module (Merp Dagorlad).



There are more of these sort of places in Arda that should be updated for people to start visiting them. And by that i mean the dungeons without a boss or dungeons without mobs etc ( tower hills in between mithlond and shire for example)


One thing im also having in mind to further edit the completely unusable items. People could start posting them here.

I will also try to get the admin rights for the forum since none of the current admins is active and the people cant register to the forums.

[SerraAvatar]

Good points

When Im done with the script, Ill post it (wont start right now scripting though, maybe next week).

A master area transistion script should be possible too.

[oulu]

If you want to do a hill giant area and make it an outside area, i think there is a hill giant isle somewhere in the misty mountains. Check that book out.

[SerraAvatar]

That would be perfect!
How is the book called and where do I get it? I once had a free download page, but lost it (or it went down).

[oulu]

http://www.scribd.com/collections/2474556/my-merp

That is where i read them. I've also been a bastard and dl'd the whole set as a torrent.

I think its The Trolls of the Misty Mountains, or Goblin gate or i dont remember...

[Hubert]

I'm all in favor for the new content.

As ideas of what could be done, are the Middle Earth Underdeeps.
There is not a lot of material for this area, but it is shortly mentioned in the Moria book, and a little bit more in the Ghost Warriors.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/25301201/ICE-8016-MERP-Ghost-Warriors

The interesting aspect here is that even ICE has made their own random dungeon generrator for the penn&paper version.
This could be a perfect place to use the Biowares Random dungeon generator for our benefit.

Allso, as the Underdeeps go trough the whole continent, we could use this allso as a traveling option.

There are supposedly many terrible things still living in there, including the Balrogs who fled Thangorodrims destruction, The King of underdeeps (A half demon / half Olog-Hai / Half Balrog, and yes thats 150% of pure badassnes).

We could put the master mod file to a general share,
and make sure that only one "developer" is working on his stuff at any given time.

After the developer is finished, the master mod is upgraded and the next developer starts his work.

My server is in your use, but I will hold all the "keys" to it.
So if you want something there, just tell me and ill add it there.

B.R Agility

P.S. Allmost forgot, but you probably would want the newest mod file,
because my few additions are there (The teleport to bind from ARD, and the Riven - MT caravan). Ill try to put it up to my server tonight, and post the address here.
_________________
Wobbits are those sneaky little devils, that steal your precious.

[SerraAvatar]

There is a bioware random dungeon generator?^^
How does it work, does it work in-game and create a map when player hit area transistions?

I like the idea of a the master mod. That will be used to remove bugs and improve stuff. Other builders can work on some new areas at the same time and send an erf to the builder though.

There are some things Id like to fix, among them:

-lots of priests^^
-a boss missing a local variable
-changing a monster item casting light on hit (after some time there will be an overflow of effects on the pc having hit too many of that monster)

And thank you for the great support and hosting this wonderful world

[Hubert]

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=modules.detail&id=4992

Havent checked the scripts for this yet, so im not sure how it works.

Edit:
I actually found this:
[img]http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Modules.Detail&id=3885[/img]
The same author as in the Biowares version, but this is free!!
_________________
Wobbits are those sneaky little devils, that steal your precious.

[SerraAvatar]

Heya,
I got a few days off and started a bit coding stuff. First thing I achieved is a masterdropp script (meaning only ONE script for ALL creatures):

[Ithilsilà]

nwvault is a good bet. Where we already find some of the arda haks.

[SerraAvatar]

I found that trying to understand a foreign script takes much longer than writing and debugging scripts myself. I´ve pretty bad feelings about adding things without understanding 100% of what we add
Anyways, I did a quick research on nwvault and there is no such masterdropp script so far. So I guess Im going on coding stuff myself (to keep the overview) ^^

//Edit Stupid me^^ Or did you mean to upload the script and the screenshot?^^ In that case Im not sure if its worthy enough for nwvault. No idea if anyone is having as severe problems with space such as we have.

//Edit #2 Just made the mastertransistion script. Only few minor adjustments were needed (check the lines between [SerraAvatar] and [/SerraAvatar]. I quoted something out and replaced it. Now you need to place a WP with the Tag CS_MasterWP in your area having 5 local strings:
C where you enter the tag of the WP of the current area
N where you enter the tag of the WP of the area north
S ....
E ...
W ...

Now you can place the cs_mastertrans script in every area trans you create and no more new scripts will be needed (as long as you have the WP mentionned above in the area).

Here the script:

[Ithilsilà]

I meant to upload it there. There is much worse than this script .

[SerraAvatar]

Good to know that there are worse than my scripts =)

Just finished the cs_masterlever - script:

[Ithilsilà]

Huge job ahead of you then. Good luck and thanks.

@Hubert: it was mean to tease us with a server .