Descriptions could be useful

Discussion in 'The Temple of Elemental Evil' started by Templar, Jan 3, 2007.

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  1. Templar

    Templar Established Member

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    I made a few notes today of a few things that could be touched on. I know you guys have your hands full with a boat load of bugs that need fixing but this time I'm not really here about bugs.

    There are just so many spell scrolls you can buy and find and loot throughout the game and its a hassle to check every little thing in the manual. It would be nice if the scrolls in the game carried better descriptions when you move the mouse cursor over them.

    Wind wall for example doesn't mention it gives its protection to all allies not just the caster. I know you can know a little more once you scribe to the scrolls but in in some cases not much more.

    Armor doesn't tell you if its light or medium or heavy, some times its not obvious and weapons could be told if they're one or two handed and things like that.
     
    Templar, Jan 3, 2007
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  2. maggit

    maggit Zombie RipTorn Wonka

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    Actually I'm working on this fix. It's pretty tiresome AND boring
    because it's mainly typing, copying/pasting but it will eventually
    come out. Just be patient.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    However, I don't intend to rewrite spell descriptions. Sheesh,
    I'm not such a big masochist! :p
     
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2007
    maggit, Jan 3, 2007
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  3. Templar

    Templar Established Member

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    thanks for the efforts, and like I say I know you guys have your hands full with bugs. You guys are doing a great job!


     
    Templar, Jan 3, 2007
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  4. maggit

    maggit Zombie RipTorn Wonka

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    Here's a "demo" of the file. It's still not finished but
    if you happen to encounter some problems write
    here, or even better make a topic for long_description.mes
    discussion.
     

    Attached Files:

    maggit, Jan 3, 2007
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  5. Shiningted

    Shiningted I changed this damn title, finally! Administrator

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    You can't seriously be suggesting we have to modify the game because you can't be bothered opening the manual?

    I'm normally the first person to suggest things like this (Maggit's herculean efforts are actually an offshoot of a previous request of mine) when there is an ACTUAL NEED - such as if new stuff gets added to the game - but if something is in the manual, READ THE MANUAL.
     
    Shiningted, Jan 3, 2007
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  6. Templar

    Templar Established Member

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    Easy there Shiny - I'm just like you I just want to see a great game achieve perfection. If I could do it I would do it myself. However I'm better at breaking computers and calling my techy friend up and saying "please fixy!"

    I just know a lot of people make mods and work on patches and games and I was only curious to see if there was anyone that had thought of making an adjustment on descriptions. Anyway back to Rocky and my drink-poo's :drunk:



     
    Templar, Jan 4, 2007
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  7. sirchet

    sirchet Force for Goodness Moderator Supporter

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    Maggit:
    That's alot of typing, if you type like me (have to look at the keys)
    I to would love to be able to cursor over the weapo/armor and get a more complete description.....helps when deciding what to spend your hard earned coppers on :)

    Thanks in advance for taking this on.
     
    sirchet, Jan 4, 2007
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  8. Shiningted

    Shiningted I changed this damn title, finally! Administrator

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    I'm glad to hear it. The long_description.mes that Maggit posted above can be modded in Notepad - if u r using Windows, you have Notepad. Now all you need is a PC, a keyboard and a net connection. Well blow me down and call me tarnished, you have those as well.

    Let us know when you're finished, I look forward to seeing your name on the next Co8 credits list :)
     
    Shiningted, Jan 4, 2007
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  9. Allyx

    Allyx Master Crafter Global Moderator Supporter

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    Yes folks, modding ToEE (for the most part at least) is that easy, "I can't mod" is a poor excuse, let's see some more people giving it a try instead of just complaining when things aren't what you were expecting them to be.
     
    Allyx, Jan 4, 2007
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  10. Cerulean the Blue

    Cerulean the Blue Blue Meanie Veteran

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    You know, there is actually an in-game help feature as well, that often has more detailed information than the game manual (especially about spells).

    Now to be the spoiler. You do all know you can't do the shift+click thing on an item to get the long description unless it is already in your inventory, right? This means you won't be able to access that information until you've already purchased the item, or found it somewhere. And Oots coolness aside, I don't think armor and weapons should come with a tag listing these things. What proficiency the weapon uses, sure. You can't find that in the manual or the in-game help. But what armor type it is, or what damage it does, those are already provided.
     
    Cerulean the Blue, Jan 4, 2007
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  11. maggit

    maggit Zombie RipTorn Wonka

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    Well, not all of the damage the weapon does.
    I tried to do something like a BG style description
    (this one posted here has bugs I fixed yesterday)
    containing to enhancement bonus, hit bonus, damage,
    damage type, crit range, additional damage, special
    abilities, weapon proficiency. I am aware that one cannot
    shift-click on weapon until it's in his inventory, that's
    the dwarback I can't remedy. :(
     
    maggit, Jan 4, 2007
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  12. Alrik Fassbauer

    Alrik Fassbauer Established Member

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    Regarding the spells, I have often the problem not finding the info fast enough for them.

    I mean, the spells are all described in the help, yes, but under different categories. I don't know whether a certain spell I'm seeking information about is just a 4th level spell of an sorcerer or so, I'd just like to have this information without having to briwse through all of these categories. In my opinion, this is a point where the in-game help could've been a bit more effective (but I have to say that this in-game help is so far the best I've EVER seen from within a game !)

    Too bad the in-game help doesn't have a search function.

    And yes, I know, the game comes with an printed manual - except mine, which is a budget version of it with everything "printed" in PDF.
     
    Alrik Fassbauer, Jan 4, 2007
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  13. vampiricpuppy

    vampiricpuppy cuddly nosferatu

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    While i have no problem looking up stuff myself, i must say that the Baldur's Gate system of spell descriptions, and more prominently item descriptions (where you often got a huge chunk of lore behind magic items) was pretty amazing :D

    Of course, with crafting the sort of 'mystique' about magic items is lessened somewhat :p barring artifacts and such...
     
    vampiricpuppy, Jan 4, 2007
    #13
  14. maggit

    maggit Zombie RipTorn Wonka

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    The updated version is present in the CMF thread.
     
    maggit, Jan 4, 2007
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  15. Gaear

    Gaear Bastard Maestro Administrator

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    Easy now, people. We seem to be suggesting that this guy's not entitled to make a suggestion or submit a feature request if he's not going to crack open the DATs and do it himself. He was very polite and non-demanding, so let's cut him some slack. I don't think the suggestion was unreasonable either in terms of general CRPG suitability, although doing it within the engine limitations or even making it a priority is another matter entirely, of course. Plus, we like feedback and input, don't we?

    To play devil's advocate, I think the "I can't mod" argument is actually legit, although more precisely it should be stated as "I'm not prepared to invest the time it would take me to learn to mod, which figure is determined by multiplying my technical intelligence by the coefficient of typical ToEE standard modding variable models divided by determination and available time to spend trying." ;) In other words, there's no escaping the fact that it's easier for some people than others, and in some cases the cost-benefit ratio just isn't worthwhile.

    @Templar - all that said, I don't suppose your suggestions are ever going to come to fruition. We have a pretty small group of people who do this stuff, and most all of them are committed to other endeavors atm such as KotB. The lack of more detailed descriptions isn't really a 'problem' per se (as you stated), and the inflexibility of the game engine in this regard makes trying to change it beyond what Maggit has already done unrealistic.
     
    Gaear, Jan 4, 2007
    #15
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